Magic Development, II

Sean is a Peculiar-Potential mage.

I realized that after seeing the rune embedded with emeralds on his nape.

I've studied the potentials during my years of training, same with the runes that appear when a person goes through a breakthrough on the higher potentials such as a King-Potential, Queen-Potential, and Peculiar-Potential.

The number of crystals per each rune differs and so does the color that they gleam, the King-Potential's rune has an ether blue, the Queen-Potential has a rhodonite pink, whereas the Peculiar-Potential has an emerald green.

Well, I just hope you managed to understand it considering I mentioned the potentials two or three times, that aside, it still shocked me.

I took hold of Sean's shoulder and pulled it so he faced me, "The reason you are so bad at controlling your magic, is it this?" I pointed my eyes to his neck.

Sean caressed his nape as if he was trying to feel the rune that was to be found there, "So you found out, huh?" He mumbled more to himself rather than talking to me.

"I've got rather sharp eyes. I noticed your reddened skin which I had to check to ensure."

"Well… I don't know why my core decided to act up and ignite the rune to appear at such time."

"You didn't hit a breakthrough right now?" I asked to make sure.

"Huh? No, I've been in this potential for a while now, and I still haven't been able to craft an irregular spell of mine." Sean informed me with bobbing brows.

"..."

And I just stopped to think…

On what landmines did I just set myself?

Selica Golden Aubrey, a woman that broke through the High-Stage and that can already cast this halfling spell of a Transcendent Art.

Luke Crimson, a guy known for his talents in fire magic, and a Knight-Potential mage that people hold high expectations of.

Sean Dayward, a crazy smart guy who is timid and I just discovered he's on the potential before transcending human bounds. However, he still can't cast any proper spells that's why his grades are on the better end only for theory-related lessons.

"Sigh, I can already feel my life getting shorter by the second." I let out an exasperated breath.

"Wait, wait, what are you all going on about? What rune? What control?" Luke seemed quite irritated for being left out of the conversation.

"Ah, sorry about this, Luke, but I fear it's something I'm not ready to share about myself yet."

"Hmm, and Helis knows what that is?"

"Yeah, you can more or less say he noticed what it was without me telling him though."

"Hmm," Luke just hummed to himself.

"Oh," Sean voiced, "About your apology, Luke, I accept it. I don't wish to hold unnecessary grudges that may affect our training." He cracked an awkward smile.

At that moment, I wanted to hold my mouth by the amount of pride I was feeling, "My Sean, how much you've grown in just two weeks, I'm about to shed a tear..." That's what I wanted to say out loud but didn't.

"That's very nice that you've all reconciled with each other, but can we get back to training? Our time is very limited, the sun is already setting." Selica spoke.

Ah, my cute Selica, feeling left out but too embarrassed to accept the fact and instead trying to make us all work together because she wants to train, or so she said.

"It's alright, Selica, I haven't forgotten about you, so don't worry," I smirked with my eyes half closed.

"Tch, I just want to train, nothing more! And? What are you waiting for, tell me what I'm lacking?"

I went up to her, grasped her hand, and pulled her close to me. My face inches away from hers, "What you're lacking is me in your heart, my sweet silver kitten," I voiced a cringy line.

Kgha, I want to kill myself.

Selica slightly shook her head repeatedly as her face flushed, "Bwah!" And her brain got overheated.

"Haha, I really love your reactions," I said so from the bottom of my heart.

"You're also going to love this fist!" Luke attacked from behind my back.

I slightly side-stepped to my left, his arm swinging towards Selica.

I then turned my arm so my hand faced the ground and swung my elbow up toward Luke's hook, sending his arm up to slip over Selica, making him lose his whole balance.

I set my weight on my heels and pivoted in place, raising my leg while turning one-hundred-eighty-degrees to wham Luke's stomach.

He tried to evade my swing but to no avail. I still managed to make contact with the left side of his torso, which he went tumbling after.

"Kgh," He groaned but didn't take long to get back up and charge right at me all over again.

A fist to my left, I shift my body to the right.

A fist to my right, I side-step to the left.

A feint swing towards my face only to switch it up to a kick up my balls. This guy is really dirty at fighting, isn't he? He also attacked me from behind just earlier.

I didn't move at the feint though, I only stretched out my hand, "Fire Blast," I whispered as his leg was about to come into contact with my body.

The blast of ignited mana particles pushed back Luke's knee which audibly cracked after being blown against the ground, "Grha!?" He screeched.

"You have to feel the pain to become experienced, if you don't, your progress will stagnate and you'll always be the same." I voiced, "No pain no gain, as the saying goes." I smirked.

At this point, Luke couldn't even stand, he just clutched his knee while trying to hold back his tears.

"You know the other saying that goes like, "I've shed tears, sweat, and blood to reach where I am now." Yeah, I hope you realize how significant its meaning is."

Although I spoke wise words from my previous world, I understand he probably didn't hear a single word of mine.

"Selica, please patch this loser up, and let's go home for today. As you said, our time is limited, we only have less than three months for the Tournament of the Strongest that we will be competing in."

That's right, I'm also going to compete.

Ah, I'm already feeling excited, I just can't wait to witness every loser's expression against me after being destroyed instantly.