Xiu was one of the most important Great Provinces in the Kingdom of Xerpers. A maritime province par excellence, it was a true crossroads of culture, commerce, and trade. Its territories were divided into several prefectures and districts, each with its own distinct characteristics.
To the west of Xiu lay the prefecture of Heishan, located a few kilometers from the province's main urban centers.
Heishan was a unique region.
Here, wealth and beauty seemed to blend seamlessly with nature itself.
The prefecture was home to some of Xiu's most respected noble families, wealthy merchants, bishops, and numerous members of the clergy. Ancient monasteries and imposing temples were scattered throughout the region. Some held stories dating back centuries, while others protected relics and artifacts considered sacred.
Unlike the bustling commercial districts of Xiu, Heishan was much more peaceful.
Nature was omnipresent.
The vast forests surrounding the city seemed to sing in the sunlight. The wind gently rustled the leaves as birdsong mingled with the distant sounds of musical instruments.
From the windows of elegant mansions, some nobles quietly played traditional music.
The streets were clean, wide, and beautifully maintained.
Elaborate sculptures adorned the squares, some entirely covered in gilded details. The buildings themselves reflected the immense wealth of their owners. The nobles strolled through the streets dressed in magnificent traditional clothing made from precious fabrics, including silk.
Some wore wafuku with haori, others sumptuous kimono, while a few preferred lighter yukata.
The colors were countless.
Deep red, immaculate white, sky blue, violet, emerald green, black, gold... Heishan was almost like a living painting.
But what particularly caught the eye was the presence of magical beasts.
Some nobles rode on the backs of gigantic lions, some exceeding two meters in height. Others rode griffins or immense birds capable of carrying several people.
One could also glimpse much stranger creatures.
Among them were the dignorus, a species of bipedal lizard with crest-like spikes on the top of its head, piercing yellow eyes, and hind legs resembling those of grasshoppers.
And this was only a tiny fraction of the biodiversity found in the region.
A few hundred meters from the center of Heishan stood a district entirely reserved for the wealthy families.
Several mansions and castles had been built there, each striving to outdo the last in grandeur.
Among them was the estate of the House of the Burning Phoenix.
Its immense manor house was dazzling white. Delicate gold filigree adorned its walls, while diamonds were inlaid in certain architectural details.
Even from the outside, it was clear that this residence belonged to an extremely powerful family.
Beyond the massive metal gate lay a vast, meticulously maintained estate.
The grass was cut with almost flawless precision. Gigantic humanoid statues of ancient mages stood amidst the gardens.
But none rivaled the imposing statue at the center of the estate.
A colossal stone phoenix spread its wings toward the sky, its open mouth releasing a sculpture of gigantic flames.
Armored guards constantly patrolled the grounds, their swords strapped to their belts.
Archers watched over the estate from the manor's heights.
And two guards stood watch continuously at the main entrance.
Yet, behind all this security, one place remained surprisingly calm.
The secret garden.
This was where Azaria had taken Nolan the day before.
In the middle of a vast expanse of perfectly manicured grass, Azaria was already awake.
She wore a magnificent haori and a traditional red dress. Her red hair was neatly arranged, unlike the previous morning.
Seated among the grass, she kept her legs crossed and her hands resting on her knees.
Her eyes were closed.
She was meditating.
Around her, nature seemed peaceful.
A few birds perched on the tree branches and sang softly. A little further on, several swans glided peacefully across the water of a small pond.
The wind rustled through the leaves with a soft whisper.
Azaria breathed slowly.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Her mind was completely focused.
After a few seconds, she slowly opened her eyes.
Her gaze was calm.
But behind this tranquility lay a newfound determination.
She thought back to Nolan's words.
"Train hard. One day, you might even be better than me." An annoyed look crossed her face.
"You arrogant..." She finally closed her eyes again.
This time, her meditation was different.
She wasn't just trying to become stronger anymore.
She wanted to prove to her family that she was worthy of bearing the name of the Burning Phoenix.
Azaria continued her meditation.
Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was perfectly controlled.
Inhale...
Exhale...
Her mind was emptied of all thought.
