Chapter 29: Difference
As the final bell rang and students spilled out of the academy, Raven stayed behind in the quiet classroom.
Athena said she won't be here until 6 p.m... What should I do until then? He glanced at the parchment Reid had handed out earlier—the Knight Technique manual.
What's the point of studying this if I can't create a mana circle? You said I'm not suited for the Knight's Path, right?
[You can't form a mana circle. Instead of wasting time with that scrap, you'd better focus on Alchemy.]
But won't that leave me behind in physical strength and knight training? Raven frowned. He knew that even though Apprentice Knights were still human in strength, they could perform remarkable feats using only techniques and skills.
If he didn't keep up with his peers, he might not even graduate.
[You don't need fancy skills right now. You need a strong foundation. Even if you tried to create a mana circle with this technique, it would fail. These circles can only store raw Mana—not separate elemental energies.]
Wait... What's the difference between Mana and elemental energy?
[Mana is a blend—an amalgam of elemental forces: fire, wind, water, light, darkness, and others. When you use a Knight skill, it draws a bit of this mixed Mana, usually only tapping into one element while the rest disperses uselessly into the air. The Elemental Circlet Technique, on the other hand, extracts only the element you want and stores it in your Inner World in large amounts. When you cast a spell with that stored energy, the result is much stronger and more precise. That's one of the main reasons Wizards are more powerful than Walkers.]
So my sister's technique is on the same level as a Wizard's?
[Exactly. The technique you gave her is more advanced than most. Other Walkers eventually learn to store specific elements too, but their control will always be inferior to a Wizard's.]
Then what's the plan? If you don't give me the Elemental Circlet Technique now, won't I fall even further behind?
[If I give it to you now, you'll skip physical development entirely. Your body won't be ready. For the next five years, just train. Strengthen your body. Raise your stats to 1.0. Only then will the real journey begin.]
Raven sighed and nodded silently. There was no shortcut.
He pulled out his notes and began reviewing what the teachers had covered today. The theory behind Spearmanship occupied his mind.
I need to master the Wintermoon Spear Dance, he told himself. But it wasn't that easy. He lacked natural affinity with the spear.
Even though he could mimic the movements flawlessly, he ranked near the bottom of the class. Without a mana circle to channel aura, he couldn't fully wield the technique's potential.
If I keep training, I can remain an average student for the next two years... but after that, when they all unlock their mana circles, I'll fall behind.
A shadow crossed his face.
And if my spear techniques still feel clumsy and dull... the academy might fail me.
[You're too focused on scores, Raven. I keep forgetting you're still a child trying to chase grades. Don't worry. Your real journey won't begin until you turn fifteen.]
Zera's words were meant to reassure, but they brought him no comfort.
"So what you're saying... is that I'll just keep facing setbacks until then?" he muttered.
He looked up at the wall clock. It was almost 6 p.m.
"It's fine. As long as my sister and aunt are happy... I can endure anything."
He grabbed his bag and walked out of the classroom. The grand foyer echoed with scattered footsteps and laughter from the upper floors—older students still attending combat practice.
One day, I'll train hard enough to stand alongside them... maybe even beat them.
Clutching that quiet resolve, Raven stepped out into the courtyard, crossing it under the fading amber glow of the setting sun.
A black hackney carriage waited at the school gate, pulled by two sleek horses. On the driver's seat sat Athena, waving at him with a warm smile.
"How is it? Do you like the carriage?" she asked.
Raven's eyes sparkled as he approached one of the horses, reaching out—only for Athena to stop him with a sharp gesture.
"Don't. It'll take a few days for them to get used to us. Until then, keep your distance."
"Will it kick me?" Raven stepped back warily and made his way to the carriage door.
"How much did this cost, Sis?" he asked as he climbed in.
"Twenty-three gold coins and fifty silvers," Athena replied as she took the reins. "A bit expensive, but manageable with our current income."
Inside, Raven examined the sleek black interior, running his fingers along the curtains.
"I thought it'd be around five gold coins. This is way more than I expected." He paused, a thought crossing his mind. "So... what if we wanted to buy the house we're renting now? How much would that cost?"
The question caught Athena off guard.
"Hm. I never really thought about buying it. But it would be expensive. This carriage alone cost over twenty gold. A small house? At least five hundred gold coins. If it's near the Industrial District or Nobles' Lane? Could be over a thousand. And that's just here in Darkcross. In a major city, you'd need twice that."
"Just thinking about it makes me dizzy," Raven muttered with a crooked smile.
"Even living a quiet life in this town isn't cheap," Athena said, gently urging the horses forward as they left the school behind.
The ride took nearly thirty minutes, the streets slowly darkening with dusk. When they arrived at their yard, Athena parked the carriage and tied the horses under the large tree.
"We'll need to ask the landlady to build a small stable," she said as she locked the carriage. "She'll probably raise the rent again... but there's no helping it."
Raven followed her into the house. He dropped his bag on the couch, freshened up, and began recounting the day's events to her.
"Oh? You clashed with someone from the Miller family? Hah! Don't let it bother you," Athena waved it off casually.
Raven nodded, then went to his room to do homework. Athena headed into the kitchen, preparing dinner with practiced ease. A short while later, she pulled out a bag of colorful decorations—balloons, streamers, ribbons—and began to decorate the room.
At 8:30 p.m., the front door creaked open. Shirley stepped inside, a cake in one hand and a bag of neatly wrapped clothes in the other.
"What's he doing?" she asked softly, scanning the room.
"In his room," Athena replied, taking the cake from her carefully.
"Good." Shirley stepped into the dining area and started helping with the decorations.
"Is everything alright at work, Aunt Shirley?" Athena asked gently, trying not to disrupt the peaceful mood.
Shirley let out a tired sigh. "Nothing serious. Just another long day."
Athena didn't press further. She knew Shirley often took extra missions for their sake. To her, Aunt Shirley wasn't just family—she was like a second mother.
When they finished decorating, Raven stepped out of his room—and stopped short.
His eyes widened as he took in the transformation: colorful streamers draped across the ceiling, balloons floating near the table, and in the center, a large cake with flickering candles.
"Wow... this is amazing!" he exclaimed, his face lighting up with wonder.
Athena beamed. "Happy birthday, little brother."
Raven's heart swelled with joy. "Thank you, Sis! This is the best surprise ever!"
Shirley stepped forward and ruffled his hair. "You deserve it. Now go put on one of the outfits I brought. We'll eat dinner, then cut the cake."