I sat cross-legged on the ground, still rubbing my sore face from my failed mana manipulation attempt earlier. Ryoji was standing in front of me, arms crossed, watching me with an amused smirk.

  "Alright, kid," he said, stretching his arms. "Before you break more of your bones trying to use magic, you need to understand the nature of elements."

  I blinked. "Nature of elements?"

  Ryoji nodded. He snapped his fingers, and a small flame flickered to life above his palm. "Each element has its own nature, its own personality. Just like how different people have different fighting styles, different elements have different ways of attacking, defending, and controlling battle."

  He closed his palm, extinguishing the flame, and then raised a finger. "Now listen carefully, because this knowledge separates real mages from those who just rely on system skills."

  ---

  The Six Elemental Natures

  Ryoji took a deep breath before starting. "There are six main elements in magic. Let’s go one by one."

  1. Fire – He snapped his fingers again, and the flame reappeared. "Fire is destructive, wild, and explosive. It represents passion, rage, and power. Fire burns fast and hot, but it can also be reckless. That’s why fire magic is ranked as a third-grade element—it’s powerful, but hard to control."

  2. Water – He flicked his wrist, and a droplet of water floated in midair. "Water is adaptive, fluid, and unpredictable. It represents calmness, intelligence, and patience. Water magic is used for both attack and support, making it one of the most balanced elements."

  3. Earth – He tapped the ground with his foot, and the soil beneath us trembled slightly. "Earth is solid, unshakable, and defensive. It represents stability, endurance, and strength. Earth magic is excellent for defense and close combat."

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  4. Wind – He waved his hand, and a gentle breeze blew around me. "Wind is swift, elusive, and untouchable. It represents freedom, unpredictability, and speed. Among all elements, wind is considered the weakest."

  I frowned. "Wait—why? That doesn’t make sense! Wind is fast and flexible!"

  Ryoji smirked. "It's not because it's weak, but because it depends entirely on the user's mana level. Wind doesn’t have the raw power of fire or earth. Its strength relies on how well the user can control it. A weak mage will have weak wind magic. But a powerful mage…"

  He snapped his fingers, and suddenly—a massive gust of wind exploded from nowhere, nearly knocking me over. Dust swirled in the air, leaves flew past me, and I barely kept my balance.

  "…can turn wind into the deadliest force of nature," Ryoji finished, smirking.

  I swallowed hard. So wind magic wasn’t weak… it was just difficult to master.

  5. Lightning – He clapped his hands, and a small bolt of electricity sparked between his fingers. "Lightning is pure speed and destruction. It represents quick thinking, aggression, and precision. But it's extremely mana-consuming—only a few can wield it effectively."

  6. Darkness & Light – His expression darkened. "And finally, the rarest elements—Darkness and Light. These elements are almost never seen, and those who possess them… are either feared or worshipped."

  I nodded slowly, absorbing the information.

  "So," I said, scratching my chin, "you're saying that my wind magic isn’t weak… it just depends on how strong my mana is?"

  Ryoji smirked. "Exactly. Unlike fire or lightning, which have built-in power, wind’s strength scales with the user. Meaning—the stronger you get, the more unstoppable your wind magic becomes."

  ---

  The Meaning of Mana Type

  Ryoji let out a sigh. "Now, let’s talk about mana type and why it matters."

  I tilted my head. "Mana type?"

  "Every person is born with a specific mana type that determines their natural affinity to an element." He pointed at me. "Yours is wind. That means wind magic comes naturally to you."

  He then pointed at himself. "Mine is fire. That’s why I was known as Dragon Fire Soldier."

  I nodded slowly. "So… does that mean a person’s mana type decides their personality too?"

  Ryoji chuckled. "Not completely. But it does influence a person's nature. Fire users tend to be hotheaded and aggressive. Water users are usually calm and strategic. Earth users are stubborn but reliable. Wind users… well…"

  He smirked at me.

  I narrowed my eyes. "What?"

  "Wind users are reckless, unpredictable, and sometimes a little stupid."

  "Oi!"

  Ryoji laughed loudly. "Relax! I’m just saying—wind magic is for those who refuse to be bound by limits. That’s why wind users often defy fate itself."

  I paused at those words.

  Defy fate itself?

  ---

  A New Understanding

  As I processed everything, I clenched my fists.

  Wind magic wasn’t weak. It was just waiting for me to become strong.

  If my power depended on my mana, then I had only one choice—

  I had to raise my mana to the absolute limit.

  Ryoji watched me closely, then smirked. "I see you’re finally getting it."

  I looked up at him, determination burning in my chest. "Then tell me how to make my mana stronger."

  Ryoji grinned. "That’s the spirit. But be careful—once you start down this path, there's no turning back."

  I smirked. "Good. I don't plan on turning back anyway."

  This was just the beginning.