---
After the robed elder's parting words and the lingering silence that followed, the students began to disperse, heading toward their designated training grounds. Finn scanned the crowd, searching for Caelum. He frowned as he realized Caelum was nowhere in sight—he had already left without a word, and Sera had vanished too. No one seemed to have noticed their exit.
"Why did Sera even follow him? She's an earth mage, for fuck's sake," Finn muttered under his breath as he headed toward the Storm's Nexus, the hall reserved for lightning mages. Finn had been looking forward to walking there together, sharing the excitement of their newfound power. But now, instead of the camaraderie he'd hoped for, he was left with a nagging curiosity about why Sera had left alongside Caelum.
Meanwhile, Caelum walked steadily toward Storm's Nexus, the faint hum of lightning magic already crackling in the air as he approached. Sera followed just behind, glancing around, uncomfortable under the constant stares from passing students.
"Is this how they're going to keep staring at us?" Sera asked, her voice tinged with frustration. "I'm starting to feel like we're being watched."
Caelum's expression softened as he looked back at her. "Don't worry. All of this will pass soon," he replied calmly. "They're just curious because it's our first week. Once they get used to seeing you, the attention will fade."
Sera's eyes brightened slightly, visibly relieved, and Caelum smirked, deciding to add a playful jab. "Though," he added with a subtle grin, "there may be less attention—but more pursuers."
"What do you mean?" Sera shot him a sharp look, eyebrows raised.
Caelum's smile deepened, and he gestured around them, his tone playful but with an underlying seriousness. "Soon, the academy will start pairing us for dual cultivation. You'll have a crowd lining up for the chance to be your partner."
Sera's eyes widened at the unexpected news, her expression a mix of shock and discomfort. Before she could respond, Caelum turned to face her, his smile still faint but genuine. "Anyway, I'm here," he said, nodding toward the imposing structure before them. "See you later."
With that, he stepped through the arched entrance of Storm's Nexus, leaving Sera standing at the threshold, her thoughts racing. Inside, the training hall was vast, a cavernous space with high ceilings and walls lined with reflective silver veins that glinted like lightning. The air hummed with an almost electric energy, charged and waiting to be tapped into by those gifted with lightning.
The students gathered within the Storm's Nexus, their eyes adjusting to the vast, shimmering space. Silver veins snaked across the walls, each glinting as if alive with captured lightning, casting a mesmerizing glow across the crowd. The atmosphere thrummed with power, sharp and electric, setting each student's pulse racing in anticipation.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and an ominous silence fell. A flash of blue-white lightning crackled from the ceiling, arcing downward with blinding intensity. The students gasped as the lightning split into several bolts, converging just above the podium, where it swirled in a pulsing orb of light. The air grew taut with energy, and in an instant, the orb shattered, revealing a figure cloaked in flowing purple robes, his presence as fierce as the lightning that had birthed him.
The elder's silver hair caught the lingering light, and his intense eyes scanned the room, their steely gaze seeming to penetrate the hearts of each student before him. His entrance was as if he'd been called down from the heavens themselves, with a mastery over lightning that left them in awe. He lifted a single hand, and thin strands of lightning coiled around his fingers, illuminating his features with a sharp, unearthly glow.
"Welcome, initiates, to your first lesson in elemental mastery," he began, his voice resonating through the hall with an authority that commanded silence. "I am Elder Zareth, your guide in harnessing the power of lightning."
He let the crackling electricity dissipate with a snap of his fingers, plunging the hall back into stillness. Every eye remained fixed on him, captivated by both his display of power and the sense of mystery he embodied.
Elder Zareth began his lesson by pacing along the edge of the podium. "Magic, as you are beginning to understand, is a force as ancient as the stars themselves. But power, true power, is not gifted lightly. It must be earned. Today, you stand at the lowest of all paths, but each step upward will test your strength, resolve, and... determination to rise above."
He gestured with a sweep of his arm, and the air rippled, a faint glow taking shape above him to form nine symbols, each one representing a different level of magical mastery. The students watched in awe as Elder Zareth spoke, his words illuminating each level.
"There are nine levels of magic," he explained, "each a step toward true power. Every level is divided into three stages: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. To become a true master of your element, you must conquer each stage, pushing yourself to heights you cannot yet fathom."
1. Novice
Basic: The level each of you currently stands at, newly awakened and barely scratching the surface of magic.
