Vol. 5 Ch. 69

"Keep your hands steadier when casting spells, or it will affect your accuracy."

"Yes, and straighten your waist more."

"Once you’re sure you’ve hit the target, you can begin channeling a larger amount of magic."

"But using both hands? That’s still beyond your current ability. While you’re learning to cast magic single-handedly, using both hands simultaneously isn’t just about channeling magic into your left hand—it’s far more complicated."

"Whether it’s an assault spell or any other handheld offensive magic, perfectly mastering two-handed casting requires years of consistent practice."

"Alright, that’s enough for today."

As the sun began to set over St. Heath’s Academy, Noa and her teacher, Mevis, sat across from each other on the training grounds.

After the lesson, Mevis addressed the questions Noa had raised during class. Today, Noa had been eager to learn two-handed magic, and Mevis had patiently explained the difficulty and principles behind it.

Once their discussion ended, Mevis stood up, tying her black jacket around her waist. Her sporty tank top accentuated her fit and well-proportioned figure.

Unlike most of the other female teachers at the academy, Mevis preferred a "cool" style—long sleeves and trousers, which, even when loose-fitting, couldn’t hide her curves. While others flaunted flashy necklaces, dazzling rings, and expensive bracelets, Mevis wore only a small black ring on her finger.

Even her jacket, with its sleek, minimalistic design, had a surprising detail: a cute little bear patch sewn onto it.

The contrast between her icy, aloof demeanor and this girlish touch made Noa think of her own mother. After all, even the Silver Dragon Queen wasn’t above acting coy and affectionate in private.

Noa brushed the grass off her clothes and stood.

"Thank you for the lesson, Teacher Mevis. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow, Noa."

Mevis turned and walked away, her tall figure disappearing into the distance.

Noa’s eyes lingered on her teacher’s retreating back, her pupils shimmering slightly.

"She’s so cool…"

"Cooler than me?"

"No way! You’re the Dragon Clan’s greatest hero—you’re the coolest!"

"Of course!"

Noa had long since figured out how to deal with the ancient dragon spirit residing in her consciousness. Agreeing with her always stopped any arguments in their tracks.

Once Mevis’s figure disappeared from sight, Noa snapped out of her daze and glanced around before running toward the academy’s training hall.

However, she wasn’t heading there to practice Mevis’s assigned material.

Upon reaching the top floor of the training hall, Noa ensured no one else was around before locking the attic door behind her. She walked to the center of the rooftop garden, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

A faint white aura began to swirl around her feet, spiraling upward. The energy thickened, encasing her in a translucent cocoon.

Her pure white eyes began to glow as Primordial Power pulsed outward. However, Noa had trained enough to control its range, ensuring it wouldn’t be detected by others.

Once the energy dissipated, Noa dropped to her hands and knees, panting heavily, her small body trembling from exertion.

"How long this time?" she asked between breaths.

"Thirty minutes," the ancient dragon replied. "Two minutes longer than last time."

"That’s good…" Noa said, her voice weak but satisfied.

"And you didn’t pass out after exiting Primordial Mode this time. That’s a significant improvement," the dragon spirit added.

After resting for a while, Noa wiped the sweat from her brow and stood shakily.

"Next week, we’ll aim for thirty-five minutes."

The dragon sighed, a note of concern in its tone.

"I’ve told you many times, Noa, pushing beyond twenty minutes with your current body is already extraordinary. You don’t need to—"

"I can’t stop just because I’ve reached what others consider extraordinary," Noa interrupted firmly. "The enemy won’t stop just because I’m tired."

The dragon fell silent, understanding the source of her determination. It traced back to the Moonlit Forest incident. During that perilous mission, Noa had nearly died when they encountered the Abyssal Dragon King. It was only by channeling the dragon spirit’s power to enter Primordial Mode that she and Helena had survived.

At the time, Noa could only sustain the mode for ten minutes, barely enough to escape. Since then, she had resolved to train harder, extending her time in Primordial Mode so she wouldn’t have to rely solely on the dragon spirit to save her.

Through relentless effort, Noa could now maintain the mode for half an hour, and she no longer collapsed afterward.

Still, the dragon spirit often urged her to take it easier, but her response was always the same:

"I must grow stronger. The only way to protect what I care about is to wield the power myself."

In that, she was exactly like her father. Stubborn and unyielding.

The dragon spirit couldn’t help but marvel at the purity of her resolve. That unwavering determination, that drive to protect everything dear to her—it was a force so strong it even left the ancient dragon king awestruck.

"Fine," the dragon said at last, relenting. "Just don’t overstrain your body. I’ll still need it later."

"I know," Noa replied, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

As she walked back to the dormitory, the dragon spoke again.

"Noa, I’ve noticed something during our training."

"What is it?"

"The duration of Primordial Mode isn’t just tied to your stamina and physical strength. It’s also influenced by the innate magic already within you."

Noa paused mid-step, frowning slightly.

"My innate magic?"

"Exactly. When you activate Primordial Mode, the vast amount of Primordial Power released from your body clashes with your natural magic. It’s like locals resisting an invading force—they try to drive it out."

The dragon continued,

"As your innate magic fights against the Primordial Power, it gets depleted rapidly, which, in turn, drains your stamina and shortens how long you can maintain the mode."

"So, my innate magic and stamina both get used up simultaneously…" Noa murmured.

"Yes. While external magic can be controlled, internal magic is much harder to manage. If you’re not careful, you could damage your magical circuits."

The dragon sighed.

"Your magic is just like you…"

"What do you mean?"

"Always overachieving. One body, doing two jobs. Back in my day, that kind of dedication would’ve earned you the title of ‘Outstanding Dragon Worker of the Year.’"

"...If you have time for bad jokes, maybe you could think of a solution instead?"

The dragon chuckled.

"Unfortunately, I’ve never encountered this kind of… collaboration before. The simplest solution is to keep improving your stamina, so your body can handle both jobs for longer."

"That’s not simple—that’s stupid," Noa retorted.

"Thank you. I thought so too."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Noa’s small figure cast a long shadow on the path back to the dormitory.

Unbeknownst to her, someone was watching from a distance.

In the teacher’s apartments, Mevis stood at her window, her black-ringed finger glinting faintly in the blood-red sunset. Her dark eyes followed Noa’s every step.

Finally, she closed her eyes and murmured,

"It seems… the time has come."