Now, in this world, there are things we can control, and there are things we cannot.
This is an undeniable fact.
And no matter what, a person can not be on guard most of the time while doing whatever they want.
Sometimes, we would need to focus, we would need to put everything into one place, and that time would be our most defenseless state in a sense.
These were my thoughts the moment I sensed someone’s presence before me after I collapsed.
The cheerful, annoying girl, our club president, and strong senior. Those would be the words that would define her from my eyes.
However, undoubtedly, she was one of the most talented people in this world. Being the first rank of the second year and achieving it overwhelmingly was something that was not very easy to do.
Even with talent alone, you can’t do that; you need to put in work as well.
However, the idea of someone watching me while training is something that will, of course, make me uncomfortable. After all, I am a person who dislikes being around others, which also means others being around me.
Therefore, at first, I was slightly angry that she was watching me.
“I see….But, then, why are you training on the open field if you don’t want to show your skills?”
Hearing those words, I couldn’t refute it. I also didn’t have the energy to do so. After all, constantly sparring with a dummy for at least 3 hours straight was something hard.
My body was tattered, my muscles were screaming at me, there were some veins that protruded up, and my breathing was ragged.
But, while I was talking with Maya, even if the topic was slightly soft, I learned that when she got serious, she was really someone to take note of.
She was experienced, and she was smart enough to make use of her experience. The way she gave me feedback was certainly true.
“Hey, if you’re interested, I can help you with your mana control skills,”
But, it was those words that made me surprised. Helping someone out of the blue was not something any person would normally do.
Therefore, like any logical person would do, I thought she was looking for something from me. Nobody would be without anything to gain, especially for a task that requires this much time.
But then, when I asked it, the answer I got was something I was not expecting.
“Consider it a repayment, Junior.”
“So, if you let me, I’d like to help you refine your mana control. And in return, you’ll be helping me challenge myself again, just like you did today.”
She was talking about challenging herself and her drive, and this was not something that was in the game.
Senior Maya didn’t have much screen time, so I didn’t know her character aside from the surface she had put on.
But, this was not a game, so everyone had their own life and own experiences.
‘This is not an opportunity I can miss.’
This was all I could think of. In the end, the biggest thing I was lacking was my mana control; therefore, learning from the best the academy could offer was something I could not refuse.
So, I just accepted the offer.
******
Maya Evergreen.
A girl with a slightly different common sense than others.
But even then, she was not a girl with a bad nature. Rather, considering her actions, one could even say that she is a good person.
Her existence is someone who lightens everyone around her with her own shine.
Therefore, she was undoubtedly one of the most influential students in the academy. It was not because of her family, nor was it because of her rank.
It was because of a good personality and good interpersonal communication.
“So, this is the Elemental Chamber,” Astron mumbled as both he and Maya entered there.
The Elemental Chamber lay before them, its entrance marked by an intricately carved archway that seemed to pulse with a faint glow.
It was like LED lights illuminating the surroundings, but in fact, they were all mana psions that had taken the attribute of the special element.
It was a place reserved only for high-ranking students of the academy, a privilege earned through hard work and dedication to their studies.
Maya stepped into the Elemental Chamber with an excited grin, her blue eyes lighting up with a mixture of anticipation and familiarity.
She turned to Astron and spoke with a touch of enthusiasm in her voice, “Yep, this is the Elemental Chamber! It’s one of the gems of the academy. Not many students get the chance to access this place.”
This place was like her own home since she spent most of her time here, improving her mana and practicing her magic.
Astron glanced around, taking in the ethereal atmosphere of the chamber. The walls seemed to pulse with a soft, ever-changing light, and the air felt charged with energy. He was clearly intrigued, though he maintained his usual calm exterior.
Even though he used this place in the game, most of the time, the process of training was skipped with a cutscene, so he didn’t pay much attention to it. But now that he was here, his senses could pick up the clear and pure mana around here.
“Exactly,” Maya continued, noticing Astron’s curiosity. “This place is special because of the mana psions that fill the air. These are no ordinary mana particles; they’re infused with the essence of different elements – fire, water, earth, wind, and more. It’s like being surrounded by a symphony of mana.”
She extended her hand towards the glowing archway, her fingers nearly brushing the intricate carvings. “The Elemental Chamber is where students with advanced mana control come to refine their skills further. The dense and diverse mana here challenges us to adapt and enhance our control.”
Astron’s interest was piqued. “So, being exposed to these dense mana psions helps improve our control?”
Maya nodded, her expression becoming more serious as she explained, “Exactly. When you practice your techniques in an environment with higher mana density, it’s like trying to walk against a stronger current. It forces you to adjust and refine your control, making your manipulation of mana even more precise.”
