Ayaka had been observing Kumi these past few days. Closer than previously.
At this point, Hilde and to some degree Ayaka as well, have stopped treating Kumi as a child. Hilde had been the most obvious with this. Ayaka, however, was still hesitant.
This reaction came as no surprise considering how Kumi acted during her first live Hunt. Though Hilde's treatment had worsened since her awakening from the simulation, obviously in relation to her rogue elements.
The conversation Ayaka had had with Hilde resurfaced as she watched Kumi enter the Kitchen to visit the chefs again.
"It's troublesome. It's unexpected. Worst of all, I can see why it would be frightening."
Hilde had spoken these words to Ayaka after Kumi's hunt. They had reconvened in her office after leaving Kumi to her own devices.
"Her manipulation of her elements was natural. This wasn't much of a surprise. But the firepower behind them and the innate pressure and bloodlust she exuded? That's different."
"Perhaps, it is the nature of her lineage?" Ayaka provided a possible explanation.
"That is... a possibility." Hilde acknowledged the thought, but couldn't outright say 'Yeah that has to be it!' since she didn't fully believe that herself.
"Why does she have to have such a talent in hiding things?" Hilde groaned as her head fell onto her desk, she continued, "why was inscrutable the trait she had to be born with? There are so many better options."
"If we treat the idea of this brutal and prideful battle style being part of her innate nature as a hybrid as fact, we won't have to worry over it as much since it wouldn't be something we can control."
"Yeah. I know. But the idea doesn't quite... sit right with me. There's something else. An instinct. A feeling in the pit of my stomach that denies it."
"If so, then we can disregard that theory."
"No. Let's keep it on the table. What have we found out about her Elements?"
Hilde asked before clarifying.
"One is clearly Lightning. That needs no explanation. But the other two? And let's continue ignoring the fact that we basically completely disregarded researching her Elements till before her return from the simulation."
Hilde let out her classic 'Hilde Sigh' as she muttered to herself.
"This girl just loves her secrets. What can we do?"
Ayaka cleared her throat.
"Well, if the research is to be trusted, then her second Element would be Curse. Grade Fourth."
"So Lightning, a rather rare Grade Third Element. Okay. Then, Curse an extra rare Grade Fourth."
Hilde spoke to herself as she lifted two fingers.
Her eyes narrowed as she looked up from her hand at Ayaka.
"Let me guess. We have a Hidden Grade Element. We have a Supreme Grade Element. Next would be Lost. Grade Fifth?"
"The third element..."
Ayaka hesitated.
"The properties it has don't match any Grade Fifth Element that we know of. The closest mention to something like it was of Grade Sixth."
"That's. No words. It's like winning Central's Lotto for the third time in a row. These surprises are losing their magic."
Hilde leaned her head back as she stared at the wall, exhausted.
"After the unknown stimulation she received upon leaving the simulation, going off the words of Vivian, we aren't certain that these three elements are all she has."
"So possibly more than three. Guessing those are probably all Grade Fifth Elements?"
"We don't know. The researchers are stumped. History has only documented so many appearances of elements beyond Grade Fourth."
"So, in short. We lack knowledge and information. Us? It's like a gross joke."
Hilde stifled a dry and hollow chuckle.
"Such a problem child."
That was basically where their conversations teetered out.
At present, these last few days, Kumi's progress had been steady. Each day, she would go one further than the previous day. Now, she had just finished challenging the 6th room of beasts.
Because she was proceeding with such a slow and steady strategy, they had needed to close off this specific Hunting Corridor from others so that Kumi could focus on solo clearing it.
This left only one other Hunting Corridor available for use by all the other members of Death's Doorstep.
It was troublesome to deal with the few complaints that reached her, but there wasn't anything anyone could do. Hilde personally closed the place off.
Kumi had now left the kitchen as Ayaka moved out from behind a corner and approached her.
Kumi stopped in her tracks as she looked up at Ayaka who approached from her side.
"You have- nevermind."
Ayaka interrupted herself as she took a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped Kumi's mouth.
"Keep clean after eating." she commented before immediately following up with the main topic.
"What Level are you now?"
"20." Kumi responded as Ayaka continued rubbing the handkerchief on her soft cheeks.
Ayaka stopped and stood up straight, handing the handkerchief to Kumi.
"Then you can experience your first Rank Ascension now."
"Mhm."
"Follow me then."
Kumi followed along her from behind as Ayaka escorted her to a familiar training ground where they often trained resistances in the past.
Kumi had no visible change in expression as she silently watched on.
"Sit down and focus your mana."
Kumi followed her instructions in silence, as she often did.
Ayaka then continued explaining.
"A Rank Ascension isn't complicated. In simple terms, at certain Levels you can not grow further without experiencing a 'Rank Up'. To experience it, all you need to do is find a safe and quiet place and focus on your internal mana flow."
Kumi listened on as she closed her eyes.
Ayaka crossed her arms while looking at her, seemingly slightly pleased with how Kumi continued following her words with such attention even until now.
'Always so hooked on my every word.'
Ayaka thought to herself before continuing.
"With your focus on your mana flow, all you have to do to increase your rank is increase speed. The speed of your internal mana flow. Focus on it. Force it to accelerate. Like that, there will be friction inside your body as it begins acting like a forge."
Kumi followed her instructions, attempting to speed up her internal mana flow.
Ayaka didn't halt her explanation as she watched Kumi.
"Body heat will naturally increase due to the internal friction of mana. It will be tempered and strengthened. For your first Rank Ascension, this is all you need to do and know. As Rank increases, so does the time it takes to complete its Ascension. There are slight changes in method and focus at higher Rank Ascensions but those aren't yet important to you."
As if on cue, Kumi experienced her first Rank Ascension.
Time continued to pass by.
One month after this day, the Eastern nation of Reytsent would be at their Doorstep.