Time flowed on, and under Rey's strict yet insightful guidance, Kain and his team's training had finally moved from the basics to a new level. After this period of honing their skills, their control over their elements and their ability to sense natural energy had undergone a tangible transformation.
The clumsy, labor-intensive manipulations they had started with gradually became more fluid, replaced by a strange and wonderful sense of resonance with nature. Each time they successfully sensed or controlled their elements, the exhaustion on their faces would be replaced by radiant smiles, and the group's camaraderie grew stronger, filled with more laughter and playfulness.
"Look at my wind blade! Doesn't it kind of look like Tario's lightning?" Milena exclaimed as she swung her hand, sending a pale green current of air slicing through the distant target, cutting off a corner of it.
"Looks more like a piece of paper," Tario replied lazily, snapping his fingers to produce a spark of lightning at his fingertips.
"Say that again, and I'll let you taste this 'piece of paper'!" Milena puffed her cheeks in annoyance, swirling her wind element into a small whirlwind that whipped up Tario's hair, leaving it in a bird's nest-like mess.
"Hey, hey! You ruined my style! Do you know how many girls I've charmed with this dashing hairstyle?" Tario feigned heartbreak, earning a burst of laughter from the group.
Meanwhile, Kain practiced quietly on his own. Although his progress with sensing and controlling light elements was slower than the others, he didn't let it discourage him. His palms pressed tightly together, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, while faint glimmers of light occasionally flickered in his hands, as though something was quietly brewing within him.
"Still no success…" he muttered under his breath.
"You're too focused on controlling its form. Light's essence is in its flow and inspiration," a gentle voice called out from behind him.
Turning around, he saw Lua sitting on a rock, a transparent sphere of wind element floating in her hand before dissipating into the air.
"You're trying too hard to control it, and in doing so, you've lost its rhythm. Let the light become a part of your thoughts, not just a tool."
Kain nodded, closed his eyes, and tried again.
Rey's advanced elemental training was nothing short of grueling.
"You're not learning how to use elements anymore," Rey said one morning as he surveyed the group under the golden light of dawn, his tone as stern as ever. "You're learning how to channel their power. Controlling their forms, adjusting their intensity, managing their spread, and even switching between techniques in combat—that's your next step."
Each morning, they trained in different terrains—sand dunes, pools of water, hilltops—tailored to their respective elements. Tario sprinted across the slopes like lightning, practicing the bending and splitting of electricity. Milena worked on transforming her wind element from a single straight line into multiple precise air blades, striking targets with pinpoint accuracy. Rody focused on enhancing his defense while developing his ability to sense the earth's pulse, strengthening his control over terrain.
As for Kain, he spent most of his time sitting still, attempting to feel the flow of light and synchronize it with his own rhythm. Though his progress was slow, every small success brought a glimmer of hope to his eyes.
One evening, he finally managed to maintain a stable glow of light in his hands.
"I did it…" Kain murmured to himself as he opened his eyes.
"Oh! You've finally lit up!" Tario shouted from behind, waving enthusiastically. "Should we give you a nickname? How about 'Shiny Kain'?"
"How about we give you one too? Like 'Zappy Tario'?" Milena teased with a grin.
"I think 'Tata Thunder' sounds cuter," Lua chimed in, smiling as she doodled a little cartoon sketch of Tario.
Rey stood nearby, saying nothing, but the faint upward curve of his lips betrayed his approval.
At night, the campfire outside the training grounds became their most relaxed moment of the day.
"Do you think Rey was handsome when he was younger?" Milena suddenly asked.
"Younger? I think he might just be hitting his peak now," Tario quipped, always quick with his jokes.
"Aren't you afraid he'll hear you?" Lorne said dryly as she sliced a piece of dried rations.
"I already heard you," Rey's voice came from behind the fire.
The group instantly fell silent, looking at one another in shock before bursting into laughter.
These days, warm and rare, felt like a gift.
Yet beneath the laughter, a shadow lingered in Lorne's heart. She watched as everyone progressed, each of them moving forward, while she felt as though she was standing still.
One night, she quietly packed her belongings, preparing to leave.
