Chapter 23: Departure
A year had passed since Aiden began his training under Rayan — the man who had trained him through countless harsh battles, endless lessons, and the kind of pain he inflicted bring about a growth that only true training could bring.
Aiden was now ten years old. Time had moved rapidly, like the cold wind in winter, and the boy who once trembled at his first duel against Rayan had transformed into something entirely different — sharper, calmer, and stronger.
He had just two years left. Two short years to master all ten elements and advance to Stage 2 of Mana Cultivation. The pressure weighed heavily on his small shoulders.
Aiden's mind often wandered back to the numbers — the harsh truth and unyielding logic that haunted him. He had already taken three years to master six elements. Six months for each element. If he took the same time for the remaining four, he would only barely finish mastering them — and there would be no time left to advance to the next stage.
But unlike before, this time he wasn't just a boy who followed instructions. He had learned how to use 6 different types of mana. He completely understood mana — how it flowed, how it breathed, how it responded to his will. He had learned everything about mana.
That meant he could be learn new elements more easily than before. He would be faster now.
The morning was quiet. The soft rustling of leaves danced in the gentle breeze that swept through the Syctes family's garden. Aiden stood in the center, the same place where he had been beated, bled, trained, and grown for a whole year. His breathing was steady, his gaze locked on the man who stood across from him.
Rayan.
The man who had beaten him to the ground hundreds of times. The man who had made him understand what real battle meant.
Rayan's blue hair glimmered faintly under the sunlight, his gray eyes calm but focused, like a storm ready to strike. He looked at Aiden and said with his usual steady voice, "This will be the last time I will teach you anything. After today, we will part ways. So be prepared — this will be our final duel."
Aiden nodded silently. His fingers twitched slightly with anticipation. The final duel — the end of a his harsh yet effective training.
A few meters away, Sara and Jonathan stood side by side at the edge of the garden, their eyes fixed on the two figures in the field. Their hearts were conflicted.
For the past year, they had watched their son endure Rayan's brutal training. He had been beaten blue and red more times than they could count. Every day, Rayan showed no mercy. His blows were heavy, his attacks merciless — yet his control was perfect, ensuring Aiden never suffered permanent harm.
Still, the pain was real.
He trained Aiden every single day — physically, mentally, and magically — and then dueled him afterward, fighting as if he truly intended to kill him. It was harsh. Ruthless. Terrifying.
There were nights when Sara couldn't hold herself back. She had wanted to stop it many times. To rush in and protect her son, to shield him from the pain, from the exhaustion that pushed him beyond his limits. But each time, Jonathan had stopped her.
And now, it was the last day.
The final test.
Jonathan took a deep breath and said in a firm voice, "Begin."
The instant those words were spoken, the peaceful garden exploded into motion.
Aiden's body blurred. He had activated Blitz, his figure vanishing into a streak of lightning. The sound of air cracking echoed as he appeared beside Rayan, faster than any ordinary person could even perceive. His foot lashed out in a sharp kick, his movements fluid yet fierce.
Rayan's expression didn't change. He simply disappeared. A flash of light.
He too had used Blitz.
The next instant, he reappeared behind Aiden, his presence sharp and sudden like a flash of thunder.
Aiden's eyes were completely focused.
"Lightning Burst!" Rayan's voice was calm yet commanding as he launched a concentrated blast of lightning at point-blank range.
Boom!
The crack of energy filled the air as the attack burst forward.
But before the lightning could strike, Aiden's instincts kicked in. His mana surged violently, and he reacted with everything he had — using Blitz and Flight together.
His body shot upward, propelled by the combined force of lightning and wind. A burst of air rippled beneath him as he ascended rapidly. Sparks flashed across his body as he soared, narrowly avoiding the blast that struck the ground beneath him, leaving a deep crater in the soil.
Aiden's breathing quickened. His heart pounded wildly in his chest.
From his elevated position, he gathered his mana swiftly and conjured a Lightning Cage around Rayan. Thin, crackling strands of electricity began forming a dome around his teacher, closing in rapidly.
But Rayan reacted even more faster.
Before the cage could seal completely, he vanished again — using Blitz to reappear several meters away, his expression calm. He landed lightly, his cloak fluttering with the motion.
