Warrior Training System

Now that Cassian was confident nothing would go wrong if he rotated the mana, he sat cross-legged in the middle of the lab. Rowena, still waving a variety of magical instruments around his body, observed what was happening inside him. Using her tools, she formed an exact replica of his body with golden light strings. Some of these strings glowed brighter than the rest, starting at his hands. Gradually, the glow began to seep into another golden string, moving into his arms, taking the form of thin, luminous threads. These threads flowed through his veins, mimicking the circulation of blood.

The magical instrument Rowena used was her own creation, designed to study the workings of the human body without the need for dissection. Now, it displayed the inner workings of Cassian's body as he began rotating mana through his veins. Every mana-gathering technique functioned differently—some channeled mana through the body's mana points, while others used the veins. For Cassian, the technique was called Blood Fire Tempering, so Rowena surmised it was vein-based, as veins were where blood naturally flowed.

She didn't need to rely solely on assumptions, though. Cassian had provided her with the technique manual, and she began reading it carefully to understand any changes that might occur. As she skimmed through the text, she muttered to herself, "So, the first seal's rotation is only meant to strengthen the blood and blood vessels. Well, that makes sense—it needs tempering for the next stage…"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Rowena became completely engrossed in studying the technique. It wasn't every day she got the chance to examine a mana-gathering method from the prestigious Ven Dyke family, one even used by its current head. While she delved into the intricacies of the manual, Cassian was facing considerable difficulty.

His body was enveloped in a faint red glow as he used his Domain to guide the mana, a task that was proving to be far from simple. He had to ensure the mana flowed exclusively through his veins, as this was essential to the principles of his Blood Fire Tempering technique. Allowing the mana to stray could cause complications later. Once the mana entered his veins, it would naturally flow with his blood, so that part required less effort. However, the speed of his blood flow presented a challenge. Blood didn't flow through a single vein but branched into countless smaller vessels, and each split required his intense focus.

Cassian had to use his Domain to envelop his veins, ensuring the mana stayed confined within them. As the mana reached his heart, the organ took over, pumping it through the rest of his body and distributing it to his organs. Despite this assistance, maintaining the delicate balance demanded immense concentration, pushing Cassian to his limits.

Sweat dripped from Cassian's brow as he focused intently, his body feeling bloated and uncomfortably warm. The temperature within him continued to rise as the mana gradually integrated into his blood.

For now, Cassian's primary task was to guide the mana into his heart—but not all at once. The first flow of mana would enter the heart and follow the natural rhythm of his blood circulation. As it did, the heart would send a portion of the mana back into the Warrior Circle, which acted as a secondary mana core for his body. This process refined the mana, making it more compatible with Cassian's physique.

The Warrior Circle would then send the remained mana back into his bloodstream, repeating the cycle. This process would continue until all the mana was fully absorbed and seamlessly integrated into his body.

After a few hours of intense focus, Cassian finally completed the process. His body was drenched in sweat and flushed red—not from his Domain, but from the heat generated during the technique. Sensing the completion of the mana rotation, Rowena's gaze shifted to his hands, her eyes lighting up with excitement. Cassian, however, looked even more exhilarated than she did.

The red glow of his Domain around his body grew brighter and more vivid, radiating a powerful aura. At the same time, his Warrior Circle began to emit a deep crimson light. Intricate patterns within the circle shifted and rearranged themselves, transforming into entirely new designs, marking the successful evolution of his technique.

As the process completed, Cassian opened his eyes, excitement gleaming in them. The first rotation of mana was complete, and he could already feel a noticeable increase in his strength.

"Congratulations," Rowena said with a warm smile. "You've officially begun your journey, Warrior Cassian."

With that, she powered down all her instruments and, with a casual flick of her hand, pulled a towel seemingly out of thin air, handing it to him.

Cassian snapped out of his thoughts as he felt the towel placed in his hands. Rowena's voice broke the silence as she continued, "You can finally resume your training now. Just make sure to get used to your newfound strength first. Also, remember to leave some time between rotations—don't overtax your body. And if the mana seal ever mutate again, inform me immediately."

