The Pursuit Of Catalyst: A Dive Into Another Verse

The training lawn behind the cottage was wide and open, enclosed by tall, silent trees and a faint shimmering dome overhead — the anti-magic detection barrier. Dew still clung to the grass, and the morning air was sharp and fresh. The only sound was the wind brushing against their robes.

Hawk Frost stood firm, his arms crossed behind his back, his gaze unmoving and intense. Clad in black from head to toe — hair, eyes, robes — he looked more like a living shadow than a man. Before him stood Sylves and Elza, dressed in dark training robes, eyes fixed on their instructor.

After a long pause, Hawk spoke, his deep voice rumbling across the lawn like distant thunder.

"How much do you know about magic? How many elements have you been taught?"

Elza glanced up at him, then at Sylves. Then she stepped forward, the nervousness in her eyes softened by growing confidence.

"We've been taught the basics of Fire, Water, Wind, and Light Magic at the Academy," she said clearly.

"We've also done sparring practice. Apart from that, we only know a little about Void Magic — from you — and Elemental Magic from Headmaster Gardinant, when we were tested during the Affinity Certification."

Sylves blinked, a little taken aback. That was the most she had spoken publicly since they'd met. No trembling, no hiding — just honesty and strength. But then, as if realizing she might have said too much, Elza flinched and stepped back.

"I… I hope I didn't say too much…"

Hawk regarded her silently. Then, to both their surprise, he gave her a rare nod.

"Well explained," he said.

"Be confident. Always."

Elza's eyes widened, and Sylves gave her a quiet smile.

Hawk turned and slowly paced across the grass, speaking as he moved.

"Magic in this world is officially divided into six elemental branches — Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Light, and Void. These are recognized by all magical institutions in Asphalia and beyond."

He stopped and faced them again, hands behind his back.

"Anyone who possesses all four basic elements — Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth — is categorized as an Elemental Magic User.

It's rare. And dangerous.

Such people have the potential to distort the natural balance."

Sylves nodded, understanding. That explained Ashia's status as a potential equal to Light and Void users — even if her elemental fusion was still unstable.

"Void Magic," Hawk continued, "stands apart. It is not part of nature… but a force that exists to reject it.

It doesn't reshape the world — it erases it.

That is why it is feared."

Elza shifted her feet, frowning slightly.

Hawk's voice dropped lower.

"To learn Void Magic, you must forget what you know of the others. Void does not obey. It does not bend. It devours."

The silence that followed was weighty.

"Now," Hawk said, gesturing with his hand,

"Show me what you can do."

Two black cubes floated into view, each about the size of a melon, slowly spinning in midair. They glimmered with an ominous violet hue.

"Your first task — destroy these cubes.

No touching. No chanting. No raw mana blasts.

Use your aura, your intent, your presence.

If you cannot influence the world with your will alone, then you are not ready to wield Void."

Elza looked at the cube ahead of her and swallowed. Sylves's eyes narrowed. The test had begun.

And Hawk?

He stood a dozen meters away with his arms crossed, his gaze sharp as a blade. His jet-black coat fluttered despite the still air.

"Void Magic," he spoke, his voice as deep and clear as a bell tolling through shadow, "is not to be treated like any other element. It's not about creation or healing, not even destruction in its purest sense—it's erasure. It doesn't burn, it doesn't cut, it makes the target cease to exist."

Elza and Sylves stood beside each other, black training robes fluttering gently. The tension of the earlier sparring had turned to purpose now.

"Your next goal," Hawk continued, pointing at the obsidian cube levitating in front of them, "is to erase that cube. Not destroy, erase. Fire, water, and even light will fail. Only Void can make it disappear. Begin."

Sylves took a breath, then extended his right hand. Elza did the same. The air around their palms rippled faintly with violet shimmer—Void energy manifesting.

Their magic surged. Two tendrils of twisting dark-purple light arced through the air toward the cube. A moment later—impact.

Crack!

A shallow fissure ran across the cube's surface. The object trembled, but held. It hadn't been erased. Just damaged.

"Too much force, not enough focus," Hawk grunted. "Void is a precision blade, not a sledgehammer."

Elza gritted her teeth. "Again," she said softly.

This time, Sylves and Elza each took a moment to sync their breathing. Sylves remembered his mother's teaching when he was young—a lesson in concentration while balancing a water droplet on his fingertip for over an hour. Elza thought of her sister's embrace, her smile, and her legacy—those feelings gave her magic intent.

They moved.

This time, two new tendrils emerged, slower but sharper—narrow and pulsing with rhythmic hums. They struck the cube's sides from opposite directions.

