Verday dawned, marking the last class of the week. Kor suspected this four-day lull would vanish once he picked his electives, but he had other concerns now. Standing at the edge of the practice field, he watched the morning suns cast duelling shadows across the grass. A handful of early arrivals murmured nearby, their words drifting on a light breeze.
A sudden flash of reflected light snagged Kor’s attention—Marcus’s polished badge, its intricate etchings shimmering in the sun. Marcus strode across the field with a confidence that seemed to part the air before him, his gaze zeroing in on Kor with disarming ease. The charisma in his eyes was palpable, drawing everyone’s notice.
“Kor! Are you ready for some action today?” Marcus called, his voice rich with energy. “I hope you’ve been practising.”
Kor’s stomach tightened at the reminder. He adjusted his glasses nervously. “I’ve still got a lot of ground to cover before I catch up to the others, but I’m getting there.”
Marcus nodded, his approval palpable. “Good to hear, good to hear.” He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. “Listen, Kor. Here in Conflux, Lexicans are at the bottom of the rung. We don’t even register as potential threats to the otherworlders.”
A breeze carried the faint hum of distant mana surges from other students practising across the field. Marcus’s gaze sharpened, locking onto Kor, as though trying to ignite some hidden fire within him.
“This can work to our advantage,” Marcus continued, his tone conspiratorial. “At every turn, they’ll underestimate us, too busy with their rivalries and alliances. Do you know it’s been over two decades since a Lexican finished in the top five?”
Kor tilted his head to look up at Marcus, who practically loomed over him, his presence larger than life. “You’re aiming for the top, then?” The question seemed almost redundant, but it hung in the air like a challenge.
Marcus’s grin broke wide, a flash of perfect teeth that carried both confidence and ambition. “Exactly, Kor! With my father’s resources and contacts, rising through the ranks should be no issue at all. Private tuition from the masters, access to cultivation chambers…” He gestured grandly, his words painting a picture of boundless opportunity. “He’s even secured more exotic means to accelerate my growth.”
“That’s great, Marcus,” Kor replied, trying to match his enthusiasm. The words felt flat, but Marcus’s energy was hard to resist.
Marcus’s eyes darted around briefly before he leaned in closer, his voice dropping. “Don’t think I’ll forget about my friends, Kor. I need reliable people around me as I climb through the ranks.”
Their eyes met, and for a moment, Kor felt as though he were the sole focus of Marcus’s world. It was an unnerving, almost intoxicating sensation.
“I know plenty of them just want wealth, status, good looks,” Marcus said with a playful grin. His laugh was warm enough to make Kor’s chest flutter. “But you… you’re different. I can tell you value knowledge. You’re grounded—reliable.”
Kor blinked, his thoughts scrambling to keep up. He hadn’t realised Marcus had been paying him that much attention. The compliment settled in his mind, warm and oddly affirming. It felt good—too good, perhaps.
“I need someone I can trust to have my back, Kor,” Marcus continued, his tone earnest. “Someone who won’t stab me in the back to further their own ambitions. What do you say?”
Marcus’s stare bored into Kor, warmth and ambition radiating off him. Kor’s throat went dry—he wasn’t used to being the center of someone’s world. Heat churned in his stomach, equal parts pride and unease. Hadn’t he always longed for recognition like this?
But even as pride clouded his judgement, a sliver of doubt lingered. Marcus’s charm was undeniable, yet it felt like standing in the path of a rushing river—impossible to resist, but dangerous if mishandled.
Kor hesitated, glancing down at his hands before meeting Marcus’s expectant gaze. “I’m not anywhere close to your ability yet, Marcus…”
Marcus waved away his concerns with a flick of his hand. “Your ability right now isn’t of concern, Kor. I’m thinking long term, and with practice, I can tell you’ve got potential. I already heard about your stunt as the first Lexican to pass Ether’s testing.”
Kor’s eyes widened. He hadn’t realised that the story had spread so far. A wash of pride pushed him over the edge. The heady dose of compliments was too great to resist.
“I’m your man, Marcus,” he said, his voice carrying a newfound determination.
“Fantastic!” Marcus thrust his arm out, and they shook on it, Marcus’s grip firm and confident. The gesture felt strangely ceremonial, as though sealing a pact.
“Won’t Kelleth and Teneth have an issue with it, though?” Kor asked, his tone hesitant. “I know they aren’t big fans of mine.”
“Don’t worry about them, Kor. I’ll set them straight.” Marcus’s confidence was unwavering, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
As if summoned by their names, the twins approached with the rest of Marcus’s coterie. The two were already bickering, their sharp features animated as they argued over something trivial. Behind them, a smattering of others followed, their easy camaraderie marking them as Marcus’s inner circle.
Marcus turned back to Kor, his voice lowering conspiratorially. “The Solarians value strength, Kor, but also ingenuity. As soon as you can bring your specialisation to bear, I’m sure they’ll begin to see you differently.”
