"Um… Altashia needs to have that much control over her mana circuits to make use of her warrior class. Otherwise, she'd be worse off than a mediocre ranker."
While keeping an eye on Alephee, Eren said. He was sure that she would attack him without any hesitation if he let her guard down.
Alephee looked at Eren disapprovingly before commenting.
"So? That doesn't change the fact that she had superior control over her mana circuits than you. And who said you need to belong to a warrior class to train yourself into controlling your mana circuits to perfection?
The class system has made the mana harnessing entities of Anfang too reliant on it. Forget about what is expected or not expected of you because of your class.
Every ranker who wants to wield their powers to their fullest needs to have exceptional control over their mana circuits, no matter which class they practice. You just saw what I could do with simply having better control over my mana circuits than you.
Hehe… If you are still not satisfied, let me show you something else."
Alephee said and shaped another Solid Spark in her free hand. This Solid Spark looked more like the traditional Solid Spark Eren was used to casting except for the fact that it was thinner and more elongated.
Before Eren could ask what Alephee was planning to do with the Solid Spark, he observed something different at the upper tip of the Solid Spark. Upon realizing something, he shut his mouth. Alephee was going for another combo attack.
Eren braced himself to flee from his current position at a moment's notice. He was sure that he would be able to cast any Solid Spark thrown his way, thanks to his time-element spells and his newfound Adept-ranked body stats.
"Hehe. You won't be able to dodge this."
Alephee said as she firmly grasped the Solid Spark. She then spun around in a quick motion before releasing the long-range attack in Eren's direction.
Swoosh. Bzzt. Boom.
Eren had started his movement spell as soon as he saw Alephee spinning. But somehow, his body was still damaged by another AoE.
Alephee had paired up the AoE with the long-range attack. She tweaked Blitz Storm and cast it at the tip of the Solid Spark. The Solid Spark served as the source of mana for the AoE.
The lightning bolt-shaped long-range attack was detonated just before it touched the empty ground Eren had left behind at his previous position. As a result, Blitz Storm was released, catching Eren in its range.
"Aaaaaargh! Fuck!"
Eren couldn't help cursing as his body was subjected to another lightning torment. He had come to realize that Alephee really wasn't being all out in her attacks. Otherwise, he would be in worse condition.
Alephee had still not approached Eren, giving him some time to think and register how she had used the spells he thought he was so familiar with. She could tell that a storm was brewing in his head.
Eren felt the same frustration he had experienced due to Ken at the start of his academic year in the past. He felt like he was an idiot for not being able to use spells like this. It was as if a stranger knew a lot about the gadget or artifact you owned and were proud of.
"Will… will I be able to do the same if I can control my mana circuits better?"
Eren gritted his teeth and expelled another batch of foreign mana from his system as he asked the question to Alephee. The latter chuckled before answering.
"Yes. But learning to control mana circuits is not easy. The rudimentary control that you have is less effective. But you need to understand that it is also safe for you to use and have. You won't ever fry your mana circuits with your own hands in your current condition.
No gall, no glory. No thorns, no throne.
You will suffer pain and suffering for a very very long time if you decide to work through the training. And the process won't be sudden. Remember what I told you about Altashia? The training is not suitable for all rankers.
What's more? I'm sorry for being honest here, Eren. But Altashia is a prodigy. And yet, she suffered so much to gain the control she has now. You are not like her. You know what that means?"
Alephee replied, looking at Eren intently. She knew her words were harsh. No matter what an ordinary challenger did to keep up, and match up, before eventually overcoming someone with inborn talent, the latter would be able to cut the difference easily as long as they put in some more effort.
This was the reason a lot of ordinary rankers stopped putting in more effort. To accept that someone with less effort gained an advantage over you was discouraging.
Life was not fair for everybody.
Eren knew what Alephee was trying to say. He looked at her with a grim expression before replying.
"I know what that means. The effort I must put in is even greater than Altashia's. I'd have to suffer far more than she did. And my suffering may last even longer than her.
This is the price I have to pay to gain absolute control over my mana circuits."
Eren received another nod from Alephee after he voiced his thoughts. Alephee knew how painful the process was going to be. But she wanted Eren to follow through with it anyway. This was for his own good.
However, she wouldn't subject him to the process if he was not willing. So she asked to confirm.
"What's your answer?"
Eren started laughing when he looked at Alephee's apprehensive expressions. As if she was going to be very disappointed if he says no.
"Haha. There are things I can get scared of. Particularly those that I am not familiar with.
But pain… I'm not scared of pain."
Eren clenched his fists before making his decision to get to know Alephee.
"I'll pay.
I'll pay the price to gain anything and everything worth having."
