Elen absolutely dominated other students in this field, her academic excellence translating perfectly to practical mana manipulation. Her constructs were flawless in their precision and stability.

My mana control remained leagues above everyone else. I had much more experience when it came to creating constructs from mana, I did that with blood on a daily after all.

Throughout the drills, Sylvia circulated among students, offering corrections, encouragement, and tactical advice. Her teaching style was demanding but fair, pushing everyone to improve without unrealistic expectations.

"Remember," she called out as we completed the final rotation, "these fundamentals aren't just academic exercises. In real combat situations, your agility determines if you dodge fatal strikes. Your strength decides if you can penetrate enemy defences. Your endurance determines if you survive prolonged engagements with someone of similar strength. And your mana control affects every technique you attempt."

The class was exhausted but satisfied with the comprehensive training session. Even with my enhanced capabilities, I felt properly worked out - evidence that Sylvia had designed the drills to challenge students across all rank levels.

"Dismissed for today," Sylvia announced. "Review your performance and identify areas needing improvement. We'll continue with specialized training throughout the week."

As students began moving toward the exits, Sylvia raised her hand to stop them.

"One more thing before you leave. Our next lesson will take place in the forest outside the academy grounds."

The announcement caused immediate surprised murmurs throughout the class. Forest training had never been part of the curriculum before - all previous lessons had been conducted within the academy's controlled facilities.

Multiple hands shot up with questions.

"Instructor, why the sudden change in location?" Elen asked, voicing what everyone was thinking.

Sylvia's expression remained serious. "Because we've been focusing extensively on building your foundations - technique, fundamentals, controlled exercises. That groundwork was necessary, but now it's time to transition toward true strength development."

She paused, letting her words sink in before continuing.

"Hunting. Real combat against actual magical beasts to accumulate soul power. No matter how much you train with dummies and controlled sparring, without killing beasts and absorbing their essence, you will remain stuck at a certain level of strength. There is only so much that skill and technique can amount to without genuine advancement."

The classroom atmosphere shifted as students realized the implications. This wasn't just another training exercise - this was preparation for actual life-or-death combat.

"Many of you have already engaged in beast hunting independently," Sylvia acknowledged, her gaze sweeping across students like myself, Emmet, and Marcus. "But guided hunts with proper instruction will also accelerate your development."

Elen raised her hand hesitantly. "Will we be hunting in groups or individually?"

"Both, depending on the specific lesson objectives and target selections. Some sessions will focus on team coordination against stronger opponents. Others will test individual capabilities against appropriate-rank threats."

"What rank of beasts will we be facing?" another student asked nervously.

"Primarily Elite-rank specimens appropriate to your current capabilities, lower-elite targets for students still developing combat confidence. The forest has been surveyed and secured to ensure no Transcendent-rank threats interfere with training operations."

Sylvia's tone became more emphatic. "This is not optional training. Soul power accumulation is essential for rank advancement, and rank advancement is essential for survival in the increasingly dangerous environment outside these walls. The beast activity escalation I mentioned earlier makes this practical experience even more critical."

She looked around the room with sharp focus. "Prepare appropriately. Bring weapons, protective equipment, healing supplies, and whatever tools you've developed for combat situations. We depart at dawn three days from now. Any questions?"

The room buzzed with nervous energy and excited discussion, but no immediate questions emerged.

"Good. Dismissed."

As students filed out discussing the upcoming forest expedition with mixed anticipation and anxiety, Elen joined me.

As students filed out discussing the upcoming forest expedition with mixed anticipation and anxiety, Elen appeared beside me as I was preparing to leave.

"Are you heading to the training rooms?" she asked, clearly planning to coordinate practice schedules.

I shook my head. "I have something to do outside the academy first. I'll be back to train in about an hour though."

Elen nodded understanding, not pressing for details about my mysterious errand. "Alright. Good luck with whatever you need to handle. I'll probably be in the alchemy room when you get back."

"Thanks. See you later."

She wished me well and departed toward her own destination, leaving me free to slip away without drawing attention.

I retrieved my skateboard once outside the academy gates and activated the propulsion system, accelerating toward the mansion. The journey that would take most people twenty minutes on foot took barely five with the enhanced magical device.

'Really was a good invention,' I thought as I navigated the city streets with practiced ease, 'even if I didn't actually invent it myself, despite what people in this world think.'

The mansion appeared quickly, and I dismounted near the entrance, securing the property before entering.

"Changing Star?" I called out, expecting to hear her characteristic chirping or the patter of small claws approaching.

Silence.

I made my way through the rooms, checking the areas she'd explored yesterday. Not in the main hall. Not in the reception room. Not in any of the bedrooms.

Finally, I descended to the basement preservation chamber.

What I found made me stop and stare in amused disbelief.

Changing Star was inside the freezing storage room, curled up directly on the cold floor, fast asleep. And hanging from her small mouth was a partially eaten piece of Elite-rank meat, still gripped between her tiny jaws.

She had literally fallen asleep while eating.

'This dragon...' Shaking my head wryly with a soft smile on my face.

I approached carefully and gently picked her up, intending to move her somewhere more comfortable than the freezing floor.

The moment I lifted her, I noticed something significant, she felt noticeably heavier than yesterday. Not dramatically so, but the difference was unmistakable. And looking more carefully, her body had grown slightly larger as well.

Purr...

ZzZz...

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