Today, the Academy had summoned us all for a demonstration, a lesson on handling corrupted beasts affected by the infernal miasma that had been seeping into our world from the rifts.
The professors had warned us beforehand that this would not be a routine exercise.
The rifts had grown wider in the past weeks, and with that, the corrupted creatures had become more aggressive, their behavior erratic, unpredictable.
Like the professor said, the number of rifts had been steadily increasing, and with them, the amount of infernal miasma had also grown.
The Rare Magic Division had been called specifically for this. For me, todays exercise was primarily observation and support, but I knew that my affinity for Space Magic might allow me to do more than simply watch.
I followed the Legendary Students through the hallways, feeling the subtle shift of their auras, the interplay of their power. Sheng Rui walked calmly in the center, a quiet anchor that drew attention without even trying.
Dawei Chen moved with precision, his blood magic weaving silently around his sword, prepared to strike at the first sign of danger. Liang Yu carried the subtle weight of anticipation in his stance, his summons flowing obediently around him, ready to adapt to any movement.
Yung Yu's dark mana hummed beneath the surface, hidden but deadly, coiling and uncoiling like a living shadow, every inch of him taut with readiness.
I kept my distance, carefully folding my threads of Space Magic around their circulating energies, letting them pulse and flow as though I were an unseen part of the formation.
Sheng Rui laughed softly at something Liang Yu said, and for the briefest moment, Dawei Chen's shoulder brushed his in passing, just enough for me to catch the faint flicker of their playful tension.
My chest tightened slightly, and I allowed a quiet smile to form, silently cheering them on in my mind. I had learned enough to understand the dynamics now: subtle glances, unspoken teasing, the physical closeness that marked their bonds. I could recognize it without needing to participate, and yet I couldn't help but root for them all at the same time.
The professors signaled from the outer perimeter. A large, cage-like barrier had been prepared, reinforced with wards and containment spells.
Beyond it, the corrupted creature prowled restlessly, its form warped by the infernal miasma, eyes glowing with unnatural intelligence. This wasn't a creature to approach lightly, and the older students were tasked with leading the capture.
Rare Magic students would enter the controlled space to engage, study, and adapt, using the exercise to learn. I was expected to assist, to support them, and, if necessary, stabilize the environment.
I let my fingers hover in the air, feeling the threads of my own mana extend outward.
This was my domain. Space responded to me instinctively, folding and stretching subtly to create breathing room, to smooth the edges of the energy flows around the Legendary Students, and to stabilize areas where the creature's corrupt influence pressed against the wards.
It was delicate work, invisible to most, yet every subtle adjustment had an effect.
When Yung Yu compressed his Dark Mana too tightly, I could feel the tension spike, and I wove my threads to give the pressure somewhere to dissipate, softening what could have become a snap of chaotic energy.
The creature stirred more aggressively, snarling as the miasma around it writhed like a living fog.
The older students raised their staves, and the professors' commands rang out clearly, orchestrating the capture with precise timing. Sheng Rui's light magic flared to counter the creature's erratic energy, forming a soft halo of illumination around him. Liang Yu's summons adjusted instinctively, their movements fluid and coordinated, while Dawei Chen's strikes tested the limits of his control, observing and probing the beast without striking lethally. I kept my threads moving, anchoring unstable patches of energy, subtly guiding arcs of residual infernal mana back into the containment lines.
From the edge of the formation, I caught Yung Yu's sharp gaze. His eyes met mine for just a moment, and I could sense a silent acknowledgment: he understood the support I was providing, but he would not rely on me directly.
My pulse quickened, and I allowed myself a small breath of pride. Today, I wasn't in the spotlight, but I was making a tangible impact.
As the creature lunged toward a gap in the wards, Sheng Rui stepped forward, extending his hands, light spilling from his palms.
Liang Yu's summons reacted immediately, shifting to meet the motion, while Dawei Chen's sword hummed as he adjusted his guard. I mirrored their flow, subtly extending my Space threads to create extra room around the edges, a buffer for the beast's sudden movement. The miasma shimmered and contracted, but the wards held, and the creature's aggression was redirected, controlled.
The entire exercise moved like a living organism, each participant responding to another in rhythm and anticipation.
I felt the thrill of the weave, the way my own abilities could interface without overriding theirs, enhancing stability and preventing collapse.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I realized how much I had grown since first stepping into this Academy: this was no longer just observation; this was mastery of subtle influence, precision that could make the difference between control and chaos.
And yet, amidst the tension, the Legendary Students' interactions continued.
Sheng Rui's hand brushed Liang Yu's briefly as he adjusted a glyph mid-step, Dawei Chen's shoulder nudged Sheng Rui while redirecting a pulse of energy, Yung Yu's dark glare softened for the slightest instant as he caught a teasing smirk from Sheng Rui.
I caught it all, and, despite the danger surrounding us, my heart quietly encouraged it.
The professors had everything under control, older students coordinating the containment, and the Rare Magic class was at the center of it all, engaging the beast directly under supervision.
I felt the threads of Space Magic pulse around me, responsive, alive, ready to stabilize or adjust as needed.
Finally, as the containment settled and the creature was held securely within the wards, the professors signaled a pause.
The four Legendary Students stepped back, breathing lightly, while Sheng Rui's eyes met mine once again, a small nod of approval passing silently between us.
I smiled quietly to myself, folding my threads inward and letting my mana settle.
I realised, that the Rare Magic Division would probably be called repeatedly to these exercises. I will need to practice harder, so that I will be prepared for any unexpected events.