"Theos, do you think you truly understand how to use attunement?" Eryne's voice cut through the room, sharp and deliberate. Her tone carried a subtle edge of condescension, as if she fully expected his failure. Her fiery gaze locked onto him, daring him to prove otherwise.
Theos didn't flinch. He met her eyes with calm defiance, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Yes, I believe I do," he said, his tone steady and tinged with an almost mocking precision. "In fact, I think I could manage fire. Shall I demonstrate for the entire class?"
A murmur rippled through the students, the charged tension in the room thickening. Theos's confidence was unmistakable, yet there was a hint of something more beneath his words—a challenge not only to Eryne but to anyone who doubted him.
Eryne's expression didn't waver, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Then do it," she said, her voice as fierce and unyielding as the flame she commanded. "Prove to me—and to everyone here—that you can."
Theos stepped forward, his movements deliberate and self-assured. "Alright," he replied, his voice strong. "But I won't just summon fire. I'll master it. And when the next trial comes, I'll use it to ensure victory." His words were bold, but deep down, uncertainty gnawed at him. What would the next trial entail? Would he be facing enemies—or perhaps his classmates? Either way, hesitation wasn't an option now.
He opened his palm, closing his eyes as he focused. His thoughts spiraled back to Roseville—the pain of her absence, the questions that haunted him, and the unshakable resolve that had driven him this far. He didn't know who or what had taken her, but the promise of revenge burned within him. That fire, fueled by grief and rage, was what he drew upon now.
The air around him shifted, growing warmer as his emotions deepened. Heat began radiating from his palm, faint at first but building with each passing second. His anger surged, boiling over into the energy he channeled, and when it reached its peak, the fire appeared.
A medium-sized flame flickered into existence, hovering above his palm. Its light danced erratically, fueled by raw emotion rather than refined skill. Theos stared at it, his jaw tightening. This is the limit for now? No—it has to be stronger.
Then an idea sparked in his mind, wild and untested. What if I spin the flame with my primal energy? The thought was reckless, but it called to him. Determined, he concentrated, envisioning the fireball rotating faster and faster. The flames twisted into a spiral, their heat intensifying as his energy propelled them.
Sweat beaded on his brow as the strain grew. Theos's smirk faded, replaced by a look of fierce determination. The spinning fireball pulsed with power, but with each revolution, its stability wavered. His control began to slip, and the energy threatened to break free.
Realizing he was on the verge of losing control, Theos acted on instinct. He hurled the blazing sphere out of the open window, watching it arc through the air. The room was silent as the students followed its descent, the fireball almost serene in its slow, deliberate fall.
Then it hit.
The moment it touched the ground, the fireball erupted in a deafening explosion. A wave of heat surged outward, and the once-intact earth was obliterated. When the flames subsided, a massive crater remained, its edges glowing with molten heat. Smoke billowed into the air, and the scorched ground below was unrecognizable.
Theos's chest heaved as he stared out the window, his heart pounding. The destruction was far greater than he had intended. The classroom was silent, the students frozen in awe—or fear.
Eryne's voice broke the tension, sharp and unyielding. "I suppose you did well," she said, though her words were laced with a stern warning. "But never attempt something like that in front of the instructors again. Recklessness like that could cost you dearly—if not your position, then your life."
She sighed, the edge in her voice softening slightly. "You have potential, Theos, but your control is lacking. Meet me during my free time—I'll help you refine your attunement before it destroys you."
Theos nodded, still shaken but resolute. He hadn't just shown his power—he'd learned its limits. And now, he knew he had to overcome them.
Eryne turned to address the class, her tone more measured. "You've all done well today," she said. "Class ends in four minutes. Use the time to prepare for your next lesson and check your schedules."
As the other students began gathering their things, Theos's mind wandered. He thought of the powerful students he'd seen during the trial—the ones who had stood out like beacons of strength. Their energy had been overwhelming, a reminder of how far he still had to go.
"Will I be able to catch up to them in the time I have?" he murmured to himself, his fists clenching at the thought.
He remembered the faint traces of their energy lingering in the cave, their presence like a storm looming over him. They weren't just strong—they were leagues ahead, their power honed and controlled. He had avoided them for now, but he knew their paths would cross eventually.
"The only group that seemed truly exceptional was them," he muttered. "That overwhelmingly powerful group..."
Theos had studied them from a distance, watching their precision and cohesion. They were a force to be reckoned with, but he wasn't the same person who had entered the cave. His abilities, his resolve—they had grown, sharpened by the trials he had faced.
"They're not invincible," he thought, his determination hardening. "If they can grow stronger, so can I. I'll surpass them—not just to prove my worth, but because I have no other choice."
Just as his thoughts reached their peak, a sharp chime echoed through the air.
DING! DING! DING!
The bell's call snapped Theos back to reality. He exhaled, steadying himself. This was just the beginning. The trials, the academy, the challenges ahead—they were all part of the path to becoming stronger. And Theos would walk that path, no matter how steep it became.