Trial by Fire

The old training grounds baked under the morning sun. A faint wind stirred the tall grass, rustling it like whispers of forgotten battles. Cynus stood in the clearing, his body aching from yesterday's relentless drills. Kael loomed before him, arms crossed and eyes sharp as steel.

"Today," Kael said, "we separate the ones who dream of greatness from the ones who make it real."

Cynus straightened, wiping sweat from his brow. "I'm ready."

Kael smirked faintly. "We'll see."

He held out a fist, summoning a flame that burned bright and steady in his palm. The fire crackled with life, its heat brushing Cynus's skin even from a distance. With a flick of his wrist, Kael hurled the flame at a nearby practice dummy. The fire roared to life, encasing the target without destroying it. When the flames died, the dummy remained upright, scorched but intact.

"That's control," Kael said, turning back to Cynus. "Now you try."

Cynus raised a trembling hand, summoning a flicker of flame. It felt fragile, like a butterfly perched on his palm. He narrowed his eyes, focusing on the target.

The flame darted forward—but veered off course at the last second, sputtering out midair. Cynus cursed under his breath, heat rising to his cheeks.

"Sloppy," Kael said bluntly. "You're letting the flame control you."

"I'm trying!" Cynus snapped.

Kael stepped closer, his gaze unyielding. "And that's your problem. Fire doesn't care about trying. It demands conviction. You hesitate, you fail. Simple as that."

Cynus clenched his fists. "I'm not hesitating!"

Kael's lips quirked into a half-smile. "Prove it."

Trial by Fire

Kael waved his hand, summoning a ring of small fires around the training grounds. The flames crackled and popped, their light casting dancing shadows across the grass.

"Step in," Kael commanded, motioning to the ring.

Cynus hesitated, his instincts screaming to stay put.

"What's the matter?" Kael taunted. "Afraid of a little heat?"

Gritting his teeth, Cynus stepped into the circle. The heat wrapped around him, stifling and oppressive. He felt sweat trickle down his temple, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Good," Kael said. "Now keep your flame steady."

Cynus raised his hand, summoning the familiar spark. The fire in the ring flared, as if mocking him, and his own flame sputtered in response.

"Focus!" Kael barked. "This isn't a test of strength. It's a test of will. Control the flame, or let it consume you."

Cynus closed his eyes, blocking out the heat and Kael's voice. He imagined the rhythm of the flames, the way they pulsed like a heartbeat. Slowly, his spark grew, steady and firm.

Kael watched, his expression unreadable.

"Not bad," he muttered. Then, with a snap of his fingers, the ring of fire surged higher. The sudden wave of heat shattered Cynus's concentration, and his flame vanished.

"Again," Kael ordered.

Cynus clenched his fists, summoning the spark once more. Sweat dripped from his brow, but this time, he didn't let the heat distract him. The flame in his palm held steady, a stubborn flicker against the oppressive inferno.

Kael nodded approvingly. "Now we're getting somewhere."

The Interruption

The training grounds fell quiet as Cynus caught his breath, his hands still trembling from the effort. Kael extinguished the flames with a wave, the air thick with the scent of charred grass.

"Not bad for a first attempt," Kael said. "But—"

"Candle-boy!" a familiar voice rang out, cutting through the silence like a blade.

Cynus froze, his stomach sinking. He turned to see Jaron strutting into the clearing, flanked by two of his cronies.

"What are you doing here?" Cynus demanded, his voice sharp.

Jaron smirked, his arms spread wide. "I heard you were out here 'training,' so I thought I'd come see the show. Looks like I wasn't wrong—still playing with sparks, huh?"

Cynus's fists clenched, but Kael stepped between them, his presence radiating authority.

"Friend of yours?" Kael asked dryly.

"No," Cynus muttered.

Kael's gaze swept over Jaron, his expression cold. "You've got a lot of nerve interrupting a training session."

"Oh, I'm not here to interrupt," Jaron said, feigning innocence. "I'm here to challenge Candle-boy. Let's see if all this 'training' has made him any less pathetic."

Cynus's jaw tightened, his hands burning with suppressed anger. Before he could respond, Kael spoke.

"You want a duel?" Kael asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Jaron hesitated, his bravado wavering under Kael's intense stare. "Uh, yeah. What's it to you?"

Kael stepped closer, the air around him growing hotter. "You've got two choices, kid. You fight me, or you leave. Now."

Jaron swallowed hard, his cocky grin faltering. "Fine. I'm leaving. But this isn't over, Candle-boy."

He turned on his heel and marched away, his cronies trailing behind him.

Kael watched them go, his expression unreadable. Then he turned to Cynus, his voice sharp. "Lesson two: never let a fool dictate the terms of your fight."

A Burning Resolve

The sun dipped lower as the day wore on, casting long shadows over the training grounds. Cynus sat on the grass, his body aching but his mind alive with determination.

Kael crouched beside him, his tone quieter now. "You've got potential, Cynus. But potential means nothing if you don't work for it. You're chasing something big—bigger than you realize. You ready for that?"

Cynus nodded, his amber eyes burning with resolve. "I'll do whatever it takes."

Kael smirked, standing up. "Good. Then tomorrow, we push harder."

As the first stars appeared in the sky, Cynus lay back, exhaustion mingling with hope. For the first time, he didn't feel like a dreamer chasing an impossible goal.

He felt like a spark, ready to ignite.