As Jiten entered the potions classroom, he found Alex leaning against a table, lost in thought. Alex looked up, noticing Jiten's arrival, and waved him over. Jiten joined him, and the two friends exchanged a brief nod before Jiten spoke.

"Lucy has recovered the mimic cube," Jiten informed Alex. "She was quite upset when she found out I had taken it, but she's currently analyzing the sounds we recorded with it. There seems to be something significant about them."

Alex's interest was piqued, and he asked, "What has she discovered?"

Jiten shrugged, his curiosity matching Alex's. "She hasn't found all the answers yet, but she mentioned that the sounds appear to be more important than we initially thought. She asked for some time alone to analyze them further."

Before Alex could continue the conversation, Professor Klaus entered the potions classroom, catching their attention. He walked briskly, his footsteps echoing in the room, and fixed them with a stern gaze that demanded their immediate attention. The sudden shift in the atmosphere silenced the murmurs and conversations among the students.

As Professor Klaus reached the front of the classroom, he cleared his throat with a deliberate intensity, commanding the room's focus. The sound reverberated, filling the air with an air of authority. It was a clear signal that the time for casual chatter had come to an end.

"Mr. Stern, Mr. Feller," Professor Klaus's voice boomed through the room, carrying the weight of his disapproval. "This is not a social gathering. We have a lesson to attend to. Please take your seats and prepare your materials."

His words hung in the air, punctuated by the seriousness in his expression. The students exchanged glances, realizing the gravity of the situation. Alex and Jiten swiftly made their way to their seats, the reminder of their purpose in the classroom resonating within them.

The lesson that followed was a lengthy one, filled with complex formulas, intricate instructions, and precise measurements. Professor Klaus meticulously explained each step, emphasizing the importance of precision and attention to detail. The potions classroom was filled with the aroma of various ingredients and the clinking of glassware as the students diligently followed the instructions, their focus unwavering.

Eventually, the class drew to a close, and Jiten gathered his belongings, ready to head home. He bid Alex farewell with a nod, and Jiten exited the classroom, leaving Alex to make his way to his next class with Olana.

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As Alex entered the corridor, anticipation for the upcoming class surged within him. However, in recent classes, he had struggled to produce good results. Every time he attempted to connect with his Elemental power, he would experience unsettling visions and overwhelming emotions. Fear had started to creep into his mind, casting doubt on his abilities.

As he reached the classroom door, he saw the other elemental heirs standing together, engaged in conversation. Alex smiled and approached them, greeting them warmly. Samantha nodded in acknowledgment, and Max exclaimed, "Alex! Good thing you're here!"

Alex was taken aback by Max's enthusiasm and positive mood. It reminded him of how his friend used to be before. He then glanced at Emily, but she didn't react or say anything, which was unusual for her. Normally, she would be the first to engage in conversation.

Before Alex could inquire about Emily's change in demeanor, Olana appeared and said, "Sorry, guys. I had something to take care of. Let's head inside."

They all entered the classroom together. When they were seated, Olana spoke again, "I'm sorry, guys. The director asked me to attend a meeting regarding the end-of-year exam. I think this year is going to be different from other years."

The four of them were surprised, and Max asked, "Sis... I mean, teacher! Sorry, isn't the end-of-year exam always the same?"

Upon realizing that Max had almost called Olana "sis" in class, everyone smiled. Olana continued, "I can't tell you guys everything I know, but what I can tell you is that because of you guys, this year's exam is going to be different. The EIL has never seen such a level of talent in first years. Most of the first years end their year with your rank, so the church is going to conduct a different test."

They felt a twinge of guilt, realizing that their exceptional abilities had prompted a change in the exam format. They exchanged glances, a mixture of excitement and apprehension filling the air.

"But everything will come; no need to dwell on things we have no control over. Now, for this class, we will try something new," Olana said reassuringly. After her words, she began the class and gave them instructions for the new exercise. "Normally, mages can expand their mana into a ball and control its size. This exercise helps improve mana control. What I want you to do is use your elemental power instead of mana to form a ball and control its size by increasing it."

As soon as Olana finished her explanation, all four of them focused their energy. After a while, a transparent green ball started to materialize in front of Max. He appeared visibly troubled, as if holding the ball was challenging for him. Next, Emily created a light blue transparent ball, showing a similar struggle. Samantha was the third to attempt it, forming a deep blue transparent ball. Olana closely observed their progress, noticing their visible struggles. When Olana turned her gaze toward Alex, she noticed that he wasn't closing his eyes but instead observing the others. Approaching him, Olana said, "Alex, I understand what you're thinking, but please, try closing your eyes and connecting with your Element."

Motivated by Olana's unwavering gaze, Alex felt a surge of determination coursing through him. He closed his eyes, summoning the courage to delve deep into his memories, searching for that elusive feeling he had experienced that fateful night. Within the depths of his mind, vivid images began to materialize.

He began to see images of a large-scale battle, where thousands of people fought against unrecognizable creatures. Destruction rained upon a city, with flames engulfing everything, children crying, and countless casualties. The intensity of the images grew, accompanied by screams growing louder and louder, calling out his name, "Alex! Alex! Alex!" The screams felt familiar, as if he knew those voices. They sounded like Emily's and Olana's voices. In a desperate attempt to help them, Alex tried to locate them amidst the chaotic battlefield.

Before Alex could witness more, the familiar figure with red eyes from his recurring dreams looked at him and said, "That's enough."

With a sudden jolt, Alex opened his eyes, only to find everyone's gaze fixed upon him. Standing before him was a tall, thin, old man. Before Alex could inquire about the situation, his vision darkened, and he succumbed to a deep slumber.