Suffering Together

They continued discussing various strategies for the upcoming contest, bouncing between the conjuring challenge and different possibilities for the group duel.

"Alright," Jace finally said, standing up. "Since it's already getting late, I think it's time for us to start our little training session."

Aurora nodded in agreement, rising to her feet as well.

With that, the group split up into their designated pairs, while the three who opted out of the training headed off for their own practice.

Jace and Aurora made their way into one of the mana rooms, stepping inside as the door sealed behind them. The air was thick with concentrated mana, swirling faintly in the dimly lit space.

"Alright, might as well get comfortable," Jace said, stretching his arms as he summoned his now common cushion to sit on.

Aurora looked at him, cocking her head. "Do you always use a cushion when doing training of this sort?" She asked him.

Jace turned to look back at her as well. "Well… yeah… I mean we're already going to be in an annoying amount of pain, why be uncomfortable as well?" 

She stared at him for a moment, considering his words. Then, with a slight nod, she turned toward the room's control panel.

"Computer, may I have a cushion as well?" Aurora asked.

A cushion materialized above her hands before dropping neatly into her arms.

They both settled in, getting comfortable.

After a moment, Aurora turned to Jace. "I haven't done this in a while. I can't say I'm looking forward to it."

Jace let out a small chuckle. "I did it yesterday, and I'm not looking forward to it either." He smirked. "Just focus on staying awake… and getting stronger."

Aurora exhaled slowly. For a split second, Jace almost thought it was a quiet laugh.

They both began releasing their mana, letting it mix with the already dense energy in the room.

Jace felt Aurora's presence spread around him, her mana seeping into the air like a slow moving current. It was strange, an odd tingling sensation from her void energy, clashing yet intertwining with the more familiar, grounded essence of earth. The contrast was almost unsettling, like standing on solid ground that could vanish beneath his feet at any moment.

Aurora, in turn, felt Jace's mana brushing against her skin, its presence dynamic and ever-shifting. The sharp chill of ice and the searing heat of fire wove together in a strange harmony, sending fleeting sensations of warmth and cold through her body. Even his earth magic felt different from her own, heavier, denser, almost waterlogged, like soil after a week long storm.

Reaching the end of her mana she opened her eyes, "it appears that I've reached the end of my mana," she said. Taking a deep breath.

Jace opened his own eyes, refocusing on her. "Alright, I'll make sure you don't pass out."

She gave a weak nod before closing her eyes again. Then, without hesitation, she cast a spell.

The reaction was immediate. Her entire body tensed, every muscle locking up as the pain struck hard and fast.

Jace watched as she fought against it, her usual stoic expression faltering. A grimace broke through, her fingers curling against the floor as she endured the invisible fire coursing through her veins.

Seconds stretched into an eternity before, finally, the pain subsided. He could see the tension in her frame start to loosen, her breath slowing as she forced herself to recover.

After a few moments, she opened her eyes again, still catching her breath. "It was just as bad as I remember. Worse, even." Her voice was steady, but the lingering tremor in it didn't go unnoticed. She exhaled, collecting herself before continuing. "But you were right. My mana capacity increased, just slightly. I would have never noticed it if you hadn't told us to look deeper."

Jace nodded, leaning back. "It's definitely not something you'd notice by accident." If he hadn't been as reckless as he was as a kid, he doubted he would have discovered it himself.

He hesitated before adding, "I'd like to say the pain gets better over time. Or that you get used to it." He shook his head. "But it doesn't. If anything, it gets worse. It's like the more mana you have, the worse the backlash." His expression darkened slightly as he thought back to his own experiences.

Aurora let out a breath, "Something to look forward to, then." She closed her eyes briefly, focusing on the slow trickle of mana refilling her core.

Jace huffed a quiet laugh. "The things we do to get stronger." He exhaled as he felt himself finally reaching his own limit. "Looks like it's my turn."

Aurora nodded, straightening slightly. "Alright, I got you." Her tone was calm, steady, completely focused on him.

Jace braced himself.

There was something unnerving about this process, something more than just the pain. Once your body hit zero, it wouldn't let you cast another spell—you were completely vulnerable. It was another reason he had recommended this training. It wasn't just about building mana reserves.

It was about trust.

But saying it and doing it were two very different things. And being in such a defenseless state around someone else… That was new.

Yet Aurora had done it without hesitation.

Jace wasn't sure if it was because she trusted him, or because she was testing him.

Either way, it didn't matter.

They needed each other to succeed in this academy.

With that thought, he cast his spell.

The pain struck instantly, a white-hot brand searing through his skull, flooding every nerve in his body. He grit his teeth, muscles locking as fire and ice tore through his veins, but, somehow, it felt just a little more bearable.

Maybe it was because he knew Aurora was watching. Maybe it was because, for the first time, he wasn't doing this alone.