Chapter Forty-Eight: Shards of Rage

  “Excellent, Jace,” Professor Frost’s voice cut through the air, crisp and approving. “Let’s proceed to the next phase of our training. We’ll be practicing hitting moving targets. Remember, precision and control are essential.”

  With a sharp clap of a switch, the targets sprang to life, darting around the open space. “Focus on accuracy above power.”

  Jace nodded, his eyes tracking the erratic movements. Marcus, with a smirk, effortlessly hit several targets in rapid succession, looking like a peacock draped in gaudy clothing and jewelry. Jace pushed the distraction aside, channeling his determination. He hit the next three targets in quick succession, his confidence swelling with each success.

  The practice continued, the platform filled with the hum of energy and the occasional cheer. Jace’s concentration was broken by Professor Frost pulling another switch.

  “Fine, fine. You seem to have a handle on moving targets. Now, let’s up the ante.” She punched two buttons and flipped another toggle, and large, reflective mirrors appeared around the platform. “These mirrors can withstand force up to advanced Adept ranks. Your task is to launch energy at them and dodge the reflected beams. This will hone your reflexes and spatial awareness. Control your power; these mirrors reflect but do not absorb.”

  The students positioned themselves, the wooden platform soon vibrating with the sounds of energy beams ricocheting off the mirrors. Jace aimed at his reflection, watching as the beam rebounded toward him. He dodged, narrowly escaping the searing energy, which singed the edge of his robes. He tried again, his timing improving with each attempt.

  His heart raced, the thrill of the exercise fueling his resolve. Adrenaline coursed through him, sharpening his reflexes with every dodge. He glanced at his classmates, their faces etched with concentration and exhilaration.

  Professor Frost moved among them, her voice a mix of guidance and encouragement. “Good, Jace. Keep it up. Control your breath, let it flow naturally.”

  Jace nodded, internalizing her advice. He steadied his breathing, feeling the energy flow more clearly. His movements grew more fluid, his control more precise. The mirrors’ reflections became less intimidating as he adapted, each success fortifying his confidence.

  As the session progressed, Jace found a rhythm, chaos transforming into a symphony of energy and motion. He felt a deep connection to his shard, the flow of mana becoming second nature. This exercise wasn’t just about dodging; it was about mastering the delicate dance between power and control.

  Marcus, a few meters away, angled his beam to ricochet toward another student. The unsuspecting boy yelped as the beam singed his arm.

  “Marcus!” Professor Frost’s voice was icy. “This exercise is not for targeting your classmates. Focus on your own task.”

  Marcus shrugged, his grin unrepentant. He continued with precision, keeping his reflections within his own space.

  Thistle, on the other hand, struggled. Each attempt sent beams unpredictably, often too close to other students. After the third near miss, Professor Frost sighed.

  “Thistle, come here,” she instructed. “You’ll practice on stationary targets until your control improves. We can’t afford injuries due to lack of precision.”

  Thistle, looking dejected, obeyed, moving to a corner under Professor Frost’s watchful eye. Molly joined him, offering personal coaching and support.

  Jace continued, becoming more adept at predicting the reflections and dodging with increasing agility. He saw his classmates improving too, their confidence growing with each successful burst and dodge.

  Perfect Practice Makes Perfect

  Working with a high-rank teacher has revealed a special skill - You’ve unlocked the ability to combine EXP gains with simultaneous allocation through dedicated training and study. With the right tutors and practice techniques, you can earn and spend EXP to enhance specific skills and attributes efficiently.

  +1 to Dexterity and Constitution

  Skill Rank Up

  Aether Pulse - Rank Two

  Jace had never experienced a skill ranking up so quickly, and he felt a surge of pride in his progress.

  After an hour of grueling training, Professor Frost flipped a switch, and the mirrors vanished into the platform. The students, breathless and glistening with sweat, gathered around her.

  “Well done, everyone,” Professor Frost’s voice rang out, genuine approval in her tone. “You’ve all shown noticeable improvement—many of you exceeded my expectations. And for some, Miss Eidolon will have her hands full.” A few students exchanged sheepish glances, especially Thistle.

