Chapter 330 - Laws of the Elements

"You have to learn how to properly utilize your borrowed power to be effective. If not it will backfire on you – and it will be nasty," Ivan continued seriously.

"Nasty? How nasty?"

Ara was very curious. She was planning on training very well, but she still wanted to know what would happen if she messed up.

"The power would attack you instead of the enemy," Ryuu answered, and Ara swallowed hard.

She had already experienced Kresnik's flames when he attacked her dark part and had experienced Stribog's wind – albeit a very small version of it when she fought Gin before awakening. They were both painful.

"Er… How exactly would it backfire?" She wouldn't wait for the actual training day to learn the process – of how mistakes were done.

"Do you know the Laws of the Elements?" Gin asked and Ara nodded.

The Laws of the Elements were actually very important parts of a Gedian's education since many people there could use elements. As Alinea, Ara had learned them well of course. Alistair didn't let her join the army without making sure this information was ingrained in her.

The Laws of the Elements were not only about the types of elemental powers out there. It also discussed the hierarchy of power, but also the effectivity and compatibility of each element to one another. This of course also tackled the opposite: ineffectiveness and incompatibility.

Without waiting for an answer from her, Ivan gave her a rundown.

"Fire is weak to water, water is weak to wind, the wind is weak to earth, the earth is weak to fire, and everything else is weak to lighting – technically, that is," the redhead reminded her.

Of course. Ivan mentioned "technically" because the real strength would still depend on the individual. For example, Kresnik. The flames of Heaven's Flame Emperor could not be distinguished by water. Also, lightning. Even if Ara could wield the lightning which was technically the most superior element, she could never beat Ivan in a duel – much less Stribog and Kresnik.

"Er… yes?"

This was common knowledge. Ara didn't know why Ivan had to mention that.  

"Then you should know how nasty it would be if your borrowed powers backfired and how it would backfire."

With this, Ara frowned as she tried her best to analyze the information to find the answer. Ryuu patted her head as if to give her support, but didn't offer any clue. Alistair remained silent as well, as he thought it would be better for his daughter to realize the solution by herself so she'd keep it in her mind.

"What will happen if two people with different elements fight?"

Ara raised a brow, but, knowing what her uncle was doing made her cooperate. "The person with the superior element will win."

Gin smiled and nodded, before proceeding to the next question. "What if a rank A wind caster fights with a rank S water caster?"

"The water caster will win because even if his element is inferior, he is stronger in power."

"That's right – and the same applies to two people with the same element fighting it out. The stronger one will win." Gin nodded again with a clap before proceeding to yet another question. "Then what do you think will happen to someone who borrowed power but made the mistake of activating another borrowed power without stabilizing their levels?"

Silence hung in the room for several seconds as everyone watched Ara's introspective expression turn into that of enlightenment.

"Oh!" Remembering the lesson made her realize now how the powers she had would backfire.

She clapped her hands together in understanding while the others grinned at her. She grinned back albeit with a tinge of embarrassment as she felt so stupid for not realizing immediately what the answer was.

It was supposed to be easy.

Ara borrowed powers from all three deities, ergo the seals on her body. However, she was not the real master of these elements despite having the ability to utilize them whenever she wanted. Since it was the case, whenever she used a seal, her body would accommodate the power and would identify itself as the caster of that seal. This meant that the "her" who could use the lightning was an altogether different entity from the "her" who could use the fire or the wind.

Three people in one body, ergo the Laws of the Elements would apply to herself.

Ara could only use one seal at full strength. Why? It's because all three deities had different power levels. Even if Stribog and Kresnik were both ranked SS, her husband was still stronger than her uncle. If she's using Stribog's seal and didn't calibrate Kresnik's seal before activating it so she could use two elements at the same time, the flames would attack her own body like an enemy.

It would be even worse if she accidentally used her father's seal in full potential while those other two seals were activated. She'd be dead on the spot, struck by her own lightning bolt.

Ara swallowed hard as she shook her head, trying to shake the image of herself being killed accidentally by herself.

"When are we going to start training?" she asked weakly.

"As soon as you want, my little one," Alistair answered fondly. "You can start tomorrow if you so wished. Your uncle and your husband will each give you lessons daily if you want."

Hearing this, Kazehaya Gin let out a squeak as if wanting to protest but shut up in the end. He looked obviously anxious though, making Ara chuckle.

"Why? Do you have something more important than Ali?" Alistair had turned to the side and asked his twin with a frown.

Gin looked like he had a stiff neck, wanting to nod but shake his head at the same time. His fear of his brother was deeply ingrained in his system, making Ara chuckle again.

"Father, don't bully uncle," she scolded Alistair softly, making the latter turn his attention back to her.

"I'm not bullying him. I just asked a question."

"Yeah, but you look scary, okay? If that's not bullying I don't know what it is," Gin muttered under his breath as he pouted.

Perun, of course, heard it and raised a brow at him. But before he could scold his brother again, Ara spoke.

"Since I still have a lot of time, I'll start after Uncle's wedding to Emi the day after tomorrow."

At the word "wedding", Alistair's amethyst eyes widened momentarily as he stared at his twin's face, studying the pouting idiot for a while before his gaze warmed over.

"Alright…"