The launch of the Ainsworth-style Boot Camp served as the catalyst for Ray’s talent to truly blossom. Until now, Lydia had never committed herself to educating him with such absolute seriousness, but having glimpsed the true depth of his potential, she was determined to nurture it.
It was the evening of the final day of Physical Reinforcement Week. Back at their home, the two were preparing dinner—though Lydia’s contribution was limited to setting the table, while Ray handled all the actual cooking.
“Master, good work today. Is there anything in particular you’d like to eat?”
“Let’s see. I’m in the mood for omurice tonight. Those soft, fluffy eggs you make are the best, Ray.”
“Understood.”
With practiced ease, Ray began to cook. Even after another day of grueling training, he seemed perfectly fine, his movements energetic and sharp. The fact that he could come home and immediately start preparing a meal was proof enough of his resilience.
As for the other participants of the Ainsworth-style Boot Camp, most had returned to the training school dormitories in a state of total collapse. Lydia had expected as much, but several people had already attempted to desert over the past month.
Lydia and Ray had worked together to round them up. Rather than imposing the harsh penalties one might expect, Lydia had sat them down and listened to them earnestly. She asked what they found most difficult and what they hoped for their own futures.
She even gave them the option to withdraw from the program then and there. Though she played the role of a fierce tyrant during drills, she treated every trainee with genuine sincerity.
In the past, Lydia likely would have cut them loose without a second thought. Why she had changed so much was obvious.
It was, after all—
“Ray, I’m sorry. You must be more exhausted than I am.”
“Not at all. Besides, if you were to cook, Master, the results would be disastrous.”
“Hah? And what exactly is that supposed to—actually, you’re right. It’s the truth, so I’ll let that slip of the tongue slide.”
“Ahaha... thank you.”
Ray breathed a silent sigh of relief. He’d blurted out the blunt truth, but he was glad his master hadn't taken offense.
Their relationship was best described as that of master and disciple. They weren't parent and child, nor were they lovers. That unique bond could only be defined as master and disciple.
“How have things been lately? Getting used to the training?”
“Yes, I believe so.”
“I see...”
Lydia rested her chin in her hand, lost in thought. Ray remained oblivious to his own anomalous talent.
His physical capabilities already surpassed the soldiers around him, and in terms of his magic area alone, he was fast approaching Lydia’s own level.
He seemed to have little interest in his own growth, simply performing whatever tasks Lydia set before him.
However, the Military High Command had certainly taken notice. Her superiors had already instructed her to groom him as a potential Seven Grand Sorcerers Candidate. For Lydia, however, the primary focus of his education was ensuring he wouldn't be consumed by the weight of his own power.
“It’s ready, Master.”
“Oh! Smells incredible!”
Ray placed two plates of omurice on the table. One was a massive, heapingserving, while the other was a standard portion. Naturally, the mountain of food was for Lydia.
“Well then, let’s eat.”
“Yes. Please, enjoy.”
She ate with a bright, satisfied smile. Watching her, a small smile played on Ray’s lips as well.
He had grown completely accustomed to this lifestyle. Yet, these quiet moments remained irreplaceable for both of them, no matter how much time passed.
“Mmm! Delicious as always!”
“Thank you. I have a complete grasp of your preferences by now, Master.”
“Hehe. I suppose you do. Still, has it really been three years already? Time flies in the blink of an eye.”
“It does. I feel the same way.”
And so, the two of them savored the peaceful moment together.
◇
“Alright! That’s it for today! Those who finish the task are dismissed!”
Lydia’s voice rang out across the training grounds. Since the initial physical phase, the training had finally transitioned into sorcery. Of the twenty original trainees, not a single one had dropped out yet, despite the intensity of Lydia’s regimen.
At first, many had been paralyzed by fear of her.
She was a genius who had reached the rank of the Seven Grand Sorcerers at the youngest age in history, and her difficult personality was legendary. While they were initially honored to be trained by her, the reality was the most punishing experience of their lives.
It was only natural to want to quit.
However, Lydia’s sincerity had apparently reached them, and so far, the group remained whole.
“Ugh... grrr...”
“This is... so difficult...”
“Keeping it this thin is...!”
The current exercise involved shaping a thin ice pillar to a specific height.
This required extremely precise code composition. Because of Lydia’s blunt personality, people often assumed her sorcery was purely destructive and bold, but the reality was quite the opposite. The foundation of sorcery was code construction. Mastering precise control over that foundation was the only way to elevate one's overall sorcery.
“Ray. Are you finished?”
“Yes. I have just completed the task, Instructor.”
On the training grounds, their relationship was strictly professional. Ray had been permitted to join the training as a special exception.
“...No issues here.”
Lydia stared at the ice pillar Ray had created. It was incredibly thin, yet it stood perfectly straight, piercing the sky.
“Are you kidding me...?”
“Who the hell is that kid...?”
“Yeah, that’s seriously insane.”
Seeing the others getting distracted, Lydia barked a warning.
“Hey! Focus on your own work!”
“Ranger!”
Once the trainees had snapped back to attention, Lydia turned back to Ray.
“Ray, I’m going to increase the difficulty. Think you can handle it?”
“Of course.”
Lydia assigned a new task: make the ice pillar even thinner and sharper, and double the height. Normally, this was a feat only a high-ranking sorcerer could achieve.
Lydia gave a casual flick of her hand, manifesting a model ice pillar on the spot.
“Something like this.”
“...That’s incredible.”
“Well, at my level, this sort of thing is child’s play. You don’t need to master it by the end of the day. Just work at it steadily.”
“Understood.”
Ray nodded firmly. Even for him, instantly shaping an ice pillar of that caliber was still out of reach. He looked at her handiwork with pure admiration.
“Hey, how’s it going?”
“Um... it keeps snapping in the middle...”
“That’s because—”
Since Ray’s task was significantly more difficult, Lydia moved on to provide guidance to the other struggling trainees.
She expected everyone to be stuck for a while, but when she glanced back at Ray, an ice pillar identical to her own model was already standing before him.
“...Ray. You did that already?”
“No, it actually took me a little while. What’s the next task?”
“...”
Lydia placed a hand on her chin, sinking into deep thought.
What on earth is this sorcery aptitude...? At this rate, calling him a genius doesn't even cover it. He’s more like...
She hesitated to use the word, but it was the only one that fit. With that superlative learning ability and abnormal sorcery aptitude, he was—a monster.
His strength was already beginning to rival her own. Could such an extraordinary talent really be categorized as mere "genius"?
She recalled Abby’s words.
Ray’s home village had supposedly been trying to summon a god.
Is it possible that Ray is the result of that attempt?
“Master? Is something wrong?”
“No... it’s nothing. You’re dismissed for today. I’ll stay here until the others finish.”
“Understood. I’ll head home and get dinner started.”
“Y-yeah...”
Ray saluted and walked away. Lydia watched his retreating back with a look of lingering intensity—as if she were observing an existence that was fundamentally alien.