Rell knew from an early age that some people were born with abilities others simply weren't.
That was the philosophy her parents had instilled in her since childhood, and her own power was proof of it.
Seraphine's smile tightened slightly.
To her, Rell's voice rang with the kind of confidence that only comes from natural talent.
Still, she couldn't deny it—talent was part of it.
"Anything else?" Seraphine asked gently.
"Effort matters too." Rell's lips curled into a faint smile as she thought for a moment.
"Talent sets the floor. Hard work determines the ceiling."
"And what does effort look like for you?" Seraphine asked, her tone light, warm.
A small victory sparked in her chest—she'd struck the right chord.
"Training. Strengthening my body. Learning to fight." Rell's voice was steady and full of resolve.
But deep inside, she still wrestled with shame—the kind born from the things she'd done to get stronger.
The killing. The forced magic extraction.
Seraphine's gaze softened.
"And... has it worked?"
Rell's mouth twitched, reluctance flashing in her eyes. After a moment of hesitation, she sighed.
"No."
She'd stopped fighting a while ago. The academy teachers had stopped pushing her.
And without the steady flow of magic she'd once relied on, she hadn't progressed at all.
"That's why you need proper guidance. Real study. Understanding how magic works—that's just as important as talent."
Seraphine offered her hand with a smile.
"Let's grow together. Step by step. Just like ordinary mages do."
She felt a pang of guilt as the words left her mouth.
She'd trained under two masters.
She'd seen too many mages fail—no amount of knowledge could replace the spark of raw power.
And reading magical theory? That, too, required talent.
Even reading the books was a gift.
"Alright," Rell said, gripping Seraphine's hand—her dark fingers wrapping around Seraphine's pale palm with quiet strength.
Seraphine led her to the front of the class. Though Rell was taller, Seraphine still stood confidently on the small stage.
She raised the platform a bit more with a flick of her magic and looked over the students.
"Alright, free time is over," she called out.
"We're starting with introductions. Let me get a headcount…"
She scanned the crowd and nodded, pleased.
"Twenty-four. Great. I know some of you already introduced yourselves. Now, organize yourselves into five groups based on magical affinity: Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, and a fifth for those with unique or unclassified talents."
Her voice was gentle but firm. The students moved quickly and were trained for efficiency—most of them were Noxian.
Seraphine glanced over the new formation. Just as expected, no one seemed confused.
Only four stood in the 'special magic' column with Rell.
The rest were mostly Wind and Fire users—twelve total between the two.
"Today's class is a demonstration, so we'll keep things simple," she said.
"To enter the magic division, you all had to show some level of talent."
She paused, letting her gaze settle on the group.
"But here's the truth: magic isn't just about innate ability. That's a myth."
A ripple of surprise passed through the crowd.
Even LeBlanc, observing from the edge, raised an eyebrow.
--------
Far away, in a floating fortress, Syndra and Ryan sat across from each other at a tea table. A water mirror shimmered beside them, showing the training field.
Further back, Kayle lay on an experimental platform, wings glowing faintly with dark energy.
A black orb above her pulsed steadily, feeding magic downward.
"Seraphine's talented," Syndra said softly, pouring tea for Ryan.
The young apprentice's progress had not gone unnoticed.
"She's like a blank page—absorbing knowledge at a remarkable rate. In some areas, she even grasps concepts faster than we did," Ryan remarked, his tone unusually thoughtful.
Syndra gave a small nod. "The more I observe, the more concerned I become. But you're right—she's the most suitable candidate."
Together, Syndra and Ryan had begun to redefine their understanding of magic after deeper study into the Void and the aspects of the Celestials.
And Seraphine—bright, earnest, and curious—had become the first to undertake the structured study of magic from a purely academic perspective.
She was no longer just a student. She would soon serve as a mentor, a bridge between ancient arcane knowledge and the next generation of the Empire's mages.
-----------
Back at the training field, Seraphine spoke to the class with clarity and confidence:
"Think of your body as a container. A person without magical talent is like a sealed jar—completely closed off. But those with magical affinity? They have an opening in that container."
She paced lightly across the platform, her voice calm and steady.
"That opening allows magic to flow in, to be stored. Once released, the magic leaves, but because the vessel is open, it can be replenished again."
From the crowd below, Rell raised her arm high.
"Yes, Rell?"
"If the body is a container, then the containers must come in different sizes. Does that explain differences in talent?" she asked seriously.
Seraphine nodded. "You're on the right track, but there's more to it. Magic talent includes two aspects: the size of the container, and the size of its opening."
"So…" Rell frowned slightly, thinking it through.
"A bigger opening means faster absorption and release of magic... and a bigger container means a higher capacity?"
"Exactly," Seraphine replied, smiling.
"We'll dive deeper into both of these aspects in later lessons."
She looked across the students, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Now—can anyone use this analogy to explain how magic is released?"
"Sister Seraphine! I'll do it!" Annie's voice rang out as she stepped forward, hugging her ever-present teddy bear.
Seraphine chuckled warmly. "Go ahead, Annie."
She always encouraged first-name terms in class—it kept things personal.
"To release magic," Annie said eagerly, "is like letting energy shoot out from the opening—like this!"
She raised her palm and aimed toward a nearby test dummy.
Whoosh!
A fireball flared into existence in her hand and launched forward, streaking through the air before smashing into the target.
A glowing inscription appeared over the dummy:
"Attack Strength: Medium."
"Yeah!" Annie cheered, practically bouncing in place.
Her classmates gave her impressed glances—some respectful, others tinged with envy.
It was the first spell Annie had successfully learned since Seraphine began teaching her proper magic control.
"Well done, Annie," Seraphine said, clapping.
"Great example—and great execution."
Annie lifted her chin proudly, looking very much like a victorious bear herself.
"The release of magic is tied to how energy flows from the 'mouth' of your container. Mastery comes from learning to sense that opening—and control it."
Seraphine paused, noticing several students deep in thought, some frowning as they tried to grasp the metaphor.
She clapped her hands again, lightly.
"Don't worry if it doesn't all make sense just yet. For those still struggling with control, I'll offer extra tutoring after class."
Then her tone shifted, becoming more enthusiastic.
"Now—on to our next topic."
She raised a hand, runes beginning to shimmer in the air around her.
"Rune Magic."