  “Now, we’ll move to the last part of today’s lesson: dueling,” she continued, her words sparking hushed murmurs among the students. “Pair up with your nearest neighbor. We’ll need two volunteers for the first round,” she said, her eyes scanning the group with a hint of a challenge.

  Marcus, quick to position himself nearest Jace, called out, “We’ll go first.”

  “Very well then, Marcus and Jace. Take your positions. Everyone else, off the platform.”

  The students shuffled into the audience seating, quiet anticipation filling the air.

  “Now, as I’ve said, duels shall exclude any direct Affinity usage. You will begin at my command and cease at my command or when the first person surrenders the match. Your strikes are to be confined to the arms, legs, and chest—under no circumstances shall you aim for the head. I will have no major injuries from this. Is this entirely understood?”

  Both nodded, though Marcus’s lips curled into an odd smile.

  Excitement buzzed through the breezeway as Marcus and Jace took their positions at each end of the platform, shards at the ready. The rest quickly paired off and formed lines on either side, leaving the duelists isolated.

  Jace’s mind raced. Shouldn’t we be wearing protection?

  His eyes locked onto Marcus across the long platform. Marcus stood tall, his posture relaxed but eyes sharp and calculating. There was a glint of challenge in his gaze, a predatory confidence that sent a shiver down Jace’s spine.

  Professor Frost pressed a few keys on the panel and pulled a switch. A large silver wall rose between Jace and Marcus, obscuring their views of each other.

  “This wall is reflective and has special protections. If you hit it, the energy will bounce back at you, like mirrors. The duel begins the moment the first burst is fired, which could be anytime after I say ‘begin.’ You don’t have to wait for the barrier to fully descend, but I recommend you do—at least until you’ve had much more practice.”

  Jace’s heart pounded. He could almost feel Marcus’s eyes through the barrier, could sense the tension in the air as they both awaited the moment when the duel would start.

  “Begin!” Professor Frost commanded, and the silver barrier slowly began its descent into the ground.

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  Jace stood absolutely still, his shards flickering with raw energy, his heart pounding in his chest. The air buzzed with anticipation, thick and electric. When the barrier was just below reaching eye level, a blast of carmine energy shot across the top edge, smashing straight into Jace’s face. Blinded for a moment, he stumbled back, his face burning and smarting from the hit.

  Professor Frost shot a dagger-like glare at Marcus, who raised his hands in mock surrender. “Apologies, I couldn’t see where I was aiming,” he said.

  “Careful, Marcus. I’ll accept that as an accident, but don’t test my patience,” Professor Frost warned.

  The barrier continued its slow descent. Jace had only a few brief moments before the barrier lowered completely, giving Marcus the opportunity to strike again.

  Jace crouched, focusing energy through his Moonstone Shard. His vision still blurred from the initial blast, he could just make out the form of Marcus preparing another attack. A flash of light erupted as Marcus sent a barrage of energy towards him, his Ruby Shard emitting a burst of crimson brilliance. Jace sidestepped awkwardly, the energy grazing his arm and leaving another painful burn.

  With a growl, Jace retaliated, channeling his power into a swift moonlit strike. But Marcus was ready. A temporary shield of shimmering energy sprang up, deflecting the attack. The shield dissipated as quickly as it had formed, leaving Jace in a state of shock.

  “What the hell? When were we taught to do that?” Jace muttered under his breath, shaking his head in disbelief.

  “Is that all you’ve got?” Marcus sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. His eyes gleamed with sadistic satisfaction.

  Ignoring the pain, Jace summoned his resolve. He launched himself forward, his movements a blur. Moonstone Shard in hand, he slashed at Marcus, who blocked the attack with his Ruby Shard. Sparks flew as the shards clashed, illuminating the battleground with their fierce glow.

