Master Kellor stood in the center of the training grounds, reviewing his notes while the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the practice area. The individual assessments he had conducted over the past week had yielded results that were both encouraging and concerning in equal measure.
Thomas continues to excel, he noted with satisfaction, glancing at his detailed observations. Lightning attribute control has improved by approximately thirty percent since the beginning of training. More importantly, his leadership instincts are developing naturally—he offers guidance to struggling students without being asked, maintains discipline during group exercises, and demonstrates the kind of strategic thinking that will serve him well as future village chief.
Sara's progress was equally impressive, though in different ways. Her earth manipulation had grown more sophisticated, moving beyond simple barrier creation to complex structural modifications. The other students were developing at acceptable rates, mastering the fundamentals with steady, predictable improvement.
They understand the basics now, Kellor observed. Ready for the next stage of their development.
Which brought his attention to the decision that had been occupying his thoughts for several days now.
Aeon.
The boy's attribute development was unprecedented. The barriers he could create weren't just defensive—they were absolute. When properly manifested, they seemed to operate on principles that defied conventional magical theory. More troubling was the rate of improvement; what had started as crude, energy-intensive constructs were becoming more refined and efficient with each training session.
Raw power without proper constraints is dangerous, Kellor reminded himself. And power that grows too quickly can destabilize existing social structures.
The boy himself seemed unaware of the implications, focusing on technical improvement without apparent interest in the broader social dynamics of the training group. But that very lack of political awareness made him potentially more dangerous, not less. Someone with exceptional abilities who didn't understand or respect established hierarchies could become a disruptive force that undermined the careful balance the village had maintained for generations.
The cultivation arts, Kellor thought, his hand moving unconsciously toward the locked chest in his quarters where the village's most precious training manuals were kept. The perfect solution to ensure proper development and hierarchy.
He had been waiting for the right moment to introduce cultivation arts to his students—waiting until they had sufficient basic competency to handle the complex breathing techniques, energy circulation patterns, and meditation practices that formed the foundation of advanced magical development. That moment had arrived.
But not all cultivation arts are created equal, Kellor reflected with cold calculation.
The village possessed multiple cultivation manuals, each with different growth rates, power ceilings, and development requirements. The most potent—the Lightning Emperor's Codex—was reserved for the village leadership bloodline. It offered rapid advancement, exceptional power scaling, and techniques that could overwhelm most conventional magical approaches.
Thomas will receive the Codex, naturally. His birthright and his demonstrated leadership capabilities make him the obvious choice.
For the others, there were lesser arts. Effective enough to provide meaningful advancement, but with built-in limitations that would ensure they could never challenge someone trained in superior methods. The Iron Foundation technique offered solid defensive capabilities but with deliberately slow progression rates. The Flowing Stream method provided excellent energy efficiency but capped maximum power output at levels well below what the Codex could achieve.
Sara gets Iron Foundation—fits her earth attribute and her role as future lieutenant. The others receive Flowing Stream or one of the even more basic techniques.
And Aeon... Aeon presented a special challenge that required a special solution.
Stone Turtle Breathing, Kellor decided after careful consideration. Excellent for defensive attributes, incredibly stable and safe, but with the slowest advancement rate of any technique in our collection.
The beauty of Stone Turtle Breathing was that it would actually complement Aeon's barrier abilities perfectly—enhancing their durability and efficiency while providing excellent foundation for long-term development. Students who learned it often praised its reliability and effectiveness.
What they didn't realize was that "long-term" meant decades. Stone Turtle Breathing was designed for practitioners who valued safety and stability over rapid advancement. Someone following its methods might take twenty years to achieve what the Lightning Emperor's Codex could accomplish in five.
Perfect for containing a potential threat while appearing to provide valuable training.
By the time Aeon realized the limitations of his cultivation art—if he ever did—Thomas would have advanced so far beyond him that the power gap would be insurmountable. The village hierarchy would be permanently secured, with each person's maximum potential carefully calibrated to support the established order.
Control through cultivation, Kellor thought with satisfaction. Authority through superior techniques. Stability through understanding one's proper limitations.
The approach would serve multiple purposes simultaneously: advanced training for students who had mastered the basics, appropriate development paths matched to their future roles, and behavioral modification for those whose natural talents needed... guidance.
The students will be grateful for the opportunity, Kellor reflected. They'll see it as recognition of their progress, a sign that they're ready for more sophisticated training.
None of them would understand the careful calculations that determined which techniques they received. They would focus on their own advancement, never realizing that their maximum potential had been deliberately constrained to serve larger purposes.
A comprehensive solution to a complex problem.
As Kellor heard the first sounds of approaching footsteps, he allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. The training program was proceeding exactly as planned, with appropriate modifications to address emerging challenges before they could destabilize the carefully maintained balance of power.
Today they begin their true education, he thought, preparing to greet his students with the enthusiasm of a teacher offering valuable opportunities.
Some lessons are more important than others.