By common sense, Shion Lan must have been mad to continue serving his punishment when he could easily leave Karath Academy.
But Shion thought about it differently.
'I think it would be troublesome if I accepted such permission. We are talking about Director Tim Ayr—the only person with the authority to order even the king himself, and a man known for being extremely strict.
So why does he want me out?'
Shion carried a mountain of papers and handed them to one of the teachers.
'I think the director wants to know more about me, especially after I defeated Yossi Sano, who must be considered a talent even among my own people.
Instead of giving him another reason to doubt me, I should remain under his eyes and let him watch me directly.'
It wasn't as if Shion was open about his life.
His deepest secret was still his heritage...
The Veins Domain.
---
Director Tim Ayr was in his office, finishing his work while looking forward to an upcoming exchange event with Bimal Academy in the far east of the continent.
He wasn't concerned about Shion.
He was simply tired of thinking about him.
"I think he believes I'm watching him..."
Tim sighed.
He could sense Shion working somewhere inside the academy, but he shook his head.
"I was concerned about the head of the Shi family, but if Shion doesn't make him appear..."
He stopped for a moment before continuing.
"...then there's no reason for me to worry."
Tim entered his luxurious room and saw an old turtle resting quietly inside.
"I don't have to think too much about this."
He stretched and continued,
"The head of the Shi family is supposed to be the strongest person in the world. Yet he hasn't made a move, and he seems interested in Shion alone."
Tim sat down.
"If I'm unable to meet him directly, it will be difficult to understand what he's planning."
In the end, Tim simply lay down on his bed.
His thoughts drifted toward a girl he had been missing.
"I hope I can meet her this year..."
With that thought, Tim slowly fell asleep.
---
Shion returned to his room and immersed himself in the Veins Domain.
"..."
"..."
Neither of them spoke.
Silence was normal for Shi Yun Lan.
But Shion couldn't say a single word.
He was still remembering every detail of the... special time he had experienced through Shi Yun Lan.
'I think he'll actually kill me if he finds out what I did!'
Shion quickly ignored Shi Yun Lan and picked up several books and manuscripts concerning enhancement and movement techniques.
If the first three levels of Aura were concerned with releasing and collecting aura, then the next three levels should be concerned with controlling it.
He continued studying before finally asking,
"Shi Yun Lan?"
Shi Yun Lan looked at him.
"What do you want?"
Shion felt nervous, but he continued.
"What do you think are the best techniques for me?"
"...?"
Shi Yun Lan stared at him.
"Why are you asking me?"
Shion rubbed his head.
"You're at the Pillar Level, so I thought you could give me some advice."
"Our paths are different."
Shi Yun Lan pointed at him.
"You also possess knowledge of the human body. You should know your own path."
Shion didn't answer.
His body was different from Shi Yun Lan's, and...
'My body?'
A possibility suddenly occurred to him.
Shion walked toward an old technique and remembered one of the techniques that had once affected his physical form.
(Weapon Fundamentals).
He remembered the first techniques he had received from Shi Yun Lan when the other boy was still young.
A smile unconsciously appeared on Shion's face.
Using the basics of Weapon Fundamentals, Shion extracted one of his own techniques.
(Stellar Body).
"I think I know what to choose."
Shion returned to the books.
He picked up one from the Southern Continent—the world Shi Yun Lan had visited.
"(Solidification)."
He examined the technique carefully.
"It's a basic technique, but with my experience at the Pillar Level, I should be able to raise it to an intermediate technique using my knowledge of the human body."
Shion smiled awkwardly.
"Shi Yun Lan studied so hard, and I'm here taking advantage of all his knowledge. Don't feel bad!"
Shi Yun Lan didn't even turn toward him.
"It wasn't the first time."
Shion felt a little bitter.
But Shi Yun Lan continued,
"If my knowledge helps you become stronger, allowing you to defeat me and resolve this curse, then it won't be a problem."
Shion nodded seriously and began studying the technique.
"Solidification increases the body's physical durability, allowing you to block attacks with your bare hands."
He continued reading.
"Once mastered, the body becomes like a walking fortress that can't easily be harmed."
Shion then noticed its biggest disadvantage.
"But the body won't be able to move freely."
The thought of a body that couldn't be cut by swords made Shion happy.
But being unable to move properly was another matter.
"I have the solution."
Shi Yun Lan suddenly spoke.
He threw a book toward Shion.
Shion caught it.
"What is it?"
Shi Yun Lan didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Shion looked at the cover.
(Chasing the Wind).
"(Chasing the Wind)?"
He tried to remember where he had seen the technique before.
Then his eyes widened.
"Isn't it...?"
"Yes."
Shi Yun Lan closed his eyes.
"Lioga Un Suy's technique."
Shion wanted to ask more, but Shi Yun Lan showed no interest in continuing the conversation.
'Didn't the Lioga family use light techniques...?
Wait.
The Shi family uses more than just dark techniques too.'
Shion decided not to bother him anymore.
He returned to studying.
---
(Chasing the Wind).
After examining the technique, Shion's eyes lit up.
"It's a wind technique! Exactly what I need to create synergy with the earth technique, (Solidification)!"
He became increasingly excited.
"It can provide freedom of movement while allowing the wind to carry the body!"
He suddenly understood.
"That's why Shi Yun Lan couldn't kill him immediately!"
Shion continued praising the technique, already imagining countless ways to improve his other techniques.
But eventually, he decided to leave the domain and sleep.
---
"Shion?"
The Star Instructor, Ryan Shine, watched Shion completing his assigned missions with ease.
