Elyas woke up with a plan. It was the same plan he'd had for the last three months: prove that he wasn't just a magnet for magical disasters. He was going to be competent today. No exploding potions, no accidental body swaps, and definitely no glowing green.
The academy halls bustled with students prepping for the annual Academy Trials, an event where each student showcased their magical talents. For Elyas, the Trials meant one thing: an opportunity to redeem himself. If he could nail his trial performance, maybe he'd finally shed his reputation as the academy's walking magical hazard.
Kellen and Seraphina were at the breakfast table when Elyas arrived, his face set in determined concentration.
Kellen (smirking): "Oh no. You've got that look on your face again."
Elyas (defensively): "What look?"
Kellen (teasing): "The 'I'm going to prove something and accidentally summon a demon' look."
Seraphina (raising an eyebrow): "Do you even know what you're doing for your Trial yet?"
Elyas hesitated. Truth be told, he hadn't fully decided. Transformation spells were too risky. Potions... well, he still hadn't lived down the love potion incident. And his last attempt at elemental magic resulted in Kellen being chased by a sentient thundercloud for a week.
Elyas (determined): "I'm going to keep it simple. A levitation spell. How hard can that be?"
Kellen (deadpan): "Famous last words."
Seraphina sighed. As much as she wanted to believe in Elyas's newfound focus, history had proven that even the simplest spell could go awry in his hands. But there was something different about him today.
Seraphina (supportively): "Just… maybe practice it a few times before the actual Trial, okay?"
The Academy Trials and the World Around Them
The Trials were held in the Grand Courtyard, a vast open area surrounded by towering, ancient oaks. The academy itself, the Arcane Institute of Eldoria, was a sprawling structure of majestic stone towers and classrooms, with enchanted floating torches that lit the pathways at night. The world outside the academy was no less magical—Eldoria was a land of shimmering rivers that whispered secrets, forests where trees moved if you weren't looking, and skies that changed colors depending on the moods of the wind spirits.
The academy sat in the heart of this magical realm, a beacon for aspiring mages across the land. But despite its grandeur and the seemingly endless wonders of the magical world, it had one infamous quirk: its tendency to house students like Elyas, whose magic didn't quite align with their ambition.
The Trials were the ultimate chance for students to impress not only their professors but visiting dignitaries and other prestigious mages. Failure here meant weeks of ridicule, while success could elevate even the clumsiest mage to glory. Elyas knew all eyes would be on him—for all the wrong reasons.
A Plan in Motion
The courtyard was packed. Students from all levels were preparing their spells, while others were warming up. The air buzzed with magic—spells crackling in the air, sparks of light flickering around, and the soft hum of energy as enchantments were being tested.
Elyas stood off to the side, watching as other students executed flawless feats of magic: a dazzling display of fireworks, perfectly conjured elemental bursts, and even a summoning of a sleek, majestic winged lion that purred as its summoner pet it. Elyas gulped. How was he supposed to compete with that?
He found a quiet corner and closed his eyes, centering himself. He only needed to levitate a simple object. He chose a medium-sized stone that was innocuous enough to not cause any problems. Elyas reached out with his magic, feeling the familiar hum of energy swirling in his fingers. He whispered the levitation incantation.
At first, nothing happened. Then, the stone trembled. Elyas's heart raced in excitement. Slowly, the stone began to rise, hovering just an inch off the ground.
Elyas (grinning): "Yes! Yes, I did it!"
And then, predictably, something went wrong.
Chaos Ensues
Instead of levitating gracefully, the stone suddenly shot up into the air like a rocket. It zoomed up, higher and higher, until it was out of sight. Elyas's smile faltered as the stone vanished beyond the academy walls.
Elyas (panicked): "Uh-oh."
Seraphina and Kellen rushed over, sensing impending disaster.
Kellen (laughing): "What did you do this time?"
Before Elyas could answer, there was a loud crashing sound from across the courtyard. The stone had come back, and not alone. It had attracted a flock of enchanted geese. They honked furiously as they swarmed the courtyard, knocking over other students' spell setups, sending papers flying, and generally causing havoc.
Seraphina (wide-eyed): "Geese?! You summoned geese?!"
Elyas (defensively): "I didn't mean to summon geese!"
The flock of geese swooped down on a group of students, pecking at their robes. One particularly large goose targeted Elyas, honking aggressively as it chased him in circles.
Kellen (doubling over with laughter): "This is the best Trial ever! You've outdone yourself, Elyas!"
The courtyard descended into chaos. Students abandoned their spells to flee from the furious geese. A fireball went rogue, setting a nearby hedge ablaze, while someone's elemental wind spell blew half the Trial papers into the lake.
An Unexpected Ally
Just when Elyas thought he might be pecked to death by an overly-aggressive goose, a voice rang out from the edge of the courtyard.
Professor Aldwin: "Enough!"
With a wave of his hand, the geese were frozen mid-honk. The courtyard fell silent, save for the sound of Elyas's panicked breathing and Kellen's wheezing laughter. Professor Aldwin, tall and imposing with his silver beard and ever-watchful eyes, strode toward Elyas.
Professor Aldwin (sternly): "What, in the name of all things magical, were you attempting to do?"
Elyas (defeated): "I… I was trying to levitate a rock."
Professor Aldwin sighed, his gaze softening just slightly. Though Elyas was a frequent cause of trouble, Aldwin had always believed the boy had potential.
Professor Aldwin (kindly): "Levitation is simple. But you, Elyas, are not a simple mage. Your magic is more... unpredictable. Perhaps it's time to stop fighting it and learn to embrace that."
Elyas blinked. He'd never thought of it that way. His magic always went awry, but maybe that was because he kept trying to force it into neat little boxes. What if, instead of constantly trying to control every aspect, he worked with the chaos?
Professor Aldwin (gesturing to the courtyard): "Now, let's fix this mess before the entire academy is overrun by enchanted poultry."
After the Trial
Later that evening, after the geese had been dispelled and the courtyard returned to its original, non-chaotic state, Elyas, Seraphina, and Kellen sat by the fountain. The Trials had been a disaster, but in typical Elyas fashion, they had been unforgettable.
Seraphina (smiling): "You know, despite everything, I think Aldwin has a point. Maybe your magic isn't meant to be controlled like everyone else's."
Kellen (grinning): "Yeah, maybe you're just destined to be the king of magical mishaps. And hey, at least you've got stories."
Elyas chuckled. He didn't mind the teasing as much anymore. His friends were right—he was different, and that didn't have to be a bad thing. Maybe it was time to stop worrying about proving himself and just embrace the chaos.
Elyas (smiling): "You know what? I think you're right. If I'm going to make a mess, I might as well make it a magical one."
And with that, Elyas decided that his journey through magic didn't have to be perfect—it just had to be his own.