14 Chapter 14 - The Fire Ball Technique

"I didn't know you were that strong!" Jong In announces as he gives Mi Young another shocked expression.

"I'm not." Mi Young commented.

Jong In wants to smack her head right there. He thinks Mi Young is just being humble. 'You think you're still weak with that mana power? Are you kidding me? What about me then?'

"Yeah. I still have a long way to go." Mi Young speaks up after a couple of seconds of silence. There was a hint of sadness present in her voice and Jong In wants to ask her about it but he remained silent instead. "Anyway, why don't we start cultivating that Fire Ball technique now?"

"Sure. But I want to tell you that this technique is pretty hard." Jong In warns. "You saw that red head guy in class earlier?"

"The one sitting in front?"

Jong In nods. "Yes, him. He's from the Jeon clan but he's not from the main family."

"He's a Jeon as well?" Mi Young asks. Was that why Shi Yun was contemplating going inside earlier? Mi Young thinks that was the reason.

"What do you mean 'as well'?"

"Nothing. What about him then?"

Jong In forgets about Mi Young's comment and continues his sentence. "Well, he's from a Pryo family but he still had a hard time cultivating this technique. It took him one and a half months, while the others took more than two months. He's the favorite kid of almost all freshmen teachers in the Pyro faction. For them, he's their pride and joy."

"Wait until they see how the real Jeon cultivates it." Mi Young whispers.

Jong In didn't bother himself about Mi Young's comment before he started teaching the other party how the Fire Ball technique is done. After showing her the right movement, Jong In asks Mi Young to try it out.

"It's okay if you can't show any improvement tomorrow. Everyone will understand that you just learnt it today so you don't have to feel embarrassed." The boy says so he can assure Mi Young not to worry too much. "Professor Nam may look strict but he's understanding."

Mi Young nods her head at Jong In's words before she follows the movement he showed her earlier.

She summons her mana power from her inner core and concentrates it towards her fist. She gives a fast punch using her left hand before she alternates her strength towards her other hand and summons her Pyro element out.

There was a huge BAM that resonated all throughout the hill where they were standing. A group of birds flew away because of surprise and a huge blazing fire was coming out from Mi Young's right hand.

"H-How is that even possible?..." Jong In's mouth was wide open as he eyed the fire emitting from Mi Young's closed fist. "T-That's the Fire Ball technique…"

"Uhh yeah? That's what we are learning today, right?"

"You managed to learn it?" Jong In's eyes travel from Mi Young's blazing hand to the girl's face. She has an innocent expression which drives Jong In absolutely mad, because how can an innocent looking girl like her have so much mana like that?

"You showed me the moves and I just followed it."

"Just…followed it." Jong In repeated.

'I also followed the teacher's moves but why didn't I have a result like that?' Jong In tries to comfort his poor self as he eyes the fire emitting from Mi Young's still closed fist. It was not that hot but you can feel its strong aura. If you get hit with a fire just like that you will probably have third degree burns.

"Why don't you try yours?" Mi Young asks as she puts out the fire and fixes herself. She sends Jong In a smile before persuading him to try out the technique.

Jong In sighs and does what the other party told him to do. He executed the same movements like Mi Young and before he could even jump up in joy, a hot orange fire was now coming out from his fist.

The young boy was overjoyed by what he was seeing. Never in his entire two years in Mistwood Academy was he able to produce fire. But when he met Mi Young, a lot of miracles started happening in his life.

He turns his head to look at Mi Young and see what her expression is but his stance breaks when he sees the expression written in her face.

Mi Young was a couple of feet away from him but he can still see her whole face. She was looking at the vast area of the whole academy below them. There was a glint of longing reflecting in her eyes and her hands were tightly clenched beside her. She looks like someone who wanted to take revenge on somebody.

"Hey." Jong In calls out. That's when he realized that he still didn't know what her name was. Jong In wanted to smack his head for forgetting a very important detail. But he told himself to ask her later.

He walked toward where Mi Young was standing and silently watched the scenery in front of them.

**

On their way back to the academy grounds Mi Young and Jong In met Shi Yun and his tutor.

"Well look who it is, the world's weakest Mage and his soon to be apprentice." Oh Shi Xun commented as he gave the two a mocking look. "How's your practice? Did you manage to create smoke?"

Jong In was about to retort something but Mi Young stops him. "Don't bother yourself with wimps like him. You better save up your strength for tomorrow."

Oh Shi Xun must have heard what Mi Young said because he fumes in anger. "How dare you call me a wimp?! I am a candidate for the top 100 students in the Pyro faction and you are nothing!"

Mi Young just blinks at him innocently before saying, "Did I say it was you? I never mentioned a name, right? But if the shoe fits, so be it."

This fueled the anger Oh Shi Xun was already feeling because the next second his hands were already on fire. "Let's duel then! We'll see who's the real wimp."

