Theo's POV
This time—
No one hesitated.
"…Begin," I said.
No groans.
No complaints.
That alone told me everything.
They stepped forward.
One by one—
Magic formed again.
But this time—
It was different.
Ronan moved first.
Earth rose beneath him—
Slower.
More controlled.
No sudden spikes.
No wasted motion.
Just—
Stable.
"…Good," I said.
He nodded slightly.
Lyra followed.
Wind gathered around her—
Tighter than before.
More focused.
Less scattered.
She released a small burst—
It cut forward cleanly.
Precise.
"…Better," I added.
She didn't respond.
But I saw it—
That slight shift.
She understood.
Mira stepped forward next.
Light formed in her hands—
Gentler.
But steadier.
No flickering.
No hesitation.
She shaped it—
Holding it longer this time.
"…Nice," Kairo said.
She blinked.
"…Thanks," Mira said softly.
Dax stepped in.
Reinforcement surged—
Then—
Dropped.
Then rose again—
Controlled.
Not constant.
Not wasted.
"…Huh," Dax muttered.
"…Feels weird."
"That means it's working," Kairo said.
"…I don't like that."
Selene moved next.
Her illusion formed—
Cleaner.
More stable.
It didn't flicker this time.
It stayed.
Consistent.
Watching her—
I noticed something.
She wasn't forcing it.
She was letting it exist.
That was control.
"…Good," I said quietly.
Her eyes flickered toward me—
Just for a second.
Then back.
Finally—
Bran.
Silence.
He stepped forward slowly.
No fire.
Not yet.
Good.
"…Start small," I said.
He didn't respond.
But his hand lifted.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Then—
A spark.
Small.
Weak.
Controlled.
It didn't flare.
Didn't surge.
It stayed.
Barely alive—
But stable.
"…That's it," I said.
Bran's jaw tightened.
"…It's weak," he muttered.
"It's controlled," I replied.
"…Same thing."
"No," Kairo cut in.
"Not even close."
Bran glanced at him.
"…Then what is it?"
Kairo stepped forward slightly.
"…It's the start," he said.
No grin.
No joke.
Just—
Straight.
Bran looked back at the flame.
Still small.
Still steady.
He didn't increase it.
Didn't force it.
For once—
He held it.
That was enough.
"…Good," I said.
Silence settled.
But this time—
It wasn't heavy.
It was focused.
Real.
I stepped back.
"…Now we combine it," I said.
That got their attention.
"…Combine?" Dax frowned.
"With what?" Lyra asked.
"With each other," I replied.
That—
Changed everything.
"…Wait," Dax said. "You mean like—team stuff?"
"Yes."
"…That sounds complicated," he muttered.
"It is."
Kairo grinned slightly.
"…Now it's fun."
"…Of course you'd say that," Mira said.
I ignored them.
"…Pairs," I said.
"Work together."
They looked at each other.
Uncertain.
That was expected.
"…Ronan. Mira," I said.
They nodded.
"…Lyra. Dax."
Lyra sighed.
"…Try not to slow me down," she said.
"Wow," Dax grunted. "Rude."
"…Selene. Bran."
That one—
Paused.
Bran frowned slightly.
Selene just watched him.
"…Don't get in my way," Bran muttered.
"…Don't lose control," Selene replied calmly.
That was going to be interesting.
Kairo leaned closer to me.
"…You paired that on purpose," he whispered.
"…Yes."
"Cruel."
"…Effective."
He smirked.
"Fair."
"…Begin."
They moved.
Slowly at first.
Uncertain.
Then—
They tried.
Ronan raised a small earth barrier.
Mira layered light over it—
Reinforcing it.
The structure stabilized instantly.
"…Oh," Mira said softly.
Ronan nodded once.
Lyra fired a wind shot—
Dax moved with it—
Timing his movement—
Striking right after.
Not perfect—
But better.
Selene created a light illusion—
Distorting space.
Bran hesitated—
Then—
Released a small flame.
It passed through—
The illusion shifted—
The flame split—
Two directions.
Bran blinked.
"…That wasn't me."
"…It was me," Selene said.
"…Do it again."
"…Control it first."
"…Right."
They tried again.
Better.
Not perfect—
But improving.
Fast.
I watched.
Carefully.
Because this—
This was it.
The beginning.
Not individual strength.
But—
Team.
Kairo crossed his arms.
"…They're getting it," he said.
"…Slowly."
"Still counts."
"…Yeah."
For the first time—
Class D wasn't just reacting.
They were learning.
Adapting.
Working together.
And that—
Would change everything.
Because now—
They weren't just individuals.
They were becoming—
A unit.