Between Two Paths

“Out of nowhere, water magic? How did you even do that?”

“No comment. You already figured out I’m not a normal awakened, right?”

“So it really is dimensional magic… Even seeing it, I still can’t believe it.”

After the sparring class ended.

I stopped by the training hall to test my newly acquired water magic.

Behind me, Yang Ji-hwan followed along, saying he wanted to train with me.

From the looks of it, he wanted to learn something by observing my methods.

But my ability—the dimensional shop—wasn’t something that could be copied like that.

“Wow, it’s all fixed already? That’s a relief.”

“Apparently, the staff stayed up all night to repair it.”

“Then we should use it with gratitude!”

The red ore dust scattered across the floor.

The torn sandbags.

Even the dented terrain.

Everything had been perfectly restored.

I felt a little guilty.

But this was their job.

And training here was mine.

“Phew…”

After taking a deep breath.

I raised my hand toward the sandbag.

Carefully drawing mana from my dantian.

Until now, I had only used mana for close combat.

So this—using magic—was my first time.

That’s why.

I controlled the flow far more carefully than when using sword aura.

‘It’s easier than I thought.’

After all, this breathing technique was made for both sword and magic.

There was no resistance.

Instead of flowing to the sword.

Mana flowed toward my heart.

And accelerated.

The moment it gathered—

“Aqua Arrow!”

Pulling the magic from my heart.

I formed it in front of my hand.

Moisture in the air gathered.

Then shot forward.

Pop!

“….”

Even without looking, I could tell.

The weak sound.

Like a bubble popping.

Compared to what I used earlier.

It was nothing.

“…Did you lower the power out of guilt?”

“No…”

“Oh! I heard about this! Training magic by controlling output—”

“I said no. Can you be quiet?”

Even without the dimensional stone.

This level was disappointing.

I couldn’t even cast Aqua Strike.

Back then, I used dozens at once.

Now—

Even Aqua Arrow barely held shape.

“Sigh…”

A deep sigh escaped me.

Then Monas spoke.

“Did you think you could absorb everything in one use?”

“No… but still.”

“As I said, that power was beyond you. The fact you gained a skill is already impressive.”

It was disappointing.

But I had the skill now.

Which meant—

With repetition.

I could grow.

The knowledge was already mine.

Now—

Practice.

“Aqua Arrow! Aqua Arrow!”

Pop! Pop!

Cute water sounds echoed.

That day.

The training hall flooded again.

And the staff cried once more.

“Next week already, huh?”

“Yes.”

Professor Han Tae-soo looked at the calendar.

“Gate Field Training.”

The only chance.

For students without licenses.

To experience a real gate.

Under real hunters.

One of the most important parts of the curriculum.

“Many guilds sent mentors again.”

“It’s a good chance to recruit talent.”

“Indeed.”

Before him lay lists of mentors.

From top guilds.

Including Samjok-o.

Naturally.

Phoenix Academy attracted the best.

“Most will pick Cha Seo-yeon or Won Jong-hyo, right?”

“Most likely. Woo-hyuk’s dimensional magic isn’t widely known yet.”

Even so.

Samjok-o’s list clearly included his name.

As expected.

Top-tier intelligence.

“But something’s strange.”

“What is it?”

“Cat Eye Guild didn’t list Won Jong-hyo.”

“That is odd. He’s the guild master’s son.”

Won Jong-seok.

Leader of Cat Eye.

And Jong-hyo’s father.

There was no reason not to.

“And…”

Professor Han narrowed his eyes.

His instincts warned him.

“Cat Eye Guild listed Jung Woo-hyuk.”

“I’m exhausted…”

After gaining water magic.

I trained relentlessly.

Skipping sleep.

Daytime—

Mana training room.

Night—

Training hall.

Endless repetition.

As a result.

Mana breathing reached level 3.

Water magic too.

Level 3.

‘Now it’s usable.’

At first.

It made cute popping sounds.

Now—

It hit properly.

And I could fire three at once.

Even Aqua Wall became possible.

“Mentors are here!”

“Is that Samjok-o’s emblem?”

“Cat Eye, Dangun, even Legend Guild!”

I looked.

Hunters entered.

Wearing guild emblems.

Famous ones.

‘Mentors.’

Inside a gate.

It’s real combat.

So mentors guide students.

I looked at the list.

Mentor: Na Himchan

“Those with burning passion are welcome!”

Mentor: Kang Woo-seok

Cha Seo-yeon, Jung Woo-hyuk

……

Each guild.

Their preferences.

Their targets.

‘They picked me directly.’

Others wrote conditions.

But Samjok-o wrote names.

Confident.

‘Samjok-o is probably best.’

Top guild.

Even for experience.

Tempting.

Then—

Another name.

Mentor: Kim Seong-beom

“Students with magical talent, especially Jung Woo-hyuk…”

“Cat Eye?”

That was Jong-hyo’s guild.

Strange.

Then—

A presence behind me.

“…Won Jong-hyo?”

“I’m sorry.”

…What?

Déjà vu.

Like Yang Ji-hwan before.

“I lost my head seeing you grow. I apologize.”

“…Oh.”

Was he serious?

He didn’t seem like it earlier.

Students whispered.

“He apologized?”

“Didn’t expect that.”

They accepted it.

So I had to as well.

“I recommended you to my guild.”

“…Why?”

“You’re interested in magic, right? In that field, we’re better than Samjok-o.”

True.

Cat Eye specialized in magic.

Samjok-o was broader.

‘I am curious.’

Magic.

The academy wasn’t enough.

Cat Eye could teach more.

“Also, our mentor is highly recognized.”

I looked.

A man with the Cat Eye emblem waved.

So it was real.

‘Samjok-o… or Cat Eye.’

Both top-tier.

A once-in-a-lifetime choice.

I compared them seriously.

Then—

“Everyone ready? Choose your mentor.”

The moment had come.