"A sword cuts because it is swung. A spell exists because it is understood. A Magi Sword must master both."— The Law of Harmony
The clang of steel echoed across the Royal Academy.
Students filled the massive training grounds before sunrise.
Some practiced sword forms.
Others meditated while gathering mana.
A few sat beneath trees, reading spellbooks.
For the first time since arriving in Namidia...
Alen felt like a real Academy student.
Professor Seraphine walked onto the field carrying two swords.
One was beautifully engraved.
The other was plain steel.
She raised the ordinary blade.
"This sword."
"It has no magic."
"No enchantments."
"No legendary history."
She then lifted the ornate weapon.
"This one belonged to a Hero."
"It has slain dragons."
"It has ended wars."
The students stared in awe.
Without warning...
She threw the legendary sword to the ground.
CLANG!
"What makes these weapons different?"
No one answered.
She pointed toward Alen.
"Mr. Beta."
He thought for a moment.
"The person holding them."
Seraphine smiled.
"Exactly."
"The weapon is only as strong as its wielder."
The morning lesson focused on the basic stance of the Magi Sword.
Feet shoulder-width apart.
Center of gravity low.
Mana circulating evenly throughout the body.
Alen copied every movement carefully.
Professor Seraphine stopped beside him.
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"You learn quickly."
"I make a lot of mistakes."
"So does everyone."
"The difference..."
"...is that you study your mistakes."
By midday, Professor Rowan arrived carrying several old spellbooks.
"Combat without magic is incomplete."
"Magic without discipline is reckless."
He placed a beginner's spellbook in front of every student.
Today's lesson:
Mana Flow.
"Before you cast a spell..."
"You must first understand where your mana travels."
Students closed their eyes.
Blue streams of mana slowly appeared around their bodies.
Lyria's mana flowed like a peaceful river.
Darius's burned like fire.
When Alen focused...
He froze.
His mana wasn't blue.
It wasn't any color.
It shimmered like clear glass.
Almost invisible.
Flowing through him like liquid light.
The System appeared.
[Mana Signature Identified.]
Natural Mana
Status: Extremely Rare
The notification disappeared before anyone noticed.
Professor Rowan walked between the students.
When he reached Alen...
He stopped.
"...Interesting."
"Your mana doesn't resist itself."
Alen looked up.
"What does that mean?"
"Most people's mana has an elemental preference."
"Yours..."
"...hasn't chosen."
That afternoon...
Students were asked to practice their first spell once again.
"Igneus Fera Sol."
Small flames appeared throughout the training yard.
Alen quietly whispered the traditional incantation.
Nothing happened.
He frowned.
He understood the spell.
But the words felt...
Empty.
Professor Rowan noticed.
"Still having trouble?"
"...Yes."
"That's perfectly normal."
Class ended.
Most students left.
Alen remained behind.
He looked around.
No one was watching.
He quietly whispered.
"...Ignite."
A perfect flame appeared instantly.
Golden.
Steady.
Silent.
It floated above his hand.
Consuming almost no mana.
Alen immediately extinguished it.
"...I definitely can't tell anyone."
The System chimed.
[Decision Approved.]
[Knowledge is safest before it is understood.]
As Alen returned to his dormitory...
He noticed someone standing beneath the Academy's oldest oak tree.
An elderly groundskeeper swept fallen leaves into a neat pile.
He looked ordinary.
Simple brown clothes.
Weathered hands.
Kind eyes.
As Alen walked past, the old man spoke without looking up.
"The earth likes you."
Alen stopped.
"...What?"
The old man smiled faintly.
"It has been lonely."
Before Alen could ask another question...
A group of students passed between them.
When Alen looked back...
The groundskeeper was gone.
Not walking away.
Gone.
Only the neatly swept leaves remained.
That night...
Alen searched the Academy records.
There was no groundskeeper matching the old man's description.
No staff member.
No gardener.
Nothing.
Lyria laughed.
"Maybe you imagined him."
"...Maybe."
But deep inside...
Alen knew he hadn't.
Far beneath the Academy...
One of the ancient stone statues smiled.
For the first time in thousands of years.
The Earth Law had chosen to speak directly.
Not as a whisper.
But through one of its oldest servants.
The first guide had finally revealed himself.
The path toward true understanding had begun.
End of Chapter 14