We leave towards Eldria. The trip would take about five days. Even though it was a long journey, there would be no stops. The carriage was large and had two padded sofas, in addition to being under a wind spell cast by my grandfather's guard, Lyra Everhart. Lyra was wearing a black outfit that matched her short hair.

  She maintained a calm and serene posture. With the mana perception training I had with my father, I evolved into a secondary core. With that, I already had a basic perception of mana and realized that Lyra had a quaternary core.

  The trip started calmly and silently. After a few hours, I heard Lyra's voice for the first time.

  "You seem to have gone through some tough training."

  I didn't understand why she was talking, but I decided to try to talk.

  "I've been training since I was five years old. I don't think it was difficult to get here."

  "It's not common. Most children couldn't handle training from a Lancaster. I have good eyes, I know you already have the strength of one. Your swordsmanship skills can even compare to mine."

  Lyra was silent for a moment before speaking again.

  "Once we arrive, Edmund will test you. He'll probably want to intimidate you, but don't worry about him."

  I didn't immediately understand what she meant, but I'd better prepare myself for any quirky personality my grandfather might have had.

  The trip was proceeding smoothly. The coachmen took turns to keep the journey constant, and Lyra's magic kept the interior of the carriage stable, to the point where it was imperceptible that we were moving.

  “Lyra, how did you come to dominate the wind?” I spoke up, in an attempt to break the comfortable silence that had settled between us.

  Lyra, who was sitting on the sofa opposite me, smiled slightly. “I started training when I was very young, just like you. My father is also a wind manipulator, so I've been familiar with the element for a long time. The freedom it provides enchanted me from an early age.”

  I leaned forward a little, interested. “Can you show me how it works?”

  "Clear." Lyra responded, raising a hand. A light breeze began to circulate in the carriage, gently moving my hair. “Manipulating the wind is like dancing with nature. It requires concentration and a deep connection to the mana around you. Why don’t you try?”

  I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate. I could feel the mana pulsing in my body, I felt the uncontrollable urge to free itself that it possessed. I tried to manipulate the moisture around me, but I only managed to create a small drop of water, which disappeared as quickly as my mana.

  “Don’t worry, it takes time.” Lyra encouraged. “Keep practicing, you’ve already shown a lot of skill for someone your age.”

  I wasn't sad, on the contrary, I was even more motivated. “Thank you, I will keep trying.”

  Lyra nodded. “You have great potential. You should get it quickly if you put your mind to it.”

  The conversation continued. I listened to several stories about Lyra's experiences and adventures, absorbing every word and improving my mana control even further.

  Five days passed and we finally arrived at the Lancaster residence. Lyra and I got out of the carriage and went through the property gate.

  The Lancaster home is an impressive mansion located in one of the best locations in the country. This majestic building is a reflection of the nobility and strength that characterize the Lancaster family, known for their skill in combat and for being the best fortifiers in the country. The house is made of white stone with relief details, surrounded by vast gardens and fountains. Its interior is grand, with large, spacious halls and crimson crystal chandeliers. Highlights include: a well-equipped training room, a rich library, luxurious living areas, a dining room with a long mahogany table, and barracks for the guards.

  I was led to the room where my grandfather was. Lyra walked me to the door and then left. I entered the room alone, which was relatively small compared to the house, without many details and relatively simple.

  I saw my grandfather sitting on a sofa and went over to him. Getting close, I bowed, tilting about 45 degrees, and said, “Greetings, Grandpa Edmund. It's an honor to be able to meet you. I promise to live up to our name and learn everything I can under his guidance.”

  Edmund got up from the couch and looked at me, as if he were in another world. “I see your parents taught you well. Young people nowadays don’t respect this tradition.” Edmund said, as if he was proud. “But that’s not what’s going to make me accept you.” Edmund began to speak in a more serious tone.

  Suddenly, a huge aura emerged within the room. The mana began to stir and tremble, and suddenly everything was filled with an ocean blue aura. My body tended to fall, my vision felt blurry, my mana started to drain away and I started to lose consciousness.

