A purple-clad stood in front of the shimmering green barrier that surrounded the training area. Her eyes were closed, her face calm and relaxed, her hair fluttering in the breeze. Her arms hung across her torso, hands clasped in front of her. Her star-studded robes fluttered around her gently in a draft, and she radiated an aura of calmness.

  "Lux," she said. The older girl didn't move or even open her eyes.

  "Good afternoon, Aster," I said. I felt a bit of nervousness, but also a lot of anticipation.

  I owed my life to Twilight Aster, and I had no doubt that she'd keep teaching me everything she knew. It was hard to express the gratitude that I felt, but it didn't change how excited I was to train with her again. She'd been critically injured during the Cataclysm, but still risked her life to help me save Albert albeit at a weakened state.

  Twilight Aster was four years older than me and little had I known, also an upperclassman at Kaleidoscope Academy, though I never would've recognized her as one with the way she carried herself. She had purple hair, and her battle robes reminded me of twilight, dusk, and nature incarnate. Her current robes were dark purple with stars arranged in a way that resembled the constellations in a night sky, and they fluttered in the breeze like they were made from gossamer fabric. They tapered toward her torso in a green sash that was cinched tight to hold her robes together, and her hair fell loosely down her waist.

  They tapered into a greenish-black mist that swirled around her.

  Twilight Aster smiled and opened her eyes, and I paused.

  "Well, that's new."

  Her eyes were glowing with a green and purple heterochromatic light. She smiled and closed them again.

  "I unlocked my Exalted Shift as you were battling on the roof, Lux. This is just a side effect." she said, her voice calm and collected. "You're here to train?"

  "Is this permanent?"

  "No, only when I am at full strength." She answered. "But I have more control now, and though it may surprise you, I am still a student and likely forever will be."

  "Right."

  It was easy to forget Twilight Aster was still a student as a Class 6 Magical Knight. She was so mature and powerful that she carried herself with a quiet confidence and an aura of safety that I couldn't match.

  Twilight Aster opened her eyes, revealing her multicolored gaze.

  "Are you ready?"

  I nodded. "Yeah... I've been looking forward to this."

  "Excellent."

  She gracefully swept her left arm in front of her and summoned the familiar silver staff. The wooden shaft glowed with green and purple magical light, and I felt the mana around me ripple with power.

  She swept the staff around her in an elegant flourish, before holding the staff vertically in her hands, the head of it glowing a brilliant purple. I smiled softly, extending my right arm.

  "Hopeful Heart Alchemy."

  A golden staff that mirrored the appearance of her staff materialized in front of me, floating in the air, before red ribbons wrapped around the shaft in a double helix pattern. I grabbed it, feeling a strange sense of warmth in the increasingly familiar weight.

  We didn't understand why I was able to mimic her abilities to an extent using Hopeful Heart Alchemy. I was still slower, weaker, and far less skilled than she was, and my powers had the caveat of costing significantly more mana than hers, but at least I could copy them.

  "Good," she said.

  She twirled her staff once more in an elegant flourish, and a glowing ball of light formed in front of the head.

  "Starlight Magic: Agimat!"

  A purple gem quickly manifested in the air around her staff. It pulsed with energy, and a glowing mist surrounded it.

  "Let us start with some simple exercises."

  She tossed the gem up, catching it in her right hand and then threw it up again, before spinning her staff around once, twice, and then finally a third time before it vanished into motes of light. The gem floated in the air as Twilight Aster held her arms out. She closed her eyes and hummed.

  The gem floated to the side of her body, hovering next to her right hand. It pulsed and a glowing light emanated from it, bathing her body in a purple glow as it rotated around her.

  "As we have observed, mimicking my abilities is quite taxing for you, so it is important that we focus on your ability to use them efficiently." she said. "Let us begin by focusing on your mana control, as we have been. The Curing Stone is a good starting point. It is not anything fancy when it comes to healing magic, but it will keep you or your companions stable. Come. Summon one and give it a try."

  I nodded, concentrating as I followed through with her motions.

  "Starlight Magic: Agimat!"

  I concentrated my mana into the staff, focusing it as I channeled the energy. The staff's gem glowed brightly and a bright golden stone materialized, landing in my hand. I felt a large drain in my energy, and I stumbled back a step as I tried to keep my balance. The golden stone glittered in my hand as I caught myself and steadied myself, my head feeling fuzzy.

  "My Agimat, or Curing Stone, is a Starlight Magic technique. You remember how I used it to return to a functional state after I was injured battling the Juggernaut? Before I met you."

  "I do." I said.

