Lassim, walking along a winding path that led south towards the Lightning Sect, pulled out the sleek, new communication disc gifted by Prince Kael. It felt alien yet exciting in his hand—a stark reminder of how much had changed. With a curious mix of apprehension and eagerness, he activated the device, its surface glowing softly under his fingertips.
As the list of notifications populated, a particular series of messages from Headmaster Caelum Ferrum caught his eye. The earliest ones dated back nearly five years:
Headmaster Caelum Ferrum: Lassim, your signal has gone dark. Please respond as soon as you receive this. We are worried about your whereabouts and safety.
Headmaster Caelum Ferrum: Still no word from you. Your lack of arrival at the Lightning Sect has been noted and it appears you’ve disappeared during your crossing of the Kingdom of Aetheria. We’ve confirmed this with the Myriad Sect’s information department. We are starting to fear the worst as we hear the efforts of your relative, Hallen, aren’t seeing much progress.
Please respond when you receive this.
Headmaster Caelum Ferrum: It’s been over a year now. I hope wherever you are, you are safe my disciple.
Lassim’s throat tightened as he read through the headmaster’s increasingly distressed messages. Taking a deep breath, he quickly typed out a reply, his fingers moving deftly over the smooth interface:
Lassim: Headmaster Ferrum, I apologize for the silence and worry. I was trapped in an undiscovered plane with no means to communicate. I am safe and on my way to the Lightning Sect now. It’s still a decently long journey ahead, but I promise, I’ll make it there soon. You’ll be surprised by the progress I’ve made. Keep an ear out for the tales of my strength when I arrive.
Sending the message, Lassim felt a weight lift slightly, though the urgency to explain himself in person gnawed at him. Wishing he could share more and fully address his master’s worries.
Shaking off the feeling, he scrolled through more missed messages, his eyes catching on the names of his friends, Lustria and Sirium.
Lustria Alisone, Day 45: Lassim, wherever you are, I hope this message finds you well. We were informed by the headmaster that said your signal is lost. He reached out to us hoping we would know about your situation as if we would know what your plans were. He seemed really worried, but I believe you’re out there. Stay safe.
Sirium Giffard, Day 200: It’s been months, buddy. After the Headmaster first approached us, I held back from sending letters, hoping you’d get this message eventually. The academy isn’t the same without you as well. With no powerhouse at your level, competition for the first rank is brutal.
I’ve started some additional tactical training, and it makes me think of how I can be useful for our group in the future. I wish I could join you to explore the world together like you are right now on your journey south. I hope you’re safe and just somewhere adventuring.
This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.
As the years progressed, their messages grew more detailed, sharing slices of life and milestones:
Lustria Alisone, Year 5: Today, I finally had my birthday! Shortly after, I was able to break through to the Spirit Growth stage and my elemental companion hatched for her egg. She’s not much of a talker, but I’ve bonded with her since then. She’s a Nightling Shade named Vee. She’s stealthy, but a bit creepy to look at sometimes.
I can’t believe you reached this level of power during our first year at the academy. The power I feel now is remarkable. I just wonder… How much have you grown since then and how far do I need to push myself to catch up…?
Sirium Giffard, Year 5: Graduation is nearing bud! I wish you’d have been here or that we’d at least heard tales of you in the Lightning Sect by now. I’ve been trying to keep tabs through my family’s merchant routes to see if there was any news, but nothing yet. I know you’re still out there! Anyways, I’ve made the decision to join the Aurora Kingdom’s royal military for officer training.
I’ve grown fond of strategy during my time at the academy and one of the academy elders had a connection he shared with me once he recognized my talent. I’ve heard Lustria is going to instead go to some sort of special training on the Northern continent as well. Wish you could see us now, Lassim.
Especially me since I’ve learned to harness the winds better than ever with the help of my elemental spirit—Wendy, a breeze sprite that’s really cool!
Lustria Alisone, Graduation Day: We did it, Lassim! Graduated at ranks 1 and 2 for our classes. Sirium’s speech as the second highest point earner for the class was something else—he really has a way with words these days. We both wish you were here to celebrate with us. I’ve not told anyone else my exact plans, but I want you to know.
I’ll be heading to the northern continent for special assassination training. I’ll be joining a unique sect that my father has a relationship with due to my older cousin having joined it a couple thousand years ago. She’s an elder there and I think it will suit me if I can better fine tune my elemental bow attacks to be more stealthy.
I’ve really gotten used to fighting on the edges of the battlefield and sniping my targets from the shadows. Wherever you are, know that you’re missed.
