Eight days passed in the blink of an eye.

Levia looked at the burning torch floating above Qasim’s hand.

It had been burning for several minutes now.

Without weakening.

Without flickering.

Without consuming any visible amount of mana.

She slowly lowered her notebook.

"...This is just..."

"...Impressive."

In just over a week...

Qasim had learned several new spells.

He understood dozens of magical theories.

He could switch between different mana engines almost effortlessly.

And thanks to the passive spell they had created together...

His spells now had an almost limitless supply of mana.

Levia let out a small sigh.

"...I really doubted you."

Qasim smiled awkwardly.

"I guess you did."

"...Sorry."

She lowered her head.

"I honestly didn’t think anyone could finish all of this in only one week."

Qasim laughed.

"It’s only thanks to you."

"You explained everything patiently."

"So..."

"Thank you, teacher."

Levia’s cheeks turned slightly red.

"...Y-You’re welcome."

Qasim then turned toward the quiet girl standing behind him.

Her short black hair looked just as neat as always.

Her brown eyes calmly met his.

"So..."

"Should we start?"

"...Mmm."

Yasmin gave a small nod.

"Sit."

Qasim sat on the floor with his legs crossed.

Yasmin looked directly into his eyes.

"Now..."

"You need to kill yourself."

"...What?"

Qasim almost jumped to his feet.

Yasmin didn’t react.

"Irada was created by the Beastkin."

"They value strength above everything."

"Even their own lives."

"There was a time when they were the weakest race."

"So..."

"They destroyed their own hearts."

"And created new ones using nothing but life energy and willpower."

Silence.

Qasim’s face slowly became uncomfortable.

"...That’s..."

"...Insane."

Yasmin continued calmly.

"So in order to feel your life energy, you first need to—"

"Sorry."

Qasim interrupted her.

"...Is there another way?"

Yasmin looked at him for a moment.

Then slowly shook her head.

"No."

Qasim lowered his eyes.

"...Then I’m sorry."

"I don’t think I can walk this path."

"I don’t want to gain power by killing myself."

Yasmin quietly looked at him.

After a few seconds...

She simply nodded.

"I understand."

Then she turned around...

And left.

Qasim watched her disappear down the hallway.

"...Was I rude?"

He quietly asked.

Levia gently smiled.

"Don’t worry."

"Yasmin won’t take it personally."

"It’s just..."

Her expression became a little sad.

"...She never had the luxury of making that choice."

"I don’t know every detail about her past."

"So I won’t tell you things that aren’t mine to tell."

"But..."

"When Valen first brought her here..."

"She was more like a machine than a person."

"It took a long time before she learned how to live like..."

"...Well."

"Like us."

Levia smiled softly.

"So..."

"I think she was actually happy."

"Happy that someone wanted to learn Irada from her."

"Maybe she wanted to guide someone through the same path..."

"But in a gentler way than she experienced."

She looked at Qasim.

"So don’t blame yourself."

"She already knows how dangerous Irada is."

"And she respects your decision."

Qasim nodded.

"...I’ll apologize anyway."

"The next time I see her."

He stretched a little.

"Well..."

"I guess I’ll bother Valen instead."

"I’ll ask him to teach me Maker."

Levia immediately shook her head.

"...That won’t work either."

"...Huh?"

"I don’t know everything."

"But Maker is... special."

Before she could continue—

The door opened.

Doran walked inside carrying several documents.

He glanced at the two.

Then quietly sat down.

"Oh!"

Levia looked toward him.

"Doran."

"You’re smart."

"Can you explain why Maker is so special?"

Doran raised an eyebrow.

"...Smart?"

He stayed silent for a moment.

Then answered.

"Maker users..."

"Or Makers, as Valen likes calling them..."

"Are born with the potential of the Second Step."

Qasim blinked.

"...They’re born that way?"

Doran nodded.

"The reason is related to advancing from Mahik to Hilal-Awal."

"What do you need to do?"

"...Something impossible."

Qasim frowned.

"Impossible according to who?"

"What if I just say walking is impossible for me?"

Doran looked at him.

"It isn’t your decision."

"The judge..."

"...Is already with you."

Qasim instinctively looked toward the strange black tattoo on the back of his hand.

"This tattoo."

"It isn’t just decoration."

"It has a purpose."

Doran continued.

"When a future Maker is born..."

"They’re no different from any other child."

"But once they become Mahik..."

"They immediately fulfill the condition for Hilal-Awal."

"And ascend."

"They gain the abilities that all Makers are known for."

Qasim slowly processed everything.

"...So."

"I can’t learn Maker either."

Doran nodded once.

"...Correct."

Qasim sighed.

There went another power system.

A few seconds later...

He slowly turned toward Doran.

A smile spread across his face.

"So..."

"Uncle Doran."

Doran didn’t even look up.

"...Hell no."

"...You didn’t even let me ask."

"I don’t need to."

"I already know what you’re going to ask."

"...Can you at least pretend to think about it?"

"No."

Silence.

"...You’re mean."

"...Mmm."

For some reason...

That only made Qasim grin wider.

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