After an exhausting day, Elba returns to the dorms, feeling unusually drained. Normally, he's always full of energy, but tonight, his body seems to ache for rest. Lucas reassures him, explaining that it might be the first time he's been so close to elemental magic. "Your body is still adjusting," Lucas says. "Since you can manipulate all elements, your core is probably strained. Relax. This might be the start of you manifesting your magic."
Elba falls asleep quickly, but his rest is anything but peaceful. As he dreams, his body shakes, and he cries out in his sleep. His nightmares intensify, and Lucas watches, concerned, as Elba becomes more and more disturbed. Suddenly, Elba shouts something in an ancient language, mixing Sanskrit with the powerful cadence of the dragon tongue: "Sarvānahaṁ hanisyaṁi!" (I will kill them all!)
Lucas is shocked as raw magic begins to pour out of Elba's hands uncontrollably, crackling with energy. Every particle of elemental magic in the air starts fusing into one overwhelming force. The intensity is dangerous. In a panic, Lucas rushes to wake Elba.
Elba jerks awake, both of them panting, as Lucas gasps, "Are you serious?!"
___
Lucas stood frozen for a moment, his heart racing as Elba's words echoed in his mind—"I'll kill all of you". The sheer power behind that voice, spoken in a language that Lucas couldn't fully understand but instinctively knew, was overwhelming. It wasn't just a voice; it was something ancient, something primal, like the roar of a long-forgotten beast buried in Elba's very soul. The leak of elemental magic had made the air heavy and stifling, and Lucas could feel the dense energy still lingering.
Lucas, catching his breath, shook Elba gently but urgently. "Elba! What the hell was that?! Are you serious?!" His voice was a mix of concern and fear, eyes wide as he glanced at Elba's hands, which still radiated faint sparks of magic.
Elba blinked, disoriented, sweat dripping down his face. His breathing was erratic, his body trembling as if he had just escaped from a battlefield. "What... what happened?" Elba's voice cracked, his throat dry. He glanced at Lucas, who looked far more alarmed than he had ever seen him.
"You... you were screaming in your sleep, man," Lucas said, still a bit shaken. "But then you started speaking in some kind of ancient tongue... and your magic, it just... exploded! The entire room felt like it was on fire, freezing, and storming all at once. Every element was swirling around you!"
Elba stared at Lucas, trying to process everything. He had no memory of what had happened in his dream, just flashes of darkness, ancient symbols, and a voice that wasn't his own, yet felt like it was calling from within him.
"I don't remember much," Elba whispered, his voice hoarse. "I felt something... like I was someone else for a moment. I said something in a language I don't know, but... it felt familiar. What did I say?"
Lucas swallowed, rubbing the back of his neck. "You said, I'll kill all of you. And... it wasn't normal, Elba. It was like something... or someone else was speaking through you. It was terrifying, man. The magic that came out of you—it wasn't just strong, it was unstable. Dangerous."
Elba sat up, gripping the edge of his bed as the weight of Lucas' words hit him. "I'll kill all of you"—he had no recollection of it, but the words left a sickening feeling in his chest. "I didn't mean it... I don't even know what I was dreaming about."
Lucas sat down next to him, a serious expression on his face. "Whatever that was, it wasn't just a bad dream. You're manifesting something... something powerful. It might be related to your dragon blood. I've heard stories, but nothing like this."
Elba let out a shaky breath, feeling more lost than ever. He clenched his fists, staring at the faint traces of magic still crackling around his fingers. "What if I hurt someone? What if I can't control it?"
"You won't," Lucas said firmly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "That's why we're here. You're at the academy to learn control, to understand what's inside you. But you need to figure out what triggered this... and fast."
Elba nodded, still shaken but grateful for Lucas' calm, practical approach. "I just... I don't want to hurt anyone."
"You won't," Lucas repeated, though his voice had a slight tremor, betraying his unease. "But we're going to need help with this. Maybe Ignis... or someone who knows more about the ancient dragon stuff. We'll figure it out, together."
Elba gave a faint smile, appreciating the support. "Thanks. I guess... I need to be more careful."
"You think?" Lucas snorted, trying to lighten the mood. "But seriously, Elba, don't freak out. You've got something strong inside you. It's scary, but it's also what makes you special. Just don't let it control you."
Elba lay back down, his mind swirling with thoughts. He had never felt this out of control before, and the idea that something ancient, something dangerous, was lurking inside him was terrifying. But he couldn't afford to lose himself to it.
As he closed his eyes, still feeling the remnants of the power surging through him, he knew one thing for certain—this was only the beginning of something much bigger. Something far beyond his understanding.
But he wasn't alone. And that, at least, gave him some comfort.
Lucas leaned back in his chair, watching Elba cautiously. "Just... get some sleep, man. But if you start chanting again, I'm waking the entire dorm."
Elba chuckled weakly. "Deal."
With that, the room finally fell silent, though the weight of what had just happened lingered heavily in the air. Elba's path was becoming more dangerous by the day, and the mysteries surrounding his powers were only deepening.