The next morning.
Hifung: I'm heading out.
Hifung went to the academy to register.
Upon arriving at the academy, he saw Ray practicing swordsmanship on the field.
He then went to the teacher's room and met Vlyn.
Hifung: Good morning, ma'am. I want to register for the inter-academy tournament.
Vlyn: You want to participate?
Hifung: Yes, ma'am.
Vlyn: Alright then.
Vlyn registered Hifung for the tournament.
Hifung: Ma'am, may I train with Ray on the academy field?
Vlyn: Okay, just don't destroy the academy's property.
Hifung: Understood, ma'am.
He went to find Ray.
Hifung: Ray.
Ray: You're here too?
Hifung: Have you registered?
Ray: Already.
Hifung: Want to spar with me?
Ray: Sure.
Hifung started the fight by casting a water spell.
Hifung: Water Boom!
The spell exploded on contact with objects.
Ray dodged, then jumped and cast a spell.
Ray: Fire Burst!
The spell sent many fireballs raining down on the target.
Hifung slashed at several fireballs aimed at him.
Then Hifung used wind magic to fly quickly toward Ray to try to attack.
But Ray blocked it with his sword imbued with aura, and Hifung also infused aura into his sword.
Then they clashed swords until the afternoon.
Both Hifung and Ray were pushed back.
Hifung: Hah, that's enough, I'm too tired (panting).
Ray: Yeah, me too (panting).
They rested for a moment, sitting on a bench around the field.
They opened their lunch boxes and ate.
Hifung looked at Ray.
Hifung: Did your father make that?
Ray: Yes, my father works at a restaurant.
After finishing his lunch, Ray said goodbye to leave first.
Ray: I'm off now.
Hifung: Okay, see you.
Ray left.
Hifung (thinking): "I don't feel any stronger yet. I wonder how strong the people from the Hakao kingdom academy are."
After finishing his meal, Hifung was about to go home but saw teacher Vlyn and approached her.
Hifung: Ma'am.
Vlyn: Oh, you. What is it?
Hifung: Could you please teach me how to use magic in my sword?
(Asking sincerely).
Vlyn thought for a moment.
Vlyn: Sure, just come here tomorrow.
Hifung: Okay, ma'am.
Hifung: I'm going home now, ma'am.
Vlyn: Alright.
Hifung left, and when he arrived home, he found the house empty and locked, so he took the door key from under the flower vase near the door and opened it.
Hifung saw on the dining table a letter and some food.
He opened the letter.
Hifung (thinking): "Father and mother have business in the kingdom, so they'll come back tomorrow morning. Your mother already prepared dinner for you. Eat it, and don't stay up late. From Father."
Hifung took a shower, ate, then before sleeping, he locked the house.
The next morning.
Hifung locked the door and put the key under the flower vase near the door, then went to the academy.
Upon arriving at the academy, he went to the teacher's room to find Vlyn.
But Vlyn wasn't there yet, so he visited the academy library to read some books about magic.
Hifung (thinking): "E-class magic books, so magic also has ranks."
He flipped through several pages and saw many magic names.
He was surprised to see the names Water Razon and Fire Blast listed in category E, the weakest magic in category E.
Hifung (thinking): "Magic that strong is still in the weakest E category?"
Then he went back to the teacher's room to see if Vlyn had arrived.
Vlyn: Oh, you're here.
Hifung: Y-yes.
Hifung (thinking): "She's late."
They both went to the field, where Ray was also training.
Hifung: Ray!
(calling out)
Ray: Hi.
Hifung: Ray, do you want to train with teacher Vlyn?
Ray thought for a moment.
Ray: Can I, ma'am?
Vlyn: I guess so.
Hifung: Yes.
Vlyn: So, channeling magic into a sword isn't that difficult. It's like channeling aura into the sword—you channel your determination into the sword.
Vlyn: To channel magic into the sword, you need to use more chi energy to produce magic in the sword.
Vlyn: You have to direct your chi energy into your sword and try to release magic. Because it uses a lot of chi, don't push yourself too hard.
Vlyn: The effect of running out of chi is more dangerous than running out of physical strength.
Vlyn: Now, try it, and if you have any problems, tell me.
Hifung and Ray nodded and tried.
Hifung (thinking): "Focus, focus, channel the chi energy into the sword and release magic."
They kept trying until the afternoon.
Vlyn: It's getting late. You both should go home and come back tomorrow to continue.
Hifung: Hah, it's harder than I thought.
Ray: Yeah.
Vlyn smiled slightly.
When Hifung got home.
Hifung: I'm home.
He entered and found his mother cooking and his father sleeping on the sofa.
Hifung went to his room, put down his sword, then took a shower.
In the bathroom.
Hifung (thinking): "Two days left. I have to be able to channel magic into my sword by tomorrow."
After showering, he put on clothes and went to the dining room.
Father: What did you train today?
Hifung: I practiced how to use magic in my sword.
Father: Oh.
Hifung: Can you do it?
Father: Yes, I learned it for seven days before I could do it.
Hifung was a bit surprised.
Mother: No matter how hard magic is to learn, if you try, you can do it as long as you don't give up.
Hifung: Yes, mom.
The next day, Hifung went to the academy again.
Hifung: I'm leaving now.
After Hifung left.
Father: Turns out he has already been taught the technique of using magic in the sword, even though it used to be an E-rank technique.
Mother: Young people nowadays are stronger than we were.
Father: Hmm, but it will still take a while to master channeling magic into the sword.
Mother: Hifung will definitely make it today.
Father: Seems impossible.
Mother: If he really can, I'll reduce your food portion by half.
Father: O-okay.
At the academy, Hifung and Ray continued trying.
Hifung (thinking): "Focus, first channel chi into the sword, then release magic."
Suddenly, Hifung felt his chi flow into his sword.
Hifung (thinking): "This is it."
Hifung succeeded in producing fire magic on his sword.
Hifung: Finally.
Ray: I can do it too.
Ray produced wind magic on his sword.
They were both happy.
Vlyn: Good, you both mastered it very quickly.
Vlyn: I learned it for five days.
Vlyn: Today, you should practice fighting using swords infused with magic.
Hifung withdrew the magic from his sword so it wouldn't drain their chi continuously.
Hifung: Alright.
Ray smiled.
They sparred while occasionally using swords infused with magic.
It didn't take long before their chi was almost deplet
ed, so they stopped to rest.
Hifung: Hah, this really drains a lot of chi energy.
Ray: Yeah.
Vlyn: That's enough for today. You can come back tomorrow to practice and increase your chi capacity.
Hifung and Ray: Okay, ma'am.
They said goodbye and went home.