  I remembered back to the Cataclysm, and the way Twilight Aster had been a mess. The fact that she'd even survived that was incredible.

  She'd been wounded severely enough to fall out of her transformation, and I'd gone to scavenge supplies from a pharmacy with the survivors in the church. The fact that she'd even been able to get out of bed to try and help me rescue Albert and the survivors in Refuge Zeta was incredible.

  "Provided your stone functions the same way, it allows me to heal someone's injuries, including my wounds. But, I suffer a loss of physical ability proportional to the abstract severity of the injuries. If I am weakened to the point of my untransformed state, I will continue to be able to use it, but at a greatly diminished rate. The more severe the wound, the more mana I expend. But, as I am right now, I will recover from the effects of a Fairy Stone's usage within a few days. It is a great technique for emergency first aid situations. However, I am unable to use it to restore myself to perfect health."

  I nodded, staring down at the golden stone in my hand.

  "That sounds like a pretty big caveat, huh?" I said.

  Twilight Aster nodded.

  "Indeed, but the benefits outweigh the downsides." She said. "Now, I would like you to close your eyes and focus on the stone in your hands."

  I did as she instructed.

  "Feel the energy, and let it fill you."

  I took a deep breath, letting the golden stone's light bathe my body.

  "Now, concentrate your power, and allow the mana to flow from your hands."

  I did as she instructed, and the golden light of the stone flared up in intensity. My vision blurred as a wave of exhaustion suddenly hit me, but the wave passed as the golden light pulsed. When I opened my eyes, I was no longer tired or sore from my morning workout. Instead, I was feeling refreshed and energetic.

  "That is good," Twilight Aster said. "You have a lot of potential for magic. It seems your added cost does not apply to the actual transfer of the stone's magic, which means you can still use the technique as intended."

  Twilight Aster smiled. "However, do realize that utilizing it means you will be slower and weaker until the effects are over, which could take up to several days. Also, it will not work beyond a certain degree of injury. You must keep these in mind."

  She gently tossed her purple gem up in the air and caught it, her expression thoughtful.

  "Anyway, that is not the only ability I possess that I believe you can make use of," Twilight Aster said.

  Her staff reappeared in her hand. "Verdant Art: Entangling Grasp." Twilight Aster's voice was calm, yet commanding, her staff glimmering in the sun.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  A ball of energy appeared above the tip, and a glowing vine shot forth and coiled around it. The vines then wrapped themselves around her arm and began to entwine around each other.

  "I understand you have made use of this spell on a number of occasions," Twilight Aster said, as she held up her arm. The vine glowed, pulsating as the energy within it began to expand.

  "Uh... yeah." I said, rubbing my arm. "It's felt pretty intuitive for me, so I haven't had any problems with it."

  Twilight Aster's eyes lit up she continued. "Then show me. Perhaps I will be able to help you take it to the next level."

  "Okay."

  I summoned my golden staff once again and took a deep breath. "Verdant Art: Entangling Grasp." My mana flowed as I focused my will on the spell.

  I'd gotten pretty good at using the spell over the past few weeks, but usually as an ace-in-the-hole type spell to use when my back was against the wall. I didn't know what she wanted me to do, but I decided to give it my all anyway. The ball of energy appeared above my staff and the roots and vines grew and coiled around us, forming a wall of green that surrounded us.

  Twilight Aster smiled and gestured, the glowing green energy dispersing.

  "That is quite impressive." she said, nodding approvingly. "A Rank 15 spell should not be used lightly. I would recommend you reserve it for emergencies."

  "Wait. Rank 15?"

  She nodded. "As far as we can gather, the strength of the abilities granted by a knight's Soul Graph and Origin is represented by a rank value. The growth of its relative strength grows at a log-exponential scale."

  "So what's the scale look like? It's only been a month, but my core abilities are around ranks 3 through 5." I asked. "What's a Rank 15 like? Is there a ceiling?"

  "The scale seems arbitrary and I do not believe there is a ceiling, and it is determined by the information in your hereditary Soul Graph. However, most senior knights find a ceiling in the twenties or thirties, though the highest ranking techniques in existence have been observed in the sixties." She paused. "Your Luminary Bolt is such an example. At rank 1, it lacks the strength to do more than concuss an adult man or zombies of equivalent durability. At Rank 5, it is capable of knocking down walls and tearing holes into steel doors."

  I'd come a long way since I started, and my power was growing with each passing week.

  "It is hard to project where your ceiling is, but it does factor into your aggregate level as a magical girl." she explained.