  Marcus pushed back, his strength overwhelming. He swung his shard with deadly precision, aiming for Jace’s vulnerable spots. Jace dodged, his movements becoming more fluid as he adapted to Marcus’s aggressive style. The two fighters were locked in a lethal dance of skill and will.

  Jace felt a surge of energy course through him, breaking free from the deadlock with a sudden burst. He spun around, using the momentum to deliver a powerful strike to Marcus’s side. The impact sent Marcus staggering, his composure faltering for a split second. Jace seized the moment, channeling a concentrated burst of moonlight energy through his shard. The beam of light struck Marcus square in the chest, sending him sprawling to the ground.

  Marcus glared up at him, anger and humiliation etched across his face. “Lucky shot,” he spat, struggling to his feet. Despite the pain, Jace felt a mix of concern and triumph. He didn’t pity Marcus, but he also didn’t want to tear apart another student. He backed away, giving Marcus room to stand, but stayed on guard. Just because he didn’t want to seriously injure Marcus didn’t mean he was stupid.

  Despite his guard, Marcus feigned a high strike, drawing Jace’s attention. As Jace ducked to avoid the faint burst, Marcus swiftly lashed out with a sucker punch of raw red light, hitting Jace square in the stomach. The force knocked the wind out of him, doubling him over in pain.

  Marcus launched himself at Jace with renewed ferocity. His strikes were relentless, his Ruby Shard flaring with every hit. Jace struggled to defend himself, the intensity of Marcus’s assault overwhelming his defenses.

  In the heat of the moment, Jace discovered he could block or deflect a hit with an equal burst of energy in a wider field. It took precision that he didn’t yet have, so he only managed to block a few out of many. His cloak was singed in several places, and his skin felt raw. He managed to block a particularly vicious strike aimed at his head, but the impact sent him reeling. Marcus pressed the advantage, his attacks a blur of red light and raw power. Jace’s vision blurred again, but he fought to stay on his feet, determined not to fall.

  “Final warning, Marcus,” Professor Frost called out, her voice icy. “Headshots will not be tolerated. Do so again, and you will forfeit the match and see the Archmage for discipline.”

  Marcus only smiled in response.

  Jace gritted his teeth, focusing on his shard. His brother’s voice echoed in his mind, urging him to stay calm. He launched a series of rapid strikes, but his inexperience showed. Marcus countered each one with smooth precision. “You’ll have to do better than that,” he taunted.

  Frustration bubbled within Jace, but he forced himself to stay calm. Marcus cast a blinding barrage of bolts, wrapping around Jace’s legs, pushing him off balance. He stumbled but caught himself, then closed the distance with a quick step, channeling his aether into a powerful blast. Marcus barely reacted in time, raising his shard just enough to deflect some of the impact. The blast sent him stumbling back.

  “You’re stronger than I thought,” Marcus admitted, frustration tight in his voice.

  Jace didn’t respond, his focus unwavering. He needed to end this quickly. He centered himself, feeling his breath resonate within him. Marcus lunged, but Jace was faster this time. He ducked low, avoiding the strike, and then sprang up, his shard glowing with intense light. He released a beam of energy, striking Marcus squarely in the chest. Marcus hit the ground with a thud.

  For a moment, it seemed Jace had won. But Marcus wasn’t done. With fierce determination, he pushed himself up, eyes burning with anger. The bronze ring on his hand glowed faintly as his face contorted with rage. He radiated power and fury, forcing Jace to step back instinctively. He stumbled, sensing something different now in Marcus’s eyes—something that shook him to his core.

  Marcus took advantage, closing the distance with lightning speed. He struck with his shard, a burst of energy hitting Jace squarely in the chest. Jace was thrown back, hitting the ground hard. He struggled to get up, his body feeling heavy, his energy drained. Marcus struck again and again, knocking Jace back as he tried to get up.

  Dex moved forward to intervene, but Ell held him back, her grip firm. A tall, pale boy smiled as he watched the fight.

  Marcus’s attacks grew frantic. Jace saw the madness in his eyes, the way his lips curled in pleasure. His shard glowed brightly as he prepared to release another strike, this time at close range, directly into Jace’s prone body.

