Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Calm Before the Storm
Within an enclosed training chamber, a calm and controlled voice echoed.
"Fire is both mercy and violence in motion, warming what it touches with a gentle hand, and consuming it with the same quiet certainty."
A dark-robed youth muttered, his gaze fixed on a fiery-haired maiden.
As he spoke, he raised one hand before her, slowly stretching his palm outward.
A simple snap, and a moment later, a flame sparked forth. It burned gently, emitting not even the slightest trace of heat. If another person were present, they would have assumed it was an illusion. After all, how could fire exist without burning?
Yet in the next instant, that illusion was shattered. The air above the flame rippled violently. Anything placed above it, regardless of material or sturdiness, was instantly reduced to ashes.
Exhaling quietly, the youth waved his arm. The flame flickering across his fingers was extinguished, replaced by an almost identical spark.
But unlike the previous one, the moment it came into existence, everything around it was exposed to extreme heat. The ground cracked and charred beneath it, parts of the earth melting into molten sludge. Even the red-haired girl was forced back a few steps as she stared at the flame in both wonder and caution.
The youth, however, remained unfazed as he smiled faintly.
"But you already knew that, didn’t you?"
As the words echoed out, the girl dropped her head slightly in embarrassment, her face flushing faintly.
Sighing in exasperation, a wry smile formed on Ulric’s face as his gaze fell upon Tara. He walked up to her and flicked her forehead playfully before looking into the distance.
Given he wielded the girls’ talents and respective elements with great mastery, perhaps even beyond the peak expected for their rank, it wouldn’t be wrong to say he knew a little about everything.
Which was why he had taken it upon himself to guide their training. And the results had been good. Perhaps too good. Amber and the rest took in his teachings like a sponge, accelerating their control over their power until there was little left he could teach them. Yet they kept coming back for more.
Still, even with all this, it didn’t mean he had neglected his own training. If anything, he had doubled his efforts. But the results all led to one conclusion: nothing.
It seemed generating more aether was harder than he had anticipated. Harvesting it from other sources was even more impossible. He didn’t even know if there was anyone else who wielded it.
The more he studied it, the more he stood in awe of its complexity. Trying to recreate it always led to another dead end.
He had already established it was similar to mana, but in more ways than one, superior to it.
If mana could double the force of attacks, then aether could do far more. Which only made him more excited. Once he refined and understood its true essence, the power he would wield would far outclass regular mana users by this alone.
Despite hitting a wall in his progress, every time he sank into meditation, he could feel himself inching closer to uncovering its mysteries. He couldn’t wait.
***
At the side, Aelira observed the dark-robed youth with a hint of curiosity in her eyes, a curiosity that only deepened with each passing day.
As she recalled his plans, his words echoed repeatedly in her mind. He had seemed so enthusiastic about participating in the academy selections and joining an academy.
Given they were set to begin in a month and almost a week had already passed, it only made her more curious. Wasn’t he afraid of missing them?
Yet as her eyes fell on his face, currently locked in meditation, not a trace of worry could be seen. He appeared completely unfazed.
She had also heard him repeatedly mumble about a new energy, growing visibly excited at just the mention of it. An energy that would make him unstoppable once fully cultivated.
It was a fascinating concept, which only pulled her deeper into thought. He was already powerful as he was. What about when he fully mastered this energy? She wasn’t sure about the future, but one thing was certain.
It would definitely elevate his power to unprecedented levels. Something Amber and the rest seemed to understand, as they doubled their training efforts, determined not to be left behind.
Still, even with all that, it didn’t fully add up. He could cultivate this new energy elsewhere. He didn’t need to be in Tempest to do so.
And it hardly consumed enough of his time to interfere with daily activity. If it were anyone else, she would have been truly confused.
But having observed him for a while, she had picked up a few things.
At first, she thought when he looked into the endless horizon, it was with yearning for the outside world.
But now she saw it differently. If she didn’t know better, she would think he was waiting for someone. Was he? And if so, what kind of person could make even him delay his plans?
The more she thought about it, the more the curiosity ate at her, until she couldn’t hold back anymore and asked him directly.
Seeing the burning curiosity in her eyes as she fired a barrage of questions at him, Ulric chuckled slightly. One hand lifted to gently stroke her silky hair.
"You’ll know when you see it," he mumbled, his brows arching slightly as a glint of surprise flickered through his eyes.
Her observation and appraisal skills were indeed excellent, far more than he had expected.
Aelira didn’t seem satisfied with the answer, her brows furrowing slightly as she exhaled.
"Huh? What was that supposed to mean?" she muttered, trying to decipher his words.
She wanted to ask more, but seeing the playful glint in his crimson gaze, she gave up, snorting under her breath as her lips twitched slightly.
Hmph. Was he teasing her again? She couldn’t tell anymore.
She didn’t have to wonder for long. One day, while everyone was training, an overwhelming aura crushed down on Tempest and its surroundings, drawing the attention of the entire city.
While most sank into panic, Aelira watched in shock as Ulric’s eyes snapped open from meditation. A devious smile slowly formed on his lips.
Before she could blink, his figure vanished, his words trailing behind him.
"Finally."
***
Elsewhere, deep in the wastelands, two figures streaked across the barren land.
At first, tracking the source of that heavenly energy had been easy enough. But as they went deeper, it became increasingly difficult.
The energy seemed to emanate from every direction. Even more so, they grew alarmed the deeper they ventured.
They had crossed tens of thousands of meters, yet there was still no sign of any human settlement that could house such a supreme genius.
Which forced them to reassess the figure they were pursuing. For the residue of that breakthrough energy to travel this far only highlighted how terrifyingly talented the source must be. This realization made them even more determined, but they appeared to have hit a dead end.
Even worse, if they couldn’t locate the source soon, the energy would fully dissipate, cutting off any chance of tracking it.
The thought alone made the grey-robed figure’s face contort in frustration. But just as things seemed hopeless, Kael struck a deal. Having mastered a tracking technique, he was confident he could locate the genius.
His only concern was that the grey-robed academy elder would claim all the rewards upon discovery.
So he proposed splitting them.
The grey-robed elder had initially found the idea absurd. He even considered forcing the information out of Kael. A mere C-rank dared suggest sharing rewards? Ridiculous.
But those methods would take time. Time they did not have. Which was why he ultimately agreed to a 70–30 split.
Kael did not consider himself a particularly clever man, but he was not foolish either. He had not become the leader of a clan in a middle-tier city without some measure of cunning.
He knew even proposing the idea could get him killed. But in Arcadia, risk often came paired with opportunity. And this opportunity was too great to ignore.
Which was why he insisted on a life-and-death contract. If either party violated the terms, they would be struck down by heaven itself.
The grey-robed elder had reluctantly agreed. This ensured Kael could not be harmed until the deal was complete. But if he thought that was enough to stop him, it would only prove his naivety.
Still, it did not matter. Under Kael’s guidance, they navigated forward with increasing precision. Yet the closer they got, the more Kael’s brows furrowed, until they arrived at a low-tier city.
This was the last place his daughter had been seen before she died. Was it coincidence that the so-called genius also came from this same city?
He did not think so.
His aura exploded outward, enveloping the entirety of Tempest City.
