"With all due respect, as you are now, you are even less adapted to combat than Maria."
Manner's words filled Noah with bitterness, but it was also the truth; she had been away from combat for too long. Suddenly giving her a sword was like suddenly asking her to walk; she could only stumble forward. The many years she had missed had become a barrier for her. She could no longer wield a sword like before, because her soul had forgotten the feeling of holding a sword, and it wasn't something that could be cultivated in just a few days.
"So, my suggestion is—I'll teach you the Nearl Family Family's Stone source art first. Since you're a caster anyway, you should be able to master these quickly."
Manner spoke again, but when he did, Noah was completely dumbfounded.
"...The Nearl Family Family's ancestral Stone source art?"
"Mm."
"Teach it to me?"
"Mm."
"...Are you in your right mind?" Noah fell into deep thought. Theoretically, this ancestral Stone source art could only be passed down within the family and absolutely could not be taught to outsiders. But Manner was just going to directly pass it on to her? Noah was starting to feel like, 'Who am I, where am I, and what is Uncle Manner doing?'
"I don't think that's appropriate, is it?"
"Why?" Manner asked, puzzled. "You are Maria now, in everyone's eyes. So I'm just [teaching the ancestral Stone source art to my amnesiac niece], what's the problem?"
"...You can't say that. I'm Noah." Noah held her head. This was clearly bending the rules a bit. It was indeed against regulations, but there was no precedent for soul swapping. "
"Don't worry about it so much. On one hand, it would be strange if you, as Maria, went into battle without using the Nearl Family Family's Stone source art. On the other hand, I trust that you won't use this power for evil." Manner said, "I trust you, just as I trust my family. Or rather, the Nearl Family Family has long recognized you as a member of the family. As for rules, such decaying things don't need to exist in the Nearl Family Family. Even if Father were here, I believe he would agree."
"...Is that so?" Noah didn't know why, but she felt a sense of joy at being recognized. She nodded, "If you say so, then alright... I swear I will not use this power for evil."
After Noah solemnly swore, Manner immediately taught her the Nearl Family Family's ancestral Stone source art, or rather, the method of using [Light]. Noah was indeed a remarkably talented caster. That very day, a ball of light condensed in Noah's palm. This light was not dazzling, but it was enough to signify that Noah had mastered this power. The next step was practice. To master this power, Noah spent most of her subsequent time practicing the Nearl Family Family's ancestral Stone source art.
Feel the light, touch the light, and then—
Become the light.
As Noah came into contact with this ancient Stone source art, she also used her abilities to perceive the essence of this power. This was a strength derived from within. What appeared to be [Light] was actually more akin to a spiritual power. The firmer your inner resolve, the more fervent your belief, the more this power would respond to you. Indeed, this was a Stone source art especially suited for the noble; villains and hypocrites could not even unleash a tenth of its power.
No wonder the Lingguang Family has been so respected from ancient times to the present—after all, with this spiritual light inherited, no bad people could emerge.
However, there are many kinds of light. If Margaret is the scorching sun at noon, Maria is the rising sun just appearing, and Manner is the setting sun about to descend, then Noah is not the sun. Her heart is not so grand, nor can she reach the same level as Margaret...
Her light—it was merely the faint glow of a campfire, a campfire that might extinguish at any moment, yet could warm the heart of a traveler.
So her light was very special; it carried warmth and a pulsating radiance like a beating heart. Gazing at the light in her palm, Noah's eyes seemed to be stained with flames.
Then, she tentatively shaped the light in her palm, and suddenly, an arrow appeared in her hand, an arrow condensed from light.
Looking at the successfully shaped arrow in her hand, Noah suddenly smiled with relief. So her light was so weak, but that was reasonable—she wasn't some high-wattage light bulb anyway. But at least, her belief was still recognized by this Stone source art. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to condense light to form an arrow. One must know that Margaret condensing a sword-spear and Maria condensing a light-sword were both things achieved much later.
It was already quite good that she could condense a light arrow on her first try, at least Noah thought so.
The only thing that reassured Noah was that Maria's current points were already enough to qualify, so even if she lost these few matches, it wouldn't affect Maria's path to advancement. So she decided to do her best.
Before Maria wakes up, let's practice more!
—
Meanwhile, as Noah was practicing the Nearl Family Family's ancestral secret techniques with all her might, Maria was experiencing a strange adventure—
Yes, an adventure. This should be the most fitting description for Maria's current situation, because she was lost in a huge palace. This palace had a very elegant style, indicating that its owner had a well-developed aesthetic sense. Maria had been lost in this palace for an unknown amount of time. If not for the fact that she didn't seem to feel hungry in this palace, she probably would have starved to death right where she was.
The space here was very strange; some places were directly inverted, some places allowed walking on walls. Behind a door might not be an exit; it could be a wall, a cliff, or even another door.
The rules here also seemed chaotic. Maria had already seen cold fire, scorching ice, as well as soft iron and hard cotton.
Walking through this ancient and mysterious palace, with irregular music constantly playing in her ears, Maria walked and walked, finally finding a large door at the end of a path.
Maria tentatively pushed open the door. Inside was a library with a giant throne. Books had become the floor, and every step had to be taken between the books. An old man sat among the stacks of books, supporting his chin with one hand, seemingly deep in thought.
This was the first living person Maria had seen here. She quickly went forward and asked,
"Old man! Where is this place? Also, who are you?"
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