SSS Awakening: I Can Create Skills By Will-Chapter 89: A Gift of Flame

And then there was his control which bothered her.

Not in a negative way, but in a way that challenged everything she understood.

He did not seem to rely heavily on mana, yet his efficiency and precision were absurd. The flow of mana within him was steady, disciplined, almost instinctive.

The level of control she sensed was something she had only seen in high ranking mages who had trained for decades.

At the same time, the way he adapted during combat reminded her of veteran warriors who had survived countless battles. The awareness. The reactions. The creativity under pressure.

Two completely different paths.

Yet both existed in him.

She had no direct way to train such a person. His growth did not follow a structure she could guide. He improved simply by fighting, by adapting, by pushing himself.

The thought made her smile faintly.

She had been right to recruit him.

With time, he would become a tremendous asset.

And there was something else.

As they fought, she had felt a strange familiarity. It was subtle, yet undeniable. The boy carried himself with a level of experience that did not match his age. His eyes, his reactions, even the way he observed her movements.

It was almost as if she faced someone who had lived through many battles already.

Weird.

Especially coming from her, someone who had clawed her way up through relentless training and war.

After several more exchanges where she carefully tested his control, timing, and output, she finally stepped back.

"That is enough," she said calmly.

Arthur lowered his stance slowly, his breathing steadying. Sweat ran down his neck, yet his eyes still shone with excitement rather than exhaustion.

He had enjoyed it and she could tell.

The spar ended, but the meeting did not.

Lyra crossed her arms and studied him again before speaking.

"You are unusual, Arthur."

He scratched his cheek.

"I hear that a lot lately."

Her lips curved slightly, though she quickly returned to a serious tone.

"What I saw today confirms my thoughts. You hide more than you show, but that is your choice."

Arthur said nothing. He simply listened.

She continued.

"It may be crude... but I might have a way to help you grow even stronger."

Arthur blinked.

Surprise flashed across his face, followed quickly by interest. He straightened and bowed respectfully.

"If you’re willing to guide me, Commander, I’ll gladly accept."

And he meant it.

He had heard the rumors about her. The stories of how she could turn even the weakest talents into capable fighters. Many who were once dismissed had grown useful under her command.

More importantly, he had seen her ability with his own eyes. The way she analyzed his movements, broke down his skills, and understood his flow of power showed deep knowledge.

If she truly had a way to help him grow, he would not miss that opportunity.

"There are risks," she warned.

Arthur smiled lightly. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"I’ll take them."

Inside, his confidence was firm. He trusted his own instincts, and more than that, he had the Sovereign Intent System supporting him. Whatever came, he believed he could endure it.

Lyra nodded, acknowledging his resolve.

Then she reached toward her storage device.

A faint light flickered as she retrieved something and tossed it toward him without ceremony.

Arthur caught it instinctively.

The moment it landed in his palm, he froze.

It was a small crystal core, roughly the size of his thumb, yet it pulsed with deep crimson light. The surface looked smooth but faint patterns moved within it like slow flowing flames trapped behind glass.

Warmth spread from it immediately.

Not simple heat.

It was intense, alive, like holding a tiny beating heart made of fire. The air around it seemed to tremble slightly, and a faint burning sensation crawled across his skin.

Arthur’s expression turned serious.

Even without explanation, he could tell.

This was something extremely valuable.

"What is this?" he asked.

Lyra answered simply.

"A fire seed core."

She walked closer, her voice calm as she explained.

"It is typically used by fire elementalists. They absorb it to strengthen their fire attribute, refine their element, or awaken deeper affinity."

Arthur looked down at the glowing core again.

The energy inside it was dense and wild, yet controlled. It felt powerful, dangerous, and strangely attractive.

"But... why give it to me?" he asked honestly.

Lyra noticed his confusion and continued immediately.

"I observed your energy during our fight. Your control, your output, your explosiveness. The nature of your power shows strong alignment with fire."

Arthur’s brows lifted slightly.

She went on.

"You use little mana, yet what you produce carries violent intensity. Your flow resembles combustion. Unstable at times, yet powerful when focused."

Her gaze sharpened.

"I intend to give your power direction. Even if your mana is limited, granting it an element may allow it to reach greater potential."

Arthur understood slowly.

She wanted to force an elemental alignment.

To shape his power.

But her next words were heavy.

"The process will hurt," she said bluntly. "And I cannot guarantee success."

Silence filled the hall.

Arthur stared at the core for a moment, feeling its heat, sensing the power sleeping inside it.

Pain.

Risk.

Uncertainty.

None of it scared him.

He bowed again.

"I’ll do my best to make it work."

His voice carried quiet determination.

Lyra watched him for a long moment before nodding.

"I expected that answer."

She had already been impressed by him. His resolve only confirmed her judgment. He deserved the chance.

Arthur looked at the core again, gratitude clear in his eyes.

"Thank you, Commander."

She turned toward the exit, her duty seemingly complete.

Arthur followed her with his gaze, still processing everything that had just happened. The weight of the opportunity settled slowly in his chest.

Just as she reached the door, she stopped.

Without turning back, she spoke.

"You may use this place for training."

Arthur blinked.

She continued.

"Remain here until you master the fire element."

And with that, she walked out.