Despite Marcus’s enthusiasm, Kor found it hard to share his confidence. Even a brief glance at the twins’ smirking faces seemed to mock him. Yet Marcus’s certainty was a steady force, pulling him along despite his doubts.
When the group reached them, Marcus ensured Kor’s place among them. He gestured for Kor to step in closer, his presence a shield against the twins’ disdainful glances. Names floated through the chatter—Beth, Willem, Kelleth, and Teneth were the ones Kor managed to retain, though there were others whose names he hadn’t yet caught.
Marcus moved with ease, his attention flicking between his followers as he asked how they were. His charm seemed boundless, his laugh infectious as he tossed out quips and shared jokes. When he threw an arm over Kor’s shoulder, pulling him into the conversation, Kor felt a warmth he hadn’t expected.
The laughter, the camaraderie, even the subtle jabs—it all felt natural. Marcus’s arm rested heavily but comfortably, an anchor in the whirlwind of new faces and shifting dynamics. Kor’s earlier doubts about Marcus’s intentions softened. Rich and privileged, he might be, but Marcus’s effort to include him felt genuine.
Master Terrak appeared at the edge of the field, cutting a formidable silhouette against the academy’s spires. His dark robes swept around his tall frame, steel-grey eyes judging the students in a single, sweeping glance. Arms crossed, he halted before them and spoke, his voice deep and unyielding.
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“I’ve seen enough to get a basic idea of your abilities,” he began, his gaze resting briefly on each student. “No sense holding the advanced students back. I’ll be dividing you into two groups.”
Kor’s stomach churned. He had an inkling of which group he’d fall into.
“But first,” Terrak continued, his tone brooking no argument, “five laps. Now.”
Kor suppressed a groan, the weight of the morning already pressing heavily on his legs. He’d nearly forgotten about Terrak’s penchant for starting with gruelling exercises. Around him, the group took off, Marcus and the twins quickly pulling ahead. By the time Kor stumbled across the finish line, breathless and with his glasses slipping down his nose, Master Terrak had already sorted the class.
On one side stood Marcus, Kelleth, Teneth, and a handful of others who had clearly unlocked their specialisations. Their confident stances and easy smiles marked them as the advanced group. On the other side, Kor joined the rest—those still struggling to form stable mana spheres or, in his case, simply stay upright after five laps.
Terrak wasted no time, addressing both groups as he stood between them. “Each of you will face an opponent from the same group,” he said. “Winner is the first to light up the opponent’s badge barrier. Don’t worry—they can take more damage than any of you can hope to deal out, even Marcus.”
Kor shifted uneasily, his curiosity warring with a pang of nerves. Actual combat. He’d barely managed to form and throw a mana sphere; defence was a distant dream. How could he hope to compete? The questions buzzed in his mind, but his thoughts were interrupted as Master Terrak barked out the first pairing.
“Kelleth versus Marcus.”
A flicker of excitement sparked in Kor’s chest, despite his apprehension. He had seen Marcus demonstrate exceptional ability, but would it be enough to bridge the divide? Kelleth was a Solarian, after all. Their society breathed magic at every level, and Kor suspected this fight wouldn’t be as simple as raw strength versus skill.
Terrak ordered the group to step back, his deep voice cutting through the murmurs. “Clear the field! Give them space.”
Kor and the others shuffled to the sidelines, their shoes scuffing against the freshly marked grass. The field bore rough lines outlining an arena, faint but functional, with just enough room for the combatants to manoeuvre. Kor adjusted his glasses, his heart hammering as he fixed his gaze on the centre.
Standing opposite one another, Marcus and Kelleth exchanged a brief nod. Kelleth’s smirk was sharp, confident, while Marcus wore the same self-assured grin that had drawn Kor in from the start.
Master Terrak’s voice rang out, sharp and decisive. “Fight!”
The air seemed to hum with energy as the two boys sprang into action.
Instantly, Kelleth snapped up a personal barrier that shimmered smoothly around him as he darted to the side. Marcus’s mana sphere missed narrowly, streaking past to dissipate harmlessly.
Mana swelled around Kelleth’s hand as he slashed out, a wave of cutting force tearing through the air toward Marcus. Kor’s breath caught. With no barrier formed, he thought the fight was already over.
But Marcus sprang aside—barely. His hand snapped up at the last moment, forming a small, temporary barrier that nullified the attack.
Kor blinked, his mind racing. He hadn’t seen barriers used that way before. Was it more efficient, or was forming a full personal barrier like Kelleth’s too difficult?
Marcus retaliated with another sphere. This one sped faster, slamming into Kelleth’s shimmering shield. The barrier dimmed as it absorbed the force. Undeterred, Kelleth began charging another attack, but Marcus was already moving, unleashing another sphere in rapid succession.
Kelleth aborted his spell, dodging narrowly as the sphere tore a chunk out of the grass. Coming up into a roll, he was already gathering energy for another strike. But Marcus closed the distance, his movements precise and relentless.
Another mana sphere formed in Marcus’s hand, too fast for Kelleth to respond. It collided with the barrier again, the impact drawing a grimace from the Solarian.
