"Keep your hands steadier when casting spells, or it will affect your accuracy." Mevis's instruction was crisp and clear in the quiet of the evening training grounds.
"Yes, and straighten your waist more." She adjusted Noah's posture with a light touch.
"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." Mevis shook her head slightly. "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, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, Noah and her teacher, Mevis, sat across from each other on the cool grass of the training grounds.
After the practical lesson, Mevis addressed the theoretical questions Noah had raised during class. Today, Noah had been particularly eager to learn the principles behind two-handed magic casting, and Mevis had patiently explained its difficulties and underlying mechanics.
Once their discussion ended, Mevis stood up in one fluid motion, tying her black jacket around her waist. Her sporty tank top accentuated her fit and well-proportioned figure, a testament to her own disciplined training.
Unlike most of the other female teachers at the academy, who favored elegant dresses and decorative accessories, Mevis preferred a "cool" practical style—long sleeves and trousers which, even when loose-fitting, couldn't hide her athletic build. While others flaunted flashy necklaces, dazzling rings, and expensive bracelets, Mevis wore only a simple, unadorned black ring on her finger.
Even her jacket, with its sleek, minimalistic design, had one surprising detail: a small, cute bear patch sewn discreetly onto the sleeve.
The contrast between her typically icy, aloof demeanor and this subtle girlish touch made Noah think of her own mother, Rossweise. After all, even the mighty Silver Dragon Queen wasn't above acting coy and affectionate in private with Leon.
Noah brushed the grass off her clothes and stood, offering a respectful nod.
"Thank you for the lesson, Teacher Mevis. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow, Noah." Mevis's reply was as measured as ever.
Mevis turned and walked away, her tall figure gradually disappearing into the deepening twilight.
Noah's silver eyes lingered on her teacher's retreating back, her pupils shimmering slightly with admiration.
"She's so cool..." Noah thought to herself.
"Cooler than me?" The ancient dragon's voice echoed in her mind, tinged with mock offense.
"No way! You're the Dragon Clan's greatest hero—you're the coolest!" Noah mentally reassured her.
"Of course!" The dragon spirit sounded pleased.
Noah had long since figured out how to deal with the ancient dragon spirit residing in her consciousness. Agreeing with her praises usually stopped any potential arguments in their tracks.
Once Mevis's figure completely disappeared from sight, Noah snapped out of her daze and glanced around the empty training grounds before running toward the academy's main training hall.
However, she wasn't heading there to practice the material Mevis had assigned.
Upon reaching the top floor of the training hall, Noah ensured no one else was around before quietly locking the attic door behind her. She walked to the center of the secluded rooftop garden, closed her eyes, and took a deep, centering breath.
A faint white aura began to swirl around her feet, slowly spiraling upward like ethereal vines. The energy thickened, gradually encasing her small form in a translucent, shimmering cocoon of light.
Her pure white eyes began to glow with an inner radiance as Primordial Power pulsed outward from her core. However, after months of training, Noah had learned to control its range precisely, ensuring the powerful energy signature wouldn't be detected by other students or teachers.
When the energy finally dissipated, Noah dropped to her hands and knees, panting heavily, her small body trembling violently from the exertion.
"How long this time?" she asked between ragged breaths.
"Thirty minutes," the ancient dragon replied, a note of pride in its mental voice. "Two minutes longer than last time."
"That's good..." Noah said, her voice weak but satisfied as she pushed herself into a sitting position.
"And you didn't pass out after exiting Primordial Mode this time. That's a significant improvement," the dragon spirit added encouragingly.
After resting for a while, her breathing gradually steadying, Noah wiped the sweat from her brow and stood shakily, her legs still unsteady.
"Next week, we'll aim for thirty-five minutes."
The dragon sighed, a note of concern cutting through its usual majestic tone.
"I've told you many times, Noah, 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," Noah interrupted firmly, her silver eyes determined. "The enemy won't stop just because I'm tired. Shadow won't stop."
The dragon fell silent, understanding the source of her relentless determination. It traced back to the Muenlit Forest incident months ago. During that perilous mission, Noah had nearly died when they unexpectedly encountered the Warhammer Dragon King Adam. It was only by channeling the dragon spirit's power to enter Primordial Mode that she and Helena had managed to survive and escape.
At the time, Noah could only sustain the transformation for ten minutes, barely enough time to flee. Since that day, she had resolved to train harder, relentlessly extending her time in Primordial Mode so she wouldn't have to rely solely on the dragon spirit to save her in moments of crisis.
Through relentless, grueling effort, Noah could now maintain the mode for half an hour, and she no longer collapsed unconscious afterward—a marked improvement.
Still, the dragon spirit often urged her to take it easier, to pace herself, but her response was always the same stubborn refrain:
"I must grow stronger. The only way to protect what I care about is to wield the power myself."
In that unwavering resolve, she was exactly like her father, Leon. Stubborn and unyielding to the core.
The dragon spirit couldn't help but marvel at the purity of her resolve. That unwavering determination, that fierce drive to protect everything dear to her—it was a force so strong it even left the ancient dragon king feeling humbled and awestruck.
"Fine," the dragon said at last, relenting as it always did. "Just don't overstrain your body. Remember, I'll still need it later."
"I know," Noah replied, a faint, tired smile tugging at her lips as she began her slow walk back to the dormitory.
As she walked along the quiet path, the dragon spoke again, its tone more thoughtful.
"Noah, I've noticed something during our recent training sessions."
"What is it?" Noah asked, her curiosity piqued.
"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—your own dragon magic."
Noah paused mid-step, frowning slightly as she processed this.
"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, creating internal resistance."
The dragon continued, its explanation precise,
"As your innate magic fights against the invading Primordial Power,it gets depleted rapidly, which, in turn, drains your stamina faster and shortens how long you can maintain the mode."
"So, my innate magic and stamina both get used up simultaneously..." Noah murmured, understanding dawning. "It's a double consumption."
"Yes. While external magic can be controlled with practice, internal magical conflict is much harder to manage. If you're not careful, you could damage your core magical circuits over time."
The dragon sighed, a rare sound of genuine worry.
"Your magic is just like you..."
"What do you mean by that?" Noah asked.
"Always overachieving. One body, doing two demanding jobs simultaneously. 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," Noah retorted dryly, "maybe you could think of an actual solution instead?"
The dragon chuckled, the sound echoing warmly in her mind.
"Unfortunately,I've never encountered this kind of... symbiotic collaboration before. The simplest solution is to keep improving your overall stamina, so your body can handle both jobs for longer periods."
"That's not simple—that's just stupid," Noah retorted with a tired smile.
"Thank you. I thought so too," the dragon replied, amusement coloring its tone.
As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, Noah's small figure cast a long, lone shadow on the path leading back to the dormitory, the weight of her dual burdens invisible to any observer.
Unbeknownst to her, someone was watching from a distance, hidden from sight.
In the teacher's apartments, Mevis stood at her window, her black-ringed finger glinting faintly in the blood-red light of the vanished sunset. Her dark, perceptive eyes followed Noah's every slow, tired step, missing nothing.
Finally, she closed her eyes and murmured into the growing darkness, her voice barely a whisper,
"It seems... the time has come."