"Save that for another day. You better get enough sleep tonight 'cause you might pass out tomorrow." Mi Young says while waving a dismissing hand at the furious man.

"Who are you?! A no-name girl like you doesn't deserve to be here anyway! If I were to incinerate you here and now, no one will even know!" Oh Shi Xun exclaims as he starts gathering mana energy into his hands.

"That's enough." Jeon Shi Yun says while gripping Oh Shi Xun's hands. "Stop bothering them."

"What? Are you telling me you're friends with these weaklings?"

Shi Yun stopped for a few seconds before he answered Oh Shi Xun's question, "I've got no time to be friends with weak people, and so are you. You shouldn't waste your precious mana on lowlife people like them."

The words Shi Yun spat on made Mi Young shocked. She wasn't aware that such an attitude would come from the other party. 'After all the things he had done before. Guess it was all an act then.'

Mi Young shakes her head in disappointment. And here she thought she finally found someone from the Four Great clans that is not blinded by wealth and power, turns out they are all just the same.

"Hmp. You're right. I'm sure they'll get what they deserve tomorrow in class" Oh Shi Xun finally says as he gives another mocking look at Jong In and Mi Young before he turns away from them. "See you tomorrow and good luck in embarrassing yourselves."

Jong In starts to protests once more but Mi Young stopped him from doing so. "Enough. Leave them alone."

"He's insulting you!" Jong In tries to reason out.

"Let him be. We'll just have to prove him wrong tomorrow." Mi Young explains.

This seems to make Jong In realized something because the next second he was already back to his calm self, "You're right."

"Let's just go back to our own dorms and get as enough sleep as possible." Mi Young says before she parted her way from Jong In.

Both of them went to their respective dorms and instantly went to bed.

It has been a long day for both of them.

**

Mi Young wakes up with a start.

She blinked her eyes a couple of times, trying to adjust with the darkness that surrounded her. She realized she was having a nightmare as she tried to wipe away the sweat trickling from her forehead. Mi Young places her hands on top of her rapidly beating heart as she tries to remember the events of her dream. She grips the duvet angrily using her clenched fist. She's still being haunted by the same nightmare over and over again.

It was still the same.

The voices.

The scenery.

Even the unknown man who was chasing her.

Everything about her nightmare felt so real yet she never understood why she kept on having the same dreams for the past decade.

As she looks outside the huge ceiling to floor glass window inside her room, Mi Young realizes the sun is about to rise. It also gave a yellowish glow all over the seemingly cloudless sky, which helps in clearing Mi Young's mind about her nightmare just now with how breathtakingly beautiful it is.

Mi Young shakes her head to fully wake herself up. Soon after, she decides to go to the bathroom and have a shower to start her day. She also didn't forget to eat breakfast at the cafeteria, hoping she could get answers from the chef lady who knew her father, unfortunately, the lady remained mute.

On her way towards their classroom, Mi Young saw Park Min Ji trying to coax Jeon Shi Yun to talk to her. She watched as they both walked towards the academy building where the classrooms are located. At some point, Shi Yun somehow said something to Min Ji that left the girl standing and speechless just outside the entrance of the building while the young boy went inside, not even sparing her any glance at all.

Min Ji must have felt eyes on her because the next second she turns around and meets eye to eye with Mi Young.

"What?" Min Ji says in an annoyed voice. But if you listen closely, you will also hear the tinge of sadness that comes with it. Whatever that Jeon boy said, it had clearly hurt the other party. After giving Mi Young an eye roll, Min Ji storms off towards the academy building as well.

Mi Young shrugs at them. She was about to enter the building when a gentle voice called her.

She turns around to see Shin Shang Min running off towards her. Mi Young cocks her head to the side, wondering why the noble girl was talking to her.

"You're Kang Mi Young right?" Mi Young nods at her. "I'm Shin Shang Min. Nice to meet you."

"Uhhh you too."

"Do you mind if I ask you a question?" Shin Shang Min asks as they both went inside the revolving doors of the building.

"Sure."

"What faction did you choose?"

"Pyro. Why?" Shin Shang Min looks taken aback with Mi Young's answer.

"I thought you're going to choose the Hydro faction." The girl says as she eyes Mi Young. Regret shining in her eyes. "I was really looking forward to being buddies with you 'cause I have no one to talk to."

"You can be friends with anyone. I'm sure lots of them are dying to talk to you." Mi Young suggested as they both rounded up the corner to go to their respective classes.

"I-I'm shy…"

Seeing the door of her class getting into view, Mi Young decides to end their conversation with another suggestion, "If I were you, I would start befriending everyone. However, don't let them know you too well until you trust them enough. Lots of people are fake nowadays, so be careful. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to class. See you around."

With that, Mi Young went inside their classroom, leaving Shin Shang Min in her thoughts.