I expected to enter Vision Studies in the middle of a lesson, dreading the interruption and looks from other students I might draw. However, the room was devoid of students when I opened the door. Oddly enough, students' backpacks and notebooks were still scattered around the room.

Vision Studies Level One - Meet in the arena for interactive practice with elemental reactions.

Professor Minci's message was displayed on the front board in her elegant script. With a sigh, I turned around and quickly left the room. I already missed a chunk of class time, and I didn't want to fall behind the rest.

On my way to the arena behind the Vision Studies building, I thought of what today's lesson might entail. I'm not sure what interactive practice with elemental reactions I could contribute to, given that I didn't have my own Vision. So far, we'd only been learning about elements and how to utilize a Vision via textbook references, so my lack of a Vision hadn't affected my participation in the class whatsoever. I guess the real test begins now, then.

I left through a side exit door and rounded the building to find the rest of my classmates in the wide, open arena. Students were scattered and spaced out in their assigned pairs, fighting slimes.

A deep groove in the ground was filled with a puddle of water where Hydro slimes were throwing themselves at two students—Amber and Rosaria. In lecture, Rosaria always looked so dull, as if she wished she were anywhere else. But watching her come alive in a fight, even against small Hydro slimes, was quite exciting.

She had her polearm poised before striking down. "You can't run!"

After freezing the slime, she threw an arm out at Amber to signal their next attack. "Go, go, Baron Bunny!" Amber promptly tossed her Baron Bunny doll at the frozen Hydro slime. What an interesting skill.

Baron Bunny spent a moment doing dance moves before exploding in a blast of Pyro. Although, Rosaria's Cryo attack wore off before Baron Bunny exploded, leaving the Hydro slime with vaporized damage, but still alive.

"Amber," Rosaria snapped. "How many times have I told you that your little doll thing takes too long to activate?"

Amber scratched the back of her head sheepishly. "It did do some damage, though!"

"It would have done more damage if it exploded while the slime was still frozen. Next time, shoot Pyro arrows while we wait for your skill to detonate."

"Lumine," Professor Minci cooed, drawing my attention from the pair that had gone back to coordinating their attacks.

I turned to find her sitting far from the arena and closer to the main building. She was surrounded by lush trees giving shade, sipping tea at a garden table. I moved away from the arena and walked to her, prepared to explain myself.

"How wonderful for you to join us." She smiled demurely. "Thoma informed me of your situation, and I'm glad you were able to get those injuries healed up before the end of class."

"Thank you," I said. "What have I missed?"

"Just a few explanations that wouldn't do you much good anyway." She waved a hand. "The Vision holders have been instructed to pick up their preferred weapon and channel their Vision to wield elemental energy. I gathered these cuties for your classmates to test elemental reactions."

"By cuties, do you mean…slimes?" I watched as a pair of students were chasing down a group of Geo slimes.

"Slimes are beings of pure elemental energy, you know." She sipped her tea. "You may find your partner and…take notes on what you observe. There's not much else you can do during our hands-on lessons."

"What if he needs help?" I scanned the students, looking for Thoma. "Surely there must be some way I can…"

"Aw," Minci puckered her lips in a slight pout. "I'm sorry, but no matter how hard you work in this class, some things simply cannot be done without a Vision. This is one of them."

So far, I'd been able to manage and do quite well in my other classes without the need for a Vision. History and Horticulture were simple enough. Sure, I had to spend extra hours memorizing facts and timelines, but it was something I could do with dedication. Gliding and Physical Combat required agility, strength, talent, and skill—all attributes that aren't easily acquired but attributes that I've been able to grow with my own ambitions.

Choosing to enroll in Vision Studies, I knew that it would be impossible for me to trigger superconduct, or inflict a vaporized reaction on my own. I knew that I would face setbacks and that those setbacks didn't define my strength. But, watching the rest of my classmates attacking slimes in front of me…I didn't expect to feel so left out.

Taking a deep breath, I shrugged off the weight of disappointment and shook away the mental fog threatening to darken my mood. I am here now, and I will do the best I can with what I have.

Searching the arena once more, I found Thoma pacing around one section with particularly tall grass. He had a polearm in one hand, and his attention was focused intently on the ground. I watched as he suddenly sprung into action, erecting a shield that surrounded him and lighting the grass on fire.

Small, leafy Dendro slimes popped out of the ground and began to bobble around erratically. Thoma used his polearm to strike them down, his shield preventing any damage to himself from the circle of burning grass.

I walked to the edge of the area where the grass deadened and flames no longer burned. I was intent on watching Thoma fight and seeing how quickly the Dendro slimes took damage, but his head turned in my direction as soon as I approached.

"You're here!" He jogged over to me with a big smile, and the slimes retreated back underground to ward off the flames. "Barbara healed you up faster than I thought. Are you feeling better? You look a lot better."

"Thanks," I smiled. "Barbara was great. Did you know she's an idol on the side? That's pretty impressive for—wait. Sorry, I don't want to talk about something off-topic and detract you from class. You can get back to burning those slimes. I'll just…" I rummaged around in my bag and pulled out my notebook. "Take notes."

"Careful not to get those pages burnt," he warned. "You should step further away from the tallgrass. Pyro can cause the environment to get very dangerous very fast. I wouldn't want you to take a second trip to the infirmary in one day."

"Right," I stepped back into an area that was more dirt than grass.

Thoma nodded, satisfied with where I stood, before looking at me with a hint of worry in his eyes. "Will you be alright?"

"Fully healed," I reminded him.

"Not that," he shook his head. "I'm talking about today's exercise. I know how much being an active member in class means to you."

"Oh," I blinked. "That? It's fine. I can learn a lot from taking notes, just like how I've learned so much by taking the same notes all last week. These new notes will be even more…informational."

