Silas was focused on refining his Royal Ice Magic, his hands shaking ever so slightly as he summoned the frigid energy from deep within. The coldness of the power felt almost unbearable now, sharper and more biting with each attempt, but he was determined to control it. A small icicle formed in his palm, and he winced as it cut into his skin, the frost creeping along his fingers. It was as if his very body was being frozen from the inside out, but he gritted his teeth and endured, letting the shard grow until it was the size of a dagger.
With a flick of his wrist, the icicle shot forward, embedding itself deep into the stone wall with a satisfying crack. The cold still gnawed at his skin, but he was making progress.
"Think you're ready for the exam?" James's voice broke his concentration, and Silas looked up to find him leaning against the wall, an easy grin on his face.
Silas shook his head, laughing. "I'm not sure any of us are truly ready. But we've been training for it."
James raised an eyebrow. "True. But I don't know. I still feel like I don't have enough control over my space magic. It's like my rifts keep throwing things out of sync."
Silas nodded, wiping his hands off as the cold gradually faded from his fingers. "Yeah, it's a lot to manage. But we'll make it work. We always do."
Their conversation was interrupted by a rustling sound, and they both turned to find Erika approaching them, a thoughtful look on her face. Silas hadn't seen her around much lately, and it was a relief to see her out of the shadows and back with them. She was holding a small plant in her hands, one Silas didn't recognize, though it was obvious it had a deep green hue.
"You've been quiet lately," Silas remarked, stepping over to her. "Everything okay?"
Erika shrugged, offering a small smile. "Just getting used to this whole plant magic thing. It's... different, you know?"
"I thought you were already attuned?" James said, giving her a raised eyebrow.
"I am," she replied, brushing a few leaves off the plant with her fingers. "But it's not as easy as I thought. Some plants are more cooperative than others."
Silas couldn't help but smile at her frustration. "I thought you'd have it down by now. You've always been good with things like this."
Erika laughed softly. "It's not like training to control fire or ice. It's more about the connection with the plants. You can't force it. You have to let it grow with you."
"I'm not sure I could ever be patient enough for that," James commented with a smirk.
"I don't know, you seem pretty patient when it comes to your rifts," Erika teased, her tone light. "I don't know how you handle it. Space magic seems like it would drive me crazy."
James shrugged. "Maybe. But it's not as bad as it sounds. Once you get the hang of it, it's pretty cool." He looked over at Silas. "Speaking of which, how's your ice magic going? Still freezing the poor wall?"
Silas chuckled, rubbing his hands together. "More like freezing my fingers off, but I'm getting the hang of it. Slowly."
Erika leaned closer, eyeing his frozen palms. "Be careful, Silas. That stuff's dangerous if you don't control it right. If you're not careful, you could end up with permanent damage."
"I'll be fine," he replied, though the warning was enough to make him reconsider pushing his magic further.
The three of them sat down on the floor in their usual training space, their energy spent for now. Erika placed her plant on the ground beside them and closed her eyes, reaching out to connect with it. Silas and James exchanged a quiet glance, both of them watching her work.
"Isn't it kind of weird how we've all got different magics?" James mused after a while, his gaze wandering toward the ceiling. "I mean, we've been training together for weeks, but our powers are all so different. Erika's with plants, yours is freezing the air, and I'm over here playing with space."
Silas laughed. "Yeah, it's like we've each got our own little corner of the magical world. But that's what makes us a good team, right? All the different pieces working together."
Erika smiled. "Exactly. It's like a puzzle, and we're all just figuring out how to make the pieces fit."
As they sat there, the reality of the upcoming exams settled in, a quiet tension that none of them could ignore. They'd been training for this moment for weeks, and now it was almost here. Tomorrow, they would be tested, their control and endurance pushed to the limit.
James shifted, glancing at the clock on the wall. "It's crazy to think that tomorrow's the big day."
Silas nodded, his gaze drifting to the ground as the reality of the exams started to hit him. They'd been training so intensely for this, and now it was almost time to put everything they'd learned to the test. The thought was both exciting and nerve-wracking.
Erika let out a small sigh, her fingers absently tracing the leaves of the plant. "I know we've been training for weeks, but I can't help feeling a little nervous."
"It's normal," Silas said, offering a reassuring smile. "We've all got this. We've come a long way."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean it's going to be easy," James added, cracking his knuckles. "We're going to have to give it our all."
Silas stood up, stretching his arms over his head. "Tomorrow we'll see where we stand. But for now, we should get some rest. We'll need it."
With one last glance at the plant beside them, Erika nodded, rising to her feet. "You're right. I'm going to go get some sleep. We've got a long day ahead of us."
James stood as well, giving Silas a playful shove. "Don't freeze your fingers off tonight, alright?"
Silas chuckled. "I'll try my best."
As the trio made their way out of the training room, the atmosphere shifted—each of them lost in their own thoughts about the upcoming exams. Tomorrow would be the culmination of everything they'd worked toward, and Silas was excited.