Atticus's eyes rapidly flickered side to side as he analyzed the battle unfolding in front of him.
Amara's thoughts had been right. He had requested that she use her element exactly because he wanted to observe the way she utilized it. His best method of learning would always remain by observing.
Atticus could immediately notice the refined way Amara moved. It was swift and completely elite. It was very easy to tell that she had been trained.
Amara and the robot's speed wasn't fast—correction, for master+ ranks, they were incredibly fast.
But compared to many, especially members of the Ravenstein family with elements that directly boosted their speed like fire, air, and lightning, their speed was subpar.
It was true that the elements were ever-changing, but it couldn't be helped; the earth, in its entirety, wasn't made to move fast. A meteor plummeting to the earth had gravity acting on it; it wasn't its movement through and through.
However, their movement might not be mind-numbingly fast, but their heaviness was true. A staggering number of deep foot indentations appeared on the earthen floor that they had chosen, each clash akin to two massive trucks colliding.
Their movement was steadfast and firm, but this wasn't what Atticus wanted to see.
He didn't have to wait long.
The earth suddenly erupted from underneath Amara, enveloping her in the blink of an eye. Not a second was wasted; it hardened and thinned.
The darkish brown earth immediately started taking on a silver sheen, a tight silver metal that hugged her body like a second skin forming.
Two silver scythes abruptly jutted out of Amara's fists, her figure exploding and spinning in arcs of deadly scythes, like a whirlwind of lethal blades.
The robot's hand shot upwards, an earthen wall erupting between them. However, what was supposed to be a wall-stopping attack turned out to be the opposite.
The movement of the swirling scythes remained constant, phasing through the wall as though it wasn't there and reaching the robot before it could react.
The brutal sound of multiple metals parts hitting the earth sounded in the next instant as its form was cut down into pieces.
Amara released a subtle exhale and turned towards Atticus, who had long since narrowed his eyes. A subtle smile graced her lips. Amara approached Atticus and spoke;
"Did you obtain what you were seeking?"
Atticus didn't respond immediately. He was still trying to grapple with what had just happened.
'She used metal. I can change the nature of the earth? Can I do it for all the elements too?'
His thoughts were swirling. If Atticus could manipulate and change the nature of all his elements, he could think of a number of incredible things that he could do.
'But—'
Atticus's thought was interrupted by Amara suddenly calling out to him once more.
"Ah, sorry about that. I got lost in my thoughts for a moment,"
Amara shook her head with a smile and just as she was about to reply, Atticus interrupted.
"How did you do that?"
Atticus failed to hide the excitement in his voice. He appeared like a boy excited about finding a new toy.
Small smiles couldn't help but appear on the faces of Amara and Dario. Even though he was so strong at such a young age, he was still a 16-year-old boy at the end of the day.
Amara got out of her thoughts and responded respectfully. Regardless, Atticus was a figure that should not be considered a child anymore. "I changed the composition of the earth, young master."
"How?" Atticus's eyebrow raised in confusion. That was a vague explanation.
Amara hesitated to explain. It wasn't because she wasn't allowed to, but she wasn't sure how to explain it to Atticus's satisfaction.
Getting a moment to gather her thoughts, she finally spoke, "Being able to change the composition of any element is an advanced method of manipulation of the elements that could only be achieved in the latter end of level three of your bloodline. In order to reach this level, I had to attend the Earth Sanctum for a few years. Now it comes all naturally—just think and do."
Atticus listened to Amara speak silently. If he had to be honest, her explanation had been superficial at best. She didn't even say what he had to do to start.
However, his interest had been piqued by her words. Training for a few years?
"The Earth Sanctum? What's that?"
Dario's gaze flashed as Atticus inquired. It was as though he had been slumbering before and just woke up when Atticus asked Amara a question he should be asking him.
"Pardon the interruption, young master, but I believe I would be able to explain that better." Dario bowed and spoke, shooting Amara a stare in silent warning. The latter couldn't help but be a little baffled, her hand instinctively reaching out to twirl a strand of her hair.
She smiled and took a step back, an action that Dario immediately made use of.
"As you know, young master, we Ravenstein are a family of elementalists. And to us, our elements are everything. They are as important as our hearts. Because of this importance, the Ravenstein family established eight distinct schools, each representing one of the elements our family possesses.
These schools are called Sanctum, and they were established in order to guide the members of the Ravenstein family on the right path."
"Fire, Earth, Air, Water, Ice, Lightning, Light, and Darkness Sanctums?"
Dario nodded at Atticus's words. However, Atticus couldn't help but be slightly baffled. For something of such scale to exist, it was only natural that it would be in their sector. So why hadn't he seen or even heard of it before?
Amara and Dario could notice this confusion, but the former beat the latter to it.
"The Sanctums aren't a secret, young master. It's just that only members in at the very least their late 20s attend these Sanctums—basically, only Master+ rank individuals. I mean no offense, but there was simply no need for youths who hadn't even started their military service to know about them."