"If you say so." He eyed me. "I did see a bucket for water in case you wanted to douse the flames or even toss water on the burning slimes for some vaporize reactions. But if you're so keen on notetaking, go for it."

"A bucket of water, you say?" I nonchalantly darted my eyes around, looking for the bucket in question. "I mean, if it'll be of help then I guess I can sacrifice my notetaking time."

Thoma laughed. "I thought you might say so. It's over by the Hydro slime pool—careful not to get wet."

I hurried over to the Hydro slimes that Rosaria was still mercilessly attacking with her polearm, and I spotted an empty wooden bucket sitting by the water's edge. Quickly, I picked it up and dipped it under the water's surface. Once it was full, I walked back carefully as to not spill any water.

My slow return to Thoma and the Dendro slimes was nearly thwarted as a purple blur darted at me. I managed to swivel at the last second without dropping the bucket, but some water sloshed out and landed on the blob. A bolt of electricity arced up from the blob to the bucket of water—zapping my hands and causing me to drop the bucket.

An Electro slime.

"Sorry!" Bennett came running at me, with Chongyun following close behind. "That one got away from us. I'll take care of it. Let's light it up!"

Bennett's sword alighted with Pyro as he charged his skill, aimed at the Electro slime. He rocketed forward and hit the enemy, but then he promptly exploded backward and landed with a tumble.

"This is the fifth time," Chongyun sighed at my side. "My partner appears to be plagued with evil spirits that have cursed him with unfortunate luck. It is the most I can do to put out his unruly flames with my spirit blade."

I watched as Chongyun ran after Bennett and the runaway Electro slime before turning back to refill the now-empty bucket. This time, I made sure the coast was clear before charting my course back to Thoma.

I noticed he had kept a distance from the Dendro slimes, perking up at my return. "Oh, good! You found the bucket. Ready to take on these slimes?"

I nodded and readied my bucket, feeling only a little bit ridiculous as the rest of my classmates utilized their Vision with an actual weapon. Whatever. If a bucket can get the job done, then a bucket wielder I will be.

Thoma walked back into the tallgrass stealthily with me close at his heel. After spotting the leafy top of one Dendro slime, we shared a nod before he went on the offense, springing his shield up and igniting the environment around him. The Dendro slime was quick to pop up and escape the inferno, but I was waiting for it.

I gripped my bucket securely before sloshing a good amount of water on the Dendro slime, dousing the flame with a vaporize reaction. A great billow of steam wafted up and the weakened Dendro slime began to flee.

"Oh no you don't." Thoma followed and used his skill again. "Don't get too close!"

This time, my bucket and I weren't necessary as the Dendro slime was at its last leg, perishing in the flames. I used some water anyway, splashing the area to prevent the fire from getting out of control.

"Nice work, Lumine!" Thoma smiled. "I think you should start using a bucket during Physical Combat. Who knew it could be such an effective weapon? We can give you a fighter name. Hm, how about…Bucket Banisher?"

"How about we get back to the slimes?" I laughed at his joke. "Your shield looks pretty impressive."

"I like to focus on protection," he said. "We're working on our elemental skills for today—especially the first-years—so I've been utilizing my shield."

We went back into the tallgrass to snuff out more Dendro slimes. It got frustrating when they blended in so well with the natural earth, but Thoma would eventually force them out with his Pyro. I had a couple of close calls trying to douse unruly flames while also vaporizing the slimes, but he always had my back.

Soon, I'd noticed the weight of my bucket begin to lighten, and I signaled to Thoma that a refill was in order. He was distracted fighting off a large Dendro slime, so I quickly decided to grab more water to help out.

I didn't realize I had followers.

A group of small Dendro slimes—on fire—came running at me. I could only assume they were trying to flee from Thoma's attack, as they weren't going after me in particular, but in the direction of the Hydro slime pool.

Still, the Dendro slimes were barreling at me in blazing glory, and I had only the bucket to stave them off. I was able to knock back a few before the bucket—the wooden bucket—also caught fire, and I was forced to abandon my trusty weapon.

All of a sudden, with their leafy tops burned off, the Dendro slimes stopped panicking and turned to face me. I sensed something sinister coming off from them as if they wanted vengeance for their lost carrot tops. The grass around me was all on fire, the Dendro slimes spread it in their haste. Empty-handed and with nowhere to turn, I began to sweat.

"Hyah!" I threw a fist at the first Dendro that tried me, launching it back into the flames.

Two more jumped at me, but I kicked them with my fully healed leg. "Hah! I could do this all day."

Despite my words, I was making very slow work of these Dendro slimes. I was hoping that Thoma, Professor Minci, or anyone would catch sight of the situation, but they were all either busy with their own practice or didn't think a Visionless student would dare walk into a field of tallgrass alight with Pyro.

The flames should be dying down any moment now, I wiped at my brow. However, these Dendro slimes were persistent, and a ball of dread grew in my stomach as I watched them form a unified group to attack me head-on.

My heartbeat thumped in my ears, louder than the roaring fire around me, and I felt something in my chest flutter. A sense of…lightness filled my body, and I recognized it. It was a new feeling, but somehow still familiar. My limbs moved swiftly as if air hollowed out my bones. A breeze picked up, rustling through my hair, yet no wind blew at the flames.

It was just like the Anemo that cushioned my fall in Beginner's Gliding, I realized. But…how could that be? Venti wasn't here, nor was there anyone in this class with that level of Anemo capability. Where was this power coming from?

The familiar glow of Anemo shone in the sights of my vision, but when I turned to find its source, there was no one there. It was just me, and the origin of the glow…the Anemo power was coming from…my own hand.

My hand was glowing. A bright, brilliant teal.

never have i ever, until today, actively went out in search of dendro slimes. it was for research, but it was painful