Chapter 264
Chapter 264
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 264
Chapter Title: Her and His Special Training
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***
“The absolute foundation of the Opening. First, calm your mind and steadily manifest your mana. This is the most basic principle.”
Kalli’s serene voice continued.
“Imagine that manifested mana enveloping your entire body. Then, maintain that state under any circumstance. This is one of the ‘minimum’ conditions for awakening the Opening.”
I absorbed her every word, following her instructions.
With a calm mind and a seated posture, I manifested my mana.
*Shhh...*
I could clearly feel the blue mana, which had been gently swirling around me, now enveloping my body.
I consciously suppressed the habit of imbuing my mana with a spiral nature.
‘The Opening.’
Now that Kalli was teaching me about it, all my previous thoughts vanished.
All I did was watch Kalli, who was manifesting her mana in the same posture as me.
“Yes, maintain that state. You can either watch and follow my example, or you can empty your mind and think only of your mana. The process doesn’t matter; what’s important is that you maintain it.”
A faint blue light enveloped Kalli’s seated form.
...It didn’t seem as immense as before. It wasn’t the overwhelming amount of blue mana that had once dominated the space and left me in awe.
Seeing her regulate her mana to match my level, I found I could easily follow suit.
‘Slowly.’
I focused, keenly aware of the mana enveloping my body.
An hour passed naturally like that.
In that time, there were no words, no changes in our actions.
We simply sat facing each other in the training hall's inner chamber, manifesting our mana and maintaining it.
Nevertheless, a change soon appeared.
“...”
My breathing grew slightly ragged.
Continuously manifesting a certain level of mana—enough to envelop my entire body—and maintaining it was gradually becoming difficult.
‘Is this why she said that to me...?’
When Kalli had first mentioned the Opening, she had said she couldn’t guarantee whether I could awaken it or not. She’d explained that it required an innate quality, something no one could be certain of.
So, she would simply teach me as much as she could.
“...”
As I watched Kalli, who was still manifesting her mana without the slightest movement, she appeared perfectly composed.
In contrast, my own mana felt like it was starting to crack. The mana enveloping my body began to waver, slowly slipping from my control.
Simply keeping the manifested mana wrapped around my body was, at some point, becoming mentally taxing.
A strange sensation, as if the mana wanted to break free from my will and escape...
It felt as if it wanted to disperse into the atmosphere rather than shroud my body.
“You should be starting to feel it now.”
Just then, Kalli spoke.
“The sensation of your manifested mana trying to leave your body and scatter into the air. Normally, you would burn through manifested mana, but right now, we’re maintaining it without consuming it. You don’t usually feel this sensation because you don’t typically think of using mana this way.”
Her smoothly delivered words all resonated with me.
“...”
Still, I didn’t open my mouth.
Kalli had given me a condition: just listen and try to understand her words, but do not reply.
...Conscious of this, I crammed her words into my mind, mulling them over.
“And from now on, it’s going to get truly difficult... Cadet Han Cheon-seong. You must steel your heart.”
Her voice grew a little more serious, and my mouth went dry.
‘From now on...?’
My mind already felt like it was creaking, yet Kalli was telling me this was just the beginning.
***
—The Opening.
Kalli had decided to start his training for the Opening today.
She judged that his control over his trait and skills had reached a stable point, making it the right time to begin.
And now, as she put that thought into practice...
She saw Cheon-seong before her, panting heavily.
“Hah... hah...”
His ragged breaths grew more distinct.
It was clear to see that he was struggling far more than he ever had during their previous training or spars.
It certainly wasn’t physical exhaustion.
‘...It’s because his mind is tired.’
She understood exactly why.
When mental strain indirectly affects the body, it leads to such a bizarre state.
The body has no reason to be tired, but the mind’s fatigue makes it scream for release, compelling the body to escape its current condition.
...That was why maintaining this posture was so difficult.
‘Besides, it’s Cadet Han Cheon-seong’s first time.’
She, too, had been like this at first.
It was then that she’d learned that simply enveloping oneself in manifested mana without consuming it could be far more difficult than manifesting it in the first place.
Even so, Cadet Han Cheon-seong was enduring to a degree she found admirable.
They had already been at it for nearly two hours.
“...”
As for her, she was now so accustomed to it that she could say she was perfectly comfortable. The mana enveloping her body seemed to support her, making the seated posture feel completely effortless.
However.
“...”