Before her, an immense black space seemed to stretch to infinity. No sound, no light, no sensation. Only emptiness.
She wasn't looking for anything.
She wasn't expecting anything.
She was simply existing in this inner space.
Then suddenly...
A soft rustling rippled through the darkness.
A breeze.
Barely perceptible at first.
But it gradually grew stronger.
The wind began to swirl around her, gently at first, then faster and faster.
In the real world, Azaria's red hair began to sway in every direction. The folds of her garment billowed in the force of the current.
The birds perched in the trees stopped singing.
The swans hurriedly left the pond.
Even the other animals in the garden seemed to sense something was wrong and instinctively fled.
Something appeared in Azaria's mind.
A faint light.
A small red glow floating in the vast blackness.
It was tiny.
Fragile.
But it was there.
Azaria focused all her attention on it.
The glow grew slightly brighter.
Her heart began to beat faster.
Just a little longer...
The wind intensified.
The red light seemed to want to grow.
Then...
Everything stopped.
The wind disappeared.
The glow faded.
Azaria's inner world became completely black again.
In the garden, silence returned abruptly.
Azaria opened her eyes.
She remained motionless for a few seconds before clenching her teeth.
"Damn... Bad luck."
She lightly tapped the ground with her fist.
"I was so close!"
A certain frustration was visible on her face.
She had almost succeeded.
Again.
But something still eluded her.
Yet, Azaria was unaware of one thing.
She hadn't been alone from the start.
A few meters behind her, sitting quietly on the edge of the small, traditional Japanese hut, an elderly man watched her silently.
He hadn't moved.
He hadn't spoken.
He had simply watched his granddaughter meditate from the beginning.
He wore an elegant black robe. His face was marked by the years, but retained particularly imposing features: a strong, defined jaw, a straight nose, and a deep gaze.
A long white beard framed his face.
His dark eyes watched Azaria with a certain kindness.
His feet were shod in geta sandals.
After a few seconds, he simply raised his right hand.
A smile appeared on his face.
"Hello, my little girl."
Azaria jumped violently.
"Huh?!"
She turned around abruptly.
Her eyes widened as she saw the man sitting behind her.
"Grandpa?!"
The man burst out laughing.
"Hahaha!"
He touched his beard, laughing heartily.
Azaria placed a hand on her chest, still surprised.
"But Grandpa!" You scared me half to death!
Glodius continued to smile.
"Hahaha... I didn't think my presence would surprise you so much."
Azaria frowned.
"You should have warned me you were coming instead of scaring me like that!"
She looked away, clearly annoyed.
Glodius raised his hands slightly in a gesture of appeasement.
"No, no, my little girl. Don't get upset."
His smile softened.
"I didn't mean to disturb your meditation session."
Azaria sighed.
"You could have made a little noise..."
Glodius chuckled softly.
"If I had made noise, you would have noticed me immediately."
He paused briefly.
Then his expression became slightly more serious.
"And that's precisely it... I wanted to see how far you were willing to go without knowing I was watching you."
Azaria slowly turned her head toward him.
"So... how long have you been watching me?"
Glodius smiled.
"From the very beginning."
"My meditation was pathetic… There was nothing worthwhile to observe." Azaria lightly clutched her robe, clearly disappointed in herself. Glodius quietly rose from the cabin and approached her. He sat opposite his granddaughter, crossing his legs, and observed her with a kind smile.
"On the contrary. It was very interesting." He gently raised his hand and stroked Azaria's hair.
"Huh?" Azaria immediately looked up at her grandfather. Her expression changed, replaced by genuine curiosity.
"Based on what I've just observed, I can help you correct some details and allow you to progress." Glodius paused briefly.
"Your meditation started very well. Your breathing was steady, your mind was calm enough, and you managed to channel your energy correctly." He placed a finger against his beard. "But you gave up at the very last moment." Azaria lowered her head slightly.
"Yes… But I don't understand why it didn't work. What's the problem?" Glodius slowly stroked his beard, observing his granddaughter.
He sighed.
"You tried to reach a new level… but you used the wrong method." Azaria immediately raised her head.
"Explain, Grandfather."
