Integration

A sound night's sleep left Ang refreshed and invigorated. After completing his daily meditation and Qi force training, he sat on the rooftop platform, a tiny flame rising from his palm. Looking at the flame before him, Ang was filled with emotion. Something he had been unable to achieve no matter what before had finally become possible after fulfilling his predecessor's wish.

Ang recalled his days on the Maple Sugar Plane. He had been able to sense the existence of magical elements, but those elements had been unable to enter his body. Through meditation, he could not absorb magical elements. Although his Qi force could absorb them, they only strengthened his Qi force and did not transform into magic power. Now, he could finally draw magical elements into his body and successfully summon a flame. The sense of accomplishment filled him with joy.

"Is this what magic power feels like?" Ang murmured to himself. He felt his connection to this world becoming closer. This was not merely a change in his body, but a harmony of the soul as well. Having fulfilled his predecessor's wish, Ang felt that his soul and body had finally fused completely. At that moment, he truly became Ang.

Ang looked at the distant, rolling mountain range, his heart filled with determination and anticipation. Taking a deep breath, he said once more, "Next comes Ang's journey—for myself! I'll work twice as hard!"

He felt his heartbeat quicken, as though the entire world were responding to his resolve.

Ang rose to his feet and stretched out his arms, feeling the morning breeze brush against his face. Smiling, he turned and returned home.

As always, Ang's mother had risen early to prepare breakfast for the family. Though only three people remained at home now, the meal was still simple yet delicious. At the table, Ang said to his father, Baron, "Father, Aida and Aisha have both set out on their own paths. In the next few days, I'll be leaving for Tan'anster Provincial Capital as well. I plan to continue my studies at the warrior academy and rebuild my foundation."

Ang's words brought both of them to a halt. His mother sighed inwardly. She did not want Ang to leave her, especially when he had only recently returned home. Though she wanted him to live the life he desired, she did not wish to hold him back. His father, Baron, thought for a moment before saying, "Ang, you do need a proper education. I support your decision. I'm only an ordinary farmer now, but I hope you can live a different kind of life. There's nothing wrong with being a farmer, but you should have a broader world ahead of you."

Ang nodded and looked at his father gratefully. "Thank you, Father. Your support means a great deal to me. I'll study hard and strive to make you and Mother proud one day."

His mother stroked Ang's hand, her eyes full of reluctance and expectation. "Ang, wherever you are, we'll always support you. Take good care of yourself, and remember to come home often."

Ang smiled and nodded. "I will, Mother. I'll work hard and won't let down your expectations."

Breakfast ended in a warm atmosphere.

Ang flipped through the basic Magic Books he had bought and found that their contents were limited to foundational theory, with no explanation of practical application. Fireball was still a skill he had learned at Wolf Mage Academy. He had found the casting process simple, which was why he had memorized it so well. After leaving Wolf City, he had tried to cast Fireball every day, but had not succeeded even once. The magic power Ang could now form by absorbing elements was still far too little to effectively create a Fireball. All he could do was gather a small flame in his palm.

Ang tried using the tiny flame in his palm to ignite things, but after several attempts, it failed to light any object. Even so, Ang was not discouraged. After all, he had only just begun to progress from absorbing elements to forming magic power. Being able to create even a small flame already satisfied him greatly.

He told himself, "This is only a beginning. Every step matters. As long as I keep going, one day I'll master stronger magic." Thinking of this, Ang felt filled with hope and motivation.

He closed the book and looked out the window, determination gleaming in his eyes. He knew that he had only just begun his path in magic, and there was still much for him to learn and explore.

Realizing that the magic power within him was scarce, Ang decided to absorb more elements through meditation to strengthen it. He began experimenting in different places, searching for the best location to meditate. He tried the area near the Ula River, the roof of his home, the woodland at the edge of the Ula Mountains, and the oak grove. After many experiments, Ang discovered that the element concentration in the oak grove was clearly higher than in the other locations, and he could smoothly absorb the elements into his body there. In contrast, although the elemental concentration around the Ula River was also extremely high, those elements strangely could not be absorbed into his body.

