Casting a glance toward the cottage. "Time to head back." He yawned.
Stepping inside, the warm aroma of freshly baked bread and food awaited him. At the table, Elvira and Eleanor sat, eating breakfast as the golden rays of light began to filter in through the windows.
Eleanor lifted her gaze, her eyes as unreadable as ever."You're back."
Elvira only nodded. "Early, too. I take it you've made some progress?"
Vergil smirked. "I think, I've got them to at least function."
Eleanor took another bite of bread, keepin her eyes down."I hope so."
Elvira only let out a soft sigh, pushing back her chair. "Come outside."
Without another word, Vergil stepped back outside, Eleanor followed behind, watching.
"Get started then," Elvira said once clear of the cottage. "Show me what you've been working on."
Vergil raised his palm flat, a huge of mana pulsed from his heart to the veins, humming.
"First, Ember Spark."
A flicker of orange light emerged dancing from his palm to his fingertips, before bursting into a small yet concentrated flame. Hissing as it spiked a nearby rock, leaving a faint scorch.
Elvira gave a nod of approval. "Good, control is efficient and not wasteful."
Eleanor tilted her head slightly. "It's only a spark."
Vergil said nothing, already drawing mana once more.
"And this one, Frost Touch."
The air around his palm chilled instantly this time. Frost shimmered along his fingers, spreading across his hand like a plague, as he reached toward a branch. The moment he touched it, ice bloomed across the wood in a quiet, crystalline sheet.
Elvira narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. "Subtle. You mastered it to a basic degree. Very useful if you know when to apply it."
Eleanor stepped closer, examining the frozen branch. "Better. At least it's not another fire trick. Impressive."
Vergil smirked. "You're too hard to impress."
Eleanor's tone was flat. "You need to earn it."
Elvira turned back toward the cottage. "If you're going to keep developing spells like that, I'll need to teach you proper core management. Otherwise, you'll burn through it before you realize."
"I'm ready," Vergil spoke.
Eleanor said nothing, but her gaze lingered on the frost coating his hand a moment longer before turning away.
"Come inside," Elvira said, waving him in. "I'll prepare something simple to stabilize your core. You'll need it if you plan to keep stacking spells like this."
Vergil followed, casting a brief glance toward Eleanor. She had already taken a seat by the window, arms folded, eyes distant. The cold light filtering through the glass reflected in her gaze.
"You don't like being impressed, huh?" he asked casually.
She didn't look at him. "I don't like wasted potential."
Vergil paused, then let out a dry breath. Half scoff, half laugh. "Me neither.."
Elvira was already gathering herbs from a shelf, her movements efficient and precise.
"Ember Spark's a solid starting point," she said. "Work on refining its shape next. Power comes second. As for Frost Touch, don't get too confident. Without control, you'll end up freezing your own nerves."
"I'll be careful," Vergil replied, watching her grind the herbs into a fine powder.
"You always say that," Eleanor muttered.
This time, he didn't answer. Instead, he leaned against the wall, frost still trailing faintly from his fingertips, thoughts already drifting to what came next.
Elvira poured the powder into a pot of water and set it over the flame. "Drink this. It'll ease the strain on your mana channels."
Vergil took the cup and sipped. Bitter. Sharp. But it spread warmth through his chest.
[Your mana channels are strengthening.]
"Bitter," he whispered.
Elvira nodded. "Good. I want to see how your body holds up under pressure now."
Eleanor rose, her voice sharp and cutting through the quiet like ice. "Don't expect me to be impressed just because you sparked and froze a stick. Half-baked tricks like that only do so much."
Vergil shot her a sideways glance, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You don't have to be so blunt about it though."
"Just the hard truth," she replied coolly. "If you can't handle it, don't ask for my opinions."
"Like hell I asked." he murmured.
Elvira let out a soft sigh. "Enough, Eleanor."
"I'm just being honest," Eleanor said, turning her back. "If he wants to get stronger, praising him won't do much."
Vergil didn't reply. He drained his drink, set the cup down, and stepped toward the door.
"Alright," he said, voice steady, though a flicker of fire danced in his eyes. "Let me show you what this half-baked trick can really do."
The wind outside had picked up, carrying the morning chill. As they stepped into the open air, Vergil lifted his hand. Ember Spark bloomed in his palm now small, searing, alive. Frost Touch laced his fingers on the other hand, cold mist coiling gently around his knuckles.
He stood with both flame and frost in hand, then looked to Elvira.
"I'm ready."
She stepped forward, gaze calm but sharp. "Show me control first. Hold both. Keep them stable."
Vergil nodded.
Ember Spark danced in his right hand, flickering with raw heat. Frost Touch swirled across his left—spirals of cold mist rising from his skin. Opposing forces. One misstep, and they'd collide.
The air shimmered with tension.
Eleanor leaned against the fence, arms crossed. "Let's see if he lasts ten seconds."
Vergil exhaled slowly. The frost hissed. The spark flared. But both held steady. His mana heart beating heavy.
Five seconds. Seven. Ten. Fifteen.
Sweat began tracing down his temple.
Elvira gave a small nod. "Good. Now—release."
He thrust his right hand forward. Ember Spark shot out, striking a tree stump with a sharp flash. Heat scorched the wood. A moment later, Frost Touch followed, ice rushing over the blackened bark, hissing as steam rose into the cold air freezing it.
Vergil lowered his hands, exhaling hard.
Elvira raised an eyebrow. "That's enough for today."
He gave a quiet nod.
Eleanor scoffed as she turned away. "Guess you didn't collapse after all."
Vergil didn't answer. He just watched the steam curl into the sky before following them back toward the cottage, the weight of effort still heavy in his limbs.
As they neared the door, he turned to Eleanor. "We're leaving soon. But before that, I'm getting you a weapon. You'll need something for defense."
Eleanor met his gaze and gave a curt nod. "Got it, Vergil."