She turned back to her desk, already scribbling notes on some papers. With a dismissive wave of her hand, she added, "You can go now. Oh, and if you see Katherine on your way, let her know I need her."

Cassian stood there in a daze, still clutching the towel and not even bothering to wipe his face. Looking at her back, he felt a little awkward—and oddly used—for some reason. Rising to his feet, he gave her a polite bow and said, "I will, Lady Rowena. Thank you for helping me understand my powers."

"Don't mention it," Rowena replied nonchalantly, her head still bent over her notes. "Just follow my instructions, and you'll be fine."

Cassian hesitated for a moment, half-hoping she'd ask for repayment like the last time. Her lack of a request left him feeling a little disappointed—he had been looking forward to repaying her with his massages.

But alas, it didn't seem like he'd get the chance to repay her anytime soon. With a sigh, Cassian set off to look for Katherine, only to be met with an unexpected surprise. He spotted her deep in conversation with a familiar face he hadn't seen in quite some time.

As they noticed him approaching, Katherine's expression shifted to one of concern. Seeing his disheveled hair and sweat-soaked face, she asked worriedly, "Did something go wrong? Are you okay?"

The light brown-haired girl beside her, however, greeted him with a bright smile as he drew closer. Cassian shook his head to ease Katherine's worry and replied, "I'm fine, my lady. Everything went well. Lady Rowena was just being thorough, making sure there were no issues."

Cassian's gaze shifted to the brown-haired girl standing beside Katherine. Laureen. The sight of her stirred a wave of memories—she was the first person to make him realize certain...things about himself. He hadn't seen her since the day he and Lady Katherine fled Scarlet Castle. Back then, he had assumed she'd join Lucy and the others, but she hadn't.

Now, seeing her here after nearly half a year, he was both surprised and intrigued. Where had she been all this time? What had she been doing? These questions lingered in his mind, but with Katherine present, this wasn't the time to delve into such matters.

Maintaining his composure, Cassian greeted her with a respectful nod. "Miss Laureen, it's been a while. I trust you've been well?"

Laureen's smile softened, and her eyes held a flicker of amusement. "It has been a while, hasn't it, Cassian? I'm doing just fine. And you? I'd say you've been busy, from the looks of it."

He chuckled lightly, brushing a hand through his damp hair. "You could say that. I haven't seen you in months, though. I wasn't expecting to run into you here."

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"Oh, it's because she's been away on a personal task for me," Katherine interjected, her voice calm yet carrying a hint of authority. She continued, "I sent her to investigate the individuals I suspected were responsible for the attack on our duchy. She's been working on that ever since."

Turning to Laureen, Katherine's expression shifted to one of curiosity and expectation. "Your return means you must have uncovered something, doesn't it?"

Laureen nodded slowly, her gaze shifting away from Cassian as if avoiding his questioning eyes. "Yes, my lady," she said, her tone steady but guarded. "I've discovered something… significant. But it's not something I can explain here."

She paused, glancing briefly at Cassian before continuing. "In fact, your friend, Lady Rowena, is also here in Magisteria for the same reason I was sent. It seems our investigations may overlap."

Katherine's brows furrowed slightly as Laureen's attention returned to Cassian, her expression unreadable but firm. "If you don't mind, Cassian, it would be better if I spoke to Lady Katherine alone about this. The details are... delicate."

Cassian hesitated for a moment before giving a polite nod. "Of course, Miss Laureen. I'll leave you two to it."

Katherine motioned toward a quieter corner of the courtyard, and Cassian stepped away, giving them space.

As he walked off, their hushed voices still carried faintly to his ears. He caught snippets of their conversation—mention of bringing Rowena into the discussion. Though the details were unclear, it seemed to be connected to the attacks that had targeted both Lady Katherine and Lady Rowena in recent months.

From what Cassian knew, both attacks had been orchestrated by the same group. His suspicions pointed to either the royal family of the kingdom, the Cult of Silas, or perhaps a collaboration between the two—a deeply concerning possibility.

The royal family alone wasn't a force to take lightly, even by the empire, let alone by a few noble families. Yet, the question lingered: why would they target their own supporters? After all, the Ven Dyke family had always been staunch allies of the kingdom. The thought unsettled him, leaving more questions than answers.