The next morning, Arix returned to the clearing.
His legs were still sore from yesterday.
Every step reminded him of the hours Veyr had spent correcting his stance, balance, and movement.
He didn’t like the soreness.
But he didn’t complain.
Yesterday had taught him something.
Being able to survive a fight didn’t mean he actually knew how to fight.
And if he wanted to become stronger, he had a lot to learn.
Veyr was already waiting beneath the tree.
Arix looked around.
There was no wooden target.
No obstacle.
No creature.
Not even the stick from yesterday.
Arix looked at Veyr.
“So what are we doing today?” “Sit.” Arix blinked.
“That’s the training?” “For now.” Arix sighed and sat beneath the tree.
Veyr remained standing.
“Yesterday, you learned how to move.” Arix nodded.
“Today, you need to understand something more important.” “What?” “Strength.” Arix immediately became interested.
Veyr picked up a small stone from the ground.
“Your body is one way to become strong.” He tossed the stone lightly into the air.
“Strength.
Speed.
Endurance.
Reflexes.
All of these can be trained.” Arix looked at his arms.
“So I just train my body.” “You could.” Arix frowned.
“Could?” “There are other ways.” Arix looked up.
“Like what?” Veyr held the stone between two fingers.
“Mana.” Arix stared at it.
Nothing happened at first.
Then a faint glow surrounded Veyr’s fingers.
The stone lifted from his hand.
Arix’s eyes widened.
The stone hovered in the air for a few seconds before dropping back into Veyr’s palm.
Arix immediately leaned forward.
“What was that?” “Mana.” “How did you do that?” “I used it.” “I can see that.” Veyr looked at him.
Arix pointed at the stone.
“I mean, what is mana?” “Energy.” “Energy that makes things float?” “That is one thing it can do.” “What else?” “Many things.” Arix’s eyes lit up.
“Like?” “Spells.
Reinforcement.
Manipulation.
There are many applications.” Arix stared at the stone.
“So anyone can use it?” “No.” “Why?” “People aren’t all the same.” Arix waited for more.
Nothing came.
“That’s all?” “For now.” Arix frowned.
“You really don’t like explaining things.” “I explain what you need to know.” “And I don’t need to know the rest?” “Not yet.” Arix wasn’t satisfied.
But before he could ask another question, Veyr placed the stone on the ground.
“Mana isn’t the only way.” Arix looked up.
“Then what’s the other way?” “Aura.” Veyr picked up the wooden stick lying nearby.
He held it loosely in one hand.
There was no glow this time.
No obvious change.
Then Veyr squeezed the stick.
A sharp crack echoed through the clearing.
The wood broke in his hand.
Arix stared.
“You didn’t use mana?” “No.” “Then what was that?” “Aura.” Arix walked over and picked up one of the broken pieces.
He examined it.
There was no flame.
No light.
Nothing he could see.
Yet the stick had broken with almost no effort.
“What does aura do?” “It can strengthen the body and affect the things around it.” Arix looked at his own hands.
“So it’s like mana?” “Similar in some ways.” “Then which one is stronger?” “Neither.” Arix frowned.
“How can neither be stronger?” “They’re different.” Arix thought about that.
“So someone using mana isn’t automatically stronger than someone using aura.” “Correct.” “And someone using aura isn’t automatically stronger than someone using mana.” “Correct.” Arix nodded slowly.
That made sense.
Veyr continued.
“There is another form of energy.” Arix looked up again.
“What?” “Spirit energy.” Arix blinked.
“Spirit energy?” “Yes.” “What does it do?” “Different things.” “Like?” “You’ll learn later.” Arix stared at him.
“Again?” “Yes.” Arix dropped his head.
Veyr continued.
“Mana, aura, and spirit energy are not the only ways people become strong.” Arix looked up.
“There’s more?” “Yes.” “What?” Veyr counted them off one at a time.
“Some are born with special bloodlines.” Arix tilted his head.
“Bloodlines?” “Something inherited through your blood.” “Like from your parents?” “Sometimes.” “What can they do?” “Depends on the bloodline.” Arix waited.
Veyr said nothing.
“That’s it?” “For now.” Arix sighed.
