Just before the class bell rang, the ten groups of students stepped into the classroom right on time.

It was located at the top of a tower, in a semi-circular room where all the windows were tightly shut, and thick curtains blocked every possible ray of light from entering.

There were no desks or chairs in the room, only soft cushions and low round tables.

A rich, fragrant aroma filled the air, and the fireplace on one side radiated warmth to every student present.

Teacher Karaman stood quietly by the fireplace, waiting for them.

She was a woman with a mature charm, her hair styled in a high bun, dressed in a light, transparent gauze, with thick white mist enveloping her body beneath it.

"Hello, students. I am Teacher Karaman. Today is your first class, and it is also your most important one. I will teach you how to guide, use, and train your spiritual energy."

Her tone was gentle and soothing, putting everyone at ease.

"Spiritual energy is the power generated by the Extraordinary Souls of the Firebearers. You must harness it to use your abilities, to gain extraordinary strength, to fight the monsters in the black mist, and to protect our friends, family, home, and the ever-burning Sacred Fire."

The students sat on the cushions, listening attentively to her speech.

Karaman walked slowly among the round tables, explaining the mysteries of spiritual energy, the gauze occasionally brushing against the students' faces, tickling them.

Everyone listened intently, except for Rode.

He already knew all of this yesterday.

He was somewhat anxious, eager to decipher the meaning of the texts.

But skipping the first class was obviously impossible; being a student was important, and being a good student was even more important.

Favoring excellent students was a common issue in any academy.

This place was no exception, perhaps even more so.

"...Our souls are divided into three layers: the outer gaseous layer, the inner luminous layer, and the core spiritual energy layer."

"Each layer has its corresponding form and characteristics. Our spiritual energy is generated in the core layer of the soul, formed through the luminous and gaseous layers, and ultimately controlled by our spirit."

"...Very well, you now have a general understanding of what a soul is. Now, open to the first page of 'Extraordinary Souls'..."

A rustling sound followed, leading into another long stretch of dry theory.

Rode listened, feeling drowsy, the soft cushion and warm firelight enhancing this effect.

Sleeping at this time would undoubtedly be a waste of time, and sleeping during the first class was too much.

So, Rode decided to practice the Eye of the Spirit to familiarize himself with his first skill.

Recalling last night's memory, Rode took a deep breath, awakened his spiritual energy, let it pulse at his brow, and focused his attention on his eyes.

But external interference caused him to fail, and it took Rode three attempts to activate it.

In an instant, the entire world became vibrant with colors, ribbons of various hues floated in the air, and countless light spots flickered and wandered.

Rode was stunned, his drowsiness vanished instantly.

This was completely different from when he activated it in the dreamscape.

He moved his gaze left and right, seeing every student as a cluster of hazy light mist, with faintly visible glowing veins and flickering light spots within.

"Is this their soul? Can I see their souls?"

"Are these light spots wandering spiritual energy?"

He saw a cluster of light mist brighten noticeably, with a slight ripple appearing around it.

Then came Kassan's excited voice.

"Teacher! I did it! I've awakened my spiritual energy!"

Rode saw all the light mist leaning towards that direction.

"Very good, Kassan, try to sense it, control it, let it flow through your body..."

Teacher Karaman walked over, and the moment she came into view, Rode's concentration shattered, and the Eye of the Spirit closed on its own.

The world instantly returned to normal, the dark red firelight flickering in the dim classroom, and Teacher Karaman, wrapped in white mist, bent over, carefully guiding Kassan in controlling her spiritual energy.

Kassan looked delightedly at a faint misty glow swirling in her hand, while the surrounding students cast envious glances.

No one noticed Rode's dumbfounded expression.

"Did I see wrong? Was it an illusion? Is there something wrong with my brain?"

Rode knocked on his head and reactivated the Eye of the Spirit.

In the moment the world transformed, he saw clearly once again.

Teacher Karaman's white mist was gone.

Snap!

His concentration faltered, and the Eye of the Spirit closed again.

Rode was dumbfounded.