Grimacing, Kelleth forced out a faster wind blade this time, but to Kor’s eye, it seemed to lack power. Marcus deflected it with another last-second barrier, his counterattack immediate. The next sphere hit Kelleth’s shield with a sharp crack. Kelleth grunted as the barrier faltered, quickly reforming it.
But Marcus was unrelenting. Another sphere, then another. One crashed into the barrier, then another. The third shattered it entirely, and before Kelleth could react, Marcus’s next sphere struck his personal badge barrier, lighting it up in a brilliant yellow glow.
Kor’s eyes widened, a stunned “Wow” escaping under his breath. The hush over the watching students broke into animated chatter, voices buzzing with excitement and disbelief.
Master Terrak’s voice cut through the noise, firm and approving. “Excellent fight. Kelleth, your wind blades are powerful, but too slow to deal with Marcus. You worked that out near the end, didn’t you?”
They’d all drawn closer now, forming a loose ring around Terrak and the two combatants. “Yes, sir,” Kelleth muttered, his tone grudging but respectful.
Terrak’s sharp gaze swung to Marcus. “Now, Marcus, your power and speed were superb. However, forming your barrier at the last moment, whilst impressive, could prove troublesome if you miscalculate.”
Marcus nodded his agreement, the confidence in his posture tempered with attentiveness. Terrak’s evaluating tone softened slightly as he turned to the rest of the group.
Kor’s mind was still racing. That had been faster than he’d expected. The way they controlled their mana had been mesmerising—Marcus’s basic mana spheres holding a refinement that seemed almost unfair. And he hadn’t even used his specialisation, unless there was something Kor was missing. Not that he even knew what Marcus’s specialisation was.
Kelleth had been impressive, too. Kor shook his head as he thought about the Solarian’s deft movements, the way he gathered his mana while anticipating Marcus’s attacks. Talen had been right to warn him about overconfidence. This wasn’t just about raw power—it was a game of precision, timing, and calculation. Like an equation, each spell and movement needed to balance perfectly, or the whole thing fell apart.
“You and you—names?” Terrak’s voice cut through Kor’s thoughts. Two advanced students stepped forward, one with a sleek, confident stance and the other with a slight smirk.
“Laylee,” the first said.
“Willem,” the second added.
Terrak inclined his head slightly, his approval subtle but clear. “Show me something worth remembering.” He gestured to the field, his command an unspoken challenge.
Terrak had them all take turns duelling. It was an eye-opening experience for Kor. He’d never truly appreciated how powerful or skilled spellcasters were—or how dangerous.
Numerous mana spheres exploded against the grass, scooping out dirt and leaving behind patches of charred grass.
The techniques on display were stunning. Even at this early stage of development, Kor could see the potential each one wielded and how difficult they’d be to defend against, even with a barrier. One student conjured a dense fog; Kor couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if it were filled with dangerous gas. Would a barrier even protect against something like that?
He filed away countless questions as the duels continued, until finally, his name was called. His opponent, a surly looking boy named Erran, bore a permanent scowl as they took their places.
Kor couldn’t form a barrier. He hadn’t even begun to work on that. Maybe he could evade Erran’s attacks instead. The plan, shaky as it was, crumbled when Terrak called out, “Fight!”
Erran stayed rooted, weaving his mana as Kor scrambled to match him. Unlike the other fights, theirs lacked the dynamic energy of rapid movement. They stood, locked in concentration, spells forming slowly in the charged air.
Kor’s heart pounded. He’d decided not to close his eyes, hoping to keep track of Erran’s progress, but it only made focusing harder. He pushed mana into his growing sphere, glancing up to see Erran constructing a shaky shield.
By some miracle, Kor finished first. He pumped more mana into the sphere, prioritising power over finesse, and cast it forward. The sphere flew weakly through the air, striking Erran’s shield. The explosion of mana shattered the half-formed shield completely.
Kor froze, momentarily awed that his spell had shattered the shield. In that instant of disbelief, Erran formed his own sphere and hurled it. Kor reacted too late—a bright flash signaled his badge barrier taking the hit, and he tumbled backward into the grass.
“Void it,” he muttered, staring up at the sky. He should’ve known better than to stand gawking like that. He hadn’t expected such a fast mana sphere after that slow barrier. If Erran had cast his sphere first, the fight wouldn’t have lasted even this long.
Terrak’s voice boomed across the field, laced with mild disdain. “As expected from two Lexicans,” he remarked when Kor finally stood. His gaze swept past them without a flicker of emotion. “You both need more practice—in everything.”
He cut himself off from saying more, turning to the rest of the group. Kor trudged back to the sidelines, his face hot with frustration. Marcus shot him a reassuring smile, though the twins’ eyes bore into him with disdain.
Terrak set the basic group to practising their mana spheres, while the advanced students were paired off for mock duels. Kor clenched his fists. He’d given Marcus his word, and while Marcus had said it wasn’t an issue for now, Kor knew that wouldn’t last forever. He resolved, then and there, to catch up.