"You forget that your talent grade is also of use. You aren't like the normal grade cultivators." Milly narrowed her eyes at Reith.

She wondered where he had been taught. This was basic knowledge.

If only she knew that Reith wasn't the type to attend classes. He had spent most of his time working for money to fend for the orphans in the orphanage.

"So you are saying, it's because of my talent grade." Reith raised a brow.

Milly nodded, crossing her arms across her chest. "How does it feel when you release your energy?"

"Like a rush."

Placing her finger under her chin, Milly cocked her head. "When firing a technique, cultivators shape the energy released, and they do this by chanting spells from the technique scrolls. Do you understand?"

Reith nodded slowly. He was also wondering how such a small looking girl was able to have so much knowledge.

"But I haven't seen you chant any spells. I think that's where your problem lies. You are able to still use your technique even when you don't chant. Quite faster too. I'm curious about it."

She walked closer and sat near him. Reith drew back a bit, contemplating if he should tell her about his style of firing techniques.

Why was this girl even interested in him?

But when he thought about it, it wasn't like Ruach forbade him from telling anybody.

So it took around a minute to explain it to her, and he was surprised at how fast she learnt it. She had to be some sort of prodigy.

Maybe one from another city in the region. But he had never seen her in the academy. Was she under a different class and teacher?

"Oh, I understand. You imagine the technique and then the energy simply forms the image. That's cool," Milly said, but there was an expressionless look on her face.

Milly picked herself from the floor and rested her hands on her waist.

"Stand up. I have a solution."

Reith stood and stared at her. He was willing to learn. At least then he would be able to help during another battle.

"Like I said before, when you fire your technique, you don't consider the strength of your talent grade. So I want you to do this instead. Imagine pouring water into a cup and fire your technique once again."

"What?" Reith was bewildered.

"Just do it." Milly frowned.

Not wanting to annoy her any further, Reith got into position. He faced the tree with a hole.

"Like pouring water into a cup..." he muttered to himself.

"Ensure that not even a drop of water spills as you pour it," Milly yelled out from the side.

"Okay, okay."

Reith got to work, but this time, instead of imagining water, he imagined himself pouring lightning into a cup.

It was weird, but it looked like it was working.

The energy build up that he had always felt before releasing his technique seemed to be a lot lesser.

"Can you feel it?" Milly shouted. She had moved closer to him to see what he was doing.

"If you keep shouting, I won't feel anything," Reith shot back, causing Milly to scoff.

This time, Reith directed the energy. He didn't open his palm again. Instead, he pointed a finger and a solid lightning rod moved out of the finger and shot forward, decorating the surroundings with a blue light.

"Hmm, you learn fast. Expected of an SSS Cultivator." Milly nodded her head with pride.

Reith was ecstatic, but he still felt like he needed to practice more. He couldn't really direct the lightning whip strike properly to where he wanted.

"Thank you so much, Milly." He said with a wide smile. Then he turned back and stared at his palm.

Reith flexed his fingers, staring at the faint sparks dancing across his palm. The energy no longer felt like a massive burden.

"This… this is different," he muttered.

"Of course it is." Milly folded her arms again. "You've been throwing your strength around without discipline. That's why your control looked like a wild beast."

Reith nodded. "Thank you once again, and you could at least give me a few encouragements."

Milly gave him a flat look. "You still need to practice, or that same wild beast will turn on you. If your opponents don't kill you first."

Reith's smile stiffened. So much for encouragements.

Milly pointed at the scarred tree. "Again. But this time, shape the lightning thinner. Like threading a needle instead of pouring water in a cup."

Reith raised his finger again. His brow furrowed as he concentrated. He compressed the energy build up once again, and then his mind wandered.

He could see Hana lines. What if he grabbed hold of the Hana lines of this lightning energy raging inside him?

Reith gripped it and then he pulled a dozen Hana lines in his subconsciousness.

A spear of lightning snapped out, stabbing through the hollow tree and splitting it clean down the middle.

