Rylan left the training room, leaving the soldiers behind, and continued on his way.

His destination was another training room, one where he could be alone for a bit. He walked up several stairways, then went down another one to walk through a bookcase that opened on its own. As usual, Damian's Mage Tower was a labyrinth that revealed its path before him. Eventually, after walking for a while, he reached his destination and opened the double doors. Beyond, there was another empty room, strikingly similar to the one where he'd battled the soldiers.

Closing the doors behind him, Rylan walked to the middle of the room and took a deep breath, then drew Silver Twilight. He looked at his own reflection in the pristine blade.

Now, there's one thing I need to test out before anything else.

He transitioned from his relaxed pose into a proper one, as if he were about to start fighting. Breathing in, he sharpened his mind as much as he could, pushing all of his senses to their limits. It was as if the world around him had suddenly become clearer, but his focus was turned entirely inward. His Mana Core and his Aura Heart throbbed, following the same rhythm. Pure white Aura and blue mana coexisted within his body – one empowered his body, the other his mind. Rylan focused and closed his eyes.

The rhythm suddenly changed. His Heart and Core started resonating with each other, as if they had abruptly become aware of the other's existence, and began to change. His concentration razor sharp, Rylan focused on these changes and watched the process. His Aura and mana touched to turn into a glowing, bright golden energy that flooded his body, mind, and spirit.

Aether.

His Mana Core and Aura Heart shifted. The changes were almost imperceptible at first, but by the end of the first second, Rylan could notice them. Both of his sources of power were trying to become something… different. In that moment, they even resembled each other, as if they were never distinct in the first place. By the end of the second moment, this feeling intensified as their resonance became stronger. The third second only served to reinforce Rylan's beliefs.

They were never meant to be separate in the first place. If I can make them more similar…

He would unlock an entirely new level of power, one that he could only just barely attain with his Aspect's temporary boost. It would be a way to have only Aether as his energy, one that could fuel both spells and Sword Arts at the same time.

This delicate rate of growth was maintained in the fourth second. Aether continued to flood everything that he was, empowering him and bringing him to a level he had only experienced once in this life. He felt like everything was finally as it was supposed to be. The end of the fifth second, however, marked the death of this power. His Aether melted back into Aura and mana, disappearing into the two types of energy as if it had never existed.

Once Rylan opened his eyes, all that remained were his two different types of energy and a type of exhaustion that he couldn't easily classify. For a few seconds, he only stared at his raised sword, looking at his reflection again. Then, he breathed out and sheathed his sword, then sat down with his legs crossed.

"That settles it, then," he muttered to himself.

Because he had only experienced Aether once during a high-stakes fight, he hadn't had the time to perceive its changes properly. Now, however, everything had become clearer. His idea of making his Aura Heart affect his spells had been correct, even if it was only a step in the right direction, just like Mana Cultivation.

"I need to make my mana and Aura resonate more. And for that… I should start by making them more similar."

Rylan closed his eyes and turned his focus inward. Breathing in and out rhythmically, he expanded his perception, making it envelop both his Aura and mana. He started by perceiving their differences, apart from what he already knew.

My Aura is hotter and thicker. It's fierce and decisive, like a roaring fire. My mana, on the other hand, is calm and cool, like a still lake.

He circulated both of them at the same time. His Aura flooded his body, strengthening his muscles, organs, and bones, then created a connection to his soul. Simultaneously, his mana expanded his mental space and honed his concentration, readying him to cast spells, then touched his soul. It was their linking point. Rylan tried to focus on it. He slowly manipulated both types of energy, trying to get them to meet and interact.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

The minutes ticked by, turning into an hour. During that time, Rylan didn't move or stop focusing. Every so often, he would begin the process of casting a spell through Aura instead of mana. Even though he failed again and again, he didn't stop trying, his determination intact.

Even with his memories and the experience he now had as a Mage in the Fourth Circle, progress was slow. Nevertheless, it definitely existed. Brick by brick, Rylan continued to try and build a tower.

It was only at the end of the second hour that he opened his eyes once more, breathing out, then smiling. The room was the same as before, but he knew he wasn't. Even if only by a bit, he understood Aura more.

