Theo raised his spear, lightning bouncing from spearhead to spearhead.

Elise didn’t move.

She stood there with one hand resting on her staff, her gaze fixed on him.

For a brief moment, neither of them acted.

Finally—

Theo dashed forward.

His grip tightened as lightning surged violently along the spear, the arcs growing thicker as he closed the distance.

He swung down towards her exposed side in an instant.

Elise still didn’t step back.

Her pole moved through the air in a smooth, controlled arc, water swirling tightly around it — then, in the next instant, it crashed into Theo’s spear.

The lightning exploded, tearing through a thin layer of water.

Then it was swallowed as the waves closed in around it.

The impact twisted the spear out of his hands as if it weighed nothing.

Theo froze for a second, watching his spear spin across the floor.

"...What?"

He flexed his fingers slightly.

That didn’t feel right at all.

Without another thought, two lightning bolts formed above him.

They shot down toward Elise in a flash.

She didn’t even look up, simply waving her pole once.

The water surged again, cutting through both attacks effortlessly.

"Your attacks are too simple," she said. "Go again."

Theo exhaled quietly.

Then he turned and walked over, picking up his spear.

For a moment, he just stood there, staring at it.

’I should try something else,’ he thought. ’Either I keep my distance... or I switch to a different weapon.’

In the next moment, he pulled the sleek umbrella off his back.

Elise’s gaze changed a little, raising an eyebrow.

Theo didn’t wait, though.

He stepped forward again, snapping the umbrella open.

Water surged forward around him, forming a dense, spiky shield in front of him.

Elise’s eyes widened slightly, seeing his second element.

Her pole moved forward in the same motion as before, water coiling around it.

The tip of her staff slammed into the shield—

And stopped.

For a brief moment, her pole was sucked into the shield, disrupting her movement.

Elise’s eyebrows raised for a moment.

Theo’s eyes lit up.

’Now.’

The shield collapsed instantly.

At the same time—

A thick burst of mist spread outwards all around them.

Theo jumped back, disappearing into the mist instantly.

Without hesitation, a single lightning bolt formed above his palm.

A thin smile appeared on Theo’s face as he sent it straight into the mist particles.

CRACK! 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Electricity spread wildly through the dense water particles, branching out in every direction.

For a split second, the entire area lit up in blinding flashes.

Theo stood there for a moment, narrowing his eyes.

As the mist parted, a figure revealed itself.

Elise stood exactly where she’d been.

Only this time, her eyes were narrowed as she looked at him.

"That’s interesting," she said.

She paused for a moment.

"But it’s just a trick."

Theo’s expression changed, understanding exactly what she was talking about.

"In a real fight," she continued, "if your opponent survives it once—"

"They won’t fall for it again."

Silence settled between them for a moment.

Theo tightened his grip on the umbrella slightly.

"...I see," he said quietly.

Elise watched him for a second longer.

Then—

"Since you chose me as your instructor," she said, her voice ice cold, "I’ll train you for the next two months."

She turned her staff once in her hand, the water around it calming instantly.

Then, she locked eyes with Theo.

"And we’ll start with that."

Her eyes flicked briefly toward the fading mist around them.

"Instead of tricks, I’ll teach you real control."

Theo frowned slightly.

"...What do you mean?"

Elise raised her staff, pointing it straight at him.

"When you attacked just now," she said, "what was your plan?"

Theo opened his mouth—

Then paused.

’What was my plan even?’ he thought. ’The first time... I just charged in.’

"I guess I only had a plan the second time," he said, scratching his head.

Elise shook her head faintly.

"That wasn’t a plan either," she said emotionlessly. "You simply tried to brute-force your way through with a trick."

Theo just stared at her for a moment.

"What?"

Elise didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she stepped forward.

"You threw out a combination and hoped it would work."

Theo froze.

A hint of realization flashed past his eyes.

’That’s what she meant,’ he thought. ’I never actually created an opening, I just charged in with everything I had...’

"Good," Elise said, nodding once. "It seems you’ve understood it a little."

A wave appeared around her pole again.

"Go agai—"

BOOM!

Elise’s head snapped toward the wall as Theo froze.

A thick burst of earth mana exploded from the other room.

Another pulse followed—

BOOM!

This time, it was stronger, shaking the wall.

Cracks spread across the floor for a brief moment before stabilizing under the training room’s regeneration.

Theo recognized the mana immediately.

"...Owen?"

Elise didn’t respond.

Instead, she dashed to the training room’s exit.

Theo didn’t hesitate.

He followed right behind her.

The door slammed open as they stepped into the corridor—

Another surge of earth mana burst out from further down the hall.

Students had already gathered at a distance, some backing away, others staring at one of the closed training rooms.

Theo pushed past them, stopping right in front of the door.

Just then, a thick ice barrier shot up from the ground behind him.

"That’s not a normal breakthrough," Elise said, stepping up beside him.

Just then, an earth spike slammed into the door from within.

The entire frame shook violently, forcing Theo to let the handle go.

Theo’s jaw tightened as another pulse shot through the ground.

"Can you open it?"

Elise didn’t say a word, taking a step closer to the door.

She pressed her hand against it softly.

In an instant, a thick burst of ice exploded out of her palm.

The door burst open in an instant, flying back through the air.

Then, a spike shot up out of the ground, piercing straight through it.

A chill ran down Theo’s spine.

’What the hell is that?’