Veyr continued.
“Some gain blessings.” “From who?” “That depends.” “What do blessings do?” “They can grant power or abilities.” Arix’s eyes sharpened.
“Can anyone get one?” “No.” “Why?” “You’ll learn later.” Arix looked at him suspiciously.
“You’re doing that on purpose.” “Yes.” Arix sighed.
“What else?” “Curses.” Arix’s expression changed.
“Curses?” “Yes.” “What do they do?” “Depends.” “Are they bad?” “Not always.” Arix paused.
That answer caught his attention.
“Not always?” Veyr simply continued.
“Artifacts.” Arix immediately became interested again.
“Like magic weapons?” “Among other things.” “Can they make someone stronger?” “Yes.” “How strong?” “Depends on the artifact.” Arix nodded.
“And summoning?” Veyr looked at him.
“You already know about summoning?” Arix shook his head.
“You just said it.” Veyr nodded.
“Summoning is another method.” “What is it?” “Calling something through a contract or technique.” “Like a monster?” “Possibly.” “A person?” “Possibly.” “Then what can you summon?” “Many things.” Arix stared at him.
Veyr stared back.
Arix slowly narrowed his eyes.
“I’m going to get the ‘you’ll learn later,’ aren’t I?” “Yes.” Arix groaned.
“You really enjoy that.” “A little.” Arix sat back.
For a while, he didn’t speak.
He tried putting everything together.
His body.
Mana.
Aura.
Spirit energy.
Bloodlines.
Blessings.
Curses.
Artifacts.
Summoning.
There were so many different ways to become strong.
And those were only the things Veyr had actually bothered to mention.
Arix looked at him.
“Then which one is the strongest?” Veyr didn’t answer immediately.
He looked toward the trees.
Then back at Arix.
“The strongest?” “Yes.” “The one you master.” Arix frowned.
“That’s it?” “That’s it.” “But if someone has more power—” “Power doesn’t matter if they can’t use it.” Arix went quiet.
Veyr picked up the broken piece of wood.
“Imagine two people.” He held the piece in one hand.
“One has enormous power but doesn’t understand it.” He dropped the wood.
“The other has far less but knows exactly how to use what they have.” Arix thought about yesterday.
His own fight.
He had been weaker than the creature.
But he had found a way to survive.
“Then the second one could win.” “Yes.” Arix nodded.
“So having something isn’t enough.” “No.” “You need to control it.” “Yes.” “And understand it.” “Yes.” Arix looked down.
He suddenly remembered how easily Veyr had dodged his attacks yesterday.
Veyr had barely needed any strength.
Arix had simply been too inexperienced.
The thought irritated him.
But this time, it didn’t make him angry.
It made him curious.
“If I learn mana…” “You’ll need control.” “If I learn aura?” “Control.” “Spirit energy?” “Control.” “My body?” “Control.” Arix smiled slightly.
“So everything is about control.” “Not everything.” The smile disappeared.
“Then what else?” “Understanding.” Arix remained silent.
Veyr placed the broken wood on the ground.
“You don’t need to know everything today.” Arix looked at him.
“But you need to understand what you don’t know.” Arix stared at the ground.
That sounded familiar.
Yesterday, he had learned that the environment could be part of a fight.
Today, he was learning that strength itself wasn’t as simple as he thought.
There wasn’t one road.
There were many.
And knowing which road to take was something he would have to figure out himself.
Arix stood.
“So when do I learn mana?” “Later.” Arix sighed.
“Of course.” Veyr pointed toward the clearing.
“Move.” Arix started walking.
His stance still wasn’t perfect.
His balance still wasn’t perfect.
But his mind was different.
Every movement made him think.
Every mistake made him question why.
And every unanswered question stayed in the back of his mind.
Mana.
Aura.
Spirit energy.
Bloodlines.
Blessings.
Curses.
Artifacts.
Summoning.
There were things in this world Arix had never even imagined.
He didn’t know which ones he would learn.
He didn’t know which ones he could use.
He didn’t know what he would eventually become capable of.
But for the first time, Arix understood something important.
Strength wasn’t a single path.
It was a world of possibilities.
And he had only just stepped into it.