Aureleah’s silver gaze swept across the three of them as she replied to Veyrath’s question.

"Not having a weapon as a Soul Essence doesn’t necessarily imply that you shouldn’t know how to wield one... But before I go into details about that, let me ask you guys a question..."

The silver-haired Assassin paused briefly before asking. "What do you think a weapon is?"

The question caught the trio off guard. And since is sounds kinda rhetoric, for a few moments, none of them could answer as they racked their brains...

The waterfall continued its endless roar in the background while the morning breeze drifted through the clearing, carrying with it the scent of wet stone and damp earth...

Eventually, Caelestra spoke first.

"According to my own understanding, a weapon is a tool for killing. At least, that is what most people use it for..."

Veyrath immediately shook his head.

"I disagree with that conjecture. I think a weapon is more of an equipment used to defend oneself against danger." The failed Alchemist declared boldly.

Aureleah didn’t reply yet, instead, she turned toward Sylveris.

The unawakened girl had a wry smile on her face as she scratched her cheek awkwardly.

"Uhmm... They both said exactly what I wanted to say." She replied sheepishly.

Aureleah nodded slightly, then, she turned back toward the awakened duo.

"Actually, you tried. But still... You were both wrong."

Immediately, Veyrath frowned.

"How can we be wrong?" He asked with scrunched brows. "I mean, didn’t we just define what a weapon is?"

"He’s right..." Caelestra commented. "You asked us what a weapon is and we gave you the answers..."

Aureleah’s expression remained unchanged as she replied. "You didn’t define what a weapon is, you only explained what it is used for. And there is a difference between the two..."

Those words made the trio exchanged confused looks...

Veyrath scratched the back of his neck and asked. "And what’s this difference between the two..."

Aureleah remained silent for a moment... Then slowly, she bent down and picked up a small stone from the ground.

Holding it up, she asked them calmly. "What is this?"

Three pairs of brows were raised as the trio wondered what the silver-haired Assassin is up to now... Nevertheless, they answered her question.

"It is a stone..." Veyrath said.

"A pebble..." Caelestra replied in tandem.

"A rock..." Sylveris spoke.

The three answers were spoke simultaneously...

Aureleah nodded slightly. "Good..."

Then suddenly, she flicked her wrist...

WHOOSH!

The stone shot through the air like a bullet...

CRACK!

A chunk of bark exploded from a twisted tree several meters away.

The trio jumped...

Even Sylveris’ eyes widened slightly.

"What is that for?!" The failed Alchemist exclaimed.

Aureleah ignored his question and spoke further. "Now answer me. Was the stone I threw a weapon or not?"

The group looked at each other... Then, the failed Merchant gave a reply.

"I guess not?" Her voice had an undertone of uncertainty in it.

"Exactly..." Aureleah said, then she pointed at the tree. "The stone maintained it’s original nature, yet it was able to deal so much damage like a weapon."

Then she patted her chest. "What matters is not really the stone I threw. Instead, it is me."

There was silence as the three of them stared blankly at her...

Seeing their confusion, Aureleah explained further. "Let me tell you the first thing I learned during my training as an assassin..."

Her voice became colder as she spoke up. "As an assassin, we were never trained to rely on any weapon. Instead, we were trained to become the weapons."

Her gaze swept across the group as she explained further. "What I meant is before you learn to wield a weapon, you mist first learn to master yourself. Because first and foremost, you yourself are the weapons."

Veyrath looked like someone listening to a complicated lecture as he stared at her...

Obviously, even though they were literally speaking the same language, the failed Alchemist failed to understand what the silver-haired Assassin was saying.

"Aureleah, can you please simplify everything you just said so that we would be able to have a better understanding." He demanded.

For the first time since the training, a faint inaudible sigh escaped Aureleah’s lips. This people were literally making teaching them difficult; and honestly, she would rather follow after Regaleon and the rest than stay back here to train these three...

"Tell me something..." She looked at the failed Alchemist directly. "If I were to take away your Cauldron right now, how would you defend yourself?"

Veyrath immediately opened his mouth yo reply, but nothing registered in his brain, so the failed Alchemist had to close it back...

