Morning came quietly.
Golden sunlight spilled across the kingdom grounds, washing the academy fields in warmth. The gentle breeze carried the scent of fresh grass, and the distant chatter of Elementalists training echoed through the air.
But for Ryūsei Ryūgū—
There was no peace.
He stood alone at the edge of the training grounds, his gaze fixed on the open field before him. His hand rested near his side, fingers brushing lightly against the black ring.
The memory of the forest still lingered.
The battle.The fear.The power he couldn't control.
"…I'm not strong enough," he whispered.
Not yet.
And he knew it.
That was why—
His steps turned.
Professor Hexio stood near the far end of the academy field, reviewing documents with his usual calm expression. A light breeze lifted the edges of his coat as he adjusted his glasses slightly, completely unaware of the approaching presence.
"Professor."
Hexio glanced up.
"…Ryūsei."
His tone was neutral—but observant.
"I heard about the quest," he added. "Quite the… unexpected outcome."
Ryūsei scratched the back of his head. "Yeah… sorry about that."
Hexio sighed softly. "Taking another student's assigned mission without reading it… you do realize how reckless that was?"
"…I do now."
There was a brief pause.
Then—
"Professor… I need your help."
Hexio's expression shifted slightly.
"…Go on."
Ryūsei stepped forward.
"I want you to train me."
The wind stilled.
For a moment—
Hexio said nothing.
Then he adjusted his glasses again, turning slightly away.
"…No."
The answer came quickly.
Firm.
Unwavering.
Ryūsei froze. "…Why?"
Hexio's gaze lowered slightly.
"You lack control," he said calmly. "Your Elemental Art is unstable, undefined. Training you without understanding its nature would be inefficient… and dangerous."
Ryūsei clenched his fists.
"I don't care if it's dangerous."
"That's exactly the problem."
Hexio turned back toward him, his eyes sharp now.
"You rush into situations without thinking. You act on impulse. And now you seek power to support that recklessness?"
Each word struck precisely.
"You're not ready."
Silence.
Ryūsei lowered his head slightly.
"…Then make me ready."
Hexio didn't respond.
"…You're the only Light-attribute Elementalist I know," Ryūsei continued. "If I don't learn from you… I don't know where else to go."
Still—
No answer.
Just silence.
"…I see."
Ryūsei slowly exhaled.
Then—
"Then fight me."
Hexio's eyes flickered.
"…What?"
Ryūsei raised his head, his gaze steady.
"A duel."
The air shifted.
"If I win," Ryūsei said, "you train me."
"And if you lose?" Hexio asked calmly.
Ryūsei didn't hesitate.
"Then I'll accept your decision."
A pause.
The wind picked up slightly, rustling the grass between them.
Hexio studied him carefully.
Not his words—
But his resolve.
"…Very well," he said at last.
Ryūsei's eyes widened slightly.
"I'll accept your challenge."
The training field was cleared within minutes.
Word spread quickly.
A duel between a student… and Professor Hexio.
At the edge of the field stood a small audience.
Shizen, arms crossed, watching intently.Yuki, silent but focused.Shadow, unusually serious.
And Kayosha—
Standing closest to the boundary.
Her hands were clenched tightly together.
"…Ryūsei…"
At the center of the field—
The two stood facing each other.
A quiet tension filled the air.
Hexio adjusted his stance slightly.
"This is not a game," he said. "If you hesitate, you will lose."
Ryūsei nodded.
"I know."
A brief pause.
Then—
"Begin."
Ryūsei moved first.
He dashed forward, his speed sharp—refined by instinct rather than technique.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Blade!"
Light gathered instantly in his hand.
A radiant blade formed—
Bright.
Pure.
Unstable.
He swung.
Hexio didn't move.
Until the very last moment.
Step.
A single step to the side.
The blade missed.
"…Too direct," Hexio murmured.
Ryūsei turned quickly—
But Hexio was already in front of him.
