Rising With My Mystic Power

TRIALS IN THE MORNING

The moon hung high over the outskirts of the Academy, spilling silver light over the misted courtyard. Mordaine crouched behind a low wall, eyes scanning the shadows. Tonight would be his first test outside the safety of the hidden chamber, and the Ember pulsed urgently, alive with anticipation.

Lyra stood beside him, silently observing, her staff glinting faintly in the moonlight. “Remember,” she whispered, “the goal isn’t to fight everything you see. It’s to survive and to learn control.”

Mordaine nodded, focusing his thoughts. The Ember flared lightly along his forearms, responding to his calm will. He could feel every nerve, every heartbeat, harmonizing with the flame. Tonight, he would learn the difference between raw power and true mastery.

A low growl echoed from the shadows near the Academy’s old gardens. Golden eyes reflected in the darkness, a predator not of this world one of the rogue magical beasts that had begun roaming closer to the city. Mordaine’s pulse quickened, but he stayed calm, recalling Serath’s lesson: Let the flame flow through you.

He extended his hand, channeling a small, controlled burst of Ember fire. The beast recoiled, startled, giving him a chance to observe its movement. Lyra moved silently to flank it, chanting a binding spell that shimmered in silver light.

Mordaine and Lyra worked in tandem, testing strategy as well as raw ability. The beast lunged again, faster, stronger. Mordaine’s reflexes were pushed to the limit. He summoned the Ember into a protective dome, the golden light shimmering against the creature’s claws. With a precise strike, he redirected the energy, forcing it to retreat without causing permanent harm.

From the shadows, he sensed movement an unnatural presence. The Enforcer. Mordaine froze. Every instinct screamed to run, but he remained calm, the Ember coiling like a living serpent around him.

Lyra noticed, eyes narrowing. “He’s here. Be ready.”

The Enforcer stepped into the open, his black cloak brushing the ground. “Carrowell,” he said smoothly, “I warned you. You are not meant to operate beyond the Academy’s rules. Surrender now, and perhaps they will go easy on you.”

Mordaine’s golden eyes met his, Ember flaring. “I’m not surrendering. I control my power. Not you.”

The Enforcer’s expression didn’t change, but his hand twitched toward a concealed weapon.

Mordaine took a calculated step forward, channeling Ember into the rod Serath had given him. The flame shimmered like liquid gold, forming both shield and warning.

The air crackled. Tension hung thick as night.

Lyra whispered, “You can do this. Trust yourself.”

With a deep breath, Mordaine surged forward, using the Ember to create illusions of himself darting in multiple directions. The Enforcer struck blindly, hitting only shadows. Mordaine’s heart pounded, his control steady but tested. This was not just a test of fire it was a test of strategy, cunning, and courage.

As the confrontation drew to a tense pause, the Enforcer withdrew with a warning glare, disappearing into the night. Mordaine exhaled, golden flames flickering faintly around him.

“Not bad,” Lyra said, a hint of admiration in her tone. “But this is only the beginning. The world beyond the Academy is far more dangerous than you realize.”

Mordaine nodded, feeling the Ember pulse warmly in response. For the first time, he understood: power alone would not keep him alive. Control, strategy, and allies would determine whether he survived and whether the Ember’s legacy could truly be his.

The courtyard had fallen silent, but the air was thick with tension. Mordaine’s golden eyes scanned the perimeter as the Ember pulsed faintly along his arms. He had just faced the Enforcer and a single rogue beast but the Ember seemed restless, whispering of danger still lurking nearby.

A sudden roar shattered the night, louder than any creature he had faced. From the edge of the Academy gardens, a massive shadow emerged a beast of unnatural proportions. Its scales glimmered like molten obsidian, and eyes burned with a predatory intelligence. This was no ordinary magical creature.

Lyra stepped forward, staff glowing. “It’s a scout,” she whispered. “Part of something larger. We don’t have much time.”

Mordaine’s pulse raced, Ember fire igniting along his arms. He felt the power surging, demanding release, and for a moment, panic threatened to take hold. But he drew a deep breath, recalling Serath’s lesson: Flow through the flame, do not fight it blindly.

The beast lunged, and Mordaine reacted instinctively, directing the Ember through the rod to form a barrier. The creature struck the shield, claws sparking against the golden flame, but instead of recoiling, it circled, testing him.

“Together,” Lyra shouted, weaving a spell that shot silver bindings toward the beast. It dodged with frightening speed, forcing Mordaine to act quickly. Channeling Ember into the rod again, he created a shimmering clone of himself an illusion of motion to distract the beast.

It struck the clone, and Mordaine darted from the side, unleashing a controlled surge of fire along the ground. Golden flames twisted like serpents, guiding the creature into a trap of Lyra’s bindings. The Ember roared in delight, responding to Mordaine’s will, and for the first time, he realized its true potential: it could not only attack, but strategize alongside him, adapting in real-time.

The beast struggled, its movements slowing under the combination of Ember illusions and Lyra’s bindings. Mordaine pressed forward, extending his hands, letting the Ember wrap around the creature without harming it. The flames restrained, calmed, and illuminated its form, making it obedient at least temporarily.

When the last shimmer of Ember faded, the creature sank to its knees, subdued but alive. Mordaine’s chest heaved. The Enforcer had returned silently at the edge of the courtyard, arms crossed, watching with the same unflinching coldness.

“You are improving,” he said finally, voice flat. “But remember, power draws attention. The more you grow, the closer the hunters will come.”

Mordaine’s gaze hardened. The Ember pulsed warmly, almost proudly, as if acknowledging his mastery. “Then I’ll grow faster than they can hunt.”

Lyra approached, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“That’s not enough. You’ll need allies, strategy, and foresight. And soon, you’ll learn there are enemies who won’t hesitate to kill not just to test you, but to consume the Ember.”

Mordaine looked toward the dark horizon, golden fire faintly illuminating his determined expression. For the first time, he didn’t feel fear of the unknown. He felt purpose.

The Ember had been awakened, yes but it was he who would define how it burned. And in that moment, Mordaine knew that the journey ahead would demand every ounce of cunning, courage, and control he possessed.