A Trial, Approaching (6)

Aether didn't even want to know what was going through Clara's mind as she made the three of them stand a few meters apart and instructed them to cast their barriers.

They did as she asked, and then waited as she inspected each of the three barriers.

"It's a bit foggy, which means you will have a hard time seeing through it." She told Mara. The shy girl nodded, it was clear as day after all. She could barely see as it was. "I don't know how to fix it though."

"It will take practice." Clara said with a reassuring smile. "As for yours…" She narrowed her eyes as she looked at Erika's spell. "To be honest, you could fool me with that. If I didn't see you cast it, I wouldn't know it was there. Are you sure you learnt this spell just now?"

"Yeah." Erika said with a smile. "I've never cast this spell before."

Clara nodded. "Alright." Her attention then shifted on Aethers. Her lips curled downwards. "I expected something more." She said as she approached him and placed her hand on the ever so slightly foggy barrier. "You're not trying your best." Her expression showed annoyance more than disappointment.

Aether's expression remained emotionless, though not showing any surprise proved to be a challenge. Had she noticed? Or was she just being weird as usual?

"Alright then," Clara declared. "Once everyone else is happy with their spells, they can join these three! But I will be actively trying to break your barriers, so make sure you're actually ready." She lowered her voice. "I'm not holding back too much." Her lips curled up with a mischievous smile.

She put some distance between Aether, Erika and Mara and herself. "Ready? The last person standing wins."

"Ready!" Erika exclaimed, her eyes filled with determination. Mara nodded as well, though her sheepish voice didn't reach Aether's ears. Noticing Clara's gaze on him, he also nodded. "Ready." He said with a faint smile.

"Let's start small," Clara said as she pointed at Mara's barrier. "Dart!" Her voice was filled with confidence as a bright blue dart of magic appeared on the tip of her finger. It rushed towards Mara and hit the foggy barrier with a flash of light.

The young, shy girl flinched, but her spell survived the attack. She clenched her shaking fists, Aether glimpsed a bit of confidence in her eyes.

"Dart." Clara's voice sounded again. A dart flew and hit Erika's barrier. Once again, it proved to be harmless. "Good." Clara said, and Erika's eyes glimmered with confidence and excitement.

"Dart!" The young woman's voice sounded in Aether's ears. He felt a weak dart of magic hit his own barrier and harmlessly dissipate. "Alright!" She grinned. "Now I can go all out."

"All out?" Erika mumbled as Clara grinned. "Wait…"

Clara took a few steps back and raised her hand. "Heaven's Wrath!" Her voice, resounding with power, echoed across the courtyard.

Aether's eyes widened as he felt the crackling power around her. He closed his eyes, and focused. When he opened them again, they let out a silver shine. The world changed colours, and the currents of mana were revealed to him.

He drew a sharp breath as he saw Clara's power flow from her body to the sky.

"Clara, that's too much!" He shouted without thinking.

"Don't worry – her spell won't harm any human." Professor Cross' voice sounded. Erika and Mara breathed sighs of relief, yet Aether's expression only darkened.

As power rushed through her veins, Clara laughed. "Let's begin!" She said as her spell was finally completed. She pointed towards the three first year students before her, and columns of holy light shone upon them.

Ten seconds was what it took for Mara's barrier to shatter into pieces. The young girl covered her eyes and collapsed on her knees. "Mara is out!" Professor Cross declared immediately. A few people rushed forward, and a guy's voice sounded. "I want to compete too!"

It was a tall, blonde, young man. She had seen him before, with the corner of her eye as she walked with Aether to the administrative building.

Professor Cross directed the young man and the other students to stand a little far apart like Aether and Erika were standing.

Clara smiled, and as soon as they created their barriers, shone her power upon them as well. Then, she directed her gaze onto Erika. The class president's expression was filled with determination, though from the beads of sweat running down her forehead, it was easy to tell how difficult it was to endure.

Her gaze shifted to Aether, and she flinched as she noticed his expression. His lips had formed a thin line, his fists were clenched, and his eyes were filled with determination and… something else. As she watched, the fogginess in his barrier vanished, leaving behind a pristine and surprisingly powerful barrier.

She heard other barriers shatter one by one while Erika, the blonde guy and Aether remained strong.

"I can't!" Erika finally cried out as her barrier shattered. She fell on her knees, panting and shivering. It looked like she had depleted all of her mana. Clara's eyes narrowed as she glared at the blonde guy and Aether. Her own mana was running low as well, when were they going to give up?

"I will also give this a try." A voice filled with self confidence and pride sounded. A blonde, tall young woman stepped up. "Barrier." She declared with confidence.

Clara bit her lower lip. Her mana was almost depleted. She pointed at the new girl, and a pillar of light shone upon her as well. Immediately, her expression changed from pride and confidence to shock. Her somewhat foggy barrier immediately began to lose power.

Clara chuckled. She was weak but had determination. Clearly something most people lacked here.

"Argh!" Blonde man exclaimed as his own barrier shattered. Panting he shot Aether a death glare. Clara narrowed her eyes. The young man was still standing strong. He hadn't moved an inch yet – his expression remained the same as the golden light shining upon him tried to break the barrier.

The other girl also collapsed not long after. Pale, she fell to the ground. Professor Cross ran up to her in a panic. "Did you wait until you ran out of mana?" She exclaimed. "Don't ever do that again!"

A crack appeared on Aether's barrier. Just as Clara was to smile with victory, seeing his expression made her freeze for a moment. He looked away quickly, but Clara noticed that hint of fear. Was he afraid of the light?

"Ah," She sighed as the light disappeared. "My mana is depleted." She closed the interface of her stat bracelet quickly. No one had seen what was written there:

"You win!" She exclaimed as she walked towards the surprised young man.