  "Hmm." I nodded, taking a deep breath before asking a question that's been on my mind. "What exactly is a 'Soul Graph' and what exactly is an 'Origin', if you know?"

  She crossed her arms, smiling softly. "The Soul Graph and the Origin are what comprise the totality of your powerset. A knight can only have one of each, but their combined synergy define a knight's powers and capabilities. The former is genetic, and passed down through family lines. The latter is determined by your lived experiences. The Soul Graph, for example, determines the majority of your magic. In your case, it is 'Light', while mine is 'Life' with an origin of 'Growth'. Your origin, meanwhile, is 'Heart'."

  She began to pace around in front of me, stroking her chin. "I do not believe your 'Light' Soul Graph is limited to the literal sense of 'Light' as a source of illumination, but also as a conceptual archetype of lightness, the heavens, the cosmos, hope, purity, or even sanctuary. Moreover, you possess an extremely rare Origin and Archetype pairing in 'Heart' and 'Prismatic', respectively."

  "Heart?"

  "Your heart." She said. "It is your drive. Your motivation and desires in becoming a Magical Knight. On its own, it is a rare origin and one that isn't considered powerful as a standalone. Your origin is your innermost self, the culmination of your innocent, childhood ideals and a prerequisite to become a Knight such as you."

  She gestured at the sky and the sun.

  "Archetypes are what determine your class and abilities. A knight can have a multitude of abilities in their repertoire, but they are limited to the archetypes they have been born with or have earned through living experiences. My Archetype limits me to Starlight Magic as learned abilities. I am a nurturer and backline, cerebral fighter by nature, so it is fitting. It does not, however, limit your imagination or ingenuity. I am a very capable healer and defender, and can even call on the stars and elements. I am a versatile knight. My Archetype is 'Stargazer' - which has an emphasis on divinity, foresight, destiny, and fate. This is what has determined the Starlight Magic that is my primary skill set. A Prismatic Archetype is incredibly rare and synergizes with a 'Heart' Origin exceptionally well, however."

  "So both the 'Heart' Origin and 'Prismatic' are uncommon or rare?"

  "Indeed," she said, her eyes twinkling with the purple of her mana. "I am uncertain if I am qualified to give you more than a rudimentary explanation, as your Origin is quite different from mine."

  "Please."

  Twilight Aster smiled, her staff spinning in her grip before it disappeared in a burst of motes of light.

  "An Origin determines what powers are available to a knight, and their strength. For instance, you possess an Origin that represents a sense of self, a desire, a wish, or a personal philosophy. It may be something abstract like your 'Heart' Origin. This is something you will always have as an origin, and if you stray far enough from it, you will weaken and struggle to even maintain a transformation."

  "And an archetype?"

  "The Archetype, in this case, is the lens through which you express the power of the Origin and your Soul Graph." She gestured at the stone I held in my hand. "The Heart origin signifies idealism in the purest sense. Of perseverance and hope, which allows you to persevere through great odds, no matter how dire, and give hope to those around you. Knights that are born from Heart are typically represented with either a pink or golden aura and do best in teams. The most famous representative of this Origin in our lifetime, was Arcadia Vox."

  The name caused my heart to flutter, but I nodded along anyway.

  "It is the source of power of our abilities, while our Soul Graph represents the most natural, initial manifestation of those powers. And there is only so much we know about what determines them, or why some people have multiple. It is a bit like genetics and how some traits can be expressed more prominently in a given person, but it is only moderately correlated with genetics and the Soul Graphs of your forebearers. It is more of an epigenetic phenomenon, where your parents' and families' experiences and legacy can influence your Graph."

  She summoned a purple glowing orb in her hand.

  "Your archetype is your limitations and strengths, what you specialize in, and your core skills expressed. For instance, someone who possesses a Starazer Archetype like me will have inclination towards being a spellcaster with a spiritual focus. This highlights your natural talents and what you will develop most quickly."

  "Right." I nodded, thinking. It was a lot to take in, but it made some sense. "So mine is Prismatic?"

  Twilight Aster smiled, and nodded again.

  "A Prismatic archetype signifies a 'Jack of all trades' type caster who typically does not excel in any single field, but are capable of adapting and learning new skills and abilities with ease. They are known for their versatility and adaptability, but are not known to be the most powerful knights. There is a great amount of variation, and the type of knight that manifests from that Archetype is dependent on the origin that expresses it."

  "That sounds a bit underwhelming." I said, sighing. I had hoped that I'd be something a little more... special, but I supposed that I shouldn't complain.

