Suspended high in the air, bathed in the golden rays of the radiant sun, countless majestic islands lazily floated through the clouds.

The atmosphere was abundant with rich mana and one could hear the distant roars of legendary magical beasts elegantly flying in the distance.

On a certain island, a young boy sat on the edge, dangling his legs with a playful expression. His eyes were filled with curiosity and wonder as he tried to grab onto the clouds that passed by him.

"Pay attention to what I'm about to teach you, child," said a wizened old man, sitting cross-legged beside the youth.

The old man's white beard cascaded down to his chest. His eyes, though clouded with age, shone with otherworldly wisdom as he doting glanced at the boy.

"Yes, teacher!" The boy clenched his fists tightly, his eyes flashing with excitement.

"To understand the Way," the old man began, "you must learn to shed your old self"

Oh no! The boy thought in boredom, trying to resist the urge to roll his eyes. He's yapping about the Way again.

"Like a snake shedding its skin, you let go of your past self," the old man continued as he stroked his long, white beard.

"Only then can you become one with the Way, the essence that flows through all things."

The boy had a solemn expression on his face, pretending to be in deep thought as he kept nodding from time to time. "I see, I see. Become one with the Way."

He then glanced at the old man and asked with a tilt of his head, "But, teacher, I'm only a Rank 1 Magus. Can't you teach me how to throw fireballs?"

"Haa foolish boy." The old man shook his head with a sigh. "There are billions of Magi out there in the lower planes, thinking only research and studying will lead them to a higher path.

"They do not know about the significance of the Way. If they did, they would have soared through the skies, reaching unprecedented heights.

"Alas, the frog in the well does not know the vastness of the ocean."

"But I'm only a Rank 1 Magus" the boy pouted.

"Yes, child." The old man gently patted the boy's head. "Mana Foundation is just the beginning, but it is also the most important rank."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "For the seeds you sow in this rank, will be reaped when you advance to Mana Liquefaction, Mana Vortex, Mana Core, and so on."

"Mm, but I want to learn the Fireball spell" the boy grumbled.

The old man couldn't help but laugh. "Well, for that you need to first become a Rank 2 Magus."

"Okay!" The boy's eyes lit up. "Tell me what I must do!"

Finally able to grasp the boy's attention, the old man warmly smiled, "The journey from Mana Foundation to Mana Liquefaction transforms the Magus, both physically and spiritually."

"But how do I do that, teacher?" The boy asked curiously. "How do I transform?"

"You must find your Way of Magic," the old man smiled. "Your journey to the top will be filled with danger and hardships. You must be willing to endure the pain and the suffering."

The boy's eyes flashed with nervousness. "What kind of suffering? Will it hurt?"

"Yes, my child, it will hurt." The old man gently patted the boy again. "But pain can be our greatest teacher if we choose to learn from it."

The child turned silent as he lowered his head, glancing at the clouds passing by underneath his feet.

"Look at that majestic dragon." The old man pointed into the distance. "Look, how it gracefully soars through the skies, like it is one with the world. Every Magus, regardless of their species, has found their own Way of Magic. You too must find yours."

"But," the boy's lips quivered. "How do I do it? What if I fail?"

The old man's lips parted and he gently muttered, "To succeed, you must fail.

"When you let go of who you are, you become what you might be."

Adam opened his weary eyes in a daze. He slowly raised his hand and began massaging his temples. "Another dream?"

He paused for a moment before shaking his head slightly, thinking to himself, No it's one of the memories I absorbed. This one was of the expert's childhood...

The youth slowly sat up on his bed, looking around at his tent which felt familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time.

Beside him, Valerian was peacefully sleeping.

But when he got up, so too did the young dragon.

'What is it, brother? How are your injuries? Do you feel better?' The little guy asked in concern.

More than two weeks had passed since the incident where the members of the Gracie Family tried to publicly execute Adam.

A lot had happened since then.

Firstly, public opinion had vastly changed ever since Adam was pardoned by the King of Nightingale.

Due to this, light was shed on how Kevin Gracie had violated the sacred agreement and gone after Adam to take revenge for what had transpired within the secret plane.

The Magi of the allied force learned that Adam had only done what he had as an act of self-defense.

But more importantly, people now knew of the relation that the youth shared with the mighty Rank 3 Magus, Arnold Nightingale III.

As for the Gracie Family, they were vilified.

They did not have a good reputation to begin with. Couple that with what had transpired two weeks ago at the camp, no Magus tried to come close to them.

Adam gently patted Valerian's head. "I'm fine, Val."

The little guy looked at the severe burn marks all over Adam's body with a pained expression. Inwardly, he couldn't help but curse himself for being so useless.

"Don't worry." Adam sensed Valerian's inner turmoil and hugged him warmly. "I told you already, it wasn't your fault."

"Myu" The young dragon put his furry paws around Adam's neck and sobbed.

Adam could only shake his head and continue to comfort the little guy. At the same time, he thought about the memories he had just relived in the form of a dream.

What is

My Way of Magic?

In the depths of the Murky Mountains, a large group of orcs rode atop their magical beasts, slowly making their way toward the eastern camp of the allied forces.

The one leading this group was a lanky orc with red and white war paint smeared on his face. His facial expression was extremely vicious and his eyes shone with a cruel light.

This orc was none other than Gorgo.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed and he raised his hand, instructing the group behind him, "Halt!"

Then, his cold gaze swept across the area in front of him. "Come out."

A few moments of silence ensued and then, another group of Magi wearing hooded cloaks appeared from behind the woods, making their presence known.

When Gorgo realized that the Magi in front of them were all humans, his eyes flashed with a murderous light and he brandished his twin daggers. "Kill them all."

However, the next moment, a hooded figure stepped forward and stated, "My little birds tell me you have great enmity with Adam Constantine, and that you seek revenge for what he did to your tribesman."

Gorgo's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

"I'm the same as you." The figure slowly raised his hood, revealing his identity to the orc. "Someone who seeks revenge."

The identities of the Magi from all renowned Magus Families were already known to the important members in the orc species that resided in the Murky Mountians.

So when Gorgo saw this man's face, his pupils constricted as he immediately recognized him.

"It's you!"