Chapter 6: The dance of fire and lightning

In the morning, Kael woke up, his entire body aching from yesterday's sparring match. The dull throb in his muscles was a not-so-gentle reminder of how much he still had to learn. Sitting up slowly, he glanced at the bag of clothes Jesp had given him the night before. It was time to try them on.

Inside, he found a navy-blue shirt, a black open vest, dark grey loose training breeches, black leather slip-on shoes, and a black fingerless glove for his right hand. The outfit was both practical and sharp, far better than anything he had worn in a long time.

Sliding the glove on last, Kael paused, noticing something special about it. On the top part of the glove was a miniature version of the guild logo: the eye with a sun and crescent moon.

"Not bad at all, Jesp," Kael murmured, inspecting the glove with a faint smile. He flexed his fingers, watching the logo catch the light. "Looks like you're going to be with me everywhere now," he chuckled to himself, adjusting the glove one last time.

The early morning sunlight filtered through the window as Kael stepped out of his room, casting long shadows on the wooden floor. As he walked down the hallway, the weight of the guild symbol on his hand felt oddly significant—a constant reminder of the changes in his life and the responsibilities he had taken on.

When he reached the main hall, the sound of laughter and conversation greeted him. Jesp was seated at one of the long tables with a few other guild members, a bright grin on his face as he joked with them. Spotting Kael, Jesp waved him over.

"Morning. Feeling better?" Jesp asked with a warm smile.

Kael shrugged, rolling his shoulders experimentally. "Everything still hurts, but I'll survive."

Before Jesp could reply, a new voice spoke from behind Kael, startling him. "So, you're Kael. You're exactly how Orin and the others described."

Kael spun around, his eyes widening as he took in the person who had spoken. A girl stood there, holding a tray piled high with food. She had dark brown hair that framed her bright green eyes, her sun-kissed skin glowing warmly in the morning light. She wore a giant smile, her voice cheerful and welcoming.

"I'm Liana," she said, balancing the tray with practiced ease. "Glad to not be the newest member anymore."

Kael blinked, caught off guard. "Uh, hi. Nice to meet you," he said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You've never met her because you're always showing up after the meal's already set down," Jesp cut in with a chuckle. "But Liana helps out in the kitchen pretty often."

"I do love the kitchen," Liana said with a nod, her smile widening. "It's where all the magic starts—literally and figuratively."

Kael couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed by her energy, but something about her presence was undeniably comforting.

"Well, don't just stand there," Liana said, gesturing to the table. "Grab a seat before breakfast disappears. I'll fill you in on all the guild's secrets while we eat."

Jesp laughed as Kael hesitated, then gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "Go on. You'll get used to her in no time."

Kael managed a small smile as he followed Liana to the table. He had no idea what to expect from the day ahead, but at least he wasn't facing it alone.

After breakfast, Kael returned to his room, eager to put what he'd learned from recent training into practice. He sat cross-legged on the floor, closing his eyes and focusing on his mana flow.

The familiar hum of energy coursed through him, faint at first but steadily growing stronger as he concentrated. He visualized it as a stream, flowing through every vein and muscle, smoothing out the rough edges with each breath.

"Alright, alright, I'm making progress," Kael thought smugly, a small grin forming on his face. "I can feel my mana flow getting stronger and smoother. Maybe I'm finally getting the hang of this."

Just as he was about to push his limits further, a knock sounded at the door.

"Kael, you in there?" came Orin's gruff voice from the other side.

Kael sighed, the flow of mana dissipating as he opened his eyes and got to his feet. "One moment," he called, dusting off his breeches.

He opened the door to find Orin leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed and a faint smirk on his face. Orin's presence always carried an air of authority, and Kael couldn't help but straighten his posture a little.

"You've been holed up in here since breakfast," Orin said, raising an eyebrow. "Thought I'd check to make sure you hadn't set anything on fire."

