Thomas's heart was filled with pain and frustration. In the duel with Calvin, he finally lost. He used to be the pride of the academy and the goal that countless magic apprentices looked up to. But now, he felt as if he had fallen from the clouds and was shattered to pieces. He couldn't accept such a result. His heart was full of unwillingness and anger.
After the duel ended, Thomas returned to his room alone. He locked himself inside and didn't want to see anyone. His room was filled with magic books and various magic materials. But now, these things that once fascinated him all became dull in his eyes.
He sat on the floor, holding his head in his hands, and his heart was full of self-blame. He began to question his own ability and whether he was really suitable to be a magician. He recalled every detail of the duel, every failed attack, and every defense easily dissolved by Calvin. He felt that his magic seemed so powerless.
"Why did I lose?" Thomas murmured to himself. "I shouldn't have lost..."
His emotions began to become unstable. Sometimes he angrily waved his wand, and sometimes he painfully pounded the wall. His heart was full of crazy thoughts. He wanted to become stronger. He wanted to surpass Calvin and everyone else. He began to practice day and night. He wanted to make up for his deficiencies through continuous efforts. His mentor, Ms. Alison, noticed Thomas's abnormality. She knocked on the door and asked softly, "Thomas, are you in there? Can I come in?"
Thomas didn't respond. He continued to be immersed in his own practice. Ms. Alison sighed. She knew that Thomas needed time to accept failure, but she was also worried that he would go to extremes because of this.
A few days later, strange sounds came from Thomas's room. His roommate, Jack, said worriedly to Ms. Alison, "Ms. Alison, Thomas has been in the room these days. He seems... seems a bit strange."
Ms. Alison frowned. She decided that she couldn't wait any longer. She opened Thomas's door and saw Thomas with red eyes and a tired face. But his hand was still tightly holding the wand and constantly casting various magics.
"Thomas, stop!" Ms. Alison said loudly. "You will hurt yourself like this."
Thomas stopped his actions. He turned his head and looked at Ms. Alison, his eyes full of confusion. "Ms. Alison, I... I just want to become stronger."
Ms. Alison walked to Thomas's side and comforted him softly. "I know you want to become stronger, but such blind practice is not good. You need rest, need to think, and need to learn from failure."
There was a hint of wavering in Thomas's eyes. His voice became hoarse. "But... I lost. I lost..." Ms. Alison held Thomas's hand and said firmly, "Failure is not the end but a new beginning. You are a potential magician. I believe you can stand up from this failure."
Under Ms. Alison's persuasion, Thomas finally put down his wand. His body was tired due to excessive practice. He began to realize that what he needed was not only strength but also wisdom and patience.
In the following days, Thomas began to re-examine his practice methods. He no longer blindly pursued strength but began to learn how to better control and use magic. He also began to learn knowledge in other fields, such as history, philosophy, and strategy. He believed that these knowledges could help him better understand the essence of magic.
As time passed, Thomas's mentality gradually returned to calm. He began to accept his failure and learn from it. He knew that becoming a great magician was not only about having powerful strength but more importantly, having a firm will and a spirit of continuous learning.
Thomas's story spread in the academy. His experience inspired many magic apprentices. They began to realize that failure was not a shame but an opportunity for growth. Thomas also regained the respect of his classmates. With his actions, he proved that true strength comes from inner tenacity and unremitting efforts.