The Veylora estate was unlike any other noble family's domain. Its sprawling grounds held not only the main family but also several branch families, all tied to the bloodline of Sovereigns. Elijah had spent most of his time training under Magnus's watch, but there was a part of him that had always wondered about the other members of the Veylora clan.
One morning, Magnus called for a meeting at the family's central training hall. Elijah entered the grand hall, the air thick with the presence of powerful mages from both the main and branch families. His eyes fell on the faces of the magicians gathered, each one a master in their own right, some distant relatives, others closer to his own generation.
The hall was filled with an air of competition and pride, the members of the Veylora family standing tall in their fine robes and imbuing the air with a quiet, dangerous energy.
Magnus stood at the front of the room, his presence commanding silence. "Today, we will test Elijah's progress against the other Veylora magicians. It is time for you to face your peers, Elijah."
Elijah looked around the room, taking note of the young faces around him.
At the far end, standing near a group of older magicians, was a girl with long black hair and sharp violet eyes—Isla Veylora. She was one of the branch members, a year older than Elijah, and known for her mastery of elemental earth magic. Next to her stood Thorne Veylora, a tall, broad-shouldered boy with a confident smirk. He wielded the power of wind magic, using it with raw power and speed. Both of them had been trained in the Veylora traditions for as long as Elijah, though their abilities were honed in different ways.
Elijah's gaze also met a younger boy, Edrik Veylora, who had the looks of someone younger than Elijah but was already showing promise with his ice magic. His blue eyes glinted with determination, and there was an unspoken challenge in the way he looked at Elijah.
"They're all stronger than you might think," Magnus said quietly, his voice only loud enough for Elijah to hear. "Isla and Thorne have been in the family for years. But you'll have your chance."
The atmosphere in the hall shifted, as if each member of the family was keenly aware that Elijah was about to face them in ways he hadn't anticipated. He wasn't just fighting to improve—he was fighting for respect.
One by one, the young Veylora members stepped forward to challenge Elijah in sparring matches. The first to face him was Isla, who stepped into the arena with quiet confidence. Her eyes glowed with intensity as she raised her hand. Earth magic surged from the ground beneath her, forming rocky shields and jagged spires of stone.
"You'll need more than void tricks to get past me," she said, a small smirk on her face.
Elijah had faced earth magic before, but Isla's control over the elements was impressive. She summoned massive stone walls with ease, blocking his void blades with her massive stone constructs. Elijah tried to break through, folding space around him to avoid her attacks, but the earth beneath his feet seemed to move with a mind of its own. Every time he thought he had the upper hand, Isla would create new barriers, forcing him to adapt quickly.
His mind raced. He couldn't just overpower her. His void magic needed precision, and he needed to control the space around him. With a burst of energy, Elijah created a void rift under Isla's feet, disorienting her just long enough to close the distance. He summoned a blade of concentrated void energy, piercing through the stone wall she had created.
Isla winced, but her shield held firm. "You're quick, but not quick enough."
The battle raged for a few more minutes, with Elijah being forced to use every bit of his spatial manipulation to dodge Isla's relentless onslaught of stone. In the end, though, it was a clash of wills. Elijah managed to strike at Isla's guard just as she summoned a particularly large rock, causing it to shatter. With a swift move, he disarmed her and forced her to the ground, his void blade at her throat.
Isla chuckled, breathing heavily. "You've got talent, Elijah. But you're still far from your peak."
Magnus nodded from the sidelines. "Good. You held your own, but next, Thorne.