Wayne, sitting next to him, nudged him: "Rode, stop staring at the teacher."

A green-haired student on the other side chuckled softly: "Teacher Karaman is so beautiful, what's wrong with looking a bit longer?"

Wayne gave him a disdainful look: "Have you awakened your spiritual energy?"

The green-haired student's face turned red: "I can't awaken it, that's why I'm looking at the teacher."

"Does looking help?"

The green-haired student whispered: "You don't understand. There's a resonance between spirits. By looking at a combatant with high spiritual energy, I might trigger inspiration and awaken my spiritual energy."

Wayne looked skeptical, and the green-haired student turned to seek an ally.

"Rode, don't you agree? I could tell we're kindred spirits by the way you were staring at the teacher."

No, we're not.

Rode mumbled a few words in response, suddenly realizing something, and reactivated the Eye of the Spirit, looking at Kassan.

Sure enough, she was a cluster of hazy misty light, with no trace of a human form.

In the entire vibrant, distorted world, only Teacher Karaman appeared normal.

"Thankfully, this thing isn't a see-through eye... It seems the misty spiritual energy blocked the Eye of the Spirit's vision, so I can only see Teacher Karaman's body, not her soul."

"Hmm... So, this eye, which claims to see through illusions, penetrate mist, and observe everything, is only barely on par with that misty spiritual energy?"

Maybe my spiritual energy is too weak, and the Eye of the Spirit isn't strong enough.

Rode thought.

It seems I should practice more; this could be a lifesaving skill.

For Rode, in such a perilous world, having the ability to detect threats or dangers in advance is extremely important.

Thus, in all the time after this class, Rode practiced using this eye.

Other students were striving to awaken their spiritual energy, but few succeeded.

Teacher Karaman continued to guide them tirelessly.

"Relax, close your eyes, imagine yourself in a boundless void."

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"Inhale, imagine white airflow entering your soul with each breath."

"Exhale, imagine expelling your soul with the airflow."

"Keep your focus on your most familiar fingertip; spiritual energy usually appears from the place you're most accustomed to."

"Very good, not bad."

"Keep going, you're the best batch I've ever taught."

"You there, why do you keep looking at me?"

'Extraordinary Souls' was a long class, and by the time the bell rang throughout the academy, it was already noon.

And in the ten groups, half of the students still hadn't awakened their spiritual energy.

"Don't be discouraged, this is quite normal. Just practice diligently, and you'll succeed soon."

"Kassan, you're the group leader, remember to help the students who are having trouble."

Kassan replied loudly, "Of course, Teacher Karaman."

Teacher Karaman smiled and placed a paper packet in her hand.

"This is Moon Sleep Dust, it can help you focus. It's best used in a quiet environment and will greatly aid in awakening your spiritual energy."

Kassan carefully put away the packet and said loudly, "I understand."

"Class dismissed."

Teacher Karaman's gem-like eyes swept over them, her gaze lingering for a moment, and a faint, inexplicable smile appeared on her lips.

She turned and walked into the fire, the flames igniting her gauze, quickly enveloping her entire body, and her graceful figure vanished into the fire.

With her presence gone, the classroom felt empty.

The students, some happy, some disappointed, gathered around Kassan, mostly asking questions about using spiritual energy.

—She was the first in the group to awaken spiritual energy and the strongest in the group.

Except for Rode.

He squeezed in and spoke up immediately.

"I want to go to the Kimberly Academy library, help me get an academy pass."

—This was something Wayne had told him; to enter the academy library, one must have an academy pass.

And the minimum requirement to obtain it was being the group leader.

Kassan's eyebrows shot up immediately.

"Rode! Why are you going to the library? You were absent-minded the entire class! Without awakening spiritual energy, you can't even be considered a Firebearer. You're coming back with me to train now, and you're not allowed to go anywhere this afternoon!"

She raised a hand, the misty glow of spiritual energy covering her entire arm, and said proudly.

"When your spiritual energy is stronger than mine, I'll get it for you!"