After the battle with the overwhelming monster, the scent of scorched earth lingered in the air, mixing with the bitter scent of burnt flesh. The ground beneath Seth's feet still crackled from the remnants of magical energy that had collided in the midst of the fight. But amidst the charred remnants of the battlefield, there was only silence now, broken only by the heavy breaths of the two students who had just witnessed the near-death of a classmate.
Jake lay motionless on the ground, his once confident face pale and gaunt. His breaths were shallow, and his body twitched with the last remnants of magical strain. The weight of the battle had taken a far greater toll than anyone had expected. He had given it everything—pushing his body and mind to their absolute limits—but in the end, his power had faltered.
Andrea's eyes narrowed slightly as she surveyed the scene. There was no irritation in her gaze this time, only a quiet awe. Seeing Jake at his limits—his body beaten and drained—made her reflect on his potential. He had fought with everything he had, yet he was still far from the power necessary to survive in a world like this. But she couldn't help but think: There's more to him. He just doesn't know how to harness it yet.
Seth's voice broke her thoughts. "He's still alive," he murmured. His green eyes flickered as he knelt beside their fallen classmate, placing his hand on Jovhan's forehead. The heat radiating from his skin made it clear the boy had been overexerting himself, and the toll had been far heavier than even he had anticipated.
"He'll make it," Andrea muttered. Despite her calm words, her gaze lingered on Jake a moment longer. She knew better than anyone that the boy wasn't yet ready to stand on his own. But he would. That much was certain.
Seth's expression was unreadable, though his voice carried a quiet conviction. "We need to get him to the professors."
Andrea nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. She had felt the shift in Jovhan during the battle, the uncertainty that ran through him even as he pushed himself past his limits. He wasn't yet accustomed to the kind of pressure he'd just faced. If he was going to be a part of this journey, he needed far more than just raw talent.
"We'll need help," Andrea said, stepping back to allow Seth to work. She raised her hand toward the sky and, in one smooth motion, summoned a flare of brilliant fire that shot upwards like a beacon.
Seth watched with a quiet nod as the orange light blazed into the sky, the signal that would reach the professors. Their urgent request for help had been sent. Now they could only wait.
"Let's give him a little more time," Seth murmured. He reached into the space around him, drawing a portal to ease their way out of the area. It wouldn't take long for the professors to arrive. With their skill, they would stabilize Jake's condition and carry him back to the academy's infirmary. He knew it was the best option, but something in the air told him it wouldn't be the last time they would see Jovhan in this state.
The professors arrived with swift efficiency. One of them, a healer whose presence radiated calm authority, knelt beside Jake's collapsed form. Her hands hovered over his body, and a soft light surrounded him as she began chanting a healing incantation.
"Hold on, young man," the professor murmured as the light bathed Jake, easing the worst of the exhaustion from his body.
Andrea watched the scene with a faint furrow in her brow, but she said nothing. Her attention flickered back to the horizon where the battle had taken place. She could feel the strain from the fight still in the air, the remnants of magic that lingered in the atmosphere.
"He's stable for now," the healer said after a few moments, looking up at Seth and Andrea. "But we'll need to take him back to the academy. He's pushed himself far too hard."
Seth nodded quietly. "We'll entrust him to you. Let him recover."
Andrea gave the professor a quick, silent nod. She couldn't shake the lingering sense of awe at Jake's raw potential, but she didn't speak it aloud. Instead, she just watched as the professors carefully gathered Jovhan's unconscious form and started toward the academy. The boy wasn't ready for what was coming, but perhaps he could be, in time.
When the professors were out of sight, Andrea and Seth turned toward the path that led deeper into the land of Ignis. There was still much to explore.
---
The land of Ignis was harsh, unforgiving, and yet it was where the students of the academy had been sent to test themselves. After their brief encounter with Jake's limits, Seth and Andrea felt the weight of their own abilities. They had to push further, for themselves, for the mission, and for the challenges ahead.
The air here was thick with heat, and the atmosphere itself seemed charged with energy—raw, unpredictable, and violent. Yet, it didn't faze the two students who had long since grown accustomed to the unforgiving nature of their world. Andrea, as always, was at ease with the fire that surrounded them, her mastery of it a constant reminder of the legacy she carried with her. Seth, on the other hand, was the perfect partner for this kind of journey, his spatial magic allowing them to maneuver with precision as they traveled deeper into this hostile environment.
As they ventured further, the landscape became more treacherous. Jagged rocks jutted from the ground, and pockets of intense heat seemed to appear out of nowhere, radiating from the earth itself. The monsters of Ignis were dangerous, but they were also predictable. After dealing with them time and again, Seth and Andrea were in sync, moving with the kind of coordination that could only come from months of training together.
Luna's fire magic tore through the air, scorching any monsters that dared to approach. The flames were fierce, brilliant, and swift, dancing with every flick of her wrist. Seth moved alongside her with his usual precision, his spatial magic shaping the battlefield around them, creating openings or closing them off with an elegance that only he could manage.
In the span of a few hours, they had dealt with three High-tier monsters—creatures that the academy's professors had warned them about. Even the seasoned instructors would have hesitated to face these creatures without preparation. Yet for Seth and Andrea, it was just another task to complete. No sweat, no hesitation. Their combined strength was beyond the scope of the ordinary students. The battle was quick and efficient.
When they returned to the academy later, the atmosphere had shifted. Students who had been passing through the halls stopped to watch as the two of them walked by. Murmurs buzzed through the air, a quiet awe in their voices.
"Did you hear? They took down High-tier monsters today."
"I heard they didn't even need the professors' help."
"They're untouchable... It's like they're in a league of their own."
There were whispers of fear, too. Fear of the unknown. Fear of what Seth and Andrea had become. The two students had already proven themselves capable of overcoming challenges that the professors themselves struggled with, and the students knew it.
Back in the academy, Jake was still being cared for. His efforts to defeat a Mid-tier monster had been commendable, but it had taken everything he had—and more. The professors would help him recover, but he had yet to reach the level of power needed for what lay ahead.
As Seth and Andrea walked through the academy, they overheard students muttering among themselves. The whispers followed them like a shadow. It wasn't admiration alone that they heard; there was an undertone of trepidation as well. The students knew that the monsters they had fought were High-tier, and they were well aware of what that meant for their own abilities. The gap between the strongest students and everyone else was growing wider.
But as they passed by, Andrea couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as the whispers trailed off into nothing. She wasn't bothered by the attention. In fact, there was a strange satisfaction in knowing that their efforts were being recognized, even if it was from a distance. The land of Ignis was only the beginning.
Far away, in the shadows of the land of Ignis, a dark figure stood watching. Its piercing gaze followed Andrea and Setg, intrigued by their strength. It murmured a single word, its voice low and ominous.
"Interesting…"
The entity watched the two students, its malevolent curiosity growing.