  “Oh, Jace,” Marcus croaked out, his voice not sounding like his own. “You know what they say about kicking a man when he’s down...”

  Jace paused, confusion flickering in his eyes.

  “Go for the head.”

  Jace tried to roll out of the way, but Marcus was faster and more practiced. He had obviously trained for this. He was no newcomer to duels. Jace, though quick to learn, was no match for the time and training Marcus had clearly dedicated. A brilliant red flash of light erupted from Marcus’s shard as he redirected the shot from Jace’s chest to his face, knocking his head hard against the platform.

  Professor Frost stepped forward, her expression unreadable. “That’s enough,” she declared, her voice brooking no argument. “The match is over.”

  Marcus ignored her and kept moving closer, his shard vibrating with power as red tendrils of force blasted into Jace’s eyes.

  “I said, enough!”

  Then there was a flash of amber light, and Marcus’s shard was knocked out of his hands. A field of energy launched him backward as Professor Frost stood between him and Jace, bringing the duel to an abrupt halt.

  Dark tendrils crept from the ground, and Molly could be seen chanting something, her lips far out of sequence with the sounds. Marcus was wrapped in black ropes and tugged to the ground. He tried to fight against it, but he couldn’t, and his shard was out of reach.

  After a moment, Marcus’s eyes stared into nothingness, his face a blank canvas of apathy.

  Jace, breath ragged with a mix of exhaustion and unbridled anger, rose unsteadily to his feet. The world was white; his eyes burned. He felt the hands of Professor Frost and a warm energy enveloped his face. It burned terribly, and his chest heaved as his body shook in protest against the pain, trembling.

  But slowly, the white of the world turned to gold as the amber worked its magic. Images came back. It was a terrifying moment before the world returned. Jace knew it was just a game. Just a game, he repeated in his mind. But it didn’t feel like just a game anymore, if it ever did. They were in uncharted territory now. Death could mean insanity or oblivion. Who knew the consequences anymore?

  The blurred shapes regained their color and depth as his eyes healed, his burns mostly faded, though the deeper pain wasn’t as easily addressed. The amber light dimmed as his last cuts sealed. He saw Molly still chanting and Professor Frost kneeling beside him.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  Jace just stared at her for a moment before shaking his head and then saying, “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  He stood with her help, casting a final, silent glance at the arena before turning away, driven by an urgent, visceral need to escape the confines of his seething rage. He walked off.

  Professor Frost let him go, a knowing look in her eyes. She recognized the look of a student who needed to clear their thoughts and understood the value of quiet in moments of turmoil. Molly looked at him sadly but did not stop chanting.

  Marcus spat, despite the heavy ropes, “Little baby needs to go and cry.”

  A rope tugged harder, slapping his head against the ground with a loud thump as Molly scowled at him.

  “I’ll be dealing with you later, Marcus,” Professor Frost said. “Go ahead, Jace.”

  The mountain’s path lay before Jace, winding through ancient trees that swayed with the promise of peace.

  Each step down the mountain was a battle against the turmoil within him. The weight of his thoughts pressed down, matching the gravity that pulled him closer to the earth.

  “Jace, wait up!” Alice’s voice was the loudest, filled with worry. Dex and Ell weren’t far behind, their footsteps loud in the narrow mountain path. Jace didn’t stop.

  “Jace,” Alice called again.

  He stopped and turned, his face a mask of frustration and fatigue. “Back off!” he yelled. His tone was harsher than he intended, but he couldn’t help it. Her face showed confusion, and a touch of hurt flickered in her eyes.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice softer now, “I just need a minute, okay?”

  Alice opened her mouth to protest, but Dex gently placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head. Understanding passed between them, and with reluctant nods, they stepped back.

  Jace watched them for a moment, his heart aching with guilt. Then, without another word, he continued down the path. It was a long journey, hours even with the ease of descent, but Jace welcomed it. He needed the time, the distance, the quiet.