In my past life, I never tried to look at it differently.

His experience with mana had been what had changed his perspective, alongside Aether. Rylan slowly climbed to his feet and turned around, then left the room.

"Now, magic theory classes," he mumbled to himself as he stepped on a stairway.

He needed to keep helping the soldiers. At the same time, he needed to keep getting stronger. Damian would help him understand mana and magic more, all with the purpose of helping him cast spells through Aura. Of course, Rylan was now a teacher himself. The thought made him grin.

I also need to Level up.

Still, that could wait for a bit. It would be better to become proficient with using the abilities he already had, no matter how experienced with mana he was. Most importantly, he needed to understand more about what he was capable of under the effects of Aether before seeking appropriate challenges.

Nodding to himself, Rylan kept walking. There was much to do.

***

On the last day of the week, in Damian's study.

Rylan sat on the desk in silence, watching the people in front of him. His family, Sarah, Damian, and his friends were all sitting down on the floor, their eyes closed. Some had their brows furrowed, while others maintained calm expressions. Without exception, they were all in a state of deep concentration.

For a while, Rylan simply waited, circulating both his mana and Aura to focus on the changes within their bodies. After a while, both Aelfric and Hayden opened their eyes. Hayden looked deep in thought, wearing a frown. Meanwhile, Aelfric only smiled at Rylan and nodded. Rylan couldn't help but smile back. He looked at Hayden.

His progress has become slower than Aelfric's.

It wasn't a matter of talent – Hayden and Aelfric were on the same level on that front. It was simply because Aelfric was far more willing to follow Rylan's teachings to the letter, while Hayden was trying to understand Mana Cultivation and how it worked, almost unintentionally questioning everything he heard. Of course, Rylan didn't blame him. In fact, it was a good attitude, but it did mean his progress had slowed down. He looked back at Aelfric.

You're now the fastest.

He smiled at his younger brother again.

The next one to 'wake up' was Damian, as expected. His expression was similar to Hayden's. As if on cue, the two of them looked at each other, nodded at the same time, and sent Rylan piercing stares. In response, Rylan only raised his hand, palm facing forward. He needed everyone to wake up before he said anything. Clearly understanding this, neither of the two said anything.

Time slowly passed. Gradually, the others dragged themselves out of their stupor. Finally, all of them were looking at Rylan.

"I know I said I would take it as a successful gamble, but are you sure about this? It feels like a drastic change," Damian said barely a moment after the last person stopped focusing. "How did you even come up with this?"

Rylan looked at his master.

"It started out as a simple idea, really," he replied. "I just realized it was possible. And as I explained before, we don't really have the time to research it in depth. Just trust me, Damian."

Damian sighed and nodded.

"…Fine. I feel like I'm making steady progress, but it's difficult to turn in a direction I have never experienced. It will take me some time."

The others, apart from Aelfric, nodded almost at the same time.

"It's interesting, though," Hayden said excitedly. "It's really something I had never thought about. I'm glad you're teaching it to us."

Rylan smiled at him.

"Just doing my duty. Soon, a lot more people are going to know about it."

Damian snapped to attention, as did Elizabeth.

"Does that mean you're willing to take my offer? Become an Academy professor?" Damian asked.

Rylan looked back at him.

"I've given it some more thought, and I think I'll probably take it."

Damian smiled.

"Thank you, Rylan."

Rylan nodded at him and turned to look at his family.

"Any questions?" he asked.

Regis, Lillia, and Jasmine raised their hands, making him throw them a helpless smile.

"Can you explain the theory to me again?" Jasmine asked first.

Regis and Lillia nodded and lowered their hands. Rylan started explaining it again, from how the Mana Core was supposed to behave to how one's mana should move. During his explanation, he could feel Damian's stare. After a while, he finished, keeping his gaze on Jasmine. She looked deep in thought.

"Rylan," Damian suddenly said from the side. "There's something I want to talk to you about."

Rylan looked at him and motioned for him to continue. The man took a deep breath.

"I think it's time for us to let the Kingdom of Mar know more about your existence," he continued.

Rylan raised an eyebrow.

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