She sat down, crossing her legs in front of him. Glodius then adopted a more serious tone.
"As I can see, you're currently Rank E, Novice level." Azaria nodded.
"Yes."
"You've progressed since last time. That's good. But going from Novice Rank E to Intermediate Rank E isn't simply about accumulating more power." Azaria listened attentively. "You must understand something essential: magical power doesn't depend solely on the amount of energy your body can hold. It also depends on how your soul assimilates that energy." Glodius raised a finger.
"Do you remember the basics of magic you learned at the academy?"
"Yes, Grandfather."
"Then let's begin there." He gently gestured toward Azaria.
"To store Nekroz, this creative energy present in the world, your body first uses its magical nerves." Azaria nodded slowly.
"The magical nerves allow you to absorb Nekroz, then convert it into mana usable by the body."
"Exactly." Glodius smiled.
"And once you've accumulated enough mana…" He paused deliberately. Azaria thought for a few seconds before replying:
"It becomes possible to increase the purity of one's soul in order to reach a new stage."
Glodius immediately raised his hand.
"Bingo!" Azaria smiled slightly.
Glodius extended his hand.
Azaria clapped it in her palm with amusement.
"But that's not all."
Glodius's smile gradually faded, replaced by a more serious expression.
"You should also know that purifying your soul and reaching a new stage requires more than just mana reserves." Azaria tilted her head slightly.
"Spirit runes..."
"Exactly." Glodius raised his index finger.
"Spirit runes serve to guide and stabilize the purification process. They allow your soul to withstand the transformation without your energy being dissipated." He paused before continuing.
"But even with the runes, your environment plays a crucial role." Azaria listened without looking away.
"To cross this threshold, you must train in a place with an enormous spiritual density." Azaria opened her eyes slightly.
"So..." She began to understand.
"It wasn't just my meditation that was the problem." Glodius smiled.
"That's it." He gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "You were trying to purify your soul in an environment that simply wasn't sufficiently charged with spiritual energy." Azaria looked around.
The garden was beautiful. Peaceful. Natural.
But now she understood that it might not possess the spiritual density necessary for her to cross that crucial threshold.
Glodius continued:
"So your mistake wasn't a lack of skill."
He smiled.
"You were simply trying to open a door that required a different key." Azaria remained silent for a few seconds.
Then her expression changed. A new determination appeared in her eyes.
"So… if I find a place sufficiently charged with spiritual energy and use the runes correctly…" Glodius nodded slowly.
"You will finally have a real chance to cross the threshold between novice and intermediate."
"Once you've used the runes and trained hard enough in a place with a spiritual density suited to your level, you'll have everything you need to level up."
Glodius watched Azaria intently.
"Are you worried about something else?"
Azaria remained silent for a few seconds before lowering her head slightly.
"No..."
Glodius narrowed his eyes.
"There's no point in lying to me, my little girl. I can tell when someone is lying."
He folded his arms.
"Then tell me the truth."
Azaria sighed.
"It's about my spells..."
She raised her eyes slightly.
"I used them in a fight and... it didn't work at all. My spells were far too weak. They had practically no effect."
Glodius remained silent for a moment.
His expression became more serious.
"I know you went on a dungeon raid."
Azaria jerked her head up.
"What?"
She stared at her grandfather, clearly surprised.
"How could you…"
Glodius simply raised his hand to interrupt her.
"You should have told me before getting yourself into a situation like this."
Azaria looked down again.
Glodius sighed.
"But I understand."
His voice softened.
"I forgive you for this youthful indiscretion. It's perfectly normal to want to prove your worth, to want to demonstrate your strength by taking on challenges that sometimes exceed our own abilities."
He paused.
"But you were incredibly lucky."
Azaria slowly looked up.
"That dungeon contained a boss you could still handle." If you'd run into an S-rank boss...
His gaze hardened.
"There probably wouldn't have been any survivors."
Azaria swallowed.
Glodius placed a hand on her chest with a mock-dramatic expression.
"Do you want to give your grandfather a heart attack?"
Azaria offered a small, embarrassed smile.
"No, Grandpa..."
She lowered her head.
