The sun had barely risen over the horizon, its light spilling over the training grounds of Aldercrest Academy. The air smelled faintly of burned wood and sharpened metal. On the edge of the academy’s compound, a row of students had already gathered, preparing for their morning sparring session. Some were practicing elemental magic, others honing their combat skills. Among them, Kael Serenor stood at the far side, his dark hair tousled from the wind, eyes gleaming with quiet intensity.

  He was just like the other students, but different too. While his peers conjured impressive walls of fire or torrents of water, Kael had only one thing to rely on—his fire. Simple. Raw. It wasn’t much by the academy's standards, but it was enough. At least, it had to be.

  "Kael," Rael's voice broke his concentration. His trusted knight, though younger than him, was already in his training stance. Rael always seemed to be in his element, composed and ready, his eyes reflecting a fire of their own. The two had fought side by side for years, their bond unspoken but clear.

  "Ready?" Rael asked, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

  Kael nodded, taking a deep breath. "I’m always ready."

  Rael’s lips curled into a slight smile, though there was a knowing look in his eyes. Rael had always been there for him, a friend and protector in one. If anyone understood Kael’s struggles, it was him.

  As the sparring bell rang, a group of students lined the arena to watch. They whispered excitedly, their eyes glimmering with expectation. Rael was famous for his ability to wield his sword with an elegance that could turn any battle into a spectacle. Kael, on the other hand, was known for his raw power and unpredictable moves.

  They circled each other, the tension palpable in the air.

  "I’ve been thinking," Rael said casually, spinning his sword in his hand. "There’s a new student in the academy. You might want to keep an eye on them. I hear they’re quite skilled in Wind magic."

  Kael didn’t respond at first. His hands were already beginning to warm with energy as he called upon the fmes within him. His focus was steady. When Rael’s sword came swinging toward him, Kael stepped aside, narrowly avoiding the ssh, and, in a smooth motion, thrust his hand forward.

  A burst of fme exploded from his palm, roaring through the air and crashing against Rael’s defense.

  Rael grinned, deflecting the fire with ease. “You always overdo it, Kael,” he teased, a hint of admiration in his voice. “But that’s what I like about you. Still, you’re getting predictable.”

  The heat of Kael’s fmes swirled around him, a reminder of his fire-only abilities. Unlike the other students who could manipute multiple elements, he was bound to one. One single element, a limitation that he’d struggled with for years. But with that limitation came an explosive, untamable power.

  "Come on, Rael," Kael said through gritted teeth. "Let’s see if you can handle this!"

  Without warning, he summoned more fire, the intensity growing as he swung his hand in a wide arc. Fmes danced around him, enveloping his body in a swirling ring of fire.

  Rael’s eyes narrowed. He raised his sword, Fangstrike, in a defensive position. But Kael’s fmes weren’t the only thing he had to worry about.

  The wind, as if responding to the mention of the new student, began to swirl around the arena, lifting the dust and creating a vortex. The fmes and the wind collided, creating a spectacur storm of swirling fire and gusting air. The temperature rose, and the ground cracked beneath them as the two elements fought for dominance.

  "It’s not just about power." Rael’s voice rang out over the roaring fmes. "Control matters, Kael!"

  Kael’s chest heaved as he fought to maintain his focus. His fmes began to surge uncontrolbly, a beast that could easily turn on him if he wasn’t careful. His eyes flickered, a fsh of frustration crossing his face. Why couldn’t he control it like the other students? Why was he always… so different?

  But then, something shifted. In the middle of the chaos, as Kael’s fmes reached a boiling point, a sudden wave of intensity surged through his chest. His vision blurred, and before he could stop it, he roared, a sound that seemed to vibrate the very air around them.

  The ground shook, and suddenly, both wind and fire stopped in their tracks, as if a massive, invisible barrier had been drawn between the combatants. The arena fell silent.

  Rael froze, his sword still in midair, his eyes wide as he looked around. The other students stared, their mouths agape. For the first time, they weren’t looking at Kael’s power alone, but at something else—a presence that lingered in the air.

  Kael felt it too. His hands were still crackling with fme, but the energy within him had changed. His body felt heavier, yet at the same time, more alive. There was a strange warmth, but it wasn’t coming from the fire.

  The moment passed as quickly as it came, and the wind died down. The fmes simmered back into Kael’s palm, leaving only a faint trail of smoke.

  Rael blinked, then looked at Kael with a mix of confusion and awe. “What just happened?”

  Kael’s heart raced. He had no idea.

  But somewhere, deep within him, a voice stirred, one that had long been dormant. The feeling wasn’t just from his fmes. It was something else. A fire born from something ancient.