Cadet Han Cheon-seong, who was biting his lip through his ragged breaths, must be feeling the complete opposite.
He must be finding it excruciatingly difficult just to remain seated, feeling a sense of helplessness beyond mere frustration at being unable to do anything else.
That was why she had emphasized it several times over the past two hours.
He had to maintain the seated posture. He must not move or try to break free.
‘This is the foundation.’
The Opening was a power qualitatively different from a trait.
It was the art of manipulating mana to ultimately bring space itself under one’s will. In a way, it could be compared to the unique domains manifested by Apostles.
Because it was such a special and esoteric power, the pain of awakening it was immense.
The vast majority of people could never awaken it. It required exceptional aptitude.
‘Talent alone is not enough.’
That was why no one could be certain of awakening the Opening. Not even Cadet Han Cheon-seong was guaranteed to...
Nevertheless, one thing was certain. Bringing space under one’s will would undoubtedly be far more taxing than controlling mana.
If he couldn’t even endure controlling his own mana with his will now, he couldn’t even dream of the Opening.
...
Another hour passed.
During that time, she said nothing more to Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
She simply served as a guide for him, manifesting her mana in its ideal form to show him the way.
“...”
And watching Cadet Han Cheon-seong, who had gone from struggling to having a completely vacant look in his eyes... a soft sigh escaped her.
‘Is that it for today?’
In truth, Cadet Han Cheon-seong had done remarkably well just to get this far.
—Beyond expectations.
Just as he had always shown her something beyond her expectations, today was no different.
The loss of focus in his eyes was proof that he had entered a trance-like state.
To reach that state on the very first day of training was truly commendable. But his body was drenched in a cold sweat, and he looked utterly exhausted. She couldn't push him any further.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
She called to him softly, immediately releasing the mana that enveloped her.
“...”
As he stared blankly back at her, she rose to her feet.
“That’s enough for today. You can release the mana around your body. And you can speak now.”
“...Ah.”
At her words, he, who had been silent for hours just manifesting mana, opened his mouth. She immediately walked toward him.
*Clack...!*
As she moved, she saw it.
*Slump.*
The moment Han Cheon-seong released his mana, his body slumped forward. She naturally caught him in her arms.
*Thud.*
At the same time, she felt a pang of guilt.
“You must be exhausted.”
“Yes... a little...”
His voice was devoid of strength as he agreed. Leaning against her, Han Cheon-seong’s body felt... as light as a feather.
He looked so tired that he couldn’t even lift a finger while in her embrace.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong, I’ll hold you. For now, just try to compose your mind. What we just did puts a great strain on one’s spirit. Your head must feel fuzzy.”
She spoke gently, carefully stroking his back.
A faint scent reached her.
Holding him now, she could feel all the traces of his physical exhaustion.
Yet, she didn’t mind it in the slightest.
In fact, his current state felt perfectly natural.
It wasn't that he was dirty from sweating or that his disheveled appearance was strange...
‘This was bound to happen.’
“...Then, I’ll impose on you for just a little longer.”
To his belated reply, she gently patted his back and held him a little tighter.
“It doesn’t have to be just a little.”
As she said this, she felt... a sense of calm settling over her own heart.
‘Something’s strange...’
She was holding him so that he, utterly exhausted, could lean on her comfortably.
But it was her own heart that was feeling more at ease.
Moreover, the person she loved was in such a difficult state, yet she found herself enjoying it.
This situation, having him lean on her in his exhaustion... it gave her an undeniable, strange sense of fulfillment.
A feeling as if Han Cheon-seong were entirely hers.
The satisfaction that came from him relying on her completely, unable to resist in the slightest...
“The Opening isn’t something you can master in a short time. You don’t have to push yourself too hard. Just do as I say. You just need to rely on me like you are now, Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
Even as she indulged her selfish feelings, she didn’t forget the words she needed to convey.
*Rustle.*
How long had she been holding him?
...The sound of steady breathing made her gently pull away.
She saw his face, fast asleep from extreme exhaustion.
A smile unknowingly graced her lips at the sight of him sleeping so defenselessly, as if he had found comfort in her arms.
“...”
Then, she found herself hesitating, her lips faltering.
A glance to the side showed that a good deal of time had passed.
—9:13 PM.
“Still, just a little longer...”
...Gently pulling Han Cheon-seong back into her embrace, she felt a little greedy.
This time.
She didn't know how much longer she would have with him like this, just the two of them. Moments like these were too precious.