"I'm sorry. I'll make sure I never do something so reckless again. I promise."
Glodius smiled.
"Good."
He reached out and patted Azaria affectionately on the head.
"Now, about your spells..."
He became serious again.
"Your problem is mainly with your stats."
Azaria frowned slightly.
"My stats?"
"Yes. Check your menu."
Azaria held her hand out in front of her.
A translucent interface immediately appeared in midair.
A few lines of data flashed before her eyes.
[STATUS]
Name: Azaria Klausvitch
Rank: E — Novice
Dexterity: 2
Intelligence: 4
Azaria stared at her stats.
Her expression became slightly embarrassed.
"Ah..."
Glodius began to stroke his beard.
"Do you understand now?"
Azaria nodded slowly.
"They're really low..."
"For a spellcaster of your level, yes."
Glodius pointed to the two stats.
"We sorcerers, wizards, mages, and other magic users absolutely must develop our Dexterity and Intelligence. They are two of our main strengths."
He first pointed to Intelligence.
"Intelligence represents your deep understanding of your element and the magic you practice."
Azaria listened attentively.
"The greater your understanding, the more you can develop your spells. You can increase their power, improve their effectiveness, and discover new applications you would never have thought of before."
Glodius raised a second finger.
"It also allows you to develop your mana reserves."
"So the higher my Intelligence, the more I can understand my magic and the more mana I have?" Azaria asked.
"Exactly."
Glodius smiled.
"But don't neglect your Dexterity."
This time he pointed to the corresponding stat.
"Dexterity influences your ability to manipulate and unleash your power with precision. It allows you to cast your spells faster, with more control and accuracy."
Azaria looked at her menu again.
Dexterity: 2.
Intelligence: 4.
She clenched her fists slightly.
"So that's why..."
"Partly."
Glodius nodded.
"You have potential, Azaria. But potential alone isn't enough."
He gave her a kind look.
"Your power must be cultivated. Your intelligence must understand your magic. Your dexterity must learn to control it."
He gently patted her forehead.
"And your soul must learn to bear it."
Azaria remained silent.
Then she looked at her stats again.
This time, she didn't look at them with disappointment.
But with determination.
"Then I'll increase them."
Glodius smiled.
"That's a response worthy of my granddaughter."
Glodius observed Azaria for a few moments before smiling at her.
"To help you progress, I'm going to provide you with some books that I'll personally select. They should help you improve significantly."
Azaria lowered her eyes slightly.
"I don't think I can manage it..."
She gently clutched the fabric of her dress.
"I lack the talent that my brothers and sisters possess."
Glodius remained silent.
Then he approached her.
"Do you think I got where I am today by letting myself be influenced by my past abilities?"
He gave her a light tap on the head.
"Or by constantly worrying about what others thought?"
Azaria looked up at him.
Glodius smiled.
"Listen to me carefully, my dear."
He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Your only real limit is your knowledge and your willpower."
He paused before continuing confidently:
"The rest is just decoration. Elements that are there to make it look pretty."
Azaria remained silent for a few seconds.
These words resonated deeply within her.
She finally nodded slowly.
"Okay, Grandfather."
Her expression gradually changed.
The frustration that had consumed her moments before seemed to have vanished.
Now, a new determination shone in her eyes.
"I will do my utmost to improve and reach my full potential."
Glodius smiled with satisfaction.
"That's all I wanted to hear."
He nodded one last time.
Then he stood up calmly.
"Now, I must leave you."
He turned and began walking toward the garden exit.
Azaria watched him walk away.
"Grandpa!"
Glodius stopped without turning around.
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
A slight smile appeared on his face.
"Don't thank me yet. Work hard enough so I can be proud of you."
He continued on his way.
His figure gradually receded between the trees before finally disappearing beyond the garden.
Azaria was left alone.
Silence returned to the secret garden.
The birds began to sing timidly again.
The swans resumed their peaceful stroll on the pond.
Azaria watched for a few moments the spot where her grandfather had just disappeared.
Then she stood up.
She took a deep breath.
"Very well..."
She clenched her fists.
"Let's start again."
And without wasting any more time, Azaria resumed her training.