Ha!

If only.

Since they were only just starting, the Elders decided to handle the enchantment potions themselves using a fresh batch of essences.

It had to be done this way because they wanted to ensure the testing continued while Duchess Amelia remained familiar with the sensation of using her ability.

This time, everyone gathered to watch.

And they were amazed.

The Elders were fast. Precise. Efficient. They moved without hesitation, and more importantly, they did not look like they were about to collapse like Theo had earlier.

It was motivating.

A little terrifying, too.

But most of all, it pulled everyone in. Whatever they were about to witness had to be something remarkable.

And it was.

By the time the Duchess had gone through three enchanted weapons, alternating them with three regular ones, someone unexpected suddenly spoke up.

"My wife! If you don’t swing the next sword, you actually use fire like us!"

A tall man stood there, practically bouncing in excitement as he said it.

Duke Leander looked completely unaware of why everyone had turned to stare at him.

"What?" he asked, confused. "Alexander here said he could see you use your ability every time you swing an enchanted sword for the first time. Then he says you use it again every time you swing a regular sword!"

He pointed enthusiastically.

"So now that you’ve used the fire-enchanted sword, if you simply don’t switch again, you should be able to keep using fire even with any weapon!"

He said it so casually.

Everyone else, however, looked at him like he had just said something absurd.

Luca blinked, clearly intrigued.

"Papa? What do you mean?" he asked.

The others wanted to ask as well, but none of them dared interrupt the Duchess while she was focused.

"Ah, my son!" Leander said proudly. "I’m saying your mom is amazing. With her ability, she can manifest the last element she used!"

"!!!"

Amelia paused.

She looked at her hands.

Then at the sword.

"Is that really it?" she asked quietly.

Not that she couldn’t listen to what her husband was saying, but hearing that suddenly made her feel rather foolish.

Had they been overthinking things?

Had the pattern actually been that simple?

At that moment, Xavier, who had been silently observing since earlier, finally spoke, incurring everyone’s attention.

"If father-in-law is correct, then we can verify it," he said calmly.

"What if, instead of alternating between an elemental sword and a regular one, you use a neutral enchantment first. Then follow it with a completely untouched weapon."

Oh?

Duke Leander, with his selective hearing, turned his head at the way he was addressed.

But for once, he said nothing.

Because the suggestion—

Was sound.

Xavier continued, "If that were the case, and it’s true that you’re able to use the last element you wielded, then..."

Nothing should happen when you swing the second one.

And sure enough, that was exactly what happened.

Like a cleanser, the neutral weapon reset everything. When the Duchess swung the second sword, there was no surge of water, no flames, no flowers.

Nothing.

A big, fat nothing.

And yet, that nothing was a major discovery.

The golden-eyed cadet covered his mouth in surprise before clapping brightly.

"Wow, Papa’s right!"

Luca’s eyes sparkled as he praised his father, whose nose might as well have reached outside the dungeon from how high it lifted.

But before that moment could even settle, the Imperial Prince moved.

He drew his sword.

Then struck the ground.

Ice crystals shot up from the dirt, sharp and sudden, forcing everyone nearby to step back.

"Xavier?" Luca asked, confused.

"I’m not sure if this will work," Xavier said calmly. "But if the ability involves copying the last element used, then I want to see if it only applies to potions."

Still holding the metal sword, he raised his free hand.

He took a stance.

Everyone watched as he formed an ice blade from thin air.

Kyle, in particular, stared closely. As someone who needed a hilt to manifest his element, he could immediately tell how difficult this was.

Xavier made it look easy.

That was the difference.

Between someone who had just awakened their ability and someone who already mastered it.

Once the blade was complete, Xavier handed both weapons to the Duchess.

She accepted them, glancing at him.

"This... are you trying to figure out what triggers my ability?"

"Yes, mother."

She chuckled at that.

Then she moved.

Four swings.

Four different weapons.

Everyone held their breath as they watched, not letting any initial doubt stop them.

And then—

Two lines of ice appeared on the ground.

The first was filled with large, jagged crystals.

The second, created by a regular sword, still produced a trail of ice shards.

The difference was there.

But the result was undeniable.

Amelia lowered the weapons, breathing slightly heavier as she turned back to them.

"I can’t seem to copy from a weapon where the ability only passed through," she said. "But if the weapon actually holds the element, even without a potion, I can replicate it."

She glanced at her hands.

"I used more spiritual energy," she admitted, "but it works."

Then she looked up, a smile forming.

"I suppose I can borrow from all of you."

She said it lightly, but the gratitude in her expression was clear.

Luca saw that smile.

And ran.

"Mom! Congratulations!" he exclaimed, practically launching himself at her. "Me, your son... does that mean I can do that too?"

Amelia immediately dropped everything to catch him.

She leaned closer and whispered, "My son... what if you try borrowing not just the element, but the ability itself?"

She understood that spiritual strength played a big role in what one could achieve and currently do.

And so if she, an S-rank spiritual ability user, could do this...

Then Luca, who far surpassed them all, should be able to do even more, right?

It was only a thought.

A seed.

But to the money-grubber who heard it—

Something clicked.

A quiet, brilliant realization.

If he could really do that...

Wouldn’t that be incredibly economical?