CHAPTER 264: THE OUTING DAY

In the Academy, every cadet was focused on strengthening their combat prowess. Even Maira, usually playful and carefree, had grown serious, spending long hours training in the Endless River of the Water School.

The Endless River served the same purpose for Water students as the Thunder Seed Room did for those of Lightning. It was a vast dome filled entirely with water, where students would submerge themselves to train. Once completely immersed, they would enter a trance-like state in which a flowing river manifested within their mind.

The Endless River could sense each student’s affinity with the water element and adjusted its current accordingly. For beginners, the river flowed gently. As one’s attunement deepened, the current grew stronger and faster, until it raged like a storm-fed torrent. The greater one’s elemental aptitude, the more furious the current became. When a student finally reached their limit, the Endless River would lift them gently back to the surface.

Meanwhile, Eleanor continued to refine her abilities. With her wilderness survival classes concluded, she devoted more time to honing her lightning spells. In theory, she had already caught up to the other Lightning students, but her lack of practical experience still showed in her casting speed and precision.

Lightning was the most volatile and swift of the basic elements... not merely electricity, but the embodiment of speed, impulse, and kinetic force. It emphasised piercing strikes and rapid, concussive power. Yet that same volatility made it dangerous; a moment’s lapse in control could harm allies, or even the caster herself.

Although Eleanor had mastered Bolt Step and Static Flash, her casting time was still slower than her peers. Fortunately, her extended training within the Thunder Seed Room had given her a remarkable degree of control... impressive for someone who had only recently awakened to the element. Her training with Commander Annabeth Chase, combining Voltaic Strikes with martial arts, had made the movements almost instinctive. That synergy of discipline and precision had already earned her quiet praise from several professors.

But she was still struggling with her active ability, Electroreception, which centred on detecting the bio-electric fields of nearby living beings. She also faced difficulty with her passive ability, Energy Comprehension, which involved sensing electrical currents, energy patterns, and even the flow within technological systems. According to Professor Novalyn Riven Thunderwing, both abilities would sharpen naturally over time with sufficient practice.

Though their first encounter had been less than pleasant, Professor Nova proved to be an exceptionally helpful teacher. She taught like a friend... approachable, patient, and clear... yet her temper was quick to flare whenever anyone broke even the smallest rule. For her, discipline and obedience to command came before everything else; beyond that, she was remarkably easy-going.

Professor Nova had personally guided Eleanor through the fundamentals of several lightning spells, even granting her private lessons to help her catch up as a latecomer to the school. Under her instruction, Eleanor learned two new spells... Lightning Touch and Lightning Projectile.

Lightning Touch was one of the most basic offensive techniques of the lightning element. Eleanor would channel energy through her fingertips, releasing a concentrated surge of electricity upon contact... a stunning, powerful jolt. It was, in essence, a refined adaptation of her bloodline skill, Voltaic Strikes.

Lightning Projectile, on the other hand, was the standard ranged attack for all lightning students... a focused sphere of charged energy hurled from the palm. Simple but versatile, it provided excellent reach for early combat training.

The Lightning School also offered several higher-tier spells, available for purchase in exchange for Academy points. However, Primary Term students were strictly barred from acquiring them. Only after achieving ascendance could a cadet buy and attempt to master these advanced techniques, as their power required the spiritual capacity of an ascendant to control.

Naturally, that didn’t stop Eleanor. With a bit of illicit help from Nora, she hacked into the school’s server and uncovered the names of those coveted spells... Lightning Cocoon, Lightning Infusion, Lightning Forge, Thunderstorm, and God Step.

Lightning Cocoon was a defensive spell, enveloping the caster in a crackling cage of electricity. It was not a solid barrier, but rather a disruptive field that distorted and repelled incoming physical strikes and magical attacks alike.

Lightning Infusion was not a single spell but a foundational technique. The caster would continuously channel lightning through their own body, supercharging the nervous system and muscles. When mastered, it granted Enhanced Reflexes and Enhanced Speed... a hallmark of advanced lightning users.