Hearing this, Astron nodded his head. “This makes sense.” Also, considering the time Demon King descended on the world, he knew mana was bound to get denser and denser on the planet.
The way Developers explained this was that all mana from different dimensions would flow through there just like the time of Nexus Convergence, thus resulting in a higher mana density. But that is for the future.
But, one thing bothered his mind. “Why is this place called Elemental Chamber if it is filled with a dense amount of mana? Can’t they simply call it Mana Chamber?”
It was a question that made sense. After all, not all types of mana were elemental. There were types of unique mana psions like Sylvie’s light, darkness, void, space, time, telekinesis, and many others. Skills were diverse, traits were diverse, not specifically limited to elemental types alone, and still, they consumed mana.
“You are right, but only if this place only had dense mana.”
“So, you mean this place has more to offer?”
“Exactly.” Maya chuckled at Astron’s question, clearly anticipating it. “You’ve got a sharp mind, Astron. And you’re right; this place isn’t just about general mana density. It’s called the Elemental Chamber because, within this chamber, there are specific rooms dedicated to the different elements. Each of these rooms is infused with a much higher concentration of specific elemental mana.”
Astron’s eyebrows raised in curiosity. “So, there are rooms where the density of a certain elemental mana is even higher?”
Maya nodded, her excitement evident. “Exactly! Let’s say you want to focus on enhancing your control over fire mana. You’d step into the Fire Chamber. The air there is practically crackling with intense fire mana. This allows you to immerse yourself in the nuances of that element, adjusting your control and techniques accordingly.”
Astron’s expression became contemplative. “So, it’s like targeted training for specific elemental skills.”
Maya clapped her hands together in approval. “You’ve got it! For mages who specialize in specific elements, these chambers are a godsend. They’re like a controlled environment where you can fine-tune your abilities, test new techniques, and refine your understanding of that particular element.”
Astron’s eyes glinted with understanding. “And I’m assuming each of these chambers has its own unique challenges and obstacles to overcome.” 𝞸𝒱xt.𝗰𝚘𝑚
Maya’s smile widened. “Exactly! Water currents in the Water Chamber, shifting earth formations in the Earth Chamber, gusts of air in the Air Chamber—you name it. Each room replicates specific scenarios that you might face in real battles. It’s not just about control, but about adapting your skills to real-world situations.”
Hearing all those things, Astron could easily see why Arcadia Hunter Academy revered this highly. This amount of preparation was not something that was easily done, and it certainly required appreciation.
“They certainly considered quite a lot of things, aren’t they?” Astron mumbled, looking at the glowing walls. He was already feeling the dense amount of mana around the atmosphere, and this was slowly starting to pressure him.
“They did indeed. Now, do you see why this place is this sought after?”
“I do. After all, it is not simply refining your control over a simple element. You can also prepare yourself for specific situations where a dungeon is filled with one type of mana psions alone.”
Maya’s eyes sparkled with approval as Astron grasped the significance of the Elemental Chamber’s design. “You’ve got it exactly, Astron. It’s not just about mastering elements in isolation. It’s about becoming a versatile mage who can excel in diverse scenarios. And you’re spot-on about dungeons – there are places where a specific type of mana psions dominates the environment due to a unique dungeon’s characteristics.”
Maya continued. “So, let’s say there’s a dungeon with dense darkness mana. A mage who has trained extensively in the Darkness Chamber here would have a significant advantage in that dungeon, as they’re already accustomed to working with such mana.”
As they continued their conversation, Maya led Astron through the various chambers, explaining the intricacies of each one.
To be honest, even Astron was tempted to raise his rank inside the academy after seeing all those facilities here.
He knew the dorm rooms also had a lot better functions as the rank of the students increased, but he didn’t know the Elemental Chamber had such a wide range of functionality.
It was truly a good experience.
“Now, let’s stop with this and waste no more time,” Maya replied. Since she used her own card and her first-ranked student privilege to enter this place while it was empty, she didn’t want to waste any more time. “You have already composed yourself, right?”
The reason why Maya didn’t start training with Astron immediately was not because she wanted to waste time touring. It was because Astron was both mentally and physically tired, so she wanted to give him some time to prepare.
“Yes, I am ready.” And Astron also knew this. After all, he was an expert at reading others, and Maya didn’t hide it either.
“Then, come with me.” With those words, Maya slowly made her way toward the place she mostly occupied. “We will start from the very basics.”
While her aura suddenly changed from easygoing to ferocious.
“I won’t go easy on you, so make sure you are listening to me well.”
It was the first time Astron would see how different a person could be…..
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You can check my discord if you want. You can see the illustrations of characters there.
The link to the discord server is in the description of the book.