The cube shimmered… then two corners vanished entirely. Not broken. Just gone—no fragments, no dust.

Hawk narrowed his eyes, his lips forming a slight smile. "Better."

Sylves exhaled, sweat trickling down his temple. "That… took more effort than I expected."

"Void Magic takes toll," Hawk said. "It eats into you if you're not disciplined. That's why most users lose their minds or bodies before they reach mastery."

"Then how are you standing here?" Elza asked suddenly, her confidence peeking through again.

Hawk looked at her. "Because I'm not like most. But neither are you two."

Sylves felt the weight of that statement. There was something in Hawk's voice—a trace of respect, but also fear. Maybe even loneliness.

"Again," Hawk ordered.

The training continued.

By the fourth attempt, Elza's arms were trembling and Sylves's breath came in shallow gasps. They'd erased nearly half the cube, but the last portion resisted.

Sylves looked at Elza. "We'll go together. Focus on one corner."

She nodded, her eyes flashing.

Together, their hands moved in mirrored arcs, the twin void tendrils fusing mid-air into a spear-like beam. It glowed violently purple as it crashed into the cube with a silent pulse. The last remaining piece didn't shatter. It just flickered… and vanished without a trace.

They stood in silence.

The cube was gone.

Hawk finally walked forward. "That… was Void Magic properly used."

Sylves and Elza turned toward him.

"Rest. Eat. Then come back. We begin a new lesson this evening."

As Hawk turned, a faint voice reached him.

"Why are you doing this for us?" Elza asked.

He paused, not turning back. "Because if you don't learn this properly… you will be erased."

And with that, he vanished into the shadows beyond the barrier.

---

Asphalia Academy – First Year Dormitory – Morning

Ashia stood still for a moment after Sylves and Elza left, her hand placed over her chest. Her master's words echoed in her mind:

"Take your classes with seriousness… I will hear what you learned today when I get back."

She exhaled gently, then turned to face the sun rising in the distance.

"I'll do my best today," she whispered to herself, adjusting the academy-issued ribbon that tied her long brown hair. She tucked away the lingering feelings of worry and jealousy—today, she would serve with pride and discipline.

She knocked on Room 105.

Serena opened the door half-dressed, yawning. "Oh, Ashia… You're early."

Ashia smiled. "Let's prepare for class together."

Serena's sleepy eyes sharpened at Ashia's composed tone. She nodded. "Right. I suppose we can help each other comb our hair too—mine's an absolute mess."

---

Academy Dining Hall – Breakfast

The hall was buzzing with chatter. Despite the looming shadow cast over the academy a few nights ago, today felt brighter. The welcoming festival had rekindled joy. The dining hall, decorated with floral banners, served fresh bread, hot lentil stew, herb-seasoned rice, and sweet berry juice.

Ashia sat beside Serena and Prince Elas. Normally, she would've stood behind Sylves while he ate, but today, her master was gone.

"So," Serena said, glancing at Ashia over her juice, "how long have you been by Sylves's side?"

Ashia blinked. "I met him exactly one week before we came to the academy. I was assigned as his personal maid just a day before our departure."

Prince Elas, munching on a buttered roll, grinned. "He trusts you more than any noble guard. I can tell."

Ashia's fingers tightened around her spoon. "Even in that short time, he's always treated me kindly—as more than just a maid. I've come to respect him deeply."

There was a moment of quiet. Then Serena reached over and touched her hand.

"He's lucky to have someone like you."

Ashia's eyes softened. "Thank you."

---

Light Magic Theory – Lecture Hall

Their first class was held in a towering stone hall lined with enchanted sun mirrors that mimicked daylight. Professor Alya Stephan was teaching the basics of Light Manifestation.

"Now class, who can tell me what a 'Lumen Arc' is?"

Ashia raised her hand—unusual for her.

"Yes, Miss Wanes?"

"It's a crescent-shaped light shield that reflects low-level projectile spells. It works best against fireballs and wind darts."

Professor Alya smiled. "Correct. And who can tell me why it fails against Void Magic?"

Prince Elas raised his hand this time. "Because Void bypasses all known refractive surfaces—it doesn't collide, it consumes."

A nod. "Well said, Prince Elas."

Ashia looked over at Serena, who gave her a thumbs-up.

"He'll be proud I answered first today…" she thought with a faint smile.

---

Practical Magic Grounds – Afternoon

After lunch—stir-fried noodles and tofu wraps—students gathered on the field for magic sparring practice. Ashia was paired with Serena, and Prince Elas watched nearby, arms crossed and smiling as though supervising his personal knights.

"Ready?" Serena called out, wind swirling at her fingertips.

