As the first light of day came through the window, Leo started his morning training. Breakfast was quick—a simple meal to keep him going. He walked to the association with a brisk, determined pace.

When he arrived, Leo saw something unusual: a crowd of his colleagues gathered in the main hall. Gery wasn’t there, as his shift hadn’t started yet, and Samuel was his usual late self. Curious, Leo made his way through the crowd and tapped Liamond on the shoulder to get his attention.

“What’s going on?” Leo inquired, his gaze scanning around.

Liamond turned, a grin spreading across his features. “O Leo, one of our colleague is back from his mission.”

The word ‘colleague’ hung in the air, stirring a sense of intrigue within Leo. He edged closer to the epicenter of the gathering, where a familiar figure engaged in conversation with Edmond caught his eye.

“Mr. Rorin?” Leo exclaimed, his voice rising above the murmur of the crowd.

The sound of his name drew Rorin’s attention, and he pivoted to face Leo, his laughter resonating warmly. “Leo! It seems my hunch was on the mark,” he declared, amusement evident in his tone.

Edmond, watching the exchange with growing interest, raised an eyebrow. “You two know each other?”

Still chuckling, Rorin gave a nod. “Indeed. Leo’s my tenant—he’s been renting a room from me for the past few months.”

The hall gradually quieted as the last of the handshakes and back-pats subsided. Edmond, with a glance that carried the weight of authority, addressed Faleria. “The Church has summoned you for a brief mission; you’re expected there within half and hour.”

Leo, overhearing the conversation, turned to Faleria with a hint of concern. “If you’re departing, who will oversee my training?”

Before Faleria could formulate a response, Rorin’s hand landed firmly on Leo’s shoulder, he was as tall as Leo's shoulder.. “I’ll take the reins of your training today. You’ve piqued my interest, young man.”

Faleria offered a nod of consent. “In that case, I foresee no issues.”

Leo’s expression, a blend of nervousness and uncertainty, prompted Rorin to tease, “What’s the matter? Doubtful I can match her expertise?”

Caught off guard, Leo fumbled for a response.

Edmond stepped in, his voice filled with pride. “Rorin isn’t just any trainer; he’s the mentor who shaped Faleria’s skills.”

The revelation transformed Leo’s apprehension into a mix of surprise and respect. Rorin’s laughter echoed once more, a sound that seemed to mark the transition of the moment. As their conversation unfolded, the others dispersed, each to their respective duties, until only Faleria, Edmond, Rorin, and Leo remained.

Faleria gave a respectful bow before leaving Leo in Rorin’s capable hands and departing. Edmond, with a final nod to confirm the arrangement, withdrew to his office.

Now alone with Rorin, Leo felt his initial surprise shift to a growing sense of unease. Faleria’s training sessions were tough enough, but the idea of being under her mentor’s direct guidance was both an honor and a serious challenge.

As Edmond’s footsteps faded, Rorin turned to Leo with a firm nod. “Let’s go.”

After Leo changed, He followed Rorin into the open training yard, the same place where Faleria often put him through his paces. Rorin moved to the weapon rack and grabbed two wooden swords, both enchanted to match the weight of real steel. He handed one to Leo.

“Let’s see what you’ve got,” Rorin said, issuing a challenge.

Drawing from his extensive training with Faleria, Leo anticipated a similar approach from her mentor. He adopted a combat-ready stance, muscles tensed and alert, while Rorin stood with an ease that belied his readiness. With a burst of speed, Leo lunged forward, his right hand wielding the sword in a swift arc from top left to bottom right.

Rorin’s response was swift and effortless; his own sword met Leo’s in a solid block, halting the attack. Undeterred, Leo unleashed a flurry of strikes, each aimed from a different angle, a strategy to offset Rorin’s superior strength with agility. Yet, Rorin’s defense was impenetrable, each parry executed with minimal movement, a testament to his skill.

In the midst of Leo’s assault, Rorin executed a deft parry that sent Leo’s sword clattering to the ground, followed by Leo himself. Rorin extended a hand to help Leo to his feet.

“Your speed is commendable, and your strikes carry the weight expected of your rank. Now, it’s time to refine your technique,” Rorin observed, gesturing towards the fallen sword.

“Retrieve your blade; I’m going to teach you some practical parry maneuvers,” Rorin instructed, his tone firm yet encouraging.

Leo complied, retrieving his wooden sword from where it had fallen. Upon his return, Rorin wasted no time, demonstrating the first technique with a fluidity that spoke of years of mastery.

“To effectively parry, think of it as redirecting rather than resisting,” Rorin began. “Observe the angle of the incoming strike. Step back, aligning your movement with the trajectory of the attack. Angle your sword slightly towards the assailant’s blade, then glide it across, diverting the strike to your opposite side. This will throw off your opponent’s balance, creating an opening for your counter.”

As Rorin spoke, he illustrated each step with deliberate motions, providing a clear visual guide for Leo.

“Now, try to land a hit on me from any angle you choose.”

Leo raised his sword, his muscles tensing as he prepared to strike. He launched an attack, but in a blink, Rorin’s swift maneuver sent Leo’s weapon tumbling from his grasp.

“Recover your sword. This time, brace yourself for my assault.”

Hours passed, and despite his best efforts, Leo found himself unable to parry even a single one of Rorin’s attacks.

“Your reflexes are sharp enough for the parry; it’s just a matter of muscle memory now. Stick with the drills, and you’ll master it before you know it.” Rorin’s statement was devoid of false comfort; it was a straightforward assessment of Leo’s potential.

Acknowledging the advice with a nod, Leo returned his wooden sword to its rack, the weight enchantment making it feel heavier than its appearance suggested.

