Fire magic. The one element that had proven the most difficult for him to master, the one that had revealed that dark, ominous flicker at its edges during his last attempt. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves as he approached the central platform.
"The task is simple," she explained. "You are to summon and control a flame, sustaining it for a full minute without letting it grow beyond your control. The flame should remain steady and contained, demonstrating both your understanding of fire magic and your ability to control it."
Alexander nodded, trying to focus on the instructions. He had done this before, however imperfectly, and he could do it again. All he had to do was keep the flame steady, keep it contained.
He began by tracing the runes for fire in the air, his movements precise and controlled. The runes glowed faintly as he channeled his intent into them, and slowly, a small flame flickered into existence in front of him.
For a moment, everything seemed to be going well. The flame hovered steadily in the air, its light warm and contained. Alexander could feel the energy flowing through him, the connection between himself and the element of fire. But as he concentrated on maintaining the flame, he felt that dark energy stir within him, like a shadow creeping at the edges of his mind.
he flame began to waver, its light flickering unevenly. Alexander could feel it slipping out of his control, the energy of the fire growing stronger, more volatile. He gritted his teeth, trying to rein it in, but the harder he tried to control it, the more the flame seemed to resist.
He could hear the murmur of the students around him, their whispers filled with doubt and apprehension. The pressure was mounting, and Alexander could feel his control slipping further. The dark energy within him was growing stronger, pushing against his attempts to contain it.
Suddenly, the flame flared brightly, with dark, ominous flicker at its edges, its light blinding as it surged outward. Alexander stumbled back, struggling to regain control, but the flame had taken on a life of its own, growing larger and more intense with each passing second.
Panic set in as the flame threatened to spiral out of control, its heat searing the air around it. Alexander could feel the dark energy within him rising to the surface, threatening to overwhelm him. He had to do something, had to regain control before the flame consumed everything.
But just as he was about to give in to despair, a memory flashed through his mind—Lira's voice, calm and reassuring, reminding him to trust in himself, to find his own strength. It was a small thing, but it was enough to anchor him, to give him the clarity he needed.
He took a deep breath, centering himself, and reached out to the flame once more. But this time, instead of trying to force it into submission, he let it flow through him, guiding it with a light touch rather than a heavy hand. The dark energy within him responded, but instead of fighting it, he channeled it into the flame, merging the two forces into one.
The flame steadied, its light softening as it shrank back to a more manageable size. Alexander could feel the dark energy coiling within it, a part of the flame rather than an enemy to be defeated. He focused on that connection, on the balance between light and shadow, and slowly, the flame settled into a steady, controlled burn.
He held it there, maintaining the flame for the full minute as instructed. The room was silent, the tension palpable as the students watched him in awe. When the minute was up, Alexander released the flame, letting it dissipate into the air like smoke.
The room remained silent for a moment, as if the students were processing what they had just witnessed. Professor Thalia watched him closely, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly as she assessed what she had just seen. "Well done, Alexander," she said, her voice steady but not giving away anything more. "You demonstrated a remarkable level of control for someone with your level of experience."
As Alexander made his way back to his seat, he caught a glimpse of the three male students, their smug expressions replaced with frustration and barely concealed anger. It was clear that their plan to humiliate him had backfired spectacularly.
The rest of the class passed in a blur for Alexander. He couldn't shake the feeling of the dark energy he had tapped into, the way it had coiled around the flame, amplifying his power but also hinting at something deeper, something more dangerous, which aroused his interest in studying and controlling it in depth.
After class, Alexander gathered his things and left the room, eager to get some fresh air and clear his mind. The tension from the challenge still lingered, and he needed a moment to process everything that had happened.
As he made his way down one of the Academy's narrow corridors, heading toward the courtyard, he suddenly found his path blocked by the three male students who had been watching him earlier, their expressions dark and menacing. Lucian stood a few steps behind them, his arms crossed and a cold smile on his face.
One of the students, a tall, broad-shouldered boy with a sneer on his lips, stepped forward. "You think you're something special, don't you?" he said, his tone dripping with disdain. "Just because you managed to pull off that little trick in class?"
Alexander felt a surge of anger but forced himself to stay calm. He knew that reacting with anger would only escalate the situation, and that was exactly what Lucian wanted. "I'm not looking for trouble," Alexander said evenly. "I'm just here to learn, like everyone else."
"Don't get cocky, Graves," another student chimed in, his voice sharp. "Don't think this is over. If you know what's good for you, you'll stay away from people you don't belong around."
Alexander knew exactly what they were getting at. This wasn't just about the challenge—it was about Lira. Lucian had put them up to this, using his influence to try and scare Alexander off, to make him away from Lira.
"I'm not afraid of you," Alexander said, his voice firm. "And I'm not going to back down just because you think you can intimidate me."
The tall boy took another step forward, his expression darkening. "You should be afraid. We're giving you a chance to leave on your own terms. Otherwise, things are going to get a lot more difficult for you."
Before Alexander could respond, a voice rang out from behind him, clear and commanding. "That's enough."
The three boys stiffened, their expressions shifting from menace to surprise as Lira stepped into view. Her presence seemed to sap the bravado from the trio, who immediately backed away, glancing nervously between her and Lucian.
"Leave him alone," Lira said firmly, her gaze hardening as she looked at Lucian. "Whatever issue you have, it's between you and me. Alexander has done nothing wrong, and if you or your lackeys continue to harass him, you'll have to answer to me."
Lucian's smile faltered for a moment, but then he shrugged, his eyes narrowing. "Very well, Lira. Have it your way."
With a final, lingering glare at Alexander, Lucian and his lackeys turned and walked away, disappearing down the corridor. Alexander let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.
"Thank you, Lira," he said quietly, grateful for her intervention. "I don't know what I would've done without you."
Lira shook her head, her expression softening as she looked at him. "Lucian… he can be difficult, but don't let him get to you."
Her words were sincere, and Alexander felt a warmth spread through him, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this was far from over. He won't just sit back and wait for things to happen.
"Good. Now, let's get out of here before they come back."
Together, they left the classroom and walked through the corridors of the Academy, the tension of the day slowly fading as they talked.