"A light element? Do your parents know?" Reith quickly asked, bringing his voice down to a whisper.

"Not really," Isho answered.

"I thought you said they gave you a technique already. Wouldn't that technique fit a specific element? Your family's element?" Reith raised a brow with a worried look on his face.

Isho had been estranged from his family for too long.

And the first reason was because he had been close to Reith.

Knowing that this could further put Isho in bad terms with his family, Reith wasn't sure if he supported it.

"It doesn't matter," Isho stiffly said. "I modified the technique."

"Woah!" Reith was shocked. "Is technique modification even possible?"

Isho brought out a scroll. "Urek helped me out, so watch this."

Reith could only imagine the amount of power Urek had if that bird was able to turn a technique to fit an element with a completely different composition.

"I'm very interested now," Reith said with a smile, and he moved back to sit on the floor.

With a nod, Isho began his chant and waved his hands.

Reith wanted to view the movements with his Hana vision, but somehow, he felt he would invade his friend's privacy.

The first time had been a mistake, and now that he knew Isho created this technique with sheer hard work, he wasn't going to take it away from him.

A wave of energy built up around Isho, attracting the gazes of others in the room.

Isho's gray hair slowly lifted and moved around him.

The tips of his hair began to turn silver, and Reith couldn't take his eyes off what was happening.

Then Isho's hand, which had been moving, suddenly formed a tight fist. The light energy converged, forming a glowing fist in the air.

Reith narrowed his eyes. "Why is that thing facing my direction?" he muttered to himself.

It was then Isho opened his eyes, shifting to face a practice dummy.

Sweat pooled on his face and his movements slowed, but he was determined to show Reith his move.

When he released his fist, the glowing palm shot forward with speed and slammed into the dummy.

The palm rested on the dummy for about ten seconds as a sizzling sound erupted from it.

"Was it meant to do that?" Reith asked, standing beside Isho.

"I'm still practicing," Isho sighed. But deep down, he was happy he had made progress.

Initially, when he practiced, the glowing palm would erupt before he was even able to move it.

Reith walked towards the dummy, and he realized the flesh was actually melting.

"That's some hot magic. Light element, hmm." Reith held his chin.

Isho walked to his side. "I didn't know Urek was a light elemental living being," he said.

"She wasn't pleased with the initial technique, which was making a Rock Lock. I believe there will be more upgrades before I reach the Spirit Root Realm and get another technique," Isho said with wide eyes. Then suddenly his mood dimmed. "That's if I even reach the Spirit Root Realm with my grade talent."

Suddenly he felt a heavy force on his back. Reith had slapped him.

"Don't speak negatively. At least reach the bridge first, see if you can cross it before you think of destroying it," Reith said with a slight frown.

He was about to say something again when he felt a sudden chill.

His hands went across his body instantly.

Even the dummy that had previously been melting was now almost completely frozen.

"What's happening?" Reith turned to Isho with wide eyes.

"It's Terra. She's practicing," Isho said, turning towards another side of the room.

Reith followed his gaze and walked to the side, rubbing his arms for warmth.

Inside the room, Terra was breathing heavily on the floor.

It looked like she had been through a battle. Almost everywhere around her was frozen with ice.

He could understand why she was the only one here.

Imagine trying so hard with a harsh element and still being able to do so much.

Her eyes were closed and her hair was spread across the floor. She looked like she had come out of a painting.

"She's been here since morning," Isho whispered when he came to stand beside Reith.

"Okay."

And with that, they both left the arena.

"I'll see you soon, Isho. I can't wait till you have perfect control, then we fight!" Reith said with a small laugh.

Isho gave an awkward laugh. "You are an SSS grade, Reith. I don't think I can do much."

Suddenly Reith stopped in his tracks, turning to his friend.

"The next time you belittle yourself because of what I have, I'm going to stop being friends with you. You have a power I don't have, nor can I ever imagine having. You focus too much on the weak part of yourself. Take what makes you unique and grow it instead of comparing yourself to me," Reith said, looking straight at Isho.

"One day you are going to beat me in battle, and I look forward to that day. So I want you to get stronger, and I want you to defeat me. I'm also going to work hard to win against you."

Isho was dumbfounded, words stuck in his throat.

"I–"

Reith gripped Isho's shoulders. "You don't have to say anything. I'll be going now."

They parted ways, each heading back to the dorm.

Reith arrived at his hostel room and began thinking.

Now that he had the adventurer's card, he would be able to get to work tomorrow.

The next thing on his mind was practicing the original technique.

"I should start now," Reith muttered to himself, even though his body was against it.

He got into position and heaved a breath.

His Hana reserves were practically empty after he had fired that hit to show Kane his abilities.

To think it was almost night and he still hadn't regained any of his energy.

Reith closed his eyes and began to control the Hana.

However, since this wasn't pure Hana, the pain felt like needles digging into his skin, holes forming across his body.

This was probably why Ruach had told him to cultivate with pure Hana.

Now he was going to filter the energy by himself.

The annoying part was that he had to first absorb the Hana, then rotate his core to remove the abnormalities.

"It's going to be a long night."

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