Chapter 20: Stellar Arts

The weeks following Luciel's introduction to the concept of arts were a whirlwind of intense training and experimentation. Under the guidance of Headmaster Gabriel and Kaelith, Luciel threw himself into the process of creating his own unique art. The task was daunting, but Luciel's determination never wavered. He spent countless hours in the academy's training grounds, pushing his limits and exploring the depths of his light affinity.

Gabriel began by teaching Luciel the fundamentals of Thunder God's Wrath, the art he and Kaelith both used. The technique was a masterpiece of destruction, channeling the raw power of lightning into a series of devastating spells. Gabriel demonstrated the art in a controlled environment, summoning a massive bolt of lightning that streaked across the sky and struck the ground with a deafening roar. The impact created a crater several meters wide, the ground scorched and smoking.

"Thunder God's Wrath is not just about raw power," Gabriel explained, his voice calm but firm. "It's about control and precision. You must channel your mana in a way that maximizes its impact while minimizing waste. It's a delicate balance, and one that requires both skill and discipline."

Luciel watched in awe, his golden eyes glowing faintly as he absorbed every detail. He tried to replicate the technique, summoning a small orb of light in his hand and channeling more mana into it. The orb grew larger, its light intensifying, but Luciel could feel the strain on his control. With a deep breath, he hurled the orb into the distance, where it exploded with a blinding flash of light.

Gabriel nodded in approval. "Not bad for a first attempt. But remember, your art will be different. It must reflect your understanding of the light element and your own way of wielding power."

...

Luciel spent the next month refining his understanding of the light element and experimenting with different techniques. He drew inspiration from Gabriel's Thunder God's Wrath and Kaelith's Thunderstorm Dominion, but he knew his art had to be unique. He focused on the qualities of light—its purity, speed, and overwhelming brilliance—and began to develop his own techniques.

Luciel's days became a rigorous routine of training, experimentation, and theoretical study. He attended his theoretical classes in the morning, absorbing knowledge about mana theory, combat strategies, and the history of the Union. But his true focus was on the afternoons and evenings when he would retreat to the training grounds to work on his art.

Gabriel had given him permission to skip practical classes, recognizing the importance of his task. Luciel spent hours in the training grounds, channeling his mana and experimenting with different techniques. He would often stay late into the night, the glow of his golden eyes illuminating the darkness as he pushed himself to his limits.

Kaelith would occasionally drop by to check on his progress, offering advice and encouragement. "You're on the right track, Luciel," Kaelith said one evening, his blue eyes gleaming with approval

Luciel nodded, his golden eyes glowing faintly. 

...

Katharine, with her long black hair and red eyes, also started visiting Luciel during his training sessions. She would often bring snacks or just sit and watch him train, offering playful commentary and teasing remarks.

"You're working too hard," she said one afternoon, leaning against a wall with a grin. " You need to rest, so come here to rest on big sister's lap." Katharine was bold with her words, as she patted her lap. If you asked any teacher in the academy, they would describe her as a delinquent and troublemaker.

Luciel paused, wiping sweat from his brow. "Sorry, I can't rest right now."

Katharine chuckled, her red eyes sparkling with amusement. "You're really cute when you're so serious, but you should rest sometimes, or you'll break."

She walked over and ruffled his hair, her grin widening. "That's why you need a big sister like me to keep an eye on you."

Luciel blinked, not knowing what to do or say. He had already gotten used to Katharine calling herself his big sister, and he didn't mind it really.

Katharine looked at him, her expression adrift for a moment. Then before Luciel could react, she took her into an embrace and said in adoration, " Your expression is so cute, when I tease you like that,"

Luciel couldn't help but blush lightly, as he felt his face being buried into Katharine's bosom. Thankfully for him, Katharine didn't see his reaction or she might have teased her even more.

...

One evening, as Luciel was taking a short break, Katharine decided to cling to him playfully, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and resting her chin on his head. "You're so cute when your face is so serious and cold," she said while pinching his cheek.

At that moment, Aria and Arthuria walked into the training grounds, their eyes widening at the scene. Aria's green eyes narrowed, and Arthuria's icy blue gaze turned frosty.

"What's going on here?" Aria asked, her voice sharp and cold.

Katharine looked up, her grin unapologetic, even almost mocking. "Oh, just bonding with my cute little junior here. Isn't he adorable?"

Arthuria crossed her arms, her silver hair shimmering in the dim light and her face turned darker with every second, "Luciel, do you need help with something?"