Kael chuckled nervously. "Not this time. Just... practicing mana flow."

"Speaking of which, catch." Orin tossed something small and metallic toward Kael, who barely managed to catch it. He turned it over in his hand—a thick, metallic lighter, simple yet sturdy.

"Uh, thanks, but I'm a bit too young to smoke," Kael said, confused.

Orin barked a laugh. "It's not for that, kid. Celestial mages can absorb their element to recover mana and heal faster. Fire's your element, so you can carry this around. Think of it as a backup—just in case you need it someday."

Kael stared at the lighter, then back at Orin, who grinned like he'd just shared the world's best-kept secret.

"Thanks," Kael said, a small smile tugging at his lips. He pocketed the lighter, feeling its comforting weight.

"Can I come in?" Orin asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Sure, feel free," Kael said, stepping aside and motioning toward the room.

Orin stepped in, his sharp eyes scanning the room as if evaluating it. After a moment, he nodded, his expression neutral but faintly amused. "Not bad," he said, giving Kael a sidelong glance. "You've kept it clean."

"Of course I have," Kael exclaimed, crossing his arms. "I'm not an animal."

Orin smirked but didn't comment further. Instead, he moved toward the bed and sat down, the mattress dipping slightly under his weight. "Anyhow," he began, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees, "I've been meaning to ask—now that you've been here a couple of days, I want to hear your opinion on some things."

Kael pulled the chair from his desk and sat down, leaning forward slightly. "I'm listening."

Orin leaned back on the bed, his gaze steady as he asked, "Do you like it here, or do you want to go back?" His eyes locked onto Kael's, searching for any flicker of doubt.

Kael paused, considering the question. After a moment, he met Orin's gaze with a clear and determined tone. "I love it here. You people have been amazing. Only an idiot would want to leave."

Orin chuckled, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "I see. Good answer." He folded his arms, tilting his head slightly. "Well then, since you've met almost everyone here, what do you have to say about them?"

Kael blinked, surprised. "Almost everyone? There are more people here?"

Orin grinned knowingly but didn't elaborate, leaving Kael to process his thoughts.

"Well," Kael began, leaning back in his chair. "You and Dorian took me in, Jesp has been there for me every step of the way, Davit is... annoying, but there's more to him than that. Liana seems like a ball of sunshine, and Abel just... exists."

Orin burst into laughter, shaking his head. "That's one way to sum it up." He leaned forward slightly, his tone turning more conversational. "But you haven't met everyone yet."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "How many more are there?"

"Two more," Orin said with a grin. "Our friendly ghost resident and a half-giant who also happens to be the strongest one here."

Kael blinked, trying to process the information. "Wait, a ghost? Like an actual ghost? And a half-giant? You're messing with me, right?"

Orin smirked. "Not at all. You'll meet them soon enough. Let's just say this guild isn't exactly... ordinary. Then again, where would the fun be if all of us were?" 

Kael leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "What's their deal? Are they, like, hiding somewhere, or do they just not care about showing up?"

Orin stood, stretching casually, a faint smirk on his face. "The ghost isn't exactly the easiest to talk to—she's locked herself in the library by choice. As for the half-giant, she's probably done with her quest by now but is lazing around somewhere. She'll come back whenever she feels like it."

Kael blinked, trying to process that. "So, one's a recluse, and the other's just... on her own schedule?"

"Pretty much," Orin said with a shrug. "You'll see what I mean soon enough. Just don't let either of them catch you off guard. They've both got... personalities."

Kael sat back in his chair, still mulling over Orin's words as the older man left the room with a casual wave. The mention of the mysterious ghost and the elusive half-giant lingered in his mind, sparking equal parts curiosity and apprehension.

Shaking his head, Kael decided he'd think about it later. Right now, he needed to clear his mind and focus on something else.

The sun had climbed higher in the sky by the time he stepped outside, the warm afternoon light spilling over the guild's courtyard. Kael wandered through the courtyard, observing the lively activity around him.

