Elaine stood frozen in place, a visceral shock coursing through her as she rendered herself voiceless, her wide eyes fixated on the wand in her grasp, which flickered with a mesmerizing golden energy. The luminescence danced around her, almost as if it had a life of its own. She had indeed witnessed the extraordinary event that had just unfolded; that wasn’t the issue troubling her. The Essence within her—the very core of her magical being—had surged forth, slipping out of her body and filling the commoner's wand with an overwhelming power, potent enough to cast a spell that she hadn’t even begun to learn or comprehend.

  The spell she had inadvertently unleashed was unmistakably rooted in Light Magic. When her voice had broken the silence with those unknown, ancient words, her wand had reacted in a remarkable display, spewing forth a concentrated flame of radiant light that took on a striking shape resembling a javelin. The brilliance was blinding, illuminating her surroundings like a small sun. Had she ever seen a spell like that before? No, never. The tales passed among her peers had made it clear that Light Magic was incredibly elusive, an art so difficult to cast that few even dared attempt it, let alone master it. And yet, here she was, standing at the precipice of something extraordinary, tangled between fear and awe at the power that had just surged through her.

  "Excellent job, Harwood!" Elaine jolted out of her momentary stupor. Whirling over to the sidelines, she discerned a grinning Professor Knight at the foot of the bleachers, clapping his pair of giant hands. "Now that's what I like to see! Let your magic run wild, show me your fullest potential! Who knew you were holding out on me with such a great spell!"

  Elaine grinned nervously at him. I actually have no idea what I just did...

  An intense heatwave blinded her skin, baking it with enchanted radiation. What followed was a series of consecutive, rapid explosions detonating at various spots on the training grounds. The earth shook underneath her shoes, and in the air wafted the faint smell of cooked Essence. From the looks of it, her classmates were making some progress in vanquishing their homunculus as well. But on the far side of the court, Elaine's eyes landed on one person, in particular.

  Kliff Dresden upheld a solid stance—his legs were spread apart evenly from one another—whilst his indifferent expression concentrated on the homunculus blindly charging towards him. When Elaine sharpened her gaze, however, it was then that she took notice of the numerous scorch marks sprayed on the gray-colored creature's hide, like amorphous, black polka dots. Kliff would only allow the homunculus to shuffle a handful of steps closer as he lifted his crimson-colored wand and took aim. His wand was a dignified breed, with a straight shaft adorned by golden lines that slithered like the tail of a dragon, and a partially bulbous hilt at its end. Closing his eyes, inhaling through his nostrils, Kliff shouted, "Fire Magic: Ignax!"

  A subsequent wave of ignited wind poured over the training grounds, crashing into Elaine and scorching her face. She hadn't a clue as to how Kliff himself could withstand the intense warmth as casually as he did. And that burning, orange-colored light, why, it forced her to look away, even though she didn't want to. Shooting out the tip of his wand was a screeching fireball no more enormous than a moderately sized boulder, or the wheel of a carriage. The sphere of fire hurtled in the direction of the homunculus as a comet and exploded as soon as it made contact with its chest. The homunculus was consumed by a thick, black cloud of smoke that expanded out of the creature's radius and engulfed that section of the training grounds in its darkness. Not even a second later, the homunculus was sent soaring out of the smoke and across the magic circle, skipping on and off the ground as would a stone hopping over the surface of a lake. Finally, it came to rest fifteen meters from where Kliff had stood tall, his uniform billowing from the wind, as did his dark blonde hair. It didn't get up after that, lying face first on the ground with its arms and legs sprawled out.

  "Nice performance on your part, too, Dresden!" Professor Knight congratulated with a hearty shout. "Though I shouldn't have expected anything less from a sorcerer of your caliber."

  Kliff brought the wand close to his lips and blew its tip, which still had smoke streaming from it. "What a joke," he sighed, his loosened tie strewn over his right shoulder. Placing the wand back in its holster, the boy made for the bleachers, hands shoved in his pockets. And it wasn't just him, either.

  Close by to where Kliff's smoking husk of a homunculus was resting, Elaine caught Jack relishing in his victory. His chocolate hair was a mess, and his uniform was covered in patches of what looked to be some kind of slime or muddy water. His disheveled appearance didn't dampen his delight, though. What all that remained of his homunculus was a single, outstretching arm poking out of the ground. The rest of the creature had been buried in its entirety. "Oh, yeah!" Jack laughed, pumping a fist in the air. "That's what happens when you mess with me, sulmo!"

  Hmm, interesting, Elaine thought, examining him wth her finger absently clasped around her chin. He must specialize in some kind of Earth Magic. From what I've heard, it isn't easy to learn.