  She smiled. "It is quite special, actually. In fact, it is exceptionally rare. Your strongest abilities will likely always relate to your natural Light alignment. However, your ability to mimic other abilities, like my Starlight Magic or my Verdant Arts, is highly unusual."

  "So what does the Prismatic Archetype say about me, and my Origin?" I asked.

  She smiled again, and pointed at the staff.

  "I am uncertain about the intricacies, and I do not think I am qualified to explain the mechanics. However, I do believe Hopeful Heart Alchemy is your core technique. How it evolved from your Luminary Conversion, I do not know. But all knights have one ability that is their Signature Talent, rooted in an initial conceptual interaction between their Origin and Soul Graph."

  "What's yours, then?"

  She hummed, and I heard the wind pick up. The light in the training field grew a bit brighter and I felt a gentle warmth on my skin.

  "My Origin is Growth, emerging from my Soul Graph of Life. It is an Origin that seeks to create and nourish the growth of others and oneself, to develop into their potential. I was born a twin with a weak and sickly sister, and she passed in an accident that I escaped unscathed. Her last words were for me to live on, grow, and to take care of our family. To see our younger siblings grow where she could not. I have two siblings whom I cherish, but they live in a city halfway across the country, so I cannot protect them."

  Twilight Aster continued, raising her hand.

  "Genesis of Renewal: Twinheart's Legacy." Her voice rang out in the training field and I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as a torrent of mana pulsed outward. The ground shook, and the light in the area grew even brighter, casting a bright green glow across the area. The wind picked up, blowing through my hair as I felt a warm, gentle breeze wash over me.

  I took a step back, blinking. "Aster?"

  She looked at me and smiled. "It's alright. This is my Genesis of Renewal, the most powerful technique in the Garden Dreamers' arsenal. The evolved form of my Verdant Bloom. I could not use it while under the effect of the Agimat."

  A glowing orb of light appeared above her, casting her in the same green light.

  "Your Signature Talent embodies your history and motivation. The roads and twists in life that led you to becoming a Magical Girl. For example, your Hopeful Heart Alchemy is an embodiment of your drive to protect and save your friend, Albert, from danger, as well as the people around you. You were motivated by the threat to his life, yet every step of the way, your actions demonstrated that your heart is pure. You are driven by love and desire to do the right thing. That is why your abilities revolve around light and protection, and your capacity to mimic and understand others' abilities is tied to this desire to save and protect others. To understand."

  She smiled.

  "I am a lot like you, actually. The difference between you and I, however, is that I seek to create and sustain life and health, and to grow and nourish."

  I looked around in awe as pink flowers and white lotus flowers began blooming from the ground, creating a beautiful garden of light.

  "Now just as an experiment, please attempt to mimic my Verrdant Bloom."

  "Right. Genesis of Renewal: Twinheart's Legacy!" I called out, reaching for the intuitive pull I felt when I used Hopeful Heart Alchemmy.

  A burst of mana came out from the staff and a golden ball of energy formed above me.

  ...but nothing else happened.

  I was still glowing with the golden aura, but there were no flowers blooming, and the air around me felt... empty. There was a strange feeling in the air, and I couldn't quite place my finger on it.

  "It appears that there are some abilities that are beyond your capabilities." she observed.

  I nodded. "It would appear so."

  "I do wonder why?" She hummed, tilting her head.

  Twilight Aster gestured and the glowing field dissipated, the light dimming. The flowers remained.

  "Well, no matter. Your power seems to have its limits, and it will not always work, but it is a powerful and unique skill to have." She gestured at the glowing stone I held in my hand.

  "Now, there are a few tricks I believe I can show you before your training session later in the evening. Shall we continue?"

  She flashed me a warm, almost motherly smile. The kind of expression that you would expect to see on the face of someone who was your guardian, a kind, caring older sibling or relative who was there for you.

  "I'd love that," I said. I felt my chest swell with happiness. "I appreciate everything you're doing to help me."

  "Think nothing of it, Lux," Twilight Aster said.

  We stood there for a moment, and she let out a soft sigh. "You remind me of myself in my first days at the academy. I was so young and inexperienced. But the time has passed quickly. We are here to learn and grow."

  "Thank you for all this. It's been helpful." I said, smiling at her. "I'm really glad you're my mentor."

  Twilight Aster let out a soft laugh. "Of course. Now, let us get back to work." She gestured at the sky and the golden orb that had appeared. "I will show you a trick or two with floral manipulation and your illusion magic."

  I nodded.

  She picked up a white lily from the ground, closing her eyes with a gentle smile.

  "Let us continue, then."