Lucas watched Adeline with an expression carefully curated. He could not let her suspect him...
But beneath the surface, a storm brewed. He stood a short distance away, mimicking the motions of practice to avoid suspicion.
His palms glowed faintly with the icy hue of his element, weak and faltering, a pitiful contrast to the powerful bolts of lightning Adeline summoned effortlessly. His fingers twitched, and his fists clenched by his sides as his jealousy burned.
Adeline's power was remarkable, even in its raw, uncontrolled state. Each crackling arc of electricity lit up the space around her, commanding attention and respect.
Lucas could feel the sharp pang of resentment in his chest. He despised his own limitations, the meagre strength of his ice powers. They were a shadow of what they could have been if not for years of neglect and the dismissive attitudes of those around him.
