The sun was dipping beyond the horizon, the last of its light dragging itself along the rooftops.
Blue mana lamps flickered to life along the street whilst rising slowly, its soft- glowing veins of light painting everything faintly.
Ahead of Bruce and Null, a lone figure stood beneath on of the lamps in front of a food stall, absentmindedly eating.
Bruce slowed for half a step, trying to figure out the familiar silhouette for half a step.
He moved faster.
His steps shifting underfoot against the path every few paces as he closed the distance.
Null followed.
Not faster- as least it didn't really look like it.
But the space between the two of them disappeared all the same.
"Vernon!"
The sound echoed faintly down the empty street.
Vernon turned to his right, getting caught mid bite. "Huh?"
It took him a second but the recognition hit.
"Ah! Bruce!!"
Something in Bruce shifted the moment he reached him, something lighter, like being unguarded.
Null spectated from behind, finding the correct moment to enter.
A faint smirk tugged at Null's expression
"..Vernon," Bruce said, his tone tightening slightly. "Why is there traces of blood under your nose?"
Vernon blinked, wiping at it with his sleeve like it was nothing.
"Oh.. This?" he muttered. "It's because of what I've been learning... from Caelan"
Bruce tilted his head, "Caelan?"
"Yeah. My new teacher-" He paused, then corrected himself, "Master..? I guess."
By then Null had stepped up behind Bruce, his Prescence settling naturally in.
"So you're Vernon?"
"Yes, that's right. And you are-"
A brief pause.
His gaze lost focus for just a moment, like something behind his eyes had drifted too far.
"My name is Null."
Vernon regain his focus enough to register his name.
Null's hand rested briefly on Bruce's head, casual, almost like boasting.
Vernon glanced between Bruce and Null and smiled.
"You got a personal teacher too?"
A small breath left him.
Something between relief and disbelief.
"I was worried it'd be unfair.. I'm glad"
Bruce let out a laugh.
"Of course! If you got one, I'd just find one too."
Vernon laughed with him.
Even Null let out a quiet chuckled.
The moment lingered.
Then Vernon spoke again.
"Null, sir.. uhm.. would you like to meet my master sometime?"
"That way maybe we could train along side each other?"
That earned a sharper laugh.
"I know him far better than anyone," Null said. "Haha, how amusing. I'll drop by tomorrow."
His gaze shifted briefly, as if past Vernon but not exactly.
< They are both unique. This is interesting. >
He turned to look at Bruce.
"Bruce. Don't be late. Be at the hall before afternoon."
A glance back at Vernon.
"It was.. interesting meeting you."
"Like-wise."
And then-
He turned.
One step.
Gone.
No movement. No sound. Just absence.
Bruce stiffened, the reaction immediate but he swallowed it down just as quickly.
"Ahem-hah... I knew he could do that. Cool, right?"
Vernon didn't respond.
He was staring at the space Null had just occupied, his expression... stuck.
"Vernon?"
"...Ah. Yeah?"
"You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine.. uh why?"
Bruce hesitated, still watching him.
"...Let's head back. I already got our dorm keys."
Vernon blinked.
"Huh?"
"You got our keys?"
Bruce nodded.
"The headmaster came herself and gave them to me."
Vernon's brows lifted.
"Miss Aurelia did?"
"Yeah."
< ...Right. She said something about that.. she also avoided my question when I asked how she knew. >
The thought lingered as Vernon turned, beginning the walk back toward the academy.
Bruce followed beside him.
"I doubt you'll wake up on time tomorrow."
Bruce shot him a look.
"You always say that. I'm not that bad."
"Sure."
The dorm room welcomed them with stillness.
The moment they stepped in, both of them dropped their belongings without care and collapsed onto their beds like they'd been carrying the entire day on their backs.
Bruce pushed himself not long after, searching around he found a bath and headed to wash.
Vernon didn't move.
The covers pulled over him, sleep took him almost instantly.
Today had been exhausting for the both of them, yet not entirely just that.
Vernon found a teacher willing to show him many more paths.
Bruce, not chasing power directly.
And finding more of a sense of direction within himself thanks to Null, in just a few short exchanges.
The light of the sun greeted the city of Lumen.
Within the dorms just a faint glow slipping through the curtains, dull and quiet.
Vernon opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling for a brief moment before pushing himself up.
Across from him, Bruce was already awake, moving around like he'd been up for a while.
"You're awake?" Bruce asked.
"...Yeah."
"I was about to wake you. We've gotta go soon."
Vernon nodded, running a hand through his hair as he sat up properly.
"Go?" he asked.
Bruce gave him a look. "Did you forget?"
A small pause.
Then-
"-No. I remember."
"Null said not to be late," Bruce added. "Something about getting there before afternoon."
"right."
Vernon stood, stretching slightly before stepping forward.
He stopped.
Just for a second.
Then kept moving.
They stepped out into the hallway, the usual morning noise already settling in.
Students moved past them, conversations low, footsteps steady.