Intermediate: A stage where mages can manipulate their element with greater ease, shaping it with minimal effort.
Advanced: This is where mages are first able to integrate elemental energy into simple spells and minor defenses.
2. Apprentice
Basic: At this level, the control and power of spells are refined, allowing for slightly more complex manipulations.
Intermediate: Mages gain enhanced stamina in casting, able to channel their element for longer periods.
Advanced: They begin to sense the unique traits of their element, gaining instinctive understanding and reaction times.
3. Adept
Basic: This is the level I stand upon," Zareth said, a hint of pride in his tone. "At this point, mages gain access to destructive capabilities and can control their elements instinctively."
Intermediate: Greater synergy with their element allows the mage to create intricate and multi-faceted spells.
Advanced: Mages begin to manipulate their element in ways that defy the natural world, bending and shaping it to their will.
4. Disciple
Basic: Mages begin to unlock the potential for elemental infusion—imbuing their element into weapons, objects, and even allies.
Intermediate: Mages at this stage gain the capacity to manipulate multiple aspects of their element at once.
Advanced: This is where elemental resistance begins to develop; a lightning mage might withstand storms, while fire mages resist flames.
5. Master
Basic: With intense training, a master can condense their element into a raw form of energy.
Intermediate: They gain almost perfect control, their element responding to their will instantly.
Advanced: Masters can sustain powerful spells, nearly draining their surroundings of magic if necessary.
6. Grandmaster
Basic: At this level, mages can infuse their life force with their element, channeling immense energy.
Intermediate: They possess complete immunity to their own element's effects.
Advanced: Grandmasters can perform feats that transform the battlefield, altering the landscape itself.
7. Ascendant
Basic: The mage develops a natural aura of their element, making their mere presence affect the environment.
Intermediate: With a thought, they can summon vast amounts of their element, from afar or from within.
Advanced: Ascendants can harness their element in pure, unrestrained forms, capable of devastating entire armies.
8. Archmage
Basic: These mages hold a supernatural mastery, bending their element to create effects that seem like miracles.
Intermediate: Their control is such that they can combine other elements with their own.
Advanced: At this level, Archmages can sustain spells indefinitely, their magic boundless.
9. Sovereign
Basic: The true pinnacle of magical mastery, Sovereigns wield elemental power on a cosmic scale.
Intermediate: They shape reality itself through magic, becoming forces of nature.
Advanced: The final stage is said to be something beyond the mortal realm, a state only legends speak of.
Elder Zareth paused, allowing the weight of the levels to sink in. "Each of you is but a Novice, with a long and arduous path ahead."
The students murmured, their awe turning to determination. They had taken their first step, but the path seemed endless.
---
With the fundamentals of magic explained, Elder Zareth shifted his tone. "Yet, magic does not exist in a vacuum. The world has adapted to it in ways that were neither foreseen nor controlled. As magic rooted itself in the world, so too did the Earth change, birthing creatures that harness magic as we do. These are the Magical Beasts."
A collective silence fell as Elder Zareth described these creatures.
"Magical beasts exist on levels that parallel our own. Though for now, you will only need to understand the five primary levels:
1. Mundane Beasts: Creatures touched only faintly by magic, with minor abilities.
2. Lesser Beasts: They possess moderate magical abilities, making them formidable for beginners.
3. Greater Beasts: Dangerous entities that are as powerful as a trained mage of the Adept level.
4. Elder Beasts: Their power rivals that of Master-level mages, and they guard their territory with ferocity.
5. Ancient Beasts: These are rare and nearly god-like, holding magic in amounts that even Archmages respect."
The students exchanged tense glances. These beasts were far more than mere monsters; they were a part of the world, shaped and mutated by magic.
"In each beast lies a core, their powerhouse—a crystal formed by magic within their bodies. These crystals contain vast reserves of elemental energy. For those who are wise enough to harness them, these crystals are invaluable. They will aid your growth, serve as a resource, and in some cases, be the key to unlocking hidden potential."
Elder Zareth finished his lesson, his gaze sharp as lightning. "Prepare yourselves, for tomorrow you shall begin your first practical application. Wear your training clothes, for you will face each other in duels."
As the students filed out of Storm's Nexus, a new fire blazed in their eyes. They had been given a glimpse of the heights they could achieve and the dangers that awaited them.