The days were grueling, filled with relentless practice and lessons that tested every ounce of my focus. Cerys, to her credit, didn't let me take the easy way out. She pushed me to refine my spells, forcing me to repeat even the simplest exercises until the motions became instinctive. Lyra was a quieter presence during the training, occasionally offering tips but often watching from the sidelines with her usual sharp gaze.
"You've made progress," Cerys said one afternoon as I extinguished a flame orb. "But raw skill won't be enough to carry you through the competition. You need strategy."
"Then tell me about the competition," I said, brushing sweat from my brow.
She arched an eyebrow. "You don't even know what you've signed up for?"
"I know it's my only shot," I said, holding her gaze.
She sighed, stepping over to a nearby shelf and pulling down a dusty tome. Flipping it open, she gestured for me to look. "The competition has three stages, each designed to test different aspects of a mage's abilities. Passing one stage doesn't guarantee success in the next, and only the best make it through to the end."
I scanned the text, my eyes catching on the description of the first stage.
The First Stage: Mastery of Control
"The first stage is about precision," Cerys explained. "Each competitor will face a series of challenges designed to test their control over magic. You'll be tasked with maintaining a spell under difficult conditions—like holding a flame steady against a gust of wind, shaping water into specific forms, or using light magic to illuminate only certain targets."
"That doesn't sound too bad," I said cautiously.
"It's deceptively simple," she said, her tone sharp. "The judges will watch for every wobble, every flicker of instability. A single mistake could mean elimination."
I frowned, the weight of her words settling heavily. "How do I prepare for that?"
"Practice," she said bluntly. "And not just with fire. You'll need to diversify your spells if you want to stand out."
The Second Stage: Tactical Application
Cerys turned the page, revealing a diagram of a circular arena marked with glowing runes.
"The second stage is designed to test your adaptability," she said. "You'll be placed in an environment that forces you to use your magic creatively. Past challenges have included solving puzzles, navigating mazes filled with magical traps, and facing summoned creatures that require specific countermeasures to defeat."
"That sounds... intense," I said, my stomach twisting at the thought.
"It is," Cerys said. "But it's also where you can shine if you think on your feet. The second stage separates those who've memorized spells from those who understand them."
The Third Stage: Combat
"And the final stage?" I asked, though I already had a feeling.
"Combat," she said simply, her eyes meeting mine. "The last remaining competitors face off in one-on-one duels. It's not just about brute force—it's about reading your opponent, countering their spells, and outlasting them."
I nodded slowly, the pieces of the competition falling into place in my mind.
That evening, as I sat cross-legged on the floor of our room, Lyra leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed. "You've got your work cut out for you."
"Tell me something I don't know," I muttered, shaping a small orb of fire in my palm and extinguishing it again.
She stepped closer, her gaze sharp. "If you want to survive this, you'll need more than just practice. You'll need a strategy for each stage."
"Such as?" I asked, looking up at her.
"For the first stage, focus on stability," she said. "Learn to hold your spells steady no matter what's thrown at you. And don't just stick to fire—try water, air, even light if you can manage it."
"Cerys said the same thing," I admitted.
"For the second stage, versatility is key," she continued. "Learn a range of spells and think about how to combine them. A simple flame might not do much, but combine it with wind and you've got something stronger."
"And for the third stage?" I asked.
She smirked faintly. "You'll need more than just magic. Learn to fight with your sword while using spells. Most mages won't expect that."
Over the next few days, my training shifted into high gear.
For the first stage, I practiced holding spells under pressure. Cerys created artificial gusts of wind to test my ability to keep a flame steady, while Lyra threw small objects at me to distract my focus. I also worked with water magic, shaping streams into precise forms and learning to maintain their structure.
For the second stage, I practiced combining spells. I used wind to amplify fire, light to reveal hidden runes on a puzzle Cerys gave me, and even water to snuff out magical traps. The pendant at my chest seemed to pulse with approval each time I succeeded, its steady warmth encouraging me to push further.
And for the third stage, Lyra sparred with me daily, her blade flashing as she forced me to integrate my magic into combat. She didn't hold back, and more than once, I ended up flat on my back with a bruised ego.
"You're learning," she said after one particularly rough session. "But you've got a long way to go."
"I'm getting there," I said, the faint glow of a flame orb in my hand steadying my resolve.
The competition was still weeks away, but the weight of it loomed over me like a storm cloud. Each spell, each strategy, each bruising sparring match brought me closer to readiness, but the question remained: would it be enough?
For now, all I could do was keep pushing forward.