A single palm strike—
THUD.
Ryūsei was sent sliding backward across the ground.
He caught himself, skidding to a stop.
"…Fast…"
"Again," Hexio said calmly.
Ryūsei tightened his grip.
Then charged again.
This time—
He feinted left.
Swung right.
Adjusted mid-strike.
Faster.
Sharper.
But—
Every attack missed.
Hexio moved effortlessly.
Like he was reading him.
"Your movements are predictable," Hexio said. "You rely too much on raw instinct."
Ryūsei gritted his teeth.
"Then I'll just have to hit you harder!"
He surged forward again—
Faster than before.
The ground cracked beneath his step.
His blade shone brighter.
He swung—
Again—
Again—
Again—
Each strike faster than the last.
The air trembled with the force.
But still—
Nothing.
Hexio blocked one strike with two fingers.
CLANG.
The light blade trembled.
"…Your power is real," Hexio said quietly.
"...But it lacks purpose."
He flicked his hand—
And Ryūsei was sent flying backward again.
THUD.
Ryūsei hit the ground hard.
Silence filled the field.
Kayosha took a step forward. "…Ryūsei…"
But he stood.
Slowly.
Shakily.
"…I'm not done yet."
The black ring pulsed faintly.
His breathing steadied.
His grip tightened.
"I don't need perfect control…"
Light began gathering again.
"But I won't lose either!"
The Photon Blade reformed—
Brighter than before.
This time—
Different.
The air around him shimmered.
Hexio's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Interesting."
Ryūsei dashed forward again—
But this time—
He didn't rush.
His movements slowed.
Focused.
Deliberate.
He watched.
Waited.
Adjusted.
Then—
He struck.
SLASH.
Hexio raised his hand—
But this time—
The blade grazed his sleeve.
A small tear formed.
Silence.
For the first time—
Hexio moved back.
"…You've changed your rhythm," he noted.
Ryūsei smirked slightly.
"…I'm learning."
The wind picked up again.
The duel wasn't over yet.
And for the first time—
Hexio looked… interested.
The torn fabric of Professor Hexio's sleeve fluttered gently in the wind.
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Even the spectators at the edge of the field held their breath.
Ryūsei Ryūgū stood across from him, chest rising and falling, his glowing blade still humming faintly in his hand. Sweat traced down the side of his face, but his eyes—
Were sharper now.
More focused.
More aware.
Professor Hexio glanced at his sleeve, then back at Ryūsei.
"…So you can learn mid-battle."
His voice was calm—but no longer indifferent.
Ryūsei smirked faintly, though his grip trembled slightly from exhaustion.
"…I told you. I'm not done yet."
A pause.
Then—
Hexio raised his hand.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The air grew heavier.
Denser.
Even the light itself seemed to bend slightly around him.
Yuki's eyes narrowed from the sidelines. "…He's getting serious."
Shizen clicked his tongue. "About time…"
Kayosha's hands tightened against her chest.
"…Ryūsei…"
Back on the field—
Particles of light began to gather around Hexio's fingertips.
Not like Ryūsei's.
Not wild.
Not unstable.
But precise.
Controlled.
Perfect.
"You've shown me your resolve," Hexio said quietly.
"Now…"
The light intensified.
"…I'll show you the difference between power and mastery."
His hand moved.
Not fast.
Not flashy.
Just—
Accurate.
"Light Art: Radiant Array."
For a split second—
Nothing happened.
Then—
The sky lit up.
Dozens—
No—
Hundreds of concentrated beams of light formed behind Hexio, hovering in the air like a silent constellation.
Each one sharp.
Condensed.
Deadly.
Ryūsei's eyes widened.
"…What the—"
"Go."
Hexio lowered his hand.
And the world exploded.
SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH—!!!
The barrage descended instantly.
Beams of light rained down like a storm, tearing through the field with overwhelming speed and precision.
Ryūsei reacted—
Barely.