As he walked, his eyes landed on Liana, sitting comfortably under a large oak tree. Her vibrant green eyes scanned the pages of a weathered book, and her dark brown hair caught the occasional glint of sunlight. A soft breeze rustled the leaves above her, carrying the scent of earth and flowers.

"Hey, Kael!" she called out, waving him over with her usual bright smile. "Done hiding in your room?"

Kael chuckled and approached her. "Hey, Liana. What're you reading?"

She held up the book, its leather cover cracked with age. "An old collection of spells and nature lore. It's full of interesting stuff—mostly about plants, roots, and their magical properties." She tapped the page she was on. "Did you know certain flowers can amplify healing spells if you use them as a focus?"

Kael raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? That's... pretty cool. You're studying this for your magic, right?"

"Yep!" Liana beamed, closing the book and patting it fondly. "The more I learn, the better I can help everyone. Plus, who doesn't love learning cool new tricks?"

Kael smiled. "Fair point. You always seem so into this stuff—it's kind of inspiring."

Liana grinned, leaning back against the tree. "Well, someone's gotta be the responsible one around here. Speaking of which, how's your mana practice going? Orin mentioned you've been working hard on it."

"He gave me and old lighter, as a portable recovery snack" Kael chuckled showing her the lighter Orin gave him

Liana raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "A portable recovery snack?"

Kael chuckled, holding up the lighter Orin had given him. "Yeah, apparently celestial mages like me can absorb our element to recover mana and heal faster. My element is fire, so he thought this would come in handy."

Liana leaned forward, inspecting the lighter with curiosity. "Huh. That's actually pretty clever. Leave it to Orin to turn something so simple into a life hack."

Kael smirked. "Yeah, though I'm still wrapping my head around the whole 'absorbing fire' thing. I haven't tried it yet. What if I end up, I don't know... accidentally swallowing flames or something?"

Liana laughed, her eyes sparkling. "I think you'll be fine, Kael. Just don't go eating campfires, and you should survive." She leaned back again, tucking the book into her satchel.

"Anyway, it sounds like you're making good progress. Keep at it, and who knows? Maybe you'll surprise us all someday."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Surprise you how?"

"You know," she said with a teasing grin, "actually looking confident for once."

Kael rolled his eyes, though he couldn't help but laugh. "Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Liana."

She stood, brushing off her breeches. "Anytime, Kael. Now, I've got some errands to run. Catch you later?"

"Yeah, later," Kael said, watching as she walked off, still grinning to herself.

Kael stumbled onto the beach, where the guild's training grounds were set up. The soft roar of waves crashing against the shore mixed with the shouts and laughter of guild members sparring and practicing magic. The salty sea breeze brushed against his face, and the golden sand shifted under his boots with every step.

Near the water's edge, Kael spotted Davit, effortlessly dodging Jesp's wind attack with the same trick he used to pull a sneaky attack on Kael

As Kael approached, Davit's sharp eyes caught sight of him. "Well, well, look who finally decided to leave the courtyard," he called out, stepping back to pause the sparring match. "Didn't think you'd be brave enough to show your face after yesterday."

Kael rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "I'm here to train, not listen to your bad jokes, Davit."

Jesp stepped back, hands on his hips, breathing heavily but grinning. "You've got the reflexes of a cat, Davit. But I'll figure out a way to corner you yet."

Davit laughed, brushing sand off his arms. "Keep dreaming, Breezy. Maybe one day." He then turned his attention fully to Kael, the usual smirk tugging at his lips. "Training, huh? You sure you're up for it? Yesterday looked like it might've done you in."

Kael narrowed his eyes but couldn't help the faint grin creeping onto his face. "Why don't we find out? Unless you're scared I've already figured out your little tricks."

Jesp let out an "ooh" at Kael's remark

Davit's smirk deepened. "Tricks, huh? Alright, newbie, show me what you've got. But don't go crying to Jesp when I wipe the sand with you again."