  With my body heading towards the ground, I used the last of my strength to not fall and managed to kneel on one knee.

  About five seconds passed, but to me it felt like five minutes. About to lose consciousness, the mana disappeared and the atmospheric mana quickly returned to the room.

  “I see that you have tremendous mental strength, worthy of a Lancaster. Even suppressing my strength, anyone with a core of less than tertiary level would have fainted.” Edmund's statement made me realize how truly strong he was. Not even my father could create this aura, but he did it by suppressing his own power.

  “You have a strong mind, but that is not all that makes up the name Lancaster. Follow me." Edmund said, leaving the room.

  Edmund left the room, and I followed him, keeping a respectful distance. We arrived at a large room, one of the several training rooms in the house, as Lyra explained to me. The space, although empty, was amply equipped to support intense workouts with its reinforced, simple walls without additional decoration.

  Besides Edmund and me, there was only one young girl, looking about twelve years old, focused on her training. Her determination was evident, but she didn't seem to notice our presence.

  “Hello, Beatrice. This is Hoshigaki, my grandson.” Edmund introduced me, and I greeted Beatrice with a wave.

  “I brought him here to assess whether he is truly fit to use the Lancaster surname. I cannot guarantee his safety if he fights me, so I would like him to fight you.” Edmund explained to Beatrice, who nodded her approval. Then we head to the center of the room.

  In the middle of the room, Edmund handed me a wooden spear.

  "This match will be without the use of mana. Only your physical and mental abilities must be used. Any use of mana will result in disqualification," instructed Edmund. "Hoshigaki, Beatrice has already demonstrated that she is a true Lancaster. It is not necessary to beat her, but you must show all your aptitude and knowledge."

  "Ready? Start!" Edmund started the fight.

  Beatrice quickly advanced towards me. Her intention seemed to be an attack on my chest, but her technique was subtle and difficult to predict. Upon noticing the movement, I used the handle of my spear to deflect the attack to the left and tried a side kick to her knee. Beatrice withdrew her leg in time, but used the momentum to direct the spear at my neck.

  I defended myself again with the butt of the spear, but Beatrice, anticipating my defense, dropped the spear and tried to punch me straight in the face. To block the punch, I put my arms in front, but unexpectedly, Beatrice landed a precise kick on my knee. The pain made my body momentarily stagger, but I managed to stay upright.

  Before the spears fell to the ground, Beatrice grabbed one of them and lunged for a stab at my head. I regained my balance in time and dodged the attack, finding an opening to punch her in the abdomen. The blow, although painful, was not enough to knock her down.

  With Beatrice off balance, she dropped the spear, and I took the opportunity to kick her supporting leg. Beatrice was about to fall, but she managed to use her other leg to pull herself away and keep her balance.

  "Stop. The fight is over." Edmund's voice echoed through the room, announcing the end of the fight.

  Edmund watched the fight with a critical eye, and Beatrice, although panting, raised her head and gave me a look of respect. I, still catching my breath, approached Edmund.

  “You showed good skill and adaptability.” Edmund commented, his voice thick with approval. “Beatrice, good performance. Both demonstrated great technique and strategy. Keep it up, and you can both reach high levels in your abilities.”

  With a wave, Edmund walked away, and Beatrice, smiling slightly, extended her hand to shake. “You fought well. It’s not easy to face a Lancaster.”

  "Thanks. It was a great challenge.” I responded, shaking her hand firmly.

  The training was over, and the feeling of having overcome a challenge and the mutual respect gained were vital to their growth.

  After the fight ended, Beatrice walked away and returned to training with a lower intensity compared to when we arrived.

  “From today onwards, I will be responsible for your training. I may not know much about magic, but I have a few tricks,” Edmund announced.

  With that, he gave me a series of exercises that I performed in the following days. Edmund was rarely present because, as head of the family, he had many commitments. I also took the opportunity to read some books I found in the library, which gave me valuable insights into magic, its applications and how it can be manipulated and created.

  I spent several months dedicating myself intensely to training and studying before classes started. Each day brought new challenges and learning, and I felt like I was evolving not only as a combat practitioner, but also as a potential mage.