The air around Reeve was still.
Too still.
Mana flowed around his body in slow, deliberate circuits—no bursts, no pressure, no leakage.
It obeyed him now, not because he forced it to, but because it recognized him.
Kaelith watched from a distance, arms crossed.
"…That flow," he murmured.
"It's clean."
Reeve exhaled.
The mana didn't surge outward.
It folded back into him—perfectly contained.
Lunareth stepped forward.
"Good," she said.
"You've completed the first step."
Reeve looked at her.
"That was the simple part, wasn't it."
She smiled faintly.
"Yes."
Second Step — Elemental Efficiency
Lunareth raised her hand.
A small flame appeared above her palm.
"Before," she said, "when you used elements, you poured mana into them."
She closed her fingers.
The flame vanished—no heat left behind.
"That is wasteful."
She pointed at Reeve.
"Now—fire. Minimal output."
Reeve hesitated, then focused.
Instead of pushing mana outward, he shaped it, compressing it into a thin thread.
A flame appeared.
Small.
Sharp.
Stable.
It didn't flicker.
Lunareth nodded.
"That is how elements should be used.
Not force—definition."
She continued.
Water without overflow.
Air without turbulence.
Earth without excess mass.
Each element responded when Reeve gave it structure, not volume.
Sweat ran down his neck—but his mana reserves barely moved.
"…I'm not tired," Reeve said quietly.
"That's the point," Lunareth replied.
"You're no longer bleeding power."
From afar, Kaelith's gaze darkened slightly.
"…He's learning too fast."
Night — Reeve's Room
Reeve lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
The broken sword rested nearby, silent and dull.
"…Nyx."
[System — Nyx]
"Yes."
"What do I do with this sword?"
A pause.
[Nyx]
"I already told you."
Reeve sighed.
"And I already told you—death isn't an activation method."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
[Nyx]
"…Sleep."
"…You're avoiding the question."
No response.
Reeve turned on his side.
"Figures."
Sleep claimed him quickly.
Morning
Light filtered into the room.
Reeve opened his eyes.
Kaelith was standing near the window.
"…Good morning," Reeve said, startled.
Kaelith turned.
"Good morning."
There was a brief silence.
Then—
"We're going back to Grimfang Wastes."
Reeve sat up.
"…Why?"
Kaelith looked toward the door.
"Lunareth will explain on the way."
He walked out without another word.
Reeve stared after him, unease settling in his chest.
Grimfang again.
Nyx whispered softly—
[Nyx]
"…Be cautious."
Reeve stood.
"Yeah," he muttered.
"I figured."