"Okay" Leria glanced at the clock on Salaark's mahogany desk and realized there wasn't much time left before lunch.
She went back to her spot but instead of starting to work on a water spell, she focused on her condition.
'Based on Uncle Lith's Void Magic, each element is one side of a two-elemental coin. My light affinity helped me come up with a darkness spell just like my fire affinity should do with water.
'Yet before that, I must answer the question: what am I doing right? Leria studied both the big and the small light.
By the time Rena came to pick her up for lunch, Leria had noticed that while the smaller light felt somehow familiar and obedient, the bigger one was alien and indifferent. She was certain never to have felt the power of the bigger light before. "What did you do when you were slumped?" Leria asked Aran while devouring her food rather than eating.
"I tried harder." He looked at her with compassion, knowing how exhausted she must be. "But I also followed Onyx's advice and rested once per week. Isn't this your seventh day already? It should have been your day off!"
"You're right, dammit! I forgot about that." Leria sighed.
"Also, Abominus tells me you study right after lunch. I took a nap before studying because otherwise, it was torture." Aran added.
"That's another great idea. Abominus, why didn't you point these things out to me?" She glared at the Pyrmir in his boy form.
"I did." He replied with a snort. "I also asked you to take a break from time to time but you didn't listen."
Leria was about to go on a tirade about how Onyx had taken such good care of Aran when she realized Abominus had done just the same. The difference wasn't in the Emperor Beasts, but in their human companion.
Aran trusted Onyx enough to listen to her whereas Leria was deaf to Abominus' suggestions due to her pride.
"Gods, I'm so sorry, Abominus." Leria dropped her silverware and hugged him. "I've been such a jerk to you. Please, forgive me."
"I forgive you." He patted her back. "I know how competitive you are, but remember what I told you. This isn't a challenge to Aran but to yourself. If you rush too much, you risk missing details along the road that point to your destination."
"You are very wise for your age, son" Senton said. "Leria is lucky to have a friend like
you."
"I know, Dad" She replied. "Mom, can we do something together with Dad tomorrow?" "Of course, dear." Rena nodded. "Anything you want."
Leria spent the following morning with her parents, visiting Zekell and Lutia, and the afternoon playing with her friends. She learned nothing but the rest healed her body and gave her brain the time to reorganize what she had learned during her relentless practice.
She resumed her attempts to Awaken on the ninth day, starting from where she had left.
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