He dashed to the side—
BOOM!
The ground where he stood moments ago erupted.
Another beam—
He blocked—
CLANG!
The Photon Blade trembled violently in his hand.
"Too slow."
Another beam struck his side—
THUD!
Ryūsei was thrown across the field, rolling across the dirt before barely catching himself.
He forced himself up—
Another barrage came.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The field shook.
Dust filled the air.
The sheer scale of the attack overwhelmed everything.
Ryūsei gritted his teeth.
"…Move…!"
He pushed forward—
Dodging—
Blocking—
Deflecting—
But it wasn't enough.
A beam struck his shoulder—
Then another—
Then three at once—
BOOM!
"—GHK!!"
His body slammed into the ground.
The Photon Blade flickered.
Almost gone.
The barrage stopped.
Silence returned.
Smoke slowly cleared from the battlefield.
At the center of it—
Ryūsei lay on one knee.
Breathing heavily.
His blade—
Gone.
His body—
Shaking.
Burn marks traced across his clothes, small cuts scattered along his arms.
Across from him—
Professor Hexio stood untouched.
Calm.
Unmoved.
"…That," Hexio said quietly, "is control."
Ryūsei stared at him.
Not in fear.
Not in defeat.
But in awe.
"…That was…"
His voice trembled.
"…amazing."
Hexio said nothing.
Ryūsei slowly pushed himself to his feet.
Every muscle screamed.
Every breath hurt.
But he stood.
"…I couldn't even see half of those attacks…"
He looked down at his hand.
At the faint glow still lingering.
"…Same element…"
"…Same light…"
His fist tightened.
"…But completely different."
He took a step forward.
Then another.
Slow.
Unsteady.
But deliberate.
"…I don't care if I'm weak right now."
Hexio watched him silently.
"I don't care if I can't control it yet."
Another step.
"I don't care how long it takes."
Ryūsei stopped a few meters away.
Then—
He lowered himself.
Not into a fighting stance.
But—
Onto one knee.
The entire field froze.
"…Please."
His voice was clear.
Sincere.
"…Teach me."
Kayosha's eyes widened.
Shizen blinked.
Even Yuki looked slightly surprised.
Ryūsei lowered his head.
"I want to learn how to use this power properly."
"I want to become stronger."
"So I can protect people."
"So I won't be too late again."
His voice tightened slightly at the last words.
"…So I won't regret it again."
Silence filled the field.
The wind passed gently between them.
Professor Hexio looked down at him.
At the boy who had charged recklessly into danger.
At the boy who had no control—
But undeniable resolve.
"…You lost the duel," Hexio said.
Ryūsei nodded.
"I know."
"…And yet you still ask me to train you."
"…Yes."
A pause.
Then—
Hexio stepped forward.
He stopped in front of Ryūsei.
"…Look at me."
Ryūsei lifted his head.
Their eyes met.
For a moment—
Nothing was said.
Then—
Hexio exhaled softly.
"…Very well."
Ryūsei's eyes widened.
"I will train you."
Kayosha's face lit up instantly.
Shizen smirked slightly. "Knew it…"
Yuki crossed her arms, though a faint hint of approval showed in her eyes.
Shadow chuckled. "That was more dramatic than expected."
Back at the center—
Ryūsei blinked.
"…Really?"
Hexio adjusted his glasses.
"Don't misunderstand."
His tone returned to its usual calm strictness.
"You didn't win."
"I simply chose to accept you as a student."
A slight pause.
"…Because you asked properly."
Ryūsei let out a small laugh.
"…I'll take it."
He stood up slowly, wincing slightly.
Hexio turned away.
"Training begins tomorrow at dawn."
"…Don't be late."
Ryūsei smiled.
"…I won't."
As Hexio walked away—
Ryūsei looked down at his hand again.
A faint light flickered.
Unstable.
Incomplete.
But now—
He finally had a path forward.
And this time—
He wouldn't waste it