Milly's lips curled into the faintest smile. "Better," she said softly, not wanting Reith to hear her.

Reith shook his tingling hand. "That's… harder than it looks."

"It's supposed to be." Milly turned slightly, glancing at the shattered wood. "Your problem isn't power. It's precision."

"You'll get used to it," Milly continued. "Now do it ten more times. And if even one of them looks sloppy, you start over."

Reith groaned, but he lifted his hand again. Lightning sparked, louder than before. Why was he even listening to this small sized girl? He sighed. It was simply that her knowledge had value.

"Ten times?" he muttered under his breath.

Milly smirked. "That's the bare minimum for someone like you."

Meanwhile, on the far side of the camp, the fire crackled weakly, smoke curling into the night sky.

A handful of adventurers sat close, their eyes drifting again and again toward the faint flashes of blue light bursting from the trees where Reith and Milly were training.

"She's been gone too long," one of them muttered, tightening the strap on his gauntlet.

Another, older man shot him a sharp look. "Keep your voice down. We don't want any attention being drawn to her."

The group was silent once again until a lady among them moved. She removed the hoodie she was wearing. "I'd check on her."

The older man who had previously spoken gave a nod. "Yes, Tia, do so. Make sure not a scratch must be on our dear princess. The capital mustn't hear we allowed royal blood play around with a peasant."

Tia nodded and was about to go when the owner of the gauntlet held her back and opened his mouth.

"Ensure no one follows you. If the wrong people find out she's here, this whole escort falls apart. And if she's injured before we reach the city..." The man narrowed his gaze. "I'd make sure the blame falls on you, Tia of the Renée House."

Tia's gaze tightened, but she didn't say a word. During this mission, she was under this scrawny man.

But at the right time, she would ensure to be the reason for his death, and the last face he'd see before leaving this world would be hers.

Tia looked away and headed inside the forest. She couldn't help but think of what reason would make the royal Princess go off on her own and yet remain there.

"I hope she's fine," Tia muttered.

Above her, countless flickering blue lights shone, and the dense sense of Hana reached out for Hana.

"Is she practicing?" Tia thought and walked forward.

The last time she had practiced with Milly, she didn't remember the girl having any technique that dealt with displaying blue lights.

"So she's with someone." Tia hummed as she crossed into the forest.

Tia broke through the bushes, her cloak brushing branches aside. Her eyes widened at the sight before her.

Milly stood with her hands on her waist, watching as Reith's finger crackled with lightning.

"Princess Millicent." Tia's voice was cold and steady, but it permeated the calm ambience between the two teenagers.

Reith jerked slightly, his hand falling to his side when he heard the voice. This was what he was avoiding, attracting the attention of others.

But it was going to happen nonetheless, especially with the constant flashes of blue light.

Milly's brow furrowed. "Tia… why are you here?"

"Why am I here?" Tia's voice was cool but sharp as she walked forward, her gaze flicking between them. "You disappear from camp, and I find you alone in the forest with a commoner?" Her tone dripped with disdain as her eyes landed on Reith.

Reith blinked, and his gaze moved to Tia. "Princess…?" he muttered.

Hearing that Reith had found out the identity she was trying to protect, Milly's lips tightened. "Tia, lower your voice." She folded her arms. "I came to help him. He's not a threat."

"That's not the point," Tia replied smoothly. "If word spreads that the princess of the capital spends her nights alone in the forest with a peasant boy, the courts will have their whispers. You know how quickly the council feeds on rumors."

Reith sharpened his gaze, annoyed at Tia's sudden accusation. "I wasn't the one who called her here. She came herself." He uttered.

Tia studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable, and she turned to Milly.

"And what will happen if he decides to speak of this, Princess? Even once? One word is enough to shatter the escort, enough to put you in danger before we ever reach the city."

The faint stir of Hana flickered at her palm, but her tone never changed.

Her hand moved to the hilt of the sword by her side and Tia stepped in front of Milly, her gaze zeroing on Reith's throat.

"This is unacceptable… I can not entertain such risk."

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