After the recent demon attack, the university remained vigilant, with sentinels stationed throughout campus and frequent patrols around the perimeter. An investigation was underway, and students could feel the increased tension among the staff. Professors prepared the students for more than just exams—they reinforced emergency protocols and drilled combat skills with renewed urgency.
Lance threw himself into his studies with new determination. Conversations with William hinted at something deeper brewing, though his companion maintained an air of secrecy, making only vague comments about “preparing for the worst.” Taking this to heart, Lance began refining his combat spells, filling notebooks with practice sketches and spell flows, especially focusing on *Tremor Disrupt*. His progress with wind magic also impressed him, as he’d nearly mastered both *Galeburst* and *Lesser Gust* by midterms.
On the day of his Force Magic practical, Lance found himself in a large classroom with several assistant instructors waiting. He was called up by one of them—a tall woman with a composed, scrutinizing expression.
“Lance?” she asked, glancing down at her clipboard.
“Yes, that’s me,” he answered, keeping his voice steady.
“I’m Instructor Reyna,” she said, nodding slightly. With a quick gesture, she activated a teleportation spell, and the classroom disappeared in a rush of color, leaving him standing in a quiet, open clearing. A gentle breeze drifted across the field, the morning sunlight filtering softly through the surrounding trees.
“Here’s the setup,” Reyna began, folding her arms as she explained. “For this test, you’re going to need to deflect projectiles. I’ll be controlling a construct that will launch them at you. Do whatever you need to block or deflect the hits. And don’t get too comfortable—it gets harder as we go. Ready?”
“Ready,” Lance replied, grounding his stance and focusing his lifestream flow.
Reyna summoned a glowing orb that hovered in the air, gleaming with pent-up energy. With a small gesture, she commanded it to release its first volley—a series of glowing projectiles that whizzed through the air.
Lance breathed in, centering himself, and conjured his Lesser Force Field. The shimmering barrier absorbed the initial barrage with ease, the projectiles bouncing harmlessly away.
Reyna raised an eyebrow. “Alright, not bad. Let’s see how you handle this.”
The orb pulsed, and the projectiles became faster, more erratic, some even arcing around to strike from unexpected angles. Lance adjusted quickly,pushing more lifestream expanding his barrier slightly and moving his hands in tight, precise motions to direct the flow of energy. A couple of projectiles grazed his shoulder, but he kept his concentration steady.
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Reyna smirked. “Still holding up?Take a breather and let’s crank it up a notch.”
A moment later The orb shifted again, now releasing larger, more concentrated bursts of energy that exploded into smaller fragments on impact. Lance’s Lesser Force Field flickered under the strain, and he felt the drain on his lifestream reserves. “Your right it wont hold, you need to think of something better “, Williams voice echoed in his head.
He raised one hand,And instead of letting the force field drop, he channeled tremor disrupt,into it . A faint hum filled the air as vibrations rippled outward in a protective radius around him. The incoming projectiles slowed as they passed through the field, their momentum disrupted just enough for him to dodge
Reyna clapped her hands once, clearly impressed. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. Innovative and efficient. You adapted instead of relying on one trick. Let’s call it here before I’m tempted to push you harder.”
Lance exhaled in relief, wiping sweat from his brow.
Reyna checked something off her clipboard. “Alright, that’s a wrap for this section. Next part’s the theory test,” she said, activating another teleportation spell.
His other two exams were actually easier. He had practically breezed through *Wind 101*, and combat was just as straightforward.
When midterms finally ended, Lance felt like a weight had lifted off his shoulders. To celebrate, he invited his friends to his dorm room for a small party—his caravan group along with a few friends from combat class. It wasn’t long before Kade, Oliver, Felix, Bella, Nico, and Lyra arrived, each of them buzzing with excitement after a grueling exam week.
As soon as they entered, Kade was the first to let loose, immediately flopping onto Lance’s bed. “Finally, some freedom!” he exclaimed, stretching out dramatically. “I thought those exams would never end.”
“Speak for yourself,” Oliver joked, sitting on the floor with a handful of snacks. “I thought you loved a good fight.”
“This was different,” Kade grumbled. “Fighting’s one thing, but tests?”
“Oh, please,” Nico teased, “says the guy who aced the combat practical without breaking a sweat.”
They all laughed, and the atmosphere grew lighthearted as they shared stories about their exams. Lance listened, occasionally adding his own experiences with *Tremor Disrupt* and his unexpected use of the *Lesser Force Field* during the *Force Magic* exam.
When Felix brought up the topic of magic theory, Bella groaned. “I’m just glad it’s over! I’ll take a hundred combat exams over one more theory session.”
Lyra chuckled, patting her on the shoulder. “Maybe I could tutor you next time, Bella. I quite enjoyed Magic Lore.”
The group burst into laughter again, and Lance was relieved to see everyone so relaxed and at ease. He noticed Felix and Lyra chatting more closely as the evening wore on, and a quiet look of understanding passed between them—subtle but unmistakable. He made a mental note of it, smiling at the thought of his friends finding connections amidst the chaos of university life.
As the party continued, Lance felt a warmth settle in his chest. This was what he had hoped for when he’d come to Arcane University—friendships, camaraderie, and shared experiences. They laughed, joked, and shared stories late into the night, momentarily forgetting the pressures of school, the lurking threats, and even their demanding futures.