Kael stepped forward, slipping off his vest and tossing it to the side. "I'll be sure to thank Jesp when I don't need him to save me this time."

Jesp crossed his arms, grinning as he watched. "This is gonna be good. Try not to blow up the beach, you two."

Davit gestured toward an open patch of sand closer to the waterline. "Let's see if you've learned anything, rookie."

Kael followed, "Ready when you are," Kael said.

Davit cracked his neck and smirked, the air around him already crackling faintly with energy. "Alright, rookie. Let's see if you can keep up this time."

Kael tensed, recognizing the subtle signs—Davit's stance shifting slightly, the faint shimmer of mana gathering around his legs. It was the same move Davit had used to catch him off-guard in their last sparring match.

With a burst of lightning, Davit dashed forward, a blur of motion cutting across the sand.

Kael grinned to himself "Not this time."

Instead of panicking, Kael focused on his own mana. He drew on the familiar pull of the black flames inside him, channeling them toward his feet.

He pushed the flames outward, willing them to move as fluidly and quickly as Davit's lightning, and with a sudden burst of dark fire, Kael shot forward. The ground beneath him cracked as the black flames scorched the sand, propelling him forward with surprising speed.

The two dashes met in the middle, their fists filled with their respective elements crashing head-on.

The impact sent a shockwave of energy rippling through the air, kicking up sand in all directions. Kael's black flames and Davit's lightning crackled and roared as they collided, a blinding surge of power illuminating the beach. The sand beneath their feet trembled with the force of their clash, the heat and electricity sparking off in every direction.

Kael gritted his teeth, his arms shaking slightly from the intensity of the collision. He could feel the strain, but he refused to back down. Davit's grin never faltered, though his eyes held a gleam of respect.

"Not bad at all," Davit said, his voice slightly strained from the power of their clash. "Maybe i should try to convince Orin and Dorian to bump you up a rank or two."

Kael blinked in surprise, "That wouldn't be that bad actually"

The lightning mage grinned, clearly sensing Kael was still ready for more.

"Got one more in you, Kael?" Davit asked, his voice a mixture of challenge and respect.

Kael's lips curled into a confident smirk. "You bet."

With a sudden movement, Kael charged forward again, this time focusing on combining his speed and the unpredictability of his black flames. He willed the flames to twist around his body, creating a swirling vortex of dark fire that intensified with each step.

Davit's grin widened, and he too moved in a flash, his body crackling with the energy of a lightning strike, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

The two met once more, but this time, Kael didn't go for a direct clash. Instead, he used the swirling flames around him to spin, creating a blinding ring of dark fire that acted as both a shield and an offensive strike.

Davit, caught off guard, barely managed to deflect the attack with a burst of lightning from his palms. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, a clash of fire and electricity that lit up the entire beach.

As the smoke from their clash cleared, Kael lay sprawled out on the beach, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. His body ached from the impact, but the feeling of pushing his limits was a strange kind of satisfaction.

Davit stood tall, barely winded, his posture relaxed as he observed Kael. He couldn't hide the smirk tugging at his lips. "Looks like I win again," he said, almost nonchalantly.

Kael groaned, slowly pushing himself up onto his elbows. "Yeah, yeah… I lose again." His voice was a mix of exhaustion and self-mockery.

Davit chuckled, crossing his arms. "A lot better than yesterday." He gave him a look of approval, the grin on his face softening into something more genuine.

Kael, still catching his breath, raised an eyebrow. "I had a good teacher, I guess."

Davit's smirk returned, but there was a flicker of respect behind it. "You guess?! I'm the absolute best."

Jesp slowly approached, clapping his hands. "Good show, both of you."

As Jesp's applause echoed across the beach, Kael couldn't help but feel a small sense of pride. There was still a long way to go, but he was starting to believe he might actually be ready for what the academy had in store for him.