The academy buzzed with energy as students filed into the central courtyard, where the day's activity was announced. The instructors, robed in their ceremonial attire, stood on a raised platform, reading out the rules for the challenge. This wasn't just a regular class—it was a test to measure teamwork and magical ability, and for some, it could affect their standing within the academy.
Each student was paired randomly with a classmate, their goal being to complete a task in the Field of Trials, a section of the academy known for its unpredictable enchantments. The announcement echoed through the courtyard, bringing a mix of cheers, nervous laughs, and groans from the students.
Zaryth stood in the crowd, his arms crossed, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone.
"And for our next pair—Mavuika natlan and Zaryth!"
A collective snicker spread through the courtyard.
"Oh great," Zaryth muttered under his breath. "I'm doomed."
Mavuika, standing a few feet away, turned toward him with a mischievous grin. Her crimson eyes sparkled, and a sly smile curled on her lips. "Looks like you're stuck with me, genius."
Zaryth sighed. "Yeah, lucky me."
Their task was announced soon after: retrieve a magical orb hidden deep within the Thunder Serpent's Shrine and return it without being caught by the shrine's guardian—a magically manifested serpent that controlled lightning.
"This sounds... fun," Zaryth said, though his face said otherwise.
"Fun?" Mavuika raised an eyebrow. "You'll probably die halfway through, and I'll have to drag your sorry corpse back."
Zaryth ignored the jab and rolled his shoulders. He had been trying to figure out his strange core since the day he discovered it, and today seemed like the perfect opportunity to test it—at least partially.
"Alright, just stay close and don't slow me down," Mavuika teased as the two entered the enchanted field.
The air inside the shrine crackled with latent electricity, and every step made the ground hum with energy. Shadows flickered along the walls, coiling like serpents, and the faint sound of thunder rumbled in the distance.
"We need to move fast," Mavuika said, scanning the area.
Zaryth nodded, though he felt an inexplicable itch in his mind. The purple core pulsed faintly inside him, urging him to focus. If he could just activate it properly this time...
As they ventured deeper into the shrine, the serpent's guardian emerged from the shadows—a massive, glowing creature with shimmering scales that looked like moving storm clouds. Bolts of electricity danced across its body, and its eyes locked onto them with deadly intent.
Mavuika reacted immediately, summoning fire magic in her palms. "We need that orb. You distract it, I'll grab it!"
Zaryth hesitated. He knew he wasn't capable of distracting something this dangerous—at least, not with normal magic. But what if I try to use the other core?
Without a second thought, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and reached inward. The moment he focused, the familiar vision returned. Purple particles swirled around him, and the strings of light stretched across the space.
He concentrated hard, feeling the strange energy flow through him. The threads wavered as if waiting for his command.
Maybe... if I just move one of them—
Zaryth reached out with his mind, attempting to manipulate the threads. For a moment, it felt like he was succeeding. The purple particles shifted, and the storm serpent froze mid-lunge, as if caught between moments.
"Yes... I did it!" Zaryth whispered triumphantly, sweat dripping from his brow.
But the strain hit him all at once. His body trembled violently, and a sharp pain exploded in his head. He gasped, staggering backward, blood trickling from his nose.
"Oh no."
He coughed—and to his horror, he coughed up blood.
Mavuika spun around, wide-eyed. "Zaryth! What the hell are you doing?! Are you—"
Before she could finish, Zaryth collapsed onto his knees, wiping the blood from his mouth. He tried to speak, but all that came out was a pathetic, wheezy cough.
Mavuika stared at him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, she narrowed her eyes. "Wait a second... were you... trying to impress me?"
Zaryth blinked, horrified. "What?! No!"
Mavuika crossed her arms, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. "Don't tell me you overexerted yourself to show off. What, you thought I'd be impressed by some weird magic trick and fall madly in love with you?"
"I... I didn't—" Zaryth stammered, his face turning bright red.
Mavuika burst out laughing. "You idiot! You nearly died trying to act cool!"
Zaryth groaned and buried his face in his hands. "I swear, that's not what I was doing..."
"Sure, sure." Mavuika wiped a tear from her eye, still giggling. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, Casanova."
By some miracle—and mostly thanks to Mavuika—the two managed to retrieve the orb and return to the academy without any more incidents. Zaryth, still recovering from the blood loss and humiliation, kept his head down as they left the enchanted field.
"Next time, try not to die during a school activity, alright?" Mavuika teased as they walked.
"I'll try my best," Zaryth muttered, avoiding her amused gaze.
When they finally reached the academy gates, Zaryth glanced up at the sky, his thoughts drifting. The strange power inside him—it was dangerous, no doubt about that. But he couldn't ignore the fact that, for a brief moment, he had touched something extraordinary. He just needed to figure out how to control it without coughing up blood.
That evening, Zaryth sat in his family's dining room, still nursing a headache from the day's ordeal. His younger brother, Nico, sat beside him, swinging his legs under the table.
"Did you really cough up blood at the trial?" Nico asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.
Zaryth groaned. "Yes. Thanks for reminding me."
Their mother, sitting at the head of the table, shot him a worried glance. "Zaryth, you need to be more careful. You're already fragile enough as it is."
"I'm not fragile," Zaryth muttered. "I just... overdid it a little."
Ruby, seated across from him, gave him a knowing look. "You're always overdoing it."
Zaryth leaned back in his chair with a sigh. The day had left him exhausted, but his mind kept drifting back to the strange core and the vision of the purple particles. There was so much he didn't understand yet, and the weight of it pressed heavily on his chest.
But one thing was clear: something had awakened inside him, and it wasn't going to stay hidden for long.
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