The large lecture hall buzzed with anticipation as Professor Higgs, an eccentric woman with a wild mane of silver hair, scanned the class with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Alright, first things first—the basics," she announced, her voice booming as she paced across the front of the room. "We're going to start with energy control. After that comes attunement, which is how you use your energy. You can attune to just about anything—body magic, fire magic, gun magic…" She trailed off with a sigh, clearly bored by the repetition. "This will all be explained in detail when you attune, but anything attunement-based will come after you master the basics."
She huffed dramatically, as though she'd repeated these instructions a million times. But then her tone lifted, taking on a sharper edge. "This year, however, we have a special little prize! The top twenty students who prove themselves the best will get to enter the dilating time chambers. The time limit is one week, alright? Now, sit down. It's time to learn to feel your energy core."
The students shuffled to their seats, whispering to one another about the mysterious prize. Silas couldn't help feeling a flicker of curiosity and nerves. He wasn't entirely sure what these "time chambers" were, but from the excitement in Higgs's voice, they sounded important—and the idea of winning a place there made his pulse quicken.
Professor Higgs moved to the board and began chalking out symbols and diagrams. "Alright, now we're going to find your energy core. That's where your magic resides. Everyone has one, and it's your key to controlling energy. When you focus, you'll feel a sensation somewhere in the center of your body. That's where we'll start."
She moved around the room, checking on students one by one. As each student concentrated, they reported the size of their energy core. The largest was about the size of a tomato; the smallest, the size of a peach pit.
James, Silas's closest friend, surprised everyone by reporting the largest core—about the size of a small melon. Professor Higgs raised an eyebrow at him. "One of the largest I've ever seen," she remarked with genuine surprise.
Then it was Silas's turn. He focused, closing his eyes and searching deep within himself. Professor Higgs sent a small, constant wave of energy toward him, and he felt subtle vibrations ripple through his chest. Slowly, he homed in on the faint tug of his core, steadying himself as he identified the small pulse.
"It's… about the size of a grape," he murmured, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Professor Higgs gave him a warm, reassuring smile. "Don't worry. It will grow as you progress through the realms. You're just beginning."
Silas nodded, feeling a touch reassured but still unsettled by the small size of his energy core. A part of him was glad that Professor Higgs had been kind, but he couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy.
For the rest of the week, Silas threw himself into his practice. He spent hours each day focusing on his energy core, trying to pull it out, control it, move it through his body. At first, it was infuriatingly difficult—his energy felt like a slippery, stubborn thing that resisted every attempt he made to rein it in. He could feel it, almost like a tugging at the center of his chest, but just as he began to grasp it, the sensation would slip away.
James, with his massive energy core, breezed through the lessons, effortlessly bending his magic to his will. Silas, on the other hand, struggled to keep up. Every day he practiced, pushing himself harder, feeling each small success but knowing it wasn't enough.
As the week neared its end, the students gathered for their final test. Silas's heart pounded as he waited for his turn, his mind replaying every day of practice, every moment of struggle. He glanced at James, who wore a calm, almost cocky expression, clearly unfazed. But for Silas, this test held a different weight; he needed to prove to himself that his effort had been worth something.
When his turn came, he stepped forward, feeling his hands shake as he tried to control his breathing. Professor Higgs watched carefully as he focused, his energy flowing as smoothly as he could manage. When he finished, he stepped back, a strange mix of pride and exhaustion filling him.
Finally, Professor Higgs announced the results. Silas was relieved to hear he had placed fifth—far better than he'd expected. James, to his surprise, had placed twentieth, just scraping in for a spot in the top twenty.
After class, Professor Higgs gathered the successful students and led them to a large, elaborate chamber with walls lined in silver-framed doors, each with an intense, buzzing energy. Silas felt his nerves tingle with anticipation as he looked around.
Professor Higgs's voice softened, her playful tone replaced with something more serious. "Welcome to the time dilation chambers. You'll be spending the next four months in these rooms—well, four months for you. Out here, only a minute will pass."
Silas felt his breath catch as he looked at the chambers—each one sealed by a thick, two-foot door with strange, glowing symbols carved into the metal. A soft hum echoed from the walls, as though the room itself was alive with potential.
Higgs nodded toward the doors. "Each chamber is adapted to support you fully, with food, water, anything you need. You won't age, you won't get sick, and you can leave at any time by pressing the green button inside. But don't expect a vacation." Her eyes narrowed, and her voice took on a slightly intimidating edge. "This is four months of uninterrupted, focused practice. No one's going to hold your hand. What you achieve in there is entirely up to you. Use the time wisely—it might just make or break your progress."
James grinned, his eyes lighting up with the challenge. "See you in four months, Silas!" he called before stepping confidently through his chamber door.
Silas hesitated for a moment, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and fear. Four months of training. Four months alone with his doubts, his goals, and his limits. But he couldn't back down now.
Professor Higgs gave him a final nod, her voice surprisingly gentle. "Good luck, Silas. You'll be a different person when you come out. Make it count."
With a deep breath, Silas stepped forward and into his chamber. The heavy door sealed shut with a soft click behind him, the sound echoing in the quiet space. Alone, facing the unknown, Silas felt the weight of the challenge settle over him.
He was ready to push himself harder than he ever had before.