Ashia nodded, crouching low and conjuring a thin veil of water in the air around her—mist magic, her specialty.

(Mist Magic is an Enhanced Version of Water Magic)

As Serena's wind blast came rushing toward her, Ashia countered with a veil of vapor that deflected the direction of the gust. The wind scattered, and Ashia sprinted forward, lightly tapping Serena's shoulder with her staff.

"Match point—Ashia wins!" called the student supervisor.

Serena blinked in surprise and then laughed. "Well, aren't you dangerous when he's not around?"

Ashia flushed. "I… I just did what I could."

Elas clapped slowly. "That was excellent use of defensive illusion. Your mist warped the direction of her wind—classic misdirection."

Ashia's face lit up with pride.

---

Academy Library – Late Afternoon

As the day wound down, the trio decided to visit the grand library. The towering shelves and magical ladders were intimidating, but Ashia felt peaceful here.

Ashia selected a book titled "Mystic Barriers and Defense Circles: An Illustrated Guide", while Serena pulled down "Wind Techniques for Agile Combatants." Prince Elas, oddly enough, was reading a love poem collection and claimed it helped him "understand the people."

As they read in silence, Ashia whispered to herself, "I hope Master Sylves is safe… and Elza too."

---

First Year Dormitory – Evening

Back in Room 105, Ashia placed her borrowed book neatly on the desk and helped Serena fold the sheets.

"They're a good pair," Serena said suddenly.

Ashia looked up.

"Sylves and Elza."

Ashia nodded after a long pause. "She's been through a lot. If Master can give her comfort… then I have no right to envy her."

Serena looked at her knowingly. "That doesn't mean your feelings aren't valid."

Ashia stayed silent, folding the last blanket with care.

---

Evening Training Session – Hawk Frost's Domain

The sun had long dipped beneath the horizon, and the air was cool with the scent of dew forming on the grass. A soft breeze rustled the trees lining the clearing, but within the vast, empty lawn surrounded by Hawk Frost's anti-magic barrier, there was only tension.

Sylves stood barefoot in the trimmed grass, sweat glistening on his forehead. Across from him, Elza knelt, catching her breath, arms trembling from the rapid spellcasting they'd been practicing for the past hour. Despite her fatigue, a spark of determination remained in her eyes.

"Again," Hawk said, his deep voice rolling through the air like distant thunder.

Sylves clenched his fists, glancing briefly at Elza. "Are you sure you're okay to continue?"

Elza looked up and nodded, strands of her silver hair stuck to her face. "I can go on."

She stood slowly, her posture now steadier than it had been that morning. She had gained something today—confidence.

"Good," Hawk said with a subtle nod. "This time, I want you both to coordinate. No solo flares. You'll be facing me."

Sylves blinked. "Together?"

"Yes," Hawk replied, his pitch-black eyes gleaming. "You've seen each other fight. Now I want to see if you can act as one."

Sylves exhaled and rolled his shoulders. "Alright… Let's do this."

Elza moved closer to him, just enough for their mana auras to align slightly.

Without another word, Hawk raised his hand and flicked his wrist. A black tendril of Void magic erupted from the ground beneath them—fast and silent.

Sylves immediately cast Ignis Step, flashing to the side and grabbing Elza's arm, pulling her out of the way just as the tendril snapped like a whip.

"Thanks," Elza whispered, already forming a sigil with both hands. A circle of wind began forming around her, while Sylves conjured several fire bolts in the air.

"Go high," he said.

She jumped, launching herself with a wind-assisted leap. Sylves unleashed his firebolts as distractions—hawk's figure was already blurring with spatial flickers. But Sylves had predicted that.

"Now!" he shouted.

From above, Elza released a dense sphere of compressed wind aimed right where Hawk would dodge next.

Hawk, surprised just for a breath, smirked. His body twisted inhumanly fast, and a surge of black mist surrounded him. He reappeared several meters behind them, arms still folded.

"Well done," he said.

Both Sylves and Elza landed, panting.

"You're still raw," Hawk said, walking toward them. "But for the first time today… I saw you move with intent. That was a coordinated strike. Rough... but dangerous."

Elza smiled faintly, the praise like water in a desert.

Sylves stood tall despite his exhaustion. "We'll get better."

Sylves exhaled in quiet relief. His limbs ached, his clothes clung to his skin with sweat—but his mind had only one thought.

Ashia.

He was finally going to return to her, sit with her and Elza, and share how his first day of training had gone. He could already picture her bowing slightly, eager to hear his stories, a hint of concern in her eyes hidden behind a polite smile.

But...

---