The grassy courtyard of Soulnaught Empire's pace was alive with the sounds of nature and the eager anticipation of learning.

  The sun pyed a coy game with the clouds, ensuring the boys didn't melt us heat, while the trees and greenery provided a perfect, dappled shield from direct sunlight.

  A refreshing breeze dahrough the air, making the day just about perfect.

  “Vision is the proof of God’s love. Have I told you about this before?” Man asked, her tone soft and airy.

  Yvain, sitting front aer among the male desdants of Elysian, answered along with them, “Yes!”

  “Good. And what did I tell you?” Man asked again, her eyes narrowing pyfully. “That God created us as…?”

  “Equals!” the boys chimed in unison, their enthusiasm almost making her ugh.

  “Right. That means, it isn’t that you’re talented or chosen when you excel in Vision art, it’s because you strive to know your own soul, the soul God created to bee you,” Man expined.

  The boys nodded, hanging on her every word. By knowing themselves, their identities, and uanding what they were created for, they would grow stronger and stronger. Vision art was the art of knowing oruth.

  One of her disciples, Ronald Elle, the former prince of Elysiaantly raised his hand. Man arched an eyebrow.

  “Yes, Ronald?” she him, brag for the iable question.

  “If we all have our owies, which will refle our mastery of Vision, then why does every Vision user always start with fire type spells?” Ronald asked, his frustration evident.

  He was, after all, the only oill uo unleash his Vision energy despite everyone's encement and teags.

  Man hummed. “Well, Ronald, it’s true that everyone has their own distinct specialties derived from their unique identities. And believe me, when you find that specific thing, you’ll bee even strohan me,” she said with a smirk.

  “But there’s a reason why everyoends to start with fire type spells.”

  Man raised one of her hands, and a ball of light appeared, h above her palm. A small fire ignited within it. "Because fire symbolizes life. Energy in its most primal form. When you think of magic, you’ll think of an energy you draw from deep within."

  The boys watched, mesmerized, as the fire flickered and danced.

  “Isn’t it easy to imagine something showing up when you first started? It reflects your emotion, passie,” she tihe fire in her hand growing rger and more vibrant.

  “Something you think you ’t trol yet, something hot and dangerous because of your unfamiliarity with it. Something you need, something magical.”

  Man ched her hand, and the fire vanished. “And it’s also easier fes to trol fire.”

  She let the statement hang in the air, knowing the boys were abs every word. Despite its danger, fire was better finners precisely because it was dangerous.

  It was almost impossible finner Visioo hurt themselves or others with fire because of their own sciousness and carefulness. It was clearly hot, so when it hurt them, they’d stop using it because of the pain.

  “Vision magic,” Man expined, “is deeply ected with one’s soul. Ily, you’ll have reflexes, instincts, and fear not to hurt yourself. When you feel fear and pain, you’ll immediately stop, because your emotions are also overe by these feelings.”

  The boys heir eyes wide with uanding. But Mahere were always exceptions, her gaze shifting to Yvain.

  When Yvain lost his mind, falling into a rampage, he lost all of his reflexes and instincts. There was no longer pain or fear—bined with his great mastery of the art, which made him more fortable using his power.

  Man smiled wryly. “But, while fire is an excellent starting point, remember to respect its power. It’s a great teacher, but it be a harsh one if you let yuard down.”

  The wind rustled the leaves around them, adding a touch of serenity to the moment. The lesson was clear: Vision magic was as much about uanding oneself as it was about wielding power.

  The boys sat there, the grass beh them, and the gentle breeze around them, pting the wisdom they had just received.

  “Okay. For those of you who have mastered fire spell trol, you start creating other elements with the mana you haick with earth and water for now; don’t try wi,” Man instructed, her toh firm and encing.

  “Yvain,” she called.

  “Yes, Master?” Yvain flinched, startled by Man’s sudden attention.

  Man smiled, rubbing the boy’s head affeately. Yvain leaned into her touch, clearly enjoying the rare moment of warmth. “Caliburn said he’s ing to teach you the phase of Force Art today.”

  Yvain froze. “Eh?!”

  “Be good and learn well,” Man said with a mischievous glint in her eye.

  “W-what about my Vision training?!” Yvain’s panicked expression as he tried to think of an escape from Force training amused Man to no end.

  “Good boy, I’ve seen you reach your phase already,” Man said, her voice filled with pride. “You’ve had an inkling of what your specialty is, right? Now, tell your master.”

  Yvain groaned, clearly unfortable. “I’m not sure yet, Master… but it feels like I’m standing in the middle.”

  “In the middle?” Man raised her eyebrows, intrigued.

  Yvaiated, searg for the right words. “It feels like… I want to stay here, at this very moment, in the middle of everything.”

  Man tilted her head, curiosity piqued. “Middle… you mearal?”

  Something clicked in Yvain’s head. “That! That’s—! That!”

  Seeing Yvain so excited, Man couldn’t help but chuckle. “But that’s such a vast cept. rality?”

  “That’s what I mean, Master… My head’s gonna explode!” Yvain excimed, his excitement mingling with frustration.

  Man smiled, her eyes twinkling with uanding. “rality, huh? That’s quite profound for someone ye. It’s a cept that requires a deep uanding of band harmony. But don’t worry, Yvain. We’ll take it step by step.”

  The other boys watched with a mix of admiration and curiosity. Yvain’s journey was unique, and they were eager to see where it would lead.

  “Remember,” Man tinued, “rality doesn’t mean ina. It means finding the bahe ter point where all forces verge. It’s a powerful pce to be if you master it.”

  Yvain nodded, feeling a sense of crity and purpose. The path ahead might be challenging, but he was ready to embrace it.

  “Okay, Master! Ah! Please don’t tell me to leave yet! I will meditate for a bit, please let me stay!” Yvain begged, his eyes wide with urgency.

  Man didn’t have the heart to refuse him. She nodded, and Yvain cheered with joy, immediately taking a spot under a tree that the other boys hadn't cimed yet. He settled into his meditation, a look of peace washing over his face.

  Meanwhile, Man walked around the grassy courtyard, the boys as they dispersed, each trying their own thing. Her goal was clear: to let them experience as many spells as possible, helping them discover their own specialties.

  Most of the older male desdants had only mastered fire spells in their lives. They had hoheir skills so well that fire had bee their specialty. But, just like how they couldn't find their intended core identities—the unique essence God created them to bee—they never reached their full potential.

  These younger boys, however, still had their ce to find it. They came tan, eager to learn more spells, to explore the depths of their own abilities.

  Man moved gracefully among them, guidand encement. She khat each boy had a uh to follow, and it was her job to help them find it. As she watched them experiment with earth and water spells, she felt a sense of pride and hope.

  But one boy in particur, was still struggling.

  Ronald sat on the ground, fag the sky.