  Elaine would have liked nothing more than to dedicate time to studying each of her classmates as they completed the assignment, paying special attention to the distinct ways they wielded their spells, each reflecting their unique personalities and styles. However, with her own battle dominating her thoughts, she missed the chance to assess their capabilities fully. Despite this, she occasionally stole glances whenever the chaos of the duel allowed. Earlier on, she had observed Adeline triumphantly conclude her spell shortly after delivering her speech to the rest of the class. It was clear that Adeline held a profound affinity for Ice Magic, a skill that had earned her the well-deserved title of "The Glacial Girl" during the fiercely competitive Sorcerer’s Gauntlet. Elaine watched, captivated, as Adeline expertly suspended her homunculus, encasing it within a formidable block of ice. The blue-toned pillar soared ten feet into the air, glistening under the light with sharp, crystalline edges.

  A satisfied nod from Adeline was accompanied by puffs of icy vapor that escaped her lips, swirling into the crisp air around her. Even after casting such a complex and demanding spell, Elaine noted with increasing admiration that Adeline appeared to have barely tapped into her Essence reserves. There was an undeniable aura of confidence and raw power in her presence; her strides were steady and deliberate, and her face wore an expression of steely determination, untouched by fatigue or exhaustion—a testament to her experience in far more perilous battles than this. One by one, Elaine’s classmates began making their way over to the bleachers, where their professor stood with arms crossed, a knowing smirk on his face as he prepared to offer critical feedback on their performances.

  Abigail, or rather, Abby, as she preferred to be called, had crushed her homunculus between two large rocks. Simon had his pinned to the side of the wall with multiple rods of metal piercing its diaphragm, arms, and legs, preventing it from breaking free. Even Fearne had subdued hers. Employing her Plant Magic, she conjured thick, emerald green vines that burst forth from the stone floor as if it were rich, loamy earth. These tendrils slithered out like serpents, wrapping around the flailing homunculus with remarkable precision, their surface glistening with a faint sheen of moisture. As the creature thrashed desperately, the vines constricted tighter, their grip unyielding, until it became a tangle of limbs and frustration. With every violent movement, the coils seemed to respond, tightening their embrace.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Finally, after another minute of pointless resistance, the homunculus fell limp inside the festooning cluster of plant life, looking like a toy long forgotten in a garden left to overgrow. Fearne clapped her hands together with infectious enthusiasm, her bright green eyes sparkling with delight. She let out a charming little giggle as she bounced on the tips of her academy shoes, her braided ponytail bouncing playfully around her shoulders. "Yes!" she exclaimed happily. "I got one!"

  At least her spirits are back up, Elaine thought, smiling.

  Yes, her classmates were thriving in this exercise. On the other hand, there was Custas; Elaine couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for him. Despite his earlier frantic attempts to escape, he now hung helplessly above the ground by the rigid collar of his uniform, his arms limply dangling at his sides. A look of disappointment etched across his face—a mix of frustration and resignation. The homunculus who had captured him stomped off the training grounds with a clumsy gait, its heavy footfalls thudding against the stone and head bobbing from side to side, resembling a man awkwardly carting off a bag of garbage. Custas dangled unceremoniously in the creature's grip, a reluctant passenger in this absurd display of futility.

  "So, Master Cloude," smirked Professor Knight, as the homunculus brought his student to him. "What is it that we learned today?"

  Custas shot a glare at him. "Couldn't tell you, sir. I was too busy trying not to get crushed by your murder puppet over here. And can you tell it to drop me already?! My neck's starting to feel numb."

  "I heard your magic is tricky. Had you resorted to it sooner, you wouldn't be in this predicament right now."

  "Oh, give me a break. It wasn't my fault! These surgin' things move too fast," Custas grumbled. "Any chance I can get a do-over...?"

  "There are no do-overs in a duel concerning life and death. You'd excel in my class if you were to treat every one of my exercises in the same fashion as you would a legitimate threat. Show me your fighting spirit, your passion!" the professor exclaimed, clenching a fist in front of him. "I want to see the fire you have for magic!"

  Custas rolled his eyes. "Please, the only thing I'm passionate about right now is getting out of this crazy class..."

  Elaine chuckled softly at him, a hand covering her smiling lips. Of course, not everyone possessed the aptitude or the innate curiosity for combat; it was a rare trait, one that she certainly didn't believe she embodied. Her recent victory, somewhat unexpected, felt more like a stroke of dumb luck rather than a testament to any skill she might have wielded. The moment she had cast the spell, it had surged through her like an electric current. Even now, as she reflected on the event, the residual magic tingled at the tips of her fingers, a sensation that sent goosebumps racing up her forearms, prickling her skin. It was a curious feeling, almost like stepping into both a new world and a revelation of her hidden potential. Had she always possessed such formidable spells sleeping within her? The realization was both thrilling and alarming. If she had barely scratched the surface of her abilities, what else lay dormant, waiting to be awakened? No, Elaine refuted, squeezing her eyes closed and shaking her head. This was just...an accident. Nothing more. Although if I could find a way to replicate this accident...