After several days of meditation, the magic power within Ang gradually increased until it was as thick as a strand of hair. The flame in his hand had also become somewhat thicker than before. Though it still could not produce any practical effect, this was clearly positive progress.

Ang realized that although this was only a small step, it represented steady progress in his magical cultivation. Every meditation session brought him closer to the goal of mastering more powerful magic. He was not impatient, but full of patience and perseverance.

Through self-study, Ang gradually mastered the basic operation of Fireball, but he knew full well that this kind of isolated learning had severe limitations. Though he could make some progress through his own effort and understanding, Ang understood that self-study alone was not enough to truly master magic. Magic was a complex and specialized discipline that required deeper study in a more systematic and professional environment.

Ang realized that many things could not be figured out through his own understanding alone. Specialized knowledge and skills required professional instructors and resources to master. Therefore, he decided to stop trying anything else for the time being and focus on meditation, steadily increasing his reserves of magic power. He believed that once his magic power became strong enough, together with further study at the warrior academy, he would surely find more professional guidance and truly master Fireball and other magical skills to perfection.

Daily meditation gradually increased Ang's magic power. Though the progress was slow, he firmly believed this was the necessary path to a higher level.

During this time, Ang took the opportunity to visit Aisha in River Bay City. Aisha had already thrown herself completely into her studies at the mage academy, and Ang spoke with her about their respective progress. Through that conversation, Ang discovered that his previous understanding of certain Magic Theory concepts differed considerably from what Aisha had learned at the academy. Although Ang had merely repeated what was written in books in the past and had not imposed his own interpretations on Aisha, remembering it now still sent a chill through him—if he had misled Aisha back then, the consequences could have been serious. This realization further strengthened Ang's determination to study systematically and pursue advanced education.

Time passed quickly, and before he knew it, November had arrived. Ang learned that Tan'anster First Warrior Academy would begin a new round of admissions in December. He could hardly wait to head to the Provincial Capital and further improve his combat and magical abilities. Ang told Aisha about his plans, and Aisha immediately voiced her support, understanding her Older Brother's aspirations and determination.

After returning home, Ang shared his travel plans with his parents and left them 200 gold wack. He told them that Aisha's magical studies would require a great deal of resources, and that the money could be used to support her education. Although little of the gold wack he had brought back from the Maple Sugar Plane remained, he still placed his family and younger sister's future first.

When Ang's mother heard this, her heart was filled with emotion. She had originally wanted to return the 100 gold wack Ang had given her earlier, hoping he would have greater security while living in the Provincial Capital. However, Ang gently but firmly refused her kindness. He explained, "Aisha needs these resources more right now. The path of a mage requires not only personal effort, but also the support of external resources." In the end, his mother accepted Ang's arrangement, knowing that her son's decision was made for the family's future.

After bidding farewell to his parents and settling matters at home, Ang prepared to head to Tan'anster Provincial Capital and begin his brand-new journey.

This time, Ang decided to take an airship to Tan'anster Provincial Capital. Not only would it save time, but it would also allow him to devote himself to his upcoming advanced studies in the best possible condition. A few days before the journey, he went to River Bay City and bought an airship ticket to the Provincial Capital.

On the day of departure, River Bay City was as usual in the early morning. Pedestrians walked the streets in twos and threes, while the shops had only just begun to open. Ang arrived at the airship dock alone. Before him was a massive yet elegant airship, quietly moored at its aerial berth and swaying slightly. No one had come to see him off, but Ang understood that he had chosen this path himself. He would have to face the coming challenges and opportunities alone.

Before boarding the airship, he looked back toward River Bay City, and the faces of his family and Aisha surfaced in his mind. Though they were not by his side, Ang knew that his family's support and expectations were what drove him forward. He let out a soft sigh and strengthened his resolve.

Ang stepped onto the gangway leading to the airship. As the sound of his footsteps echoed, his heart became especially calm and resolute. Though this journey was lonely, he knew that a broader world awaited his exploration ahead. As the airship slowly rose into the sky, the scenery of River Bay City gradually shrank from view before finally disappearing behind the clouds.

Ang leaned against the cabin window and gazed at the sea of clouds outside, silently repeating to himself, "For myself, work twice as hard."