Some were meditating in the empty grayness while others were sparring with each other. There were also a few who were listening to a young foxkin's lecture.

"So that just about wraps things up, Sword Energy or Weapon Energy is pretty easy to use. If you have a good enough control over mana, all you need to do is wrap your mana around your weapon and fling it out."

"That's easier said than done...sir." One of the listening students mumbled.

"Really? Well, I've always been subconsciously using it, I mean don't you guys use it too? I mean you do use those combat skills and all."

Another student raised their hands and said,

"That's different, combat skills use mana in a pre-ordained way. Energy is like the free unrestricted form of that."

"Yes, I understand. Well then, the only thing you can do to achieve that 'Energy' is to learn how to control your mana!"

"..."

"Look here."

The young foxkin boy who was giving the lecture was Cecil. At present he was currently in the Academy's Accelerated Time Formation, teaching his fellow students how to achieve Sword or Weapon Energy.

It was his third day inside the formation teaching them. Not many Instructors or teachers in the academy had grasped this form of power, the kingdom wanted the Sword Saintess to teach them, but they had an even better option in the form of Cecil.

Since they were of the same age group, Cecil thought that it would be hard for him to teach, but after him winning the Dueling Tournament along with his insane display of might, the students of the academy only felt awe and admiration towards the boy.

Because of this, the lessons proceeded with no trouble whatsoever. The students also wanted to become even stronger so it served as motivation for them since Cecil was the one who was teaching.

Cecil demonstrated a way for them to train their mana manipulation. He conjured a small orb of mana on his palm and began moving it around his hand.

"Look, if you can do at least this much then you'll already be close to being able to use Sword Energy!"

As the ball of mana moved around his hand, Cecil upped the speed until it became a golden glow that enveloped his entire palm.

"As you can see, this skill of mana manipulation is also a prerequisite in order to use the Aura Manifestation skill that my party, the Little Kings, is known for."

"Ohhh!!"

"Doesn't that mean everyone from Little Kings can use Sword Energy?"

"Yeah, I guess so. Well, it's not something that amazing per se, what's more amazing is Intent!" Cecil replied with a grin. He waved towards Eli who was taking a break from her spar with Serilla.

Eli got up and walked over. "What's up Cecil?"

"I want you to demonstrate your Sword Intent for our friends here."

"...alright."

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Eli unsheathed her rapier. She then focused and released her Sword Intent. The pressure came briefly and it also receded just as quick.

Just that brief moment of pressure caused every student who was seated down around Cecil and Eli to become pale.

"Now that's Sword Intent. If Sword Energy is a manifestation of mana control, then you could say that Sword Intent is the manifestation of your will being projected out into the world. It's much more advanced and much more powerful!"

Everyone seated nodded their heads seriously, but they still didn't understand what Cecil meant by a projection of 'will'.

It was a vague term and even Cecil himself still didn't understand much of it, it was something he learned from his family's martial arts and had accidentally acquired. The person who needed to be praised for acquiring Sword Intent on her own was Serilla Lunarts.

The girl had actually gained her Sword Intent through understanding and not enlightenment. This basically overturned Cecil's a.s.sumption that Weapon Intent could only be gained through chance.

Cecil was able to confirm this when he noticed that Serilla had an even easier time learning how to manipulate and control her Intent than Eli. Since she understood how she acquired her Intent, she understood the simpler path in how to cultivate it.

Because of this, for once in his life after coming to Alterna, Cecil got to experience becoming a disciple once again, a person who was being taught, not the one teaching.

After a couple of more explanations and demonstrations Cecil wrapped up the cla.s.s and dismissed everyone, telling them to go practice. It was much better for them to try it out themselves, rather than just look and listen.

Cecil took one last look at everyone and walked out of the formation. It was odd, just a week ago every super power in the Academy was at each other's throats. Now everyone was willing to sit together and learn from one another.

"I guess the National Tournament is pretty important."

Right when he got out of the formation Cecil immediately used Blink, he was going back to his private residence to rest.

******

When he got home, an alluring aroma wafted into his nose. "Is this...pizza?"

Cecil immediately rushed into the house and saw a young foxkin girl with silver hair waiting in front of an oven inside the kitchen.

The alluring and nostalgic smell came from the kitchen and indeed, it looked like Lucia was able to replicate making pizza using ingredients from Alterna.

"Woah, you made pizza Lulu?"

"Hm? Oh, Cel! Done with cla.s.ses?"

"Yup, got nothing much to do, so I thought I'd take a break."

"Hmm~ that's rare coming from you."

"What is?"

"Taking a break," Lucia smirked.

"Ah, come on. Even I need a little R&R sometimes!"

Lucia came over next to Cecil and snuggled up to him. Ever since the girl had directly announced her affection to the boy, Cecil became more aware of her. Even if he still felt a little bit weird, he didn't dislike it.

He just accepted it for what it was and just let her do what she wanted. The problem was that Serilla was also the same. Cecil hadn't had much time to get to know her, so the sudden confession had somewhat thrown him out of the loop.

She was also unrelenting in getting closer and becoming more intimate with him that it actually began to frighten him.

'Lucia's not a problem since I've known her for a while...Serilla however...well, I don't know how to push her away! She just keeps coming back no matter how many times I try and openly avoid her! She doesn't get mad, she doesn't even yell at me like Lucia! Aggghhhh...'

While Cecil was agonizing over his...options. He felt a moist feeling land on the top of his lips and something wet trying to pry open his mouth.

"*%!!!"

Cecil immediately backed away and blocked Lucia's mouth from advancing.

"What the heck Lulu?!"

"What~ the face you were making was practically begging for a kiss~"

"..."

Along with her confession, Lucia had also become much more aggressive.

"Please stop doing that! It feels really weird!" Cecil exasperatedly said.

"But you don't dislike it do you~?"

"N-no...but still!"

"Then I see no problem, hmph." Lucia turned away from him and focused her attention back to the oven. The pizza was just about done.

Cecil shook his head and went up to the second floor of the house to take a bath. When he finished, he returned to the kitchen and saw a sumptuous meal placed in front of him.

"Hihi~ time to eat~"

"Is your body okay now Lulu?"

"Yup~ I'm good now. Actually, I had fully recovered a couple of days ago, but Mama told me to keep on resting for a while."

"Okay...that's good."

The two began to eat their meal while chatting, it was a nice calm. Like a calm before the storm. After another couple of days the 100 students who had pa.s.sed the selections would head towards the Elven Capital City to partic.i.p.ate in the National Tournament.

They didn't have much time left to train, but everyone did all they could do to strengthen themselves before then. Only Cecil and Lucia had the leisure time to kick back and relax. It wasn't that they were being conceited or anything, but the aftermath of their finals match had left them in a somewhat dest.i.tute state.

They needed time to recover from their injuries and their mana exhaustion. It was great for Cecil since he could finally relax...except for the fact that Lucia was being overly clingy.

He was helpless to do anything and just let her be. It wasn't like he minded it. Now that he thought about it, wasn't this just like any ordinary day for the two? They've been acting like this for a long time now minus the kisses.

It was only until recently that Cecil became more aware of things and that's why he felt a little awkward.

After he finished his meal, Cecil decided to go out and train a little with Silver.