Everything felt... normal.
Bruce glanced over. "You think we're late?"
"We're fine," Vernon said.
Bruce raised a brow. "You didn't even check."
Vernon shrugged lightly. "We're not late."
"...Right."
The path forwards opened up as they moved through the academy grounds.
Something minor that Bruce hadn't noticed whilst walking to the hall where Null was based at- was the incredibly massive field, and the majestically coloured tree towards the end of it.
Its trunk alone looked older than some of the crumpled buildings that surrounded it. The way the roots swirled in and out of the floor reminded them of the complex paths within the forest. And the branches reminded them of something that tried to claim the sky as its own. The leaves shifting faintly gave a awkward sense of security, catching the morning light in quiet flashes between all of the colours of the leaves.
Bruce slowed slightly.
"..Was that always there?"
Vernon already looking at it, somewhat mesmerised.
"How would i know? This is my first time here."
They didn't stop.
The path curved, leading them toward the hall.
The same one Bruce had walked down before, though this time his footsteps not being isolated alone.
As Vernon walked down the hall along side Bruce, he couldn't help but smile.
"They really went all out for this place, huh?" Vernon said.
Bruce glanced around, looking into things that he didn't really pay attention to before.
The fine details in the pillars, the ceiling and even the door frames standing there seemed almost impossible to miss.
layered patterns, not decorative, it looked rather intentional and precise.
Every curve felt measured. Every mark placed with care.
Bruce's gaze traced along one of them as he walked past.
Vernon ran his fingers lightly along the surface as he passed.
The stone smooth but not worn.
It felt maintained, making it feel as if there was an weight behind it.
The place felt as if.. it was someone's life's work.
In front of the door to Null's Room Bruce had prepared..
"Vernon." Bruce coughed weakly.
"Huh!? Bruce are you alright??"
"..I'm okay.. could you open that door for me..?" Bruce almost let out a laugh. "..I feel a bit weak."
Vernon turned around quickly.
"Yeah yeah, just leave it to me."
Vernon braced himself..
But that didn't help.
The grunt that he let out in return made Bruce crack making him erupt into laughter.
"UGHHH!! huff huff What is the door made off?! why is it so heavy?!"
Vernon stumbled holding himself up against the door.
Mean while Bruce was on the verge of tears.
When suddenly the door swung open, leaving Vernon on the floor and Bruce cry-laughing on the floor.
Null stepped out from within the room.
"Huh? It was you two making that commotion?"
"..Good morning to you too sir.." Vernon said whilst keeping his head on the floor.
"Right.. Good morning."
Bruce basically created a puddle of tears.
Vernon finally sprung up, "Stop laughing!!"
The walk out of the academy didn't feel rushed, Null set the pace allowing Bruce and Vernon to talk freely without feeling as if they'll be left behind if they dont pick up the pace.
The further they walked, the quieter it became.
The cities lingering smells being the only thing that barely followed them out towards the outskirts of the city.
Field stretched out wider than expected, the city now sitting at their backs instead of surrounding them.
Bruce glanced around as they walked, the colourful flowers, little animals that lived in the trees that they passed by from time to time.
"..I didn't even know this was part of Lumen's territory."
He continued, "I thought only the city belongs to them."
Null didn't look at him. "Most cities- unless surrounded by villages claim a certain radius of land around them regardless of their size."
Vernon walked slightly ahead for a moment, then drifted back in line without thinking.
"Caelan works out here? Bruce asked.
"Where else could a guy like him do his dangerous experiments and training?" Null replied.
They kept walking.
The path had started to thin out now.
"We're lucky enough he hasn't sent a random city-destroying bomb made of mana yet..."
Null's expression darkened slightly.
Bruce let out a small laugh-
then stopped.
"...Something tells me from your tone," he said carefully, "that doesn't seem to be the first time...?"
Null didn't answer straight away.
He just lifted his hand and pointed out toward the horizon.
"There used to be a mountain there."
Bruce squinted.
"...Where?"
Null didn't respond.
Bruce looked at Vernon.
Vernon looked back.
"...Sir Null," Vernon started, "do you mean that Sir Caelan-"
Null turned to face him.
Vernon stopped.
"I asked for a spar," Null said.
His voice wasn't loud-but it carried.
"He sent a damned bomb at my face, and told me to fight back.."
Bruce blinked. "...A bomb?"
They started moving again.
"If I hadn't dodged it..." Null continued, "it would've been me instead."
Bruce didn't know what expression to settle on.
Shock.
Concern.
A weird kind of awe.
All of it sat awkwardly on his face at once.
Vernon, on the other hand, was already thinking.
"...Would that mean you are weaker, Sir Null?"
Null stopped.
"...What?"
Vernon froze. "Nonono, I meant-"
Null sighed over him.
"It's fine."
A pause.
"I get why you'd think that."
Silence settled for a moment-mostly because Null hadn't started walking again yet.
Then he glanced back at them.
"would you like me to explain?"
Vernon's eyes instantly sparked.