Lightning Forge involved creating temporary constructs of solid lightning... blades, hammers, shields, or any weapon the caster could imagine, pure energy made tangible and devastating form.

Thunderstorm was a wide-area assault, summoning lightning from the skies to strike all targets within range. It was a deadly, high-level spell, but not without its flaw: it made no distinction between friend and foe. In group combat, it could annihilate allies as easily as enemies. Yet, in a one-versus-many confrontation, its sheer destructive power was unmatched.

God Step was the pinnacle of lightning movement... the ultimate evolution beyond Bolt Step. Where Bolt Step allowed the caster to leap through space in their physical form, God Step transformed the entire body into living lightning, traversing space like a thunderbolt itself. Wherever a lightning projectile could reach, the caster could appear in an instant.

Eleanor understood her present limits and capabilities well enough not to attempt such advanced spells. Still, she had carefully read through every grimoire, committing their intricate theories to memory... preparing for the day she would finally be ready to wield them.

***

The long-awaited day had finally arrived... the day when cadets of the Primary Term were permitted to visit the ancient city of Kvernheim, often referred to as the Centre of the Earth.

That morning, the cadets were instructed to explore the city, relax, and enjoy themselves. Each was provided with two hundred dollars in spending money. The outing was optional; those who preferred could remain within the academy. The only rule was simple yet strict... anyone who ventured out had to return to the academy’s city office before sunset.

Kvernheim was known for its remarkably low prices, making it a haven for indulgence. Most cadets treated themselves to exquisite local dishes and delicacies. Scattered throughout the city were several payphone booths where cadets could call their families for a small fee, and cosy internet cafés offering snacks alongside the chance to catch up with news from the outside world. There were also plenty of entertainment venues... game bars, karaoke lounges, and other lively spots that invited laughter and leisure.

Passing through the teleportation gate, Eleanor and her friends found themselves once more in the familiar office room... the very place where they had first entered the academy. The attending staff there repeated the standard instructions and reminded them not to bring any items back from the city, as they would be thoroughly scanned upon re-entry.

It turned out that Room Thirty served as the exit to the academy’s city office. A male staff member sat at the reception desk, scanning each cadet’s device in turn. When it was Eleanor’s group’s turn, he looked up and said, "Make sure you don’t delay your return. If you’re late, your points will be deducted."

He also informed them that once outside the academy office, the pockets of their uniforms would cease to function. Only ascendants could use storage spaces beyond the academy’s boundaries. Eleanor already knew this from the guidebook... the academy grounds were protected by a special array that allowed cadets to use their storage spaces. Since most cadets were expected to become ascendants in the future, the academy permitted them to practise using these pouches to store their belongings. Otherwise, some would bring an excess of personal items, creating logistical chaos for the academy to safeguard until the end of term.

After exiting the office, Eleanor turned to Ophelia and said, "Go and enjoy yourself with the others. I’ll catch up later." She then walked alone towards a nearby internet café.

Inside, the café was quiet, with many empty tables scattered around. Eleanor chose a corner seat by the window, where she could enjoy a view of the bustling street outside. A waitress soon approached, and Eleanor asked how she could access the internet, as she didn’t have any device with her.

The attendant... a striking black woman, likely of African descent, gave a warm, professional smile. Eleanor sensed at once that she was of merfolk lineage. The woman seemed unsurprised by the question; her eyes flicked briefly to Eleanor’s academy robe, clearly recognising her as a student. It wasn’t uncommon for cadets to visit the café to use the free internet without bringing their own equipment.

"Miss, we have several options," the attendant said politely. "You can rent a tablet for five dollars per hour, a standard laptop for ten, or a gaming laptop... loaded with the ten latest games for twenty dollars per hour. Internet access is free. Which would you prefer?"

"Gaming laptop. It’ll be faster," Nora said in Eleanor’s mind.