The moment he reappeared, a sharp glint of movement caught his eye — a Wind Cutter slicing toward him from the left.
Without hesitation, he infused his legs with Wind mana and activated Flight, moving midair in a blur, narrowly dodging the invisible blade. The attack sliced through the space where he had been, leaving a faint cut in a distant rock.
The two continued to move — flashes of light and blur of motion.
To an ordinary observer, it would have looked like two bolts of lightning colliding again and again in the garden. The sound of thunderclaps echoed with each exchange. Sparks danced across the air as their attacks met, lightning colliding with wind, power against power, speed against speed.
The ground beneath them cracked. Trees shook. The air itself hummed with mana.
Sweat trickled down Aiden's forehead. His lungs burned. Every muscle in his body screamed. But he didn't stop.
Rayan's movements were still faster — his control more refined — but Aiden's determination didn't waver. Each strike he threw was faster, sharper, smarter than before. Every feint and movement showed how much he had learned.
Minutes passed like seconds. Then, finally, Aiden's knees buckled. His vision blurred. His mana was completely drained.
He collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. His body trembled with exhaustion, and small arcs of lightning still danced across his fingertips, fading slowly.
Rayan appeared in front of him once again, his expression composed, though there was an unmistakable glint of pride in his eyes.
"Well done," he said, his tone softer than usual as he continued. "Your training is complete. You've really done well. I didn't think anyone would be able to master even one element, let alone two, in just a single year. You truly are one of a kind — a real genius. I can't wait to see how far you'll go when you grow up."
He paused for a moment, looking down at Aiden with an expression that carried a mix of pride and fondness. Then he continued, his tone becoming slightly firmer again.
"After this training, you'll be able to defeat almost every other Stage 1 mana cultivator. Even the children of noble families or royalty — none of them would have trained the way you have. They were raised with luxury and privilege, while you have become a warrior. But…" he gave a faint smirk, "don't become cocky. Always remember to keep training, no matter how strong you become. Even at the highest stage, there's always someone stronger."
Aiden listened quietly, his chest still heaving from exhaustion, but every word etched itself deeply into his mind.
Rayan straightened and looked toward the horizon. The wind gently stirred his blue hair as he said, "Okay, child. I'll be leaving this village now. So, it's goodbye. If fate wills it, we'll meet again in the future. Goodbye, Aiden."
Aiden's eyes widened slightly. He wasn't ready for this. He felt a sudden pang in his chest — the realization that the man who had trained him so relentlessly, who had been both tormentor and teacher, was truly leaving.
He forced himself to stand, though his legs were weak. His voice came out softer, filled with a hint of sadness.
"Teacher… can't you stay for some more days?"
Rayan turned his head slightly, a small amused smile curling his lips. "You brat, don't try to make this emotional. I can't stay any longer. I've already been here for a year. I have personal matters I need to attend to."
Aiden lowered his gaze for a moment, his hands clenched tightly at his sides. The words that came next were quiet, but filled with sincerity.
"Thank you very much for teaching me, and for everything you've done for me. Have a safe journey, Teacher."
Rayan watched him for a brief moment — then chuckled softly. "Heh. You've grown up fast, kid."
He turned around, taking one final look at the garden — the place where he had taught his one and only student and the place where many duels between him and his student had taken place, where both pain and growth had intertwined. Then, with a faint smile still on his face, he walked away.
Sara and Jonathan stood silently, watching Rayan's figure fade into the distance. For a long while, no one spoke.
Aiden remained standing in the center of the garden, his body covered in dirt and sweat, his hair tousled by the breeze. The echoes of his teacher's footsteps slowly faded, but the lessons he had taught, the pain he had inflicted, and the pride remained carved into his heart.
He whispered softly, almost to himself, "Goodbye, Teacher…"
The wind blew gently through the garden, carrying the faint scent of rain as Rayan left the village of Aldia.
Author's Note:Rayan's departure marks the end of Aiden's harshest training year. He has mastered six elements and proven his will in combat, standing unshaken through endless trials. Yet this farewell is not the end — only the closing of one storm before the next begins. For Aiden Syctes, the path ahead now leads toward destiny itself.