Lassim paused, a smile spreading across his face as he imagined Sirium commanding a crowd and thinking about Lustria’s effort to reach number 1. He thought about what kind of elemental companions they now had as well as he felt a pang of nostalgia for his time at the academy those years ago, mixed with pride for their achievements.
Crafting a response to them would take time—a proper catch-up once he had the time. But for now, he knew they deserved at least a brief acknowledgment for their years of messages. He sent the same message to them individually:
Lassim: Lustria, Sirium, I’m so proud of you both! Sorry for making you worry. I’m safe, and I’ve got stories to tell that you wouldn’t believe. I’ve still got to reach the Lightning Sect, but I plan to head there immediately now that I’m back. In case you were wondering, I’m Spirit Transformation stage, level 8 now. I hope you can catch up, hahaha!
Keep working hard and we’ll see each other again soon! Once I get approval to take a leave from the Sect, I’ll see if we can meet up for another adventure. Lustria, do your best in your Sect and Sirium in the officer training! Let’s do our best!
With the final tap on his communication disc, Lassim felt the lightness of having caught up with the world.
As he pocketed his communication disc into his whale-hide magic pouch, his pace quickened, driven by an eagerness to finally make his way to the Lightning Sect.
His route, planned years ago but barely embarked upon, continued with a bridge in the distance that spanned the dramatic cliffs leading down to a town nestled at the base of vast plateaus.
Activating his cultivation technique, rotating the mana in his pathways, Lassim tapped into the divine mana coursing through him.
He initiated his self-created battle art—[Tempest Steps]—infusing each stride with a blend of lightning and water elements, something he created during the time between Spirit Transformation 1 and ST 5 when the distance he needed to travel became incredibly large during his patrols across Khaalseru’s heart world.
This was during the time before he pushed to do the final cleansing of the realm’s source of corruption—the abyssal weapon shard—as he later learned.
The events of that cleansing further purified his mana to ST6, through the suggested effort by Mari to replace his mana with the even purer divine mana that was in the air at the time. It should also be noted that during the receiving of the gift of the progenitor marks from the Goddess, it’s effects instantly boosted him to ST8, which is what Hallen and his family witnesses upon his return.
His movement instantly became a blur, light the embodiment of lightning and a flood itself, the landscape sped by. Oddly, Lassim quickly noticed that the divine mana replenished itself seamlessly as he used it, the progenitor markings ensuring his reserves were constantly filled, transforming standard mana into divine with incredible efficiency that surprised him.
"Mari, Zaphy, this is amazing," Lassim exclaimed, his voice excited. "The regeneration rate of this mana is unreal. I also use barely any of the divine mana for this technique as well. I feel like I could keep this up forever!"
Mari, her fins shimmering like a ripple of water within his heart world, responded, "You’ve truly grown stronger with these new markings, child. How wonderful."
Zaphy, crackling energetically, darted around Mari. "You should try a real test of strength soon! Go kick someone’s butt real quick! I’m curious to see what you can really do now brother!"
Laughing, Lassim agreed, "I’m ready to take on any challenge Zaphy! Maybe something will come up in the swamp ahead."
As he spoke, his divine mana had been inadvertently radiated outwards. His control of its pressure was still incredibly lacking.
Animals and various beasts in the surroundings of his path scattered in panic or froze in place, overwhelmed by the invisible pressure of his presence.
Lassim had no idea that his intimidating aura of divine mana needed a bit more finesse; his mere presence was enough to instill terror in the local wildlife.
Previously he only noticed a tiny bit of its effect on his grandparents but he’d practically already forgotten about it after filling his heart with their warmth and filling his mind with the thoughts of catching up with what his friends had messaged him.
With the [Tempest Steps] propelling him forward, Lassim descended the plateaus via a well-worn roadway that zigzagged through the descending terrain. His speed was such that the usual days or even weeks-long trek he had planned on the map were passed in what felt like minutes, each step carrying him dozens of meters at a time.
As he finally reached flat ground again, having traveled down the entire sloping path, he approached the town at the edge of the swamp. The unique architecture instantly caught his eye.
The buildings were mostly typical of a frontier town—wooden structures designed for function over form—but with an eerie twist. Many of the roofs and doorways bore subtle, spidery motifs, their designs incorporating web-like patterns that glistened under the fading light of dusk. It was a nod, perhaps, to the infamous Spider Queen.
This was the beginning of his contact with her lands, or what they referred to as her ’threads’.
"This town... I guess it’ll be easy to tell whenever we’re within the Spider Queen’s reach," Lassim noted, his curiosity piqued by the situation..
With night soon approaching after his day’s of travel, and the swamp’s edge just beyond this spider-themed town, Lassim continued his quick pace as he planned to spend the night here before continuing onwards the next day.