The clang of mana-forged blades echoed across the training grounds. Sweat and sparks hung in the air as Alex, Riven, Kael, Saphira, and Edrin drilled through stances, each step humming with the rhythm of concentrated energy.
For the others, the training came easily, a return to instincts forged long before the academy. For Edrin, however, each motion felt like pushing against the tide. His strikes lacked weight, his mana flow stuttered and faltered, and frustration burned in his chest.
He staggered back, clutching his training blade. Why am I always behind? Why can't I keep up?
Kael clapped him on the shoulder, firm but kind. "Don't grit your teeth too hard, Edrin. Push through, but don't break yourself."
Riven tilted his head, lips quirking. "Cupcake, if Edrin winds himself any tighter, he's going to snap in half."
Alex gave him a glance sharp enough to silence him before returning to his stance with quiet focus.
The group resumed their drills, but Edrin's chest tightened. Each strike, each failed circulation of mana screamed at him. They're moving ahead… and I'm still struggling to stand beside them.
His breath shuddered. His mana pillars trembled, on the verge of collapse—when suddenly something inside shifted.
The pressure that had been crushing him cracked. Mana surged through him in a rush, not wild, not broken, but whole. It flowed in smooth currents, stabilizing his pillars and pushing past their former limit. His blade vibrated with light, arcs of raw power snapping across the training ground.
Everyone froze.
Saphira's eyes widened. "He's… breaking through."
The air around Edrin thickened, shimmering with the weight of his advancement. His aura expanded, sharper and more potent than before, lifting dust in a spiral around his feet. When it settled, he stood straighter, calmer, no longer the boy struggling to keep up but someone reborn.
Kael grinned proudly. "Well, look at that. Second-Tier Mana Practitioner. Guess he's been holding back more than we thought."
Riven gave a low whistle, smirk tugging at his lips. "Didn't think you had it in you, Edrin. Careful—you might actually make the rest of us sweat."
Edrin's hands trembled as he sheathed his blade, his voice breathless but steady. "I… I really advanced?"
"You did," Alex said, stepping closer. His voice carried none of envy, only warmth, the weight of someone who understood the struggle. "Breaking through isn't easy. Every wall feels impossible until it falls. Be proud, Edrin—you've earned this."
Edrin blinked at him, surprise softening into something like gratitude.
Kael crossed his arms, nodding. "And don't forget—strength isn't just about levels. Alex's cultivation is technically lower than most of us, but he can still contend with people stronger than him. That's talent and skill."
Alex allowed the faintest curve of a smile, polished nails catching the fading light. "Levels open doors. But how far you walk through them depends on what you do with the power you've gained."
The group exchanged glances, a silent current of pride and anticipation sparking between them. This wasn't just training anymore. With each step, each breakthrough, they were edging closer to something greater—something that would test not just their strength, but who they truly were.
Author's Note:
OH. MY. STARS. ✨ Edrin, my boy—you did it!! 😭🫶 I am literally squealing, kicking my feet, and twirling like the happiest fangirl alive right now. Watching you finally break through after all that struggle and effort?? I'm bursting with pride!! Breakthroughs aren't easy, and you've worked so hard for this moment. I'm so, so proud of you, and nobody can tell me otherwise. Protect Edrin at all costs!!! 💕