"I'll be heading back now. Although the gym's safety protocols are engaged, I want no misfires or duels. The consequences will be dire."

With that, Morgan was gone. Practicum was almost over. Technically, it should already be over since Morgan had left.

Yet the cadets stayed. Most of them were lying on the ground, exhausted and content, watching the last few eager participants make fools of themselves with ever diminishing balls of multicolored mana.

The numerous teams had been whittled down. Further, some bright minds decided to collaborate, targeting a single lantern. The idea quickly took hold, creating three massive teams. They were past the stage of competition. Instead, each group was trying something different.

The largest team had almost half the class in it, maximizing height their sole objective. Asva and Helen joined them as well. Despite the endless seeming fake sky, there had to be a limit to the height of this classroom. And so, they coordinated their barrage of attacks. The higher it went, the more the spell frizzled out, required extra push.

There were too many variables. The spacing needed to be perfect between two shots. They also had to account for the difference in speed among individuals, and spread out so their spells would not collide and explode. It hadn't been an issue earlier, but the higher a bolt went, more unstable it got. Often, the spells would blow up by themselves, cascading outwards. The resulting pushed the lantern way higher, but the gap in follow up shots made it not worth the trouble.

They had come up with strategies. The exploding shots went together, followed by the fast shooters at a distance. The slow bolts would eventually make their way over as well, naturally separating and keeping the thing floating until the cycle could be repeated. Every round, a few cadets went back in, replacing the exhausted mages in their ranks.

Soon, a couple of the explosive mages headed over to the second group, which was literally a blast. One explosion after another, all different colors and shapes. They hit the lantern with vengeance, combining esoteric elements. Each element created a different glow on the magical crystal. Even the resulting spread was varied. Fire and lightning together detonated loudly, but ice and lightning together would spread like an intricate web of fractures. Earth bolts were more stable, pressing the force away from themselves, reshaping they outcome. In the mayhem, the translucent air bolts added texture and a negative space, gaining popularity as the density increased. An endless fireworks show took place.

The last group was different. The had given up on using the basic spell completely. The few practitioners seemed quite advanced, each channeling a different spell. Their goal was continuity. Stability. They were as quiet as others were loud, their mana streaming up in mesmerizing patterns. Among those, Comm channeled a river of flames, a brown beam pulsed from a short girls' palms, and a coiled red glow from the far corner of the formation stood out.

The crystal lantern hung low, low enough that one could hit it with a stone. A couple of jokesters went over and did just that, launching bolts to destablize the process. Which earned them glares, and a quick round of retaliation from the resting members. The aggressors' spells were obliterated on the way to the target. Not a group to be messed with.

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Of course, this new challenge was being spread around, gathering support from the other two groups. That's when the room turned dark. Only the multitude of dancing lights from spells made it possible to see. One of which exploded in the hand of the mage, who was launched away and landed with a scrunch and a thud. Thankfully, the cadet groaned and cursed, too energetic to be severely injured.

The abrupt change brought all spells to halt, as if a candles blown out in a breeze. The remaining bolts faded, or exploded on their preplanned trajectory. No new glow came into being either. The lights went out. The sky was gone. Atleast the floor was still grass, and glowed a feeble neon.

"Damn it.. I can't cast anymore." said a voice from the second group, followed by curses and murmurs everywhere.

Asva felt a distinct pressure the next time she tried to create the familiar bolt.

[It's like a weight pressing. It's stopping me.] Helen spoke.

[Me too. I can't even check notifications.] Dalda added.

Undeterred, she called upon the wind. It answered, like it had always done. A soft breeze blew through the room,

[It is only the sigil, then.]

"Stop casting your spells." Liu shouted. Too bad, hardly anyone listened. Many of them kept trying. And failed.

The last group had it better. Their spells were relatively unaffected, having gone down for a brief moment, now coming back up one after the other. They became the beacons where the rest congregated.

[Is this part of the course too?] Helen asked.

[Who knows... I can imagine that baby face popping out of the dark, going 'Booyah!'] Dalda replied.

[Don't even joke about that.]

[What if she's behind you.]

[What if she is? You are the one making fun of her.] Asva added.

[Shit.]

[Hahah]

[That's what I thought.] Asva replied, putting as much smugness in her voice as she could.

...

Not everyone had congregated by the bright spells. Groups moved around, most looking for the exit, others for any sort of emergency kits. Some, like the girls, just wandered, curious about this weird room.

[You know it is surprisingly calm.] Helen added.

[Why wouldn't it be?]

[We have no food or water, for one. We could be here for hours. Or days.]

[Shit. You are right.] Asva yelped.

[It won't be like that.] Dalda assured her. [They'll get us soon enough. Once they realize we're missing.]

[Morgan left us playing. Who else will come?]

[Hmm.. not too soon I guess. Still, we are at the Academy. It can't be that bad.]

The three still headed to the door, where it used. The ever present portal had fizzled out, leaving only a bare arch. They crossed through it, walking in from the front side, then in from the back. Another group was there - a boy slid his fingers down the runes. Another was climbing while two girls pulled him away.

Just in time too. The pillars buzzed, spooking them all. They scrambled backwards as the place came back to life.