I. The Morning Mist – Lyra's Mentorship to Lys and Tamsin
(Tamsin: Transcendence Stage 8; Lys: Transcendence Stage 6)
Lyra summoned Lys and Tamsin to the edge of the lake while the morning haze still blanketed the water. —"Mist preserves memories, but it is also the veil that hides pain. If you wish to advance, you must learn to look inside your own shadows."
Lys, always ready to cheer others but fearful of her own pride, sat and listened in silence. Tamsin, marked by the guilt of old betrayals, asked in a low voice: —"If a shadow becomes too large… can it swallow you?"
Lyra smiled, taking both of their hands. —"Only if you forget that the mist is also a bridge. Dare to show me your fear."
In a spiritual exercise, Lys and Tamsin visualized their insecurities: Lys faced the fear of not being enough, and Tamsin the fear of betraying the clan. Lyra wove the "Veil of the Forgotten Dawn Technique," uniting them in a shared mist that purified resentment and guilt. Upon emerging, both felt their hearts renewed, their Qi flowing freely, and a small new root of confidence grew where doubt once stood.
—"Transcendence is not just a wall," Lyra told them, "it is the place where you become friends with your own demons."
II. The Edge and the Steel – Cedric's Mentorship to Draven and Torian
(Draven: Transcendence Stage 8; Torian: Transcendence Stage 7)
In the forge, Cedric placed two ingots before Draven and Torian. —"Both ice and metal can break, or they can be forged stronger. At this level, what matters is the temper of the spirit."
Draven tried to mold the ingot with ice Qi, but it cracked. Torian, with pure brute force, nearly split it in two. Cedric patiently taught them to combine breath and will, yielding and reinforcing at the same time. When Draven, frustrated, struck the table, Cedric showed him a fracture mark on his own arm.
—"We all carry scars, son. The trick is not to hide them, but to fill them with gold."
After hours of trial and error, Draven and Torian managed to forge a blade of ice and steel together—a symbol of their alliance. The act unlocked the understanding for Draven to advance toward Transcendence Stage 9 and gave Torian the courage to attempt the jump to the Origin Realm.
Cedric, satisfied, let the two congratulate each other. —"The clan survives because opposites work together," he whispered.
III. Roots and Rivers – Elowen's Mentorship to Aylin and Elian
(Elowen: Transcendence Stage 7; Aylin: Transcendence Stage 9; Elian: Transcendence Stage 6)
At the foot of the Star Tree, Elowen taught Aylin to feel the pulse of the roots and Elian to listen to the song of the underground water. —"Your spear, Aylin, is strong, but if it only pierces, it never takes root. Elian, your water flows, but sometimes it is necessary for a torrent to break the dam."
Both performed meditation and synchronization exercises with the surrounding Qi. Aylin, remembering the pressure of the duels, broke down in silence. —"What if I never reach the Origin Realm?"
Elowen embraced her: —"The tree does not ask itself if it will be great. It simply grows. Trust your lineage, but trust your own decisions as well."
Elian practiced channeling water to nourish Aylin's earth. Together, they discovered how to combine techniques: "Nourishing Root and Renewing Wave." Both emerged from the mentorship with a sense of brotherhood. Aylin touched the edge of the Origin Realm, and Elian finally felt that he belonged.
IV. The Roar and the Lightning – Xylia and Maren's Mentorship
(Xylia: Origin Stage 5; Maren: Transcendence Stage 6)
At the peak of the Dragon Tower, Xylia and Maren faced each other under a summoned storm. —"Thunder teaches humility!" Xylia shouted over the roar. "No one controls the sky; one can only dance with it!"
Maren, always calculating, blurted out: —"And if the storm breaks you?" —"Then you stand up and embrace it even harder!"
Both launched techniques in synchrony, learning to channel energy without being consumed by it. Xylia taught Maren to let go of control and trust his instinct, while Maren showed Xylia a trick to convert static electricity into defensive power. Amidst sparks and laughter, they forged an electric alliance and a new team battle tactic.
V. The Patriarch's Secret – Samael's Mentorship
Samael summoned Rowan (Transcendence Stage 8) and Lys (Transcendence Stage 6) to the secret chamber beneath the tower. —"Both of you have been wind and light for the clan, but now you must learn the art of 'yielding without breaking.'"
He told them the story of an ancient Morningstar who survived the punishment of the heavens by bending like a reed and never betraying his principles. He gave each of them a "Flexible Will" talisman and left them to practice with illusions constructed from his own Qi.
In the end, both understood that advancing to a new realm is not just about strength, but adaptation. Samael, in secret, activated the System's Investment Function by handing over the talismans, obtaining a "reimbursement" in the form of a prophetic vision: If the bonds of the clan remain flexible, no enemy can ever break them.
VI. Closing – A Clan of Renewed Bonds
As the sun set, every disciple and mentor felt a new confidence. Those who were once rivals were now allies; those who once feared moving forward now saw a path. Samael, from above, watched the citadel bathed in the aurora and knew that when the next crisis arrived, the clan would be more united and prepared than ever.