But he had noticed something.
"The wind, huh?"
Asin Night suddenly appeared beside Ryan.
"I can't understand that boy."
He looked toward Shion.
"I think he's using his punishment as training. Am I wrong?"
"No."
Ryan answered immediately.
"I think he's training his body."
He paused.
"You know. Normal work."
Shion was taking care of the academy's gardens, delivering documents to the instructors, and performing various other tasks.
Asin looked at Ryan.
"As his master, you should train him."
Ryan sneered.
"I'm not qualified to be his master."
He pointed toward Shion.
"I mean... look at him."
Shion was walking back toward his wing.
Yet the air around him was still moving.
Asin narrowed his eyes.
"Do you think Shion will be able to reach the fifth level this year?"
Ryan remained silent for a moment.
"...I want to say no. That's the common sense."
He looked at Shion.
"But he's unpredictable."
Then he turned toward Asin.
"You think he can do it?"
"Absolutely."
Shion noticed their gazes.
'I can ask them for training.
But first, I have to form my wind star.'
---
Shion raised the level of his Stellar Body and reached the fourth level.
How had he done it?
He had already been capable of reaching this level.
But he had considered it pointless without proper techniques, so he had remained at the second level of Stellar Body.
Now, however, things were different.
Shion looked deep within himself and saw the stardust formed from the green wind and yellow earth.
But he shook his head.
"I think I have to use magic too."
He considered the problem.
"It's very difficult to advance through the common method. So I'll learn other spells as well."
After reaching his wing, Shion sat on his bed.
"The complicated circles of wind and earth should work like a booster."
He began thinking.
"I already have powerful spells and attacks. Now I'm focusing on movement and body enhancement."
He closed his eyes.
"Let's see..."
Multiple spells passed through Shion's mind.
With his Mage's Mind at the fourth level, he could understand every spell and see through its structure.
"It must be these."
His consciousness entered the Stellar Domain.
There, he saw red and blue stars connected by countless lines, each connection revealing powerful techniques and spells.
Above them was a green sky that was still in the process of forming.
Below them was a yellow space upon which Shion could walk.
"When I was in the Southern Continent, I discovered something different..."
Shion focused on the yellow space.
"The Southern Continent focuses more on enhancement and movement because of the beasts and monsters they have to face."
He continued,
"In contrast, the Northern Continent focuses more on the structure of techniques, making them difficult to learn and difficult for opponents to predict."
Lines began appearing across the yellow space and the green sky.
"I just have to make it simple and stable."
The lines moved.
They began forming complicated circles.
Back in reality, Shion opened his eyes and focused on the equations required to construct them.
A green circle and a yellow circle appeared in his hands.
They were simple.
But Shion added more details, as if he were reconstructing the foundations from the beginning.
"Well..."
He frowned.
"It's hard."
The lines suddenly became tangled.
The circle collapsed.
Shion sighed.
"I think I'll have to ask the Magic Tower for help."
He remembered Rona Flair.
Then he decided to ask her for a favor.
---
Inside the Magic Tower, an assessment was being held for magicians specializing in research, the creation of new spells, and solving long-standing problems.
Amy, the head of the Magic Tower, looked over the work of her disciples.
She was frustrated.
"Booooring!"
She found nothing interesting.
Everything was ordinary.
The new spells were simply improved versions of old ones, adding nothing truly new to their structure or applications.
Amy wanted to leave.
But suddenly, her disciple, Rona Flair, approached her with two sheets of paper and a strange expression on her face.
"Ammmm..."
Amy looked at her.
"What is going on?"
Rona didn't answer.
Instead, she handed her the papers.
Amy looked at them.
'What's wrong with her? I haven't seen her like this before...'
"Hmm?"
Her expression changed.
The papers contained two spells.
(Condensation).
(Pressure).
Their structures and circles were extraordinary, covered in complicated layers and patterns.
Amy stared at them.
"I don't think you could produce something like this."
She looked at Rona.
"Where did you find them?"
Rona answered,
"Lord Lan."
Amy's eyes narrowed.
"He sent me these spells and asked for help simplifying them."
Amy immediately abandoned the assessment.
"I can tell..."
She stared at the equations.
"These spells are actually simple at their core, but..."
Rona nodded.
"I know what you mean."
She pointed toward one of the equations.
"The basics are easy to understand, and Lord Lan can understand them too."
Her expression became more serious.
"But if we look deeper, we can find patterns and variables."
She pointed at another section.
"Lord Lan wrote this equation. It's more accurate and simpler than mine."
Rona shook her head.
"I don't know how he created it."
Amy thought for a moment.
"Don't forget that he has a master—the Radiant Star."
She shrugged.
"Maybe his master helped Shion and gave him this equation to help us understand it."
Rona became enthusiastic.
She would finally have the opportunity to analyze the spell alongside her master and perhaps learn something new.
She was still thinking about the spell (Paths of Fire).
She had already found a great use for it.
It had allowed her to restructure her own spells so she could control them more freely instead of simply throwing them.
Amy smiled.
"Well, let's get into the office."
She grabbed the papers.
"We aren't leaving until we understand these."
"Yes!"
The two of them entered the office and began studying the spells.
---
Two months passed.
Shion wandered through the academy with nothing left to do after finishing his work for the day.
He stopped and looked at his hands.
"There's still..."
The aura around his body was incredibly heavy.
It was difficult to circulate, as if he were carrying a mountain on his shoulders.
At the same time, he was using (Chasing the Wind) to move his body freely.
Yet even after all his efforts, Shion finally sighed.
"I think it'll take more time."