Instructor Elowen approached them with the same composed demeanor she had exhibited from the start. Her voice was calm yet carried an undeniable authority as she asked as though she has taken them as trainees, "So, how was it?"

William and Finch fell silent for a moment, processing the intensity of their session. Finally, William exhaled, a soft sigh escaping his lips. "It seems I have to work on my movement and balance."

"Same for me," Finch added from the side, his voice tinged with a mix of frustration and resolve.

Elowen's dark eyes fixed on them for a moment, analyzing their reactions before she spoke again. "You both have learned movement techniques… correct?"

William and Finch exchanged a brief, confused glance, wondering why she asked such a question. They shrugged and nodded, it did not really matter; the truth would soon reveal itself.

"Imagine how effective your movement techniques will become if you both make progress in training like this," Elowen continued, her tone calm, almost gentle, a faint smile gracing her lips. "And besides, this is only the lowest level."

William and Finch fell into thought, the weight of her words slowly sinking in. At the same time, their minds flashed back to a vivid image: Asher, running across the sky, purple lightning crackling along his form as Astra-forged footholds appeared beneath his feet at perfectly timed intervals.

'It must be this training…' they both thought, an unspoken realization settling in. They now understood the source of Asher's seemingly effortless movement and finesse. Their eyes burned as though they had discovered his biggest secret.

If there was one law universally acknowledged in Crymora, it was this: two individuals with the same Life Rank or identical abilities were never truly the same. Everything depended on the individual, their choices, their training, their drive, and the paths they pursued to cultivate their skills. A higher Life Rank alone did not guarantee victory; numerous factors influenced the outcome of any battle.

"Can we go again?" William asked, the training maniac within him instantly awakening. His eyes gleamed with eagerness.

Elowen's smile widened, sharp and sly, like a cat who had just spotted the perfect mouse. Without hesitation, she plunged William and Finch back into what could only be described as a rigorous, relentless hell of training.

Asher, for his part, remained seated on the ground, already weary from standing. He did not participate, content to observe the session as Instructor Elowen provided occasional guidance while simultaneously allowing them to push themselves independently.

'Sigh… how did our leisurely tour turn into a full-fledged training session?' Asher mused, resting his head on his palm as the whizzing of arrows and the soft thuds of impact filled the air. He did not speak, but his eyes followed every movement with quiet interest. Both Finch and William were improving rapidly, each dodge and step more precise than the last.

'They are learning even faster than Tom, Hito, and Ella,' he thought, though he was not surprised. If Finch and William had been accepted into the Star Academy, it was natural that their talent would surpass that of most peers.

Yet Asher's thoughts inevitably shifted back to Hito, Tom, and Ella, his first friends in Crymora. 'I hope they are doing well,' he reflected quietly, a pang of nostalgia surfacing as he watched the boys train.

An hour passed, and Elowen finally called the drill to a close. "My session with the other trainees will begin in half an hour," she said calmly. "This is enough for now. If you wish to continue, you may return later. I am always here."

Finch and William nodded, mentally noting to return. They anticipated spending a few days at the Wargrave estate and intended to take full advantage of the opportunity. After all, free guidance and access to such advanced facilities were invaluable; at Star Academy, the cost in points and effort would be unimaginable.

Finch glanced at Asher, who sat on the ground, his expression one of mild boredom. "Aren't you going to join us? I thought, with your love for training, you would have trained the most," he said, steadying his breath in measured rhythm.

"I would rather not," Asher replied, his tone flat and disinterested.

Finch and William exchanged a bewildered glance. This was the first time they had seen Asher refuse training, and it struck them as both surprising and almost impossible to comprehend.

A thought formed in William's mind, and he voiced it with a teasing note: "It seems this movement and balance training is too much even for you, Mister Greatest Talent."

Asher shook his head, offering no reply. He knew that if he spoke, William would accuse him of showing off. So instead, he smiled quietly and remained silent, though silence did not prevent others from speaking.

"The Tenth Sun did not participate because he had already perfected the entire course on his first day and on his first try," Instructor Elowen stated matter-of-factly. Her words froze William and Finch in place, their heads snapping toward Asher, who merely sat with a small, knowing smile.

Elowen was not yet finished. "Throughout his stay here, I never once gave him instruction. He perfectly cleared the highest level, limited only to trainees of the highest rank, all on his first attempt," she continued. "And that was not all, he performed every challenge with his eyes closed. That is why he cannot join you now, and why his expression seems so… bored. To him, the entire training is no challenge at all."

William and Finch stared at Asher in stunned silence, hardly able to comprehend what they were hearing. 'On the first day? On the first try? The highest level possible? Perfectly completed… with his eyes closed?'

"Hey, Asher, are you even human at this point? Can't you leave a bit of talent for the rest of us?" William exclaimed, a mix of awe and exasperation in his voice, the joy he felt from his own progress evaporating instantly.

"This was before I met any of you. No need to overthink it," Asher replied calmly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Tsk… show off," Finch muttered, clicking his tongue in mock annoyance.

Asher sighed lightly, letting out a soft chuckle. 'Are they taking turns with the phrase?' he mused to himself, amused at their predictable reactions.

________

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you for reading, the gifts, the Golden tickets, the power stones, the comments. Truly, I don't thank you all enough.

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