Theo's POV
Morning came too fast.
Or maybe—
I just didn't sleep enough.
Either way—
This was happening.
"…Why did I agree to this?" I muttered, standing in the training field.
Empty.
For now.
That wouldn't last.
Footsteps echoed behind me.
"…Because you said something smart and now you have to live with it," Kairo said.
Of course he was early.
"…You're here early."
"Yeah," he shrugged. "Didn't want to miss you suffering."
"…I regret everything."
"Too late."
I exhaled slowly.
Then—
More footsteps.
One by one—
They arrived.
Ronan.
Lyra.
Mira.
Dax.
Selene.
Bran.
All six of them.
This was it.
Class D.
Not scattered.
Not reacting.
Standing together.
"…You're serious about this?" Dax asked immediately.
"…Yes."
"Good," he said. "I was getting bored."
"Of course you were," Lyra muttered.
Bran crossed his arms.
"…This better not be a waste of time."
"It won't be," I said.
Selene didn't speak.
Just watched.
Carefully.
Mira gave a small nod.
Ronan stood quietly.
Solid.
Reliable.
I stepped forward.
"…We're starting simple."
Groans.
Immediate.
Kairo laughed.
"Called it."
"…Ignore him," I said.
"Rude."
I continued.
"…Everyone—use your magic."
They blinked.
"…That's it?" Dax asked.
"Yes."
"…That's boring."
"Do it anyway."
He clicked his tongue—
But stepped forward.
One by one—
They activated their magic.
Earth rose beneath Ronan's feet.
Solid.
Stable.
Wind gathered around Lyra.
Sharp.
Controlled.
Light formed around Mira.
Soft—
But steady.
Dax's body tightened—
Mana reinforcing him.
Selene's illusion flickered faintly—
Barely visible.
Bran—
Fire ignited in his hand.
Wild.
Unstable.
Fast.
I watched.
Carefully.
Not their power.
Their control.
"…Stop."
They paused.
Confused.
"…That's it?" Bran said.
"…No."
I stepped forward slightly.
"…Do it again."
"…You're joking," Dax said.
"I'm not."
Kairo leaned against a nearby post.
"…Oh this is going to be painful," he said.
"Quiet."
"Can't."
I ignored him.
"…Again," I repeated.
They did it.
Reluctantly.
This time—
I stepped closer.
Watching each one.
Ronan—
Stable.
No wasted movement.
Good.
Lyra—
Precise.
But rigid.
Too rigid.
Mira—
Balanced.
But hesitant.
Dax—
Strong.
But inefficient.
Selene—
Controlled.
But distant.
Bran—
Unstable.
Burning too fast.
Too much output.
Too little control.
"…Stop."
Silence.
This time—
They were waiting.
Listening.
Good.
"…You're all wasting energy," I said.
Immediate reactions.
"What?"
"No we're not—"
"Yes, you are," I cut in.
That stopped them.
"…Magic isn't just about output," I continued.
"It's about control."
I raised my hand.
A small Water Ball formed.
Simple.
Clean.
No excess movement.
No instability.
"…This," I said—
"is enough."
They stared at it.
Then at me.
"…That's it?" Bran said.
"Yes."
"That's weak."
"It's efficient."
"…Same thing."
"No," I said.
"It's not."
Silence.
Kairo watched.
Not joking this time.
"…Try again," I said.
"…But this time—control it."
They hesitated.
Then—
Tried.
And immediately—
Failed.
Dax's reinforcement spiked too high.
Bran's fire flared uncontrollably.
Lyra's wind scattered slightly.
Mira lost focus.
Selene's illusion flickered.
Ronan—
Held.
But strained.
"…See?" I said.
Frustration built.
"…This is pointless," Bran snapped.
"There's no point in holding back."
"There is," I replied.
"…Then show me."
That—
I expected.
I stepped forward.
Raised my hand.
Water gathered.
But this time—
Slower.
Controlled.
The magic circle formed.
Precise.
Every line intentional.
The water didn't rush.
Didn't expand.
It stayed.
Compact.
Stable.
Then—
I increased the pressure.
Not outward—
Inward.
The sphere shrank slightly.
Denser.
Sharper.
"…This is control," I said.
Then—
I released it.
The Water Ball shot forward—
Fast.
Clean.
It hit the target dummy—
And froze instantly.
No explosion.
No wasted energy.
Just—
Result.
Silence.
"…Oh," Dax muttered.
"…Now you get it," Kairo added.
Bran stared at the frozen target.
"…So you're saying…"
"…Less power," he said slowly—
"…more control?"
"…Exactly."
That was the first step.
Understanding.
Kairo pushed off the wall.
"…Alright," he said.
"Now my turn."
That got their attention.
"…Oh no," I muttered.
"Oh yes," he grinned.
Lightning sparked in his hand.
Sharp.
Alive.
"…You control it," he said—
"or I hit you until you learn."
"…That's not teaching," Mira said.
"It is," he replied.
"…It's just aggressive."
"Same thing."
"…No, it's not."
I sighed.
"…Just don't injure them."
"No promises."
"…Kairo."
"Relax," he said.
Then—
He moved.
Fast.
Lightning burst beneath his feet—
And he appeared in front of Dax.
"…React."
Dax barely raised his guard—
CRACK—
The hit landed.
Not full force—
But enough.
"…Too slow," Kairo said.
Then moved again.
Lyra this time.
She reacted—
Barely.
"…Better," he said.
Then disappeared again.
Selene—
Ronan—
Bran—
Mira—
Each one forced to react.
No time to think.
No time to plan.
Just—
Move.
Adapt.
Survive.
I watched.
Because this—
Was the other half.
Control.
And reaction.
Strategy—
And chaos.
Together.
That was what they needed.
What we needed.
Kairo stopped.
Lightning fading.
"…There," he said.
"Now you're awake."
They stood there.
Breathing heavier.
More focused.
More aware.
Good.
Because this—
Was just the beginning.
I stepped forward.
"…Again," I said.
Groans.
Louder this time.
Kairo laughed.
"Yeah," he said.
"This is going to be fun."
I exhaled slowly.
Because now—
There was no going back.
Class D—
Was finally moving forward.