"Well..."

Obviously, the auburn-haired youth was stumped by that question.

Aureleah didn’t wait for him to reply before she turned toward the failed Merchant.

"What about you Caelestra? If I took away your Treasure Chest, can you defend yourself?"

Caelestra hesitated. "...Maybe?"

"Maybe isn’t an answer."

Then Aureleah pointed toward Sylveris. "What about you? If someone attacks you right now, what would you do?"

Sylveris blinked...

The young girl had been listening in on the conversation between them but she had though it wouldn’t concern her because it was meant for those that are awakened... Niy clearly she was wrong.

Her eyes darted between the tree as she replied somewhat uncertainly. "I would run?"

Then, like someone awaiting an execution date, she waited for her sister to maybe criticize her...

But Aureleah simply nodded her head. "Fair enough..."

Her reply surprised everyone. Even Sylveris herself looked confused as she asked. "That’s it? So, you aren’t going to criticize me?"

Aureleah raised a brow. "Why would I do that? Running is a valid combat decision..."

She folded her arms before continuing. "People often confuse courage with stupidity. If an opponent is overwhelmingly stronger than you, surviving is more important than proving your bravery. Also, have you forgotten the first type of response that occurs during combat?"

The group was silent as they remembered everything about the three kinds of combat responses she explained. It was okay after this that they realized why the failed Assassin accepted Sylveris’ answer...

"However, make no mistake, because eventually, there will come a time when running isn’t an option."

Her silver eyes then settled on her younger sister as she asked. "Tell me, if that time comes, what will you do then?"

This time, Sylveris didn’t answer because she genuinely didn’t know what to say...

"Exactly, you won’t be able to do anything." Aureleah remarked.

Then she stepped forward slightly. "This is the reason I said that a weapon isn’t something you just carry, it is something you become."

Her voice remained steady as she continued. "If your strength disappears the moment your weapon is taken away, then it was never your strength to begin with. You see, a real fighter understands that every weapon is merely a tool; a means to an end... And that the true weapon is the person wielding it."

Her silver eyes examined each of their faces as she spoke further. "Your body, your mind, your instincts, and your determine; those are the real weapons."

Seeing the understanding beginning to form in the eyes it the trio, Aureleah was almost gratified as she announced.

"Now, I am going to be teaching you how to train your body into a weapon."

Veyrath blinked. "And how would you do that? Can’t you simply make use of our Soul Essences to train?"

"Then what about her?" Aureleah asked, pointing at Sylveris.

Veyrath looked at the younger girl and immediately, realization dawned in his amber eyes.

Right. Sylveris was the only unawakened amongst them so she wouldn’t have a Soul Essence yet.

"So what will you be training is in?" Caelestra asked.

Aureleah smiled faintly and replied. "Martial arts."

"Martial arts?" Veyrath asked specifically.

Clearly, he had heard of this particular practice. This was something that those who are unable to awaken develop to protect themselves better back at Valoria...

Aureleah could see the skepticism in his eyes so she said sternly.

"Do not underestimate the term. Tell me, long before Soul Essences existed, people fought wars; Long before Essence Runes were known, people killed; long before cultivation was recorded, people survived. Has it ever occured to you to ask about how they survived?"

Aureleah’s gaze became steely as she replied. "Martial arts isn’t just about fighting, it is about turning the human body into a biological weapon. A fist can break a nose, a knee can shatter ribs, an elbow can crack jaws, and even a finger can blind someone... Therefore, never make the mistake of underestimating the human potential for survival..."

Suddenly, the failed Assassin stepped toward Veyrath, and before he could react...

THUMP!

Aureleah lightly struck his shoulder... And instantly, the failed Alchemist lost balance and stumbled backward...

"What was that?!" Veyrath’s eyes was wide open as he asked.

"That... Is an example of martial arts." Then Aureleah gestured at the remaining awestruck duo...

"Since none of you understand proper combat fundamentals yet, we’ll have to start with the basics for you."

Then, for the first time since the training began, Aureleah smiled fully before continuing in an almost sinister manner...

"And trust me, before the other four get back, you would have learnt at least one or two things about martial arts..."