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The training field had seen many battles over the last two years.
I was eight years old now, though my body and abilities suggested I was much older. Arthur had turned ten and Tessia nine. The three of us had grown, not only in age but in power.
I stood at the edge of the clearing, watching Arthur and Virion in the middle of a training session. It was early in the morning, and the mist still covered parts of the forest, giving the scene an ethereal quality.
"Again!" Virion shouted, dodging an ice spear Arthur had thrown. "Your formation is too slow. A real enemy won't wait for you to finish conjuring."
Arthur panted, sweat running down his forehead. His reddish-brown hair was longer now, falling over his eyes. He was taller too, his body beginning to show the musculature of a warrior in training.
But the most notable thing was the aura around him. Virion had been working with Arthur on something he called "Beast Will" over the last year. It was an advanced technique that allowed a mage to project his presence, his killing intent, as an intimidating weapon.
When Arthur activated it, the air itself seemed to grow heavier. Even I, knowing what it was, felt a chill.
"Good," Virion said, crossing his arms. "Now show me your control. Three ice spears, simultaneously, at three different targets."
Arthur closed his eyes, concentrating. Mana flowed around him, condensing in the air. Three ice spears materialized floating beside him, each one perfectly formed.
With a gesture of his hand, the three spears flew toward separate targets: three marked trees in different directions. All of them struck the exact center.
"Better," Virion nodded in approval. "Your control has improved significantly. Current core level?"
"Orange, sir," Arthur replied.
Solid orange at ten years old. It was absurd progress even for a prodigy. But I knew Arthur was constantly using mana rotation, and the Beast Will Virion had taught him had accelerated his development even further.
And you…?
Well, my core was light orange, almost reaching white. But no one knew except me. Officially, I had told everyone it was dark orange. I still had to hide the true extent of my power.
"Kael," Virion called to me, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Stop loafing around. It's your turn."
I walked toward the center of the clearing, passing Arthur, who gave me a pat on the shoulder. Over the last two years, our relationship had evolved into something close to genuine camaraderie. There was still an underlying competition, a tension of unspoken secrets, but there was also mutual respect.
"Today we're going to work on your advanced elemental control," Virion announced. "You've mastered the basic hybrids. Fire and ice, earth and lightning, water and wind. Now I want you to try something more complex."
What thing, Grandpa?
"Three elements simultaneously. Fire, water, and wind. I want you to create a storm of burning steam."
Arthur whistled softly. "That's advanced silver-class mage level."
"And Kael has the talent to try it," Virion said with a smile. "Isn't that right, boy?"
There was no point in denying it. In two years of training, Virion had seen enough to know I was capable of things other children my age couldn't even imagine.
I closed my eyes and extended my awareness toward the ambient mana. Immediately, the particles responded. Red for fire, blue for water, green for wind. All of them converged toward me with ease.
The Legacy did this almost effortlessly. Where other mages would have to struggle to combine opposing elements, I could fuse them naturally.
I visualized what I wanted: water heated until it became steam, fire keeping it burning without consuming it, wind circulating to create a contained storm.
Mana flowed from my core, the three elements intertwining in my palm. The air temperature increased dramatically. Steam began to form, creating a dense, hot fog.
And then I added fire.
Pale orange flames danced within the steam, creating a whirl of burning mist that spun above my hand. It was beautiful and terrifying, a miniature vortex of contradictory elements forced to work together.
"Excellent," Virion murmured, studying my creation. "Now project it. Toward that dead tree over there."
I hurled the steam storm. It flew across the clearing and struck the dead tree with a roar. The steam expanded, enveloping the tree completely. When it dissipated, the tree was charred and soaked at the same time, smoking in the morning light.
"Impressive," Arthur admitted, his eyes shining with something that might have been envy or admiration. "How do you make it look so easy?"
"Practice," I said. In reality, it was the Legacy. But I couldn't say that.
Virion walked between us, placing a hand on each of our shoulders.
"You've both progressed beyond my wildest expectations," he said, his voice full of genuine pride. "In two years, you've reached levels that most mages take decades to achieve."
He paused, his expression growing more serious.
"Arthur, your Beast Will is almost fully developed. You can project killing intent strong enough to paralyze lesser opponents. Your elemental control is solid. And your sword technique has reached a level that would rival veteran adventurers."
Arthur nodded, accepting the praise with practiced humility.
"Kael," Virion turned to me, "your control of hybrid elements is unprecedented. I've never seen anyone, of any age, combine elements with such ease. Your mana reserves are vast. And your theoretical understanding of magic surpasses that of many mages."
"But," he added, with a note of concern in his voice, "both of you are growing too fast. Power without experience is dangerous. You need to temper your strength with wisdom, your skill with judgment."
"What are you suggesting, Grandpa?" I asked.
Virion smiled. It was an unsettling smile, but one I recognized. He was planning something.