"I don't want to hold everyone back… I need to find my element," she whispered to herself.
"Where are you going?" Lua's voice cut through the night.
Startled, Lorne turned to see Lua standing under the moonlight, her eyes clear and calm.
"This isn't something you can do alone," Lua said softly. "What you have now isn't just your old strength—it's a group of companions who can move forward with you."
"But—"
"You're stronger than you think. You just don't realize it yet," Lua interrupted gently. "Instead of chasing the person you used to be, why not create a new version of yourself?"
Lorne stood in silence for a long time. Finally, she set down her bag and glanced back at the campfire, where her companions slept peacefully.
In that moment, she realized—she was no longer alone.
But just as they thought this peaceful period would last a little longer, a dark shadow began to creep closer.
An Imperial reconnaissance team arrived at the Granhill Training Camp, quietly inquiring about Kain and his team. According to official records, they had been labeled as "potential rebel elements" with close ties to the wanted criminal, Rey Sahir.
The Empire issued an order:
Kain, Rody, Tario, Milena, Lorne, and Rey were now officially fugitives. Any information related to them would be treated as treason.
A single wanted poster was quietly pinned to a wall, but it was enough to ignite a storm across the Empire.
Unaware of the looming crisis, Kain and his team continued sweating, laughing, and growing stronger in the training grounds.
Inside the main building of the Granhill Training Camp, the atmosphere was suffocating.
Captain Aston stood at the head of the conference table, his hands pressed against its surface, his gaze locked on the red wanted notice in front of him. His heart was heavy and unsettled. It wasn't just Rey Sahir's name on the list—it was also the names of the students he had personally mentored: Kain, Rody, Tario, Milena, and Lorne. Not a single one was missing.
"These kids…" he murmured, his voice low. "From their first day in the camp to their field missions, their performance has always been steady and exemplary. They even risked their lives to save an entire southern village during the last incident. They're some of the most reliable people in the camp."
The Central Investigation Unit's representative, Karen, stood opposite him. Dressed in a perfectly pressed uniform, her face was sharp and unyielding.
"You're talking about their past, Captain Aston." Karen's tone was cold and detached. "But now, we only deal in facts. They've had prolonged contact with the wanted criminal Rey Sahir, received training from him, and were even spotted in restricted areas. These are enough to warrant charges of treason."
"You know they were sent on a resource collection mission!" Aston's voice rose, unable to hide his frustration. "They're victims caught in the middle of this! Rey might have his own agenda, but they couldn't possibly be his accomplices. They're being dragged into this—you can't just brand them as criminals!"
Karen frowned, her tone icy. "Then why didn't they report back? Why did they continue traveling with Rey? Why have they been missing all this time without a word?"
"Maybe they're still completing their mission! Maybe they're trapped! Maybe… maybe they're waiting for the right moment to come back and explain everything!"
By the time Aston finished, his voice was hoarse, but his gaze remained firm. He knew Kain and his team. He had trained them, watched them fall and rise again on the training grounds, climbing step by step to earn their place as trusted soldiers.
Karen remained silent for a few seconds before speaking coldly. "We're not here to listen to your defense of your students. According to orders from the capital, these five individuals will be treated as potential insurgents and officially added to the wanted list. If they return to the camp, they will be immediately arrested and sent to the capital for trial."
Aston's fists clenched, his knuckles turning white. He knew arguing further was pointless, and pushing too hard would only draw suspicion toward himself.
"…Understood," he said quietly.
Karen nodded and signaled to two members of the investigation team. "Stay here to monitor the camp until the targets return. The rest of you, compile the reports and send them back to the capital."
Once the Imperial officers left, the conference room was silent, save for Aston and a few senior officers. After a long pause, his deputy, Clay, asked in a low voice:
"Captain, do you really believe they're innocent?"
Aston let out a deep sigh, gazing out the window.
"They've saved lives, fought off invaders, and risked everything for the truth…" His eyes were steady. "If kids like them are labeled as traitors, then what is the Empire's 'justice' even worth?"
Turning back to Clay, his tone became resolute. "Before they return, we need to be ready. If the Central Unit refuses to give them a chance to defend themselves… we'll make sure they have a way out."