The morning light filtered through the windows of the training room, casting soft beams of sunlight across the stone floor. The room was quiet except for the sound of muffled footsteps as Silas, James, and the others gathered in their usual practice space. They had spent the past few weeks adjusting to their new attunements, refining their control, and testing their limits. It had been an exhausting, yet exhilarating, period of discovery. Now, with the semester nearing its end, the pressure was mounting.
However, there was one notable absence: Erika. She hadn't been training with them at all . Silas had expected her to be there, but there was no sign of her. Her absence felt out of place. She hadn't explained why, but Silas couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was off with her. He decided to focus on his own training, though; there wasn't time to waste.
Silas was focused on his Royal Ice Magic, his fingers trembling slightly as he summoned the icy power from deep within. The room around him felt colder as the magic surged upward, and he could feel its frigid nature, colder than anything he'd ever experienced. Unlike normal ice, which was cold yet manageable, this was an overwhelming chill that gripped at his bones, biting deeper with every moment. The golden hue surrounding it was not warmth but a sharp, almost malevolent cold that seemed to freeze everything it touched.
He steadied himself, trying to shape the magic, but the more he focused, the colder it became. A small shard of ice began to form in his hands, but it was so cold that it burned. His fingers went numb, and he could feel the frost biting into his skin as the shard materialized. Sweat formed on his brow, but his body was starting to feel the sting of the icy power in his palms.
"Control it," he muttered to himself, his voice shaky. The icicle grew, and he instinctively pulled his hands away slightly, but the cold still clung to him, seeping deeper. The air around him froze, and he could see his breath crystallizing in the air, each exhale turning into a burst of icy mist.
With a quick motion, he flicked his wrist, sending the shard hurtling toward the wall. It shot forward faster than he expected, embedding deep into the stone with a sharp crack. The moment the magic left his hands, the pain in his fingers eased slightly, but the cold remained, gnawing at his skin and leaving a trail of frost.
Silas exhaled sharply, his breath freezing in front of him as he flexed his fingers. The cold bit into him, and he shook it off as best as he could. He still had work to do. Slowly, he shifted his focus, trying to call upon his other attunement—Royal Healing.
He closed his eyes again, trying to remember the sense of warmth and calm that healing was supposed to bring, but the magic just wouldn't respond. His hands trembled as he reached inward, attempting to summon the golden, soothing energy, but nothing happened. There was no gentle flow, no spark of warmth—only the coldness from his ice magic, still lingering in his veins.
Frustration welled up within him. He tried again, focusing harder, imagining the golden light flowing through him like a river of calm, but the energy never materialized. Instead, a faint, almost imperceptible shiver ran through him, but it wasn't healing. It wasn't anything at all. He felt the emptiness where the healing magic should have been.
"Come on…" Silas muttered under his breath, gritting his teeth in determination. But the more he tried, the further the healing magic slipped away, leaving only the painful reminder of his ice. With a sharp exhale, he stopped, letting the silence hang in the air.
His hands still stung from the cold, and the frustration gnawed at him. The healing magic was just out of reach. He was close, but not quite there yet.
"Still struggling with your healing magic?" James's voice broke through his focus, light but curious. Silas turned to find his friend leaning against a wall, watching him with his usual teasing smile.
"Yeah, it's like it's stuck or something," Silas muttered, shaking his hands to ease the lingering chill.
James raised an eyebrow. "You've had it for weeks now. Shouldn't it be responding by now?"
"It's not that easy," Silas grumbled. "Do You know how hard it is to get pull on healing magic? It's like trying to grab an eel covered in grease."
"I guess," James said, though he didn't sound convinced. His eyes flicked to the shimmering rifts of space he'd been practicing, before adding, "Well, if it makes you feel any better, I still can't get my ink sword attunement to do anything exciting. It's just a glorified dagger for now."
"Yeah, well, you're the one who decided to mix space and ink," Silas said with a smirk. "Seems like a bit of a complicated combo."
James shrugged. "I like a challenge. But seriously, we've both got our work cut out for us. Have you been practicing your ice a lot?"
Silas nodded, his expression grim. "I'm getting the hang of it, but it's... it's a lot colder than I expected. Feels like it might actually freeze me if I'm not careful."
"Maybe you're trying to do too much all at once," James said with a sympathetic look. "You're pushing yourself too hard. Take a break, maybe? I'm sure your healing magic will come through eventually."
Silas let out a long breath, frustration bubbling up inside him. "I can't afford to wait for it to just 'come through,' James. We have exams coming up, and if I don't get this right, I'm going to fall behind."
James's expression softened, but he didn't argue. "Alright, alright. Just don't freeze yourself, okay?"
"I'll try not to," Silas muttered, though it was clear that both of them were feeling the weight of the exams approaching.
As they continued to practice, the sound of footsteps approached. A moment later, Professor Higgs stepped into the room, her presence commanding attention.
"Gather around," she called out, her voice sharp and firm. Silas quickly wiped his hands and moved to join the others.
Once the group was assembled, Professor Higgs surveyed them all. "You've all made progress this semester. Now that you've attuned to your powers, it's time to begin building the foundation of your strength."
The students exchanged uneasy glances, sensing that there was more to this announcement. Silas felt a knot tighten in his stomach.
"The first step in this process," Professor Higgs continued, her tone serious, "is refining your energy cores. You've all attuned to your magic, but now we need to see if your energy is refined enough to move on to the next realm of power."
A murmur spread through the group, the gravity of her words sinking in. Silas's mind raced. Moving to the next realm? That sounded intense. It wasn't just about the basics anymore—it was about reaching a new level of strength.
"You will be tested on the quality of your energy," Higgs went on, her gaze sweeping over them. "We are looking for a refined core that can handle the transition into the second realm: the Refined Realm. Only when your core is strong enough and your control of your power is precise can you ascend. It is here that you must prove you can endure and sustain your energy without breaking down."
The weight of her words pressed down on Silas. The test wasn't just a simple task—it was about unlocking the potential for greater power.
"Those who fail," she continued, "will be sent back to Earth to wait for the collision."
The room fell silent, the students absorbing the finality in her tone.
"The first two realms are the Basic Realm, where you begin, and the Refined Realm, where you must master your control," Higgs said, her voice unyielding. "Beyond those, there are eight more…"
James raised his hand, his curiosity bubbling over. "Professor, you mentioned other realms beyond the Refined Realm. What exactly are they like? What comes after?"
Professor Higgs gave him a measured look before answering. "There are ten realms in total. The first two are as I've described—Basic and Refined. As for the others, well…" She paused, as though weighing how much to reveal. "They are not easily understood by those who have not experienced them, and some may never reach beyond the Refined Realm. However…"
James leaned forward, his eyes locked on hers, unblinking. "What about the Tenth Realm? Can you tell us about that one?"
Professor Higgs studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. "The Ascended Tenth Realm…" she murmured, almost as if tasting the words. "It is elusive, mysterious, and few have ever reached it. The powers that lie beyond the Ninth Realm are... not something I can easily describe."
James's eyes widened with intrigue. "But what does it take to reach it?"
Higgs met his gaze for a brief moment, then said simply, "The journey to the Tenth Realm is beyond what most of you can even begin to imagine. Few attempt it, and even fewer succeed." She gave a slight shrug, her tone almost dismissive. "It's not something to concern yourselves with just yet."
James opened his mouth to ask more, but Professor Higgs was already turning away.
"That's all I will say about it for now. Now, focus on the task at hand: refining your energy, and let's see where your progress will bring you."