Aleron’s eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat as the violent force of the magic swirled around him. The whirlwind spun faster, and it was as though time itself slowed down, the sounds of the classroom distorting into an eerie silence. His hands trembled slightly as the pull of the vortex threatened to tear him away from his footing. He could feel the weight of the air, thick with energy, pressing down on him. The magic was alive, sentient, and unpredictable.

  He gritted his teeth and spread his feet apart, focusing on his center of balance. “Focus,” he muttered under his breath, “you’ve done this before.”

  His thoughts flashed to the lessons in basic magic, the teachings of control. Levitation had been hard enough to master, but this... this was something entirely different. This wasn’t just the manipulation of a single element. This was pure force, raw and untamed.

  The wind picked up again, a high-pitched hum vibrating through the air as if the very fabric of the world was being ripped apart. Aleron could feel his connection to the power growing stronger, but it was threatening to overwhelm him. He needed to act fast, before the destructive force spiraled completely out of control.

  “Allevio!”

  The word left his lips in a breathless gasp. He didn’t know if the spell would work, but he had to try. The whirlwind wavered for a moment before intensifying, the gusts of wind howling louder, blurring his vision. It was like the very air itself was fighting back.

  Then, suddenly, there was a sharp crack, like thunder splitting the sky. A blast of force shot from the epicenter of the vortex, sending Aleron hurtling backwards across the classroom floor. He crashed into the stone wall with a grunt, the wind knocked from his lungs. Pain flared through his ribs as he struggled to catch his breath, the world around him spinning.

  The room fell into a stunned silence. The whirlwind had stopped.

  Aleron slowly pushed himself to his knees, gasping. He looked around, his heart still pounding in his chest, and saw that the students were staring at him. Even Master Kaelan, who had been overseeing the lesson, stood frozen in disbelief.

  “W-What... was that?” a voice whispered from the back.

  “I-I don’t know,” Aleron gasped, shakily standing up. “I didn’t mean to—”

  “It’s... impossible,” Master Kaelan’s voice cut through the air. He approached Aleron, his face a mixture of confusion and suspicion. “That wasn’t any spell I’ve taught you. It wasn’t anything in the standard curriculum. You called something... different.”

  Aleron swallowed, wiping his hand across his forehead, his skin slick with sweat. “I didn’t mean to summon that. It just happened...”

  Master Kaelan studied him for a long moment before nodding slowly. “We’ll need to discuss this further. But for now, class is dismissed. Everyone, return to your rooms. Aleron, stay behind.”

  Aleron nodded in silence, feeling his heart beat faster at the prospect of speaking with Master Kaelan alone. His mind raced with questions. What had he just done? What kind of magic had he tapped into? His hand trembled slightly as he stepped to the side of the classroom, waiting for the others to file out.

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  Once the door shut behind the last student, Master Kaelan turned to him with a serious expression.

  “Aleron,” he said, his voice low, “I’ve seen a lot of things in my time as an instructor, but what you just did—there’s no explanation for it. Not with the training I’ve given you.”

  Aleron opened his mouth to speak but stopped. He didn’t know what to say. How could he explain something he barely understood himself?

  “What did you feel?” Kaelan asked. “When the magic surged, when that storm—”

  “I don’t know,” Aleron interrupted, shaking his head. “It felt like... like something inside me was waking up. It wasn’t normal. It wasn’t what I’ve learned.”

  Kaelan nodded, his gaze thoughtful. “This is troubling. If you’re calling on magic that’s beyond your current training, that could be dangerous. But it also means something important. Perhaps you possess a hidden affinity—one that lies dormant, waiting to be awakened.”

  Aleron blinked. “Hidden affinity?”

  Kaelan paced across the room, his hands behind his back. “Yes. Some mages possess a latent affinity for certain types of magic. It can lie dormant for years, sometimes even a lifetime, until it’s triggered by a specific event or emotional state. What you experienced today could be the first sign of such an affinity.”

  Aleron felt a chill run down his spine. He had heard rumors of rare magical abilities, but he never thought he might be one of those rare cases.

  “Does this mean...” he began cautiously, “does this mean I’m... special?”

  Master Kaelan stopped pacing and looked directly at him. “It’s possible. But we cannot be sure yet. I will need to report this to the Council, and you’ll be monitored closely. I suggest you focus on your studies and refrain from practicing magic on your own until we have more clarity.”

  Aleron nodded silently, his mind whirling. The sensation of that raw, untapped power still lingered, just beneath his skin. It was a feeling he couldn't shake.

  “Thank you, Master Kaelan,” he said quietly.

  Kaelan gave him a somber nod. “You’re dismissed. But remember, Aleron, this is a serious matter. Tread carefully.”

  Aleron left the classroom, his thoughts swirling like the whirlwind from earlier. He didn’t know what was happening to him, but he had a feeling that whatever it was, it wasn’t going to be simple to understand—or control.

  As Aleron walked through the halls of the academy, he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in his chest. The path ahead was uncertain, and with the events of the day still fresh in his mind, he felt a deep sense of foreboding.

  His thoughts were interrupted when he was approached by Kain, the tall student from hand-to-hand combat class.

  “Hey,” Kain greeted, his voice lighter than usual. “You alright?”

  Aleron forced a smile. “Yeah, just... some weird stuff happened in class today.”

  “Tell me about it.” Kain’s expression shifted to one of concern. “You didn’t seem like yourself.”

  Aleron hesitated for a moment before recounting what had happened with the whirlwind and his conversation with Master Kaelan. He watched as Kain’s eyes narrowed, his interest piqued.

  “That’s... strange,” Kain said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “I’ve never heard of a student accidentally summoning something like that. But maybe it’s a sign. Maybe you’re stronger than you realize.”

  Aleron didn’t feel strong. He felt lost—like something within him was out of control. But Kain’s optimism had a way of calming his nerves, even if just a little.

  “Maybe,” Aleron said, his voice quiet. “But I have no idea what to do with it.”

  “You’ll figure it out,” Kain assured him with a grin. “And hey, if you ever need help, just let me know. We’re all in this together, right?”

  Aleron nodded, his smile faint. “Yeah. Thanks, Kain.”

  As he walked away, something in the air shifted again, a subtle chill creeping over his skin. It wasn’t just the academy that was watching him. There was something else—something far more dangerous.

  He stopped in his tracks, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end.

  From the shadows at the edge of the courtyard, a pair of eyes gleamed in the darkness.

  Aleron’s heart skipped a beat.

  And the shadows moved.

  To be continued...

  CHAOSRAVEN