Kalem's second week at Arcathis was a continuation of the relentless pace of the first, but now the novelty had worn off, leaving behind a deeper sense of struggle. The realization of how far behind he was compared to his peers weighed heavily on him.
In the Material Division, students were already demonstrating advanced techniques, some of which Kalem couldn't even begin to follow. Discussions about elemental affinities and resonance mechanics left him scrambling to jot down notes he barely understood.
"Today, we'll be working with resonant crystals," Master Tharak announced in their Practical Lab class. He held up a shimmering blue shard that seemed to hum faintly in his hand. "These are the foundation of advanced enchantments. Handle them with care, or you'll be patching the walls instead of crafting."
Kalem stared at the crystal in front of him, his heart sinking. He had never worked with something so delicate or volatile. As the other students confidently began carving runes into their crystals, Kalem hesitated. His hand shook slightly as he tried to etch the first symbol, and the crystal emitted a sharp ping sound before cracking in half.
"Careless!" Master Tharak's booming voice echoed across the room, drawing the attention of the other students. "Crystals respond to intent and precision. If you can't control your focus, you'll achieve nothing!"
Kalem flushed, nodding silently as he cleaned up the shards.
Meanwhile, Lyra seemed to be flourishing in the Alchemy Division. She regaled Kalem with stories of her experiments during their shared meals, though she always made an effort to keep the tone light.
"I managed to stabilize a volatile compound today," she said one evening, grinning as she passed him a bowl of stew. "The professor said it was impressive for a first-year."
"That's great," Kalem replied, though his voice lacked enthusiasm. He poked at his food, his appetite diminished by the stress of the day.
Lyra noticed his demeanor and frowned. "Hey, don't beat yourself up. You're in the hardest division. It's supposed to be challenging."
"I feel like I'm drowning," Kalem admitted. "Everyone else seems to know what they're doing, and I'm just... struggling to keep up."
She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You'll get there. It just takes time. Remember, you're the guy who forged a spear that impressed even the evaluators. You've got talent, Kalem. Don't forget that."
The next day, Kalem's schedule was packed with back-to-back classes. In Runes and Inscription, they were tasked with creating a simple enchanted object. While the assignment sounded straightforward, Kalem quickly realized that even the most basic enchantment required a delicate balance of focus and precision.
After hours of work, he managed to create a glowing coin, though its light flickered inconsistently.
"Well, it's not perfect," the instructor commented, raising an eyebrow, "but it's functional. Barely."
In Basic Elemental Theory, Kalem's struggles continued. The instructor explained the interactions between fire-attuned metals and water-based enchantments, but Kalem's attempts to follow along only deepened his confusion.
By the end of the day, he was physically and mentally drained.
Late-Night Reflection
One evening, Kalem found himself back at the stables with Onyx, seeking solace in the quiet presence of his bull.
"Gruff," Onyx huffed, nudging Kalem with his massive head.
Kalem chuckled weakly. "At least you believe in me, huh?" He patted Onyx's side and leaned against him, staring up at the stars visible through the stable's open roof.
The sound of footsteps broke the silence, and Kalem turned to see Lyra approaching, a lantern in hand.
"I figured I'd find you here," she said, sitting down beside him.
"Needed some air," Kalem admitted.
Lyra nodded, pulling out a small flask and offering it to him. "Another tonic. It won't fix everything, but it might help you focus."
Kalem accepted it gratefully. "Thanks. I'm starting to wonder if I even belong here."
"Don't say that," Lyra said firmly. "Everyone struggles at first. You're learning things most people spend years studying before they even set foot in this place. Give yourself some credit."
Kalem sighed. "I just feel so far behind. Like I'm constantly trying to catch up, but the finish line keeps moving."
Lyra smiled softly. "Then stop chasing the finish line. Focus on the next step instead. One thing at a time. You're stubborn enough to make it work."
Kalem couldn't help but laugh. "Stubborn, huh?"
"Absolutely," she said, grinning. "And that's not a bad thing. You'll get through this. I know you will."
Kalem looked back up at the stars, her words echoing in his mind. Despite the struggles, he couldn't deny that he had come a long way from the quiet valley where his journey began. Maybe Lyra was right—maybe he just needed to take it one step at a time.
For now, that would have to be enough.