Elliot and Alira stood facing each other, their energies already beginning to manifest. Elliot’s Natural Essentia flowed around him in a calm, silvery aura, steady and unshakable. In contrast, Alira’s Fire Essentia flared with an intensity that mirrored her personality—bright, passionate, and unrestrained.

“This should be interesting,” Elliot said with a grin. “Fire’s… not exactly subtle.”

Alira smirked, summoning a swirling flame into her palm. “And Natural Essentia’s not exactly dynamic. Let’s see if you can keep up.”

They extended their hands, letting their energies meet. The instant they touched, the Fire surged forward, consuming the space between them with aggressive heat. Elliot’s Natural Essentia, though calm, didn’t falter. Instead, it pushed back gently, holding the flames at bay without extinguishing them.

Alira frowned. “You’re just blocking it.”

“I’m balancing it,” Elliot corrected. “Your fire’s all over the place. You need to focus.”

Her eyes narrowed, and the flames in her hand grew hotter, flickering wildly. “Focus? That’s easy for you to say when your Essentia is just… sitting there.”

“It’s not sitting there,” Elliot replied calmly. “It’s supporting. Watch.”

He shifted his energy, letting it flow toward the flames instead of opposing them. The Fire immediately began to stabilize, its chaotic flickers smoothing into steady arcs.

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Alira blinked in surprise. “How are you doing that?”

“It’s like feeding a flame,” Elliot explained. “You don’t smother it; you give it just enough fuel to keep it steady. Try controlling how much energy you’re putting into your fire.”

She hesitated, then nodded, focusing on her flames. The intensity dimmed slightly, and the fire’s movement became more fluid. Elliot guided his Essentia closer, letting it weave through the controlled flames. Slowly, the two energies began to merge, forming a small, glowing orb.

It wasn’t perfect—the orb pulsed irregularly, the flames occasionally flaring up before settling again—but it held together.

Alira tilted her head, studying the orb. “It’s… not bad,” she admitted, though her tone suggested she was holding back a stronger compliment.

“Not bad?” Elliot teased. “I think we’re killing it.”

Alira rolled her eyes but smiled. “Fine. It’s decent. But we can do better.”

Elliot nodded. “Let’s try again. This time, think of your fire as a dance partner instead of a fighter.”

They worked together, making small adjustments. Alira reined in the fire’s intensity, focusing on precision rather than power. Elliot adapted his Natural Essentia to support her efforts, letting the energies flow together more seamlessly.

Professor Velaryn approached, observing their progress. “You’re beginning to understand,” she said, her tone approving. “Fire is passionate, but it needs guidance. And Natural Essentia thrives when it nurtures rather than opposes. This is the essence of balance.”

The glowing orb between them brightened, its light flickering like a warm, steady flame. Alira grinned, clearly proud of their achievement.

“That’s more like it,” she said.

Elliot smirked. “Told you we’d kill it.”

“Don’t get cocky,” Alira shot back, though her tone was playful.

Nearby, Towan glanced at them, his own orb of Wind and Natural Essentia still stable in front of him. “Looks like they’re getting along,” he muttered, half to himself.

Sylra, standing beside him, raised an eyebrow. “Jealous?”

Towan blinked. “What? No.”

Sylra just smirked, clearly enjoying his flustered reaction.