"Yes please!"
"Lets see..."
They began walking again.
"I guess I'll begin with output first."
"Everyone has a limit to how much energy they can actually use at once."
Null glanced at Bruce.
"Doesn't matter if your vessel holds a sea. If you can only output a cup, you fight with a cup."
Bruce nodded slowly. "...Okay, yeah. That makes sense."
Vernon looked at Bruce, < Whoa, he understood something? >
"In my case," Null continued, "my output is like a giant waterfall."
He made a small downward motion with his hand.
"Fast. Constant."
"What about Caelan?" Vernon asked.
"...A bottomless lake?."
Bruce tilted his head. "So slower?"
"Calmer," Null corrected. "But we both reach the same limit."
A small pause.
"No, it's equal just.. mmm, different."
"Well for you to have output you must have a vessel.."
Null looked at Bruce again.
"Tell me what you think a vessel is."
Bruce straightened slightly. "It's where you gather and store energy."
"...Is that your final answer?"
Bruce hesitated.
"...Is it wrong?"
"No. Just incomplete."
Bruce sighed. "Of course it is..."
Null continued.
"It's also where refinement happens."
"Huh?"
"The better your refinement," Null said, "the better your energy."
He tapped his chest lightly.
"Cleaner. Stronger. More precise. More condensed."
Bruce frowned. "So like... better quality?"
"Exactly."
Vernon stepped in.
"So you and Caelan are similar overall, but different in strengths?"
"That too," Null said. "But what really separates people is how they use it."
They walked past a rough patch of land, the path becoming less maintained the further they went.
"Martial arts. Magic. Different approaches."
Null glanced ahead.
"Some martial arts can overpower magic entirely."
Bruce looked surprised. "Seriously?"
"Ahrat's mental arts," Null said. "Pure refinement. Pure compression."
"It was so strong that no inheritor had ever been over taken in pure control."
"So its some strong lineage that has it right?" Vernon asked.
"Lost to time."
"what?" Bruce asked.
Null shrugged slightly.
"Yeah surprising right? Some say it came with a curse."
"Curse?" Vernon repeated.
"I don't know the details either, I've only heard about it occasionally."
A brief silence passed.
Then-
"Right- there's also energy discharge."
Bruce Glanced toward Null.
"Or external manifestation," Null added.
"You're starting to lose me.." Bruce said.
Null ignored him.
"Discharge is the most basic forms regardless of what path you tread."
Vernon nodded. "Its just manifestation of your energy with a fixed form right? My notes talk about them."
"Yes. It's when you can't release anything properly yet-so you practice by just manifesting it."
"there is also a cool thing people do when sparring sometimes. Its purpose is to squeeze every last drop of energy with an opponent to empty your vessels and fill them again, Its called "Output battle." its like the ultimate test of everything, a clash of sorts."
"Regardless of your arts or spells, it really comes down to just pure amount, refinement and control."
"Once you take your stance, its all or nothing."
"However its really destructive, that's why its not used widely well unless your specialty is specifically high output. Since the stronger you grow the less opportunities you obtain to go all out."
Null slowed slightly.
"Then there is Manifestation and inner manifestation.. Its a bit weird, it works differently."
They came to a stop.
Null turned, stepping closer.
"You can't really train it, or obtain it through normal means. Even if you reach the pinnacle of everything there is a high chance you would never be able to experience it."
He lifted a hand-
then tapped Vernon's head.
"And it starts here."
Vernon didn't react.
"Your imagination is really really important," Null continued, "Imagine claiming a space and creating a game space."
He gestured around them.
"A radius."
Bruce looked around instinctively.
"...And then what?"
Null's gaze sharpened slightly.
"You play by your own rules, You bend anything and everything to your advantage. and take anything away to give a disadvantage to your opponent."
"And its easier for Martial artist than mages."
Null glanced at Vernon.
A pause.
"...Wait," Bruce said, "what does that even mean? I don't understand."
Null continued anyway.
"Its like taking a piece of yourself and creating a radius where that piece is absolute."
He said simply.
"based on their compatibility with their elements it can become a unique world even though all of them are unique anyway."
Vernon nodded slightly.
"So within that space... they're stronger?"
"Yes."
"How much stronger?" Bruce asked.
Null glanced at him.
"Well.. It depends."
Bruce hesitated.
"what do you mean?"
"Hm.. Not every fragment is combat focused? it could simply be support based, or summon based- it is unique to the person wielding it."
Bruce nodded before looking forward noticing a faint shape of a roof.
The building came into view ahead.
Uneven.
Extended.
Different from anything else.
"Even the best can't use manifestation properly," Null said.
"Most never reach it."
Bruce exhaled. "Ha, just watch me! Ill get there in no time."
Null didn't respond.
And Vernon sighed.
Vernon looked at the building they were now approaching.
"Look we're almost here." He said.
Vernon's eyes stayed on the building.
< It looks different compared to yesterday. >
And Before they realised-
they had already made it.
And they stood in front of the building.