Novel Full Chapter 1841: Teaching Is Hard
Chapter 1841: Teaching Is Hard
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At first, Aquarina thought this challenge would be simple, something she could breeze through without much effort. But as time passed, she began to realize that this trial was far more demanding than the first.
In the previous challenge, they had merely endured physical strain, bearing weight. This time, she was tasked with teaching two stubborn teammates how to master a technique she had spent years perfecting. It was proving to be a far more difficult and frustrating endeavor.
“I see now… this isn’t just a trial of dexterity,” Aquarina muttered under her breath, watching her friends struggle once again. “The Ancestor was tricking us. This is a trial about trust and patience.”
Undine’s voice echoed softly in her mind, audible only to Aquarina. “Exactly. Most people wouldn’t have the patience to teach others without some kind of incentive. But when you’re friends, patience becomes a necessity. You have to keep trying, even when it’s hard.”
“So this trial was designed specifically for me?” Aquarina asked, her frustration mounting as she watched Silvia and Justicio sink again—though this time, they had managed to reach twenty-three meters.
“Oh no,” Undine replied. “It’s meant for them as well. Silvia and Justicio are talented fighters, no doubt. But they lack focus. They struggle to pay attention—to details, to people. Concentration is not their strong suit.”
“Yeah, I can tell,” Aquarina sighed, rolling her eyes. “That’s what happens when you grow up pampered by doting parents.”
“Who are you to talk?” Pyuku chimed in. “You were raised the same way.”
“I’m not the same!” Aquarina groaned. “And you’re not even doing the trial, Pyuku.”
“I’m just glad I don’t have to do all that running,” Pyuku said smugly. “I’d probably ace it anyway. I’m light as a feather.”
Aquarina narrowed her eyes. “’Light as a feather,’ huh?”
She turned her attention back to Silvia and Justicio, who were preparing for yet another attempt. They had been at it for over three hours, stubbornly refusing to give up.
“Hold on, you two,” Aquarina said, stepping in. “Let’s take a short break.”
“Eh? But we almost had it!” Silvia protested.
“Not really…” Justicio admitted with a sigh. “This is harder than I expected.”
“It is,” Aquarina agreed. “And not just for you. I’m the one who has to teach you, remember?”
“Hey, it’s not easy for us either!” Silvia retorted.
“Okay, okay… let’s rest,” Justicio said, yawning.
The group sat down together, catching their breath. Aquarina took the opportunity to explain the finer points of posture and movement, offering corrections and guidance.
As they talked, Justicio suddenly had an idea.
“Hey, what if we just blast the water until it evaporates? Then we could walk across without getting wet. Or maybe freeze it?”
Aquarina rolled her eyes. “You seriously want to cheat the trial and get disqualified? The Ancestor specifically said no magic, no flying, no shortcuts. We’re doing this the right way.”
“Sheesh, okay…” Justicio muttered. “Sorry.”
“Yeah, I remember that now,” Silvia nodded. “No magic. Got it.”
Aquarina leaned forward. “Can you tell me what flaws you’re noticing in your movements?”
“I sink too fast,” Justicio said. “It’s like I’m made of lead.”
“I lose my balance,” Silvia added.
“Hmm…” Aquarina considered their responses. “Alright, let’s try something different. I want you to let your Aura flow out of your bodies.”
“Flow out?” Justicio asked. “Won’t that drain us?”
“If we let it all out, we’ll lose energy,” Silvia agreed.
Normally, Aura was used like a protective bubble, condensed energy that overflowed through the body, generating an ethereal glow. The color of that glow reflected a person’s elemental affinities, determined by their Physique and Magic Circle.
Letting Aura flow freely was typically seen as a rookie mistake. Novices often lose control, allowing their energy to leak out and dissipate instead of using it to empower themselves.
But Aquarina had a theory.
“Yes, it will drain you,” she admitted. “But hear me out. If you let your Aura flow out constantly, it might mimic the properties of water. When you step onto the surface, the Aura could create a rejection effect, pushing against the water and allowing you to move across it. It’s just a hypothesis, but I think it’s worth testing.”
“Interesting,” Justicio said, skeptical. “I doubt it’ll work, but I’m willing to try.”
“Won’t we get exhausted?” Silvia asked again.
“I’ll replenish your Mana and Ki if you run out,” Aquarina assured them. “I’ve got plenty to spare. And if I pray, I can temporarily receive Mana from my Goddess.”
She smiled, thinking of Sylphy. Her prayers had always been answered with a surge of divine energy. The “Mana Gift” blessing was powerful, but limited. Sylphy could only grant it once per day.
“Your goddess?” Justicio asked, confused.
“I guess we should give it a shot,” Silvia said, stepping forward.
Both of them prepared themselves. This time, as they ran toward the water, they let go, releasing control of their Aura and allowing it to spill freely from their bodies. The sensation was strange: draining yet oddly soothing.
“Ooh? Ooh?”
Silvia’s eyes widened in surprise. She and Justicio stepped onto the water—and it reacted. The surface shifted slightly beneath them, resisting their weight just enough to keep them afloat.
“What the—?!”
“It’s working?!”
Aquarina was just as stunned. Her wild idea had actually worked. The properties of Aura, Mana, and Ki were less dense than water. As they flowed outward, they created a subtle repelling force, enough to keep her friends from sinking.
“Oh my… Am I a genius or something?!”
Silvia and Justicio kept running, their Auras depleting rapidly. They had to push through the exhaustion and maintain their momentum. The trial wasn’t over yet, but for the first time, they were making real progress.
Aquarina watched them with a mix of pride and relief. Maybe this trial wasn’t just about teaching others, it was about discovering new ways to grow together.
“Run! Quickly!”
The two rushed through the water as fast as they could.
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