Luciel, caught in the middle, could only shrug while looking at his feet, hoping this awkward interaction would pass away quickly. "Uh, no. I'm fine."

Aria stepped forward, her expression a mix of annoyance and jealousy. "Well, if you need anything, you can always ask us. You don't need to rely on this vixen"

Katharine laughed, the sound light and teasing. Her expression twisted into a mocking grin "Oh, don't be jealous."

The tension in the air was palpable, and Luciel could only sigh, knowing he was in for a long night.

...

After a little over a month of rigorous training, Luciel managed to create an incomplete version of his art. But it had to be good enough for now. His rank was too limiting, as it limited all the possibilities he could explore, which would allow his imagination to expand even further, but the fact that he even managed to create incomplete art in such a short time was incredible.

The first move Luciel created was Sword Domain. By channeling his mana, he could summon multiple swords of light that hovered around him, their blades glowing with pure mana. He could control the swords with precision, using them to attack and defend simultaneously. The technique was a natural extension of his existing fighting style, and the spell he had used before, was now implemented into his technique.

The second move was Void Step, a movement technique that allowed Luciel to move at incredible speeds, leaving behind afterimages of light. The technique was perfect for closing the distance between himself and his enemies or evading attacks with ease.

The third move, Mirage World, was still in its conceptual stage. Luciel had imagined the technique but his current rank and mana potency weren't sufficient to bring it to life. He filed it away for future development, knowing it would be a key component of his art.

The fourth move, God's Judgment, was the culmination of his efforts. By channeling a massive amount of mana, Luciel could summon a giant sword made of light, its blade radiating with overwhelming brilliance. The sword could be used to deliver a single, devastating strike, capable of leveling entire battlefields.

As Luciel completed the fourth move, his system recognized the art and created a slot for it in his status window. The notification appeared before him, its glowing text illuminating his face.

[New Skill Acquired: Stellar Arts (Incomplete)]

Sword Domain: Summons multiple swords of light that can be controlled freely.

Void Step: A high-speed movement technique that leaves afterimages of light.

God's Judgment: Summons a giant sword of light for a devastating strike.

Luciel's golden eyes glowed with pride as he read the notification. He had done it.

The creation of Stellar Arts marked a turning point in Luciel's training. The intense focus and mana expenditure required to develop the art pushed his limits, and soon after, he felt a surge of energy as his mana capacity and potency increased. He had broken through to the C- rank.

...

Kaelith wasted no time in testing Luciel's new art. He led him to the virtual reality chamber, his blue eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let's see what you've got, Luciel. Show me what Stellar Arts can do."

Luciel nodded, his golden eyes glowing faintly. He stepped onto the platform, his heart pounding with anticipation. As the system activated, the world around him dissolved, replaced by a sprawling battlefield. The enemies were all adjusted to fit his strength, which meant the small battalion enemies rushing at him were all at E rank.

The simulation began, and Luciel immediately put his new techniques to the test. He summoned his Sword Domain, the blades of light hovering around him as he moved with the speed of Void Step. The enemy forces were no match for his precision and ferocity, and he quickly gained the upper hand.

When the time came, Luciel unleashed God's Judgment, summoning the giant sword of light and delivering a devastating strike that leveled the battlefield. The impact was awe-inspiring, and even Kaelith was impressed. Luciel was left panting on the ground, the God's Judgment was a spell he could use only once before all of his mana reserves would be used.

As Kaelith monitored Luciel's performance from the control room, Katharine appeared beside him, her red eyes sparkling with curiosity. She watched the screen intently, her long black hair swaying gently as she leaned forward.

"Not bad for a rookie," she said, her grin wide. "He's really coming into his own."

Kaelith nodded, his blue eyes fixed on the screen. "He's got potential. But he's still got a long way to go."

Katharine tilted her head, her expression playful. "You know, I really find him cute, so you wouldn't mind if I snatch him away from your sister?"

Kaelith shot her a sideways glance, his smile faint but amused, but his eyes had a threatening look. "He's just a kid, Katharine."

Katharine laughed, the sound light and teasing. "Relax, Kaelith. I'm just saying he's got that whole 'golden boy' thing going on. It's endearing, whose going to stop me, it's not like its illegal, as I am still 17."

Kaelith shook his head, his attention returning to the screen. "Yeah, for a month, before you turn into an adult."

Katharine flipped him a casual middle finger and walked to the room in which Luciel was. Kaelith could only sigh, as if seeing the troubling future, filled with drama.