In the "Academy of Celestial Sorcery," the air was perpetually heavy with the scent of ozone and scorched mana. The grand marble halls were designed to reflect the light of the "Dimensional Heart," dispersing it into every corner to create an environment professors deemed "ideal for study," while students saw it as an unending white hell.
Elina stood in the fifth training courtyard. Amidst the shouts of students and flying magical sparks, she appeared as an island of stillness. Myra, her close friend, was struggling to summon a "Light Shield," but her sweat flowed profusely, and my mana fluctuated violently under the heat.
"Elina, what is wrong with you?" Myra shouted, panting. "Since yesterday, you've been acting as if you are dead... or incredibly cold."
Elina did not answer immediately. She was focusing on my mana, which no longer boiled as it once did. Thanks to her hour in "Lordran," she discovered that the headache haunting her for years had finally dulled. She raised her hand, and instead of summoning a searing light, she formed a small magical sphere of pale blue. The sphere was perfectly still, emitting no hum, yet it was exceptionally pure.
"This... this is Pure Essence Magic!" a passing professor whispered in shock. "How did you achieve such equilibrium without Dusk Powder?"
Elina opened her eyes and said in a calm voice, "I found a place that grants you silence in exchange for pain. In the Alley of Oblivion... there is a shop that sells an indescribable experience."
Precision of the Blade, Not Bulk of the Muscle
On the other side of the city, within the barracks of the "Wolf Bloodline," Rakan was practicing his drills. His muscles hadn't grown, but his movements had become terrifyingly "economical."
He faced his companion, Cale, a powerful warrior renowned for his heavy strikes. Cale lunged toward Rakan with a vertical axe cleave. Previously, Rakan would have met the axe with his sword in a clash of strength, but now he did something different. He took a half-step to the side—a simple movement learned from observing the Asylum Demon's footwork—and the axe passed him by mere millimeters. In the blink of an eye, he placed the edge of his blade against Cale's neck.
"You lost," Rakan said coldly.
Cale froze, his eyes wide. "How? You weren't faster than me, but your movement was... perfectly timed. It's as if you knew exactly where I would strike!"
Rakan sheathed his sword. "I died dozens of times to learn this single step. If you want to understand, follow me to the Alley of Oblivion."
In the Shop: Leon's First Surprise
Inside the "Dimensional Experience Center," Leon sat behind the counter, his body still feeling the aches of yesterday's private training. The System had granted him a new reward after his promotion to Rank 1 Apprentice: an antique wooden machine inlaid with faint blue crystals.
"Ashen Tea?" Leon muttered, eyeing the machine. "System, are you sure about the price? 3 magic stones a cup?"
[System Response: Host, this tea is the spiritual 'stabilizer.' Customers will know its value once they taste it.]
The door bell rang. Elina entered with a hesitant Myra, followed by Rakan and Cale. The shop was cramped, and the tension between the mages and warriors was palpable, but everyone fell silent the moment they felt the cold radiating from the shop.
"Owner!" Rakan shouted. "I've come for my hour, and I brought Cale. He wants to see this 'death' you speak of."
Leon tactfully ignored the outburst and turned to the group. "Welcome. Today is a special day at the center. To mark our official opening, I present to you a new and exclusive product: Ashen Tea."
Leon gestured to the machine, from which a pale grey liquid flowed, emitting a cold vapor that cascaded toward the floor like silk.
"Tea?" Myra mocked. "3 magic stones for a cup of tea? Do you think we are in the Emperor's palace?"
But Elina, who trusted the "coolness" of this place, immediately placed three stones down. "I want one."
Leon poured the tea into a crystal cup. As soon as Elina took a sip, her violet eyes widened. She felt as if the chill of the cell in Lordran had moved into her stomach, then spread through her veins to wash away every trace of Astoria's heat. My mana, which had been slightly turbulent after the academy training, suddenly stabilized and became as solid as diamond.
"This..." Elina whispered in awe, looking at the cup as if it were an ancient treasure. "This isn't tea... it is 'Liquid Stillness.' My mana... it has completely stopped boiling!"
Seeing Elina—a noble mage—in this state of shock caused Rakan to toss three stones down immediately. "Give me a cup!" As soon as he drank it, Rakan roared in relief: "Gods! I feel as if a ten-year headache evaporated in a single gulp!"
Myra and Cale, who were skeptical, exchanged quick glances before quickly pulling out their stones. "Us too!"
Leon smiled coldly as he watched them all sip the tea in sacred silence. The shop was no longer just a place to play; it had become a sanctuary providing what "Dusk Powder" never could.
"And now," Leon said, pointing to the capsules. "Now that your minds have cooled... which of you is ready to face death in Lordran?"