The next morning, Lunaris Academy was once again filled with the sound of footsteps and conversations from students.
Cael walked through the hallway with his bag hanging from one shoulder. There were no exams or major training sessions that day.
Just regular classes.
Yet after studying Shells the day before, one thing was still on his mind.
Synchronization.
Cael still had no idea what kind of Shell would suit him.
But at least he understood one thing now.
A good Shell did not necessarily mean a Shell with the most features.
What mattered was how its user utilized it.
"Cael!"
Evan's voice came from behind him.
Cael turned around.
Evan hurried toward him while carrying a thick book.
"Did you read the next Shell material?"
"Not yet."
"Good."
Cael frowned.
"Why is that good?"
"Because I haven't either."
Cael simply stared at him.
"Then why did you ask?"
Evan laughed.
"Just in case you were actually studying."
They entered the classroom together.
---
That day's lesson was still related to Shells.
Their teacher stood at the front of the classroom and displayed a simple simulation.
On the screen was a human model with all four Shell sections activated.
Helmet.
Vision.
Armor.
Back Equipment.
"Pay close attention," the teacher said.
The model began activating all of its systems.
Core energy increased.
Then—
Warning.
The system on its back began flashing.
"Why?" the teacher asked.
Several students answered.
"Too much energy!"
"Low synchronization!"
"The Shell is too heavy!"
The teacher nodded.
"All of those answers make sense. But there is something more important."
He stopped the simulation.
"The user does not understand their own needs."
The classroom became quieter.
"A Shell is not simply equipment. If you do not understand how you fight, move, and use your Core, then you are only carrying extra weight."
Cael watched the screen.
The statement made sense.
He remembered his Wind training over the past few days.
All this time, he had thought he needed to make his Wind stronger.
But...
Maybe that wasn't the real problem.
The teacher then gave them a simple exercise.
Each student had to create an energy flow using their own Affinity and maintain it while changing its direction.
There was no target.
No minimum time.
Only control.
Cael raised his hand.
A small current of wind appeared in his palm.
He moved it to the right.
Then to the left.
This time, he did not increase the amount of energy.
He simply changed the direction of its flow.
The small current began circling.
Cael then narrowed the flow.
The rotation became faster.
Then he stopped it.
There was no explosion.
No spectacular effect.
Just a small stream of wind that stopped exactly when he wanted it to.
The teacher, who had been walking past Cael's desk, stopped for a moment.
He looked at the result.
"Good."
Cael looked up.
"Good?"
"Your control is improving."
The teacher glanced at the notes in his hand.
"Your output is still average. But you're beginning to understand how your energy moves."
Cael gave a small smile.
It wasn't a major compliment.
But it was enough.
On the other side of the classroom, Evan was attempting the same exercise with his Earth Affinity.
The ground in front of him moved.
A small rock lifted into the air.
Then—
Clack.
The rock fell.
Evan sighed.
"How can you do it?"
Cael shrugged.
"I just figured it out."
"Annoying."
Cael chuckled.
But before returning his attention to his own training, he noticed something.
For the first time since he had started learning about Core, he felt that he didn't need to force himself to become stronger.
He only needed to understand what he already had.
And perhaps...
that was something he could develop.
---
After school, Cael did not go straight home.
He stopped at the small park where he usually trained.
He raised one hand.
The wind moved gently.
This time, he tried something different.
Not increasing its strength.
Not making it last longer.
He tried to make the wind move exactly where he wanted without losing its stability.
One rotation.
Two.
Three.
The small current continued spinning.
Cael stared at it.
Then he smiled.
"A little different..."
He closed his hand.
The wind disappeared.
Cael picked up his bag and started walking home.
He was still a Beginner.
Still far from Intermediate.
Still far from Expert.
Still far from all the things he had only ever seen through a screen.
But for the first time, Cael began to understand something.
He didn't have to be the strongest to become better.
He only had to keep moving.
And perhaps, someday—
that small breeze would become something much greater.