“Mr. Rorin, does this mean you’ll be overseeing my training going forward?” Leo asked, hope threading through his words.

Rorin, securing his own sword alongside Leo’s, considered the question. “Given that we’ve initiated this technique, I’ll see you through its completion.”

A fleeting smile graced Leo’s lips, a spark of enthusiasm that quickly gave way to the solemnity of the task ahead.

“Then until our next session, Mr. Rorin,” Leo said, his tone a mix of respect and anticipation.

Rorin offered a casual wave, his attention already shifting to the array of equipment Faleria had left behind.

Leo spent the rest of the day focused on his routine tasks. He buried himself in the library, working through the morning until the midday sun reached its peak. After a quick break for lunch, he returned to the quiet of the library’s halls, ready to take in the lessons Lavi had prepared.

When Lavi entered, his presence commanded attention. He greeted Leo with the usual pleasantries before spreading out several parchments on the table, each covered with intricate symbols of illusion magic.

“Today, we go deeper,” Lavi began, placing his suitcase on the floor with a soft thud. “Illusion isn’t just about visual deception. It can influence emotions, make things disappear—or appear. The basic spell stays the same, but using it to manipulate feelings requires specific variations.”

He selected a parchment and began to sketch. Leo leaned in, observing the familiar structure of the spell: a large circle, the emblem of illusion at its heart, flanked by symbols representing ‘mind’ and ‘power’.

Lavi paused, looking up. “What’s your interpretation of this spell’s effect?”

Leo studied the design. “Mind and power… akin to the blue crystal’s influence, enhancing mental clarity and tranquility?”

A clap from Lavi confirmed his guess. “Exactly.”

Lavi’s smile was genuine, his passion for the art of illusion evident.

“There’s an additional element we can add here,” Lavi continued. “With it you can cast a spell to instill calm within your entire party.”

Leo pondered the implication. “To achieve that, I’d need everyone to look at me.”

“Indeed, at the moment, casting spells requires a physical medium, but as you progress to rank C+ and beyond, you’ll learn to weave spells directly into the air,” Lavi explained, his hands mimicking the motion of midair spellcraft. “And those who reach rank A have the ability to invoke certain low-tier spells with just their voice, affecting anyone within earshot.”

Leo’s eyes widened in amazement. “Just by speaking?”

Lavi gave a nonchalant shrug. “It’s beyond my current understanding, but Captain Edmond could demonstrate the aerial casting technique for you later.”

Turning back to the parchment, Lavi added another word to the paper.

“This term marks the final spell for your current rank. If I remember correctly, you’ve come across it in the books I gave you.”

Leo nodded, recognizing the word.

“Good. The spell is straightforward enough. The word is ‘false.’ At the F rank, you’re introduced to four spells: ‘illusion,’ ‘calm,’ and now ‘false aura.’ I’ve already covered the first one with you, so let’s focus on this new ones.”

Lavi positioned ‘false’ word on the diagram, to the right, with ‘power’ on the left and ‘mind’ at the top.

“Cast this spell upon yourself, an item, or another person, and it will cause any low-level divination magic to return misleading results. Now, if you place ‘false’ on the left and ‘power’ on the right, you create ‘False Power’. This spell has the potential to temporarily neutralize the effects of enchanted objects or even low-level magical items. The duration of this nullification varies with the item’s strength, ranging from a mere minute to a handful of seconds.”

Lavi’s gaze wandered the room, eventually settling back on Leo. “Do you have any enchanted items?”

Leo responded by rolling up his sleeves, revealing the weighted bracelets around his wrists.

“Ah, perfect,” Lavi said with a hint of approval.

Just as he was about to start the spell, a question crossed his mind. “You wear these all the time?” he asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and surprise.

“Most of the time, yeah,” Leo replied.

Lavi raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed, but quickly returned to the task at hand. Placing his hands over the bracelets, he recited the incantation, “False power.” A soft glow radiated from the parchment, enveloping the bracelets, which deactivated with a faint click.

“These will stay inactive for about five minutes. It may not seem like much, but in a fight, even a brief advantage like this can make all the difference,” Lavi explained, his eyes reflecting the strategic importance of the spell.

Leo couldn’t hide his grin; he understood the tactical potential of this new ability. With renewed determination, he mentally placed ‘False Power’ at the top of his priority list, right after his work on mastering illusion spell.

Lavi caught Leo’s gaze, and for a moment, he saw in him a reflection of his own passion for magic. It was rare, Lavi thought, to find someone who shared the same level of fascination for the mystical arts, especially illusion.

“Alright, let’s move on with your practice,” Lavi said, stepping back to give Leo space.

Leo continued practicing his illusion spell, each attempt bringing him closer to mastering the magic. His concentration never wavered as he worked through the spell’s intricate elements. After finishing his training, he put on his Paladin armor and headed out for his usual patrol. The streets of the city had become familiar to him, as he kept a watchful eye during his rounds. When he returned home, he settled into a routine that carried him through the week, balancing his studies and duties with discipline.

As the days passed, Leo’s grasp of the illusion spell grew stronger. He began experimenting with the nuances of ‘False Power,’ finding that adding just one word to the spell introduced new challenges. But Leo took on the challenge with determination.

His defensive skills also improved under the guidance of Faleria and Rorin. Their training sessions sharpened his reflexes, turning his parries from well-rehearsed moves into natural, instinctive reactions.

When Wednesday morning arrived, Leo woke to the familiar rhythm of his life as a Paladin. But today was different—it was the second time he would be joining Captain Edmond on patrol.