  Someone waved their large hand in front of her, knocking her out of her thoughts. "Are you all right?" asked Mason in a gentle-sounding voice that didn't quite match his firm expression.

  Elaine forced herself to smile at him. "Yes!" she exclaimed, a bit louder than she meant to. "I'm fine. Totally, fine."

  "I saw what you did," Mason said. "That was some spell you've got there. Light Magic is a rare Gift. You should be glad." Once again, Elaine was caught off guard by how kind and well-mannered Mason was. His appearance alone would have her assume he was the kind of low-life thug her mother warned her to stay away from. The truth was far more pleasing. "That said, I'd advise not losing your focus just yet."

  Elaine frowned at him. "What?"

  "Your homunculus, looks like it has unfinished business with you." Mason motioned to where her homunculus opponent had landed some twenty-five meters away on the opposite end of the training ground. It had climbed to its feet—wobbling and jerking its limbs unnaturally—prior to snapping its neck forward, aiming its emotionless expression straight at her.

  "Wh...What!" Elaine shouted. So that spell just now, it wasn't enough to stop it?!

  "Good luck, Harwood," Mason said as he trotted for the bleachers.

  The homunculus lowered itself into a crouch, limbs coiling tightly like a predator poised to pounce, then shot at her in a haphazard sprint that sent a spray of dirt flying behind it. Elaine hadn’t defeated it yet—far from it. But as she squinted against the swirling dust and the flicker of the torches' light, she realized that she had indeed managed to inflict some damage. Turquoise-colored mist streamed out from the deep cracks and jagged tears that marred its rocky hide, vulnerable signs of a creature that had been more than just a mindless automaton moments ago. This revelation reassured her; it wouldn't be nearly as powerful as it had been during their initial engagement. Yet, as she studied its movements, she could see that it skillfully masked any signs of fatigue, its relentless determination evident in the way it charged forward, undeterred.

  Elaine steadied her breath. She knew she had less than a minute before it would be back on her tail, recklessly lashing out with its brutish strength. Each attack would come like a tidal wave, and she needed to be prepared. The strange light elemental spell still lingered in her mind, a mysterious whisper of potential that she desperately needed to grasp. What was its name again? Gathering her senses, she cleared her head and stilled her emotions. Admittedly, when she had used the spell earlier, she had felt weirdly light-headed, like she was on the cusp of passing out. And everything happened so quickly that she barely had a moment to process it. The name of the spell, in her memories the answer slumbered somewhere.

  All of a sudden, a rush electrified Elaine's nerves, and she leaped out of the way of the homunculus' punch. Chips of stone flung into the air from where the creature's fist landed, shattering chunks of the much grander magic circle's pattern. The homunculus cocked its head, then pounced for Elaine again. Clenching her jaw, Elaine lunged in a backward trot, desperately trying to avoid the homunculus' intense yet increasingly repetitive attacks. It was surprisingly easy to move around in her uniform. It didn't limit her movement or reduce her speed in any way. A byproduct of a form-alteration spell, most likely. All the while, amidst her endless dodging, memories replayed in her head. She remembered the homunculus had punched her, a churning sort of pain that quaked a sorcerer's innards, a strike that was simultaneously excruciating and nauseating. It had made her feel like she was about to retch.

  After that, she had experienced an odd sensation deep within her. An explosion, one that dulled her pain—if not only for a grasp of fleeting seconds—and what next she knew, Elaine was holding the wand out in front of her after having launched a spell. Elaine concentrated, struggling to recall that specific name, fighting to catalyze a fossilized voice in her ears. Another stomp, and the homunculus swung an arm into Elaine's shoulder. It made her spit a pain-induced scream, but she didn't fall. Not like last time. Instead, she slid over the stone floor, coming to a stop a short distance from the homunculus itself. The homunculus gave a robotic head tilt before launching at her. And it was during this interval between Elaine's last breath and the homunculus swinging its fist that familiarity singed her consciousness.

  Elaine smirked. There you are.

  Gripping her wand tightly and pointing it directly at the approaching homunculus, Elaine screamed at the top of her lungs, "Light Magic: Icto Lumen!"

  Her wand ignited, blasting out of it a javelin composed entirely of condensed light energy. In seconds, it had struck its intended target, and the homunculus went flying, soaring away as if it had been caught in some invisible force's clutches until, finally, it crashed into the wall of the room with a heavy slam, dispersing a cloud of dust and debris. Elaine—exhaling disjointed breaths that tasted of fire—gripped her illuminated wand with trembling fingers, its glow casting a flickering light against her skin. She held it steady, aimed at the homunculus half-embedded in the cracked wall. Nearby, Edgar's eyes widened in shock, his posture rigid as he instinctively took a step back, while Rayla, her face pale with fear, clutched her wand closer with white knuckles. The artificial monster, with its limbs pulled apart and an eyeless face hanging to its chest that no longer beat with turquoise energy, did not move again. Elaine had won.