Display of Power

Lord Severian stood, gathering everyone's attention. "Now that you have your matchups for the upcoming contest, it's time for you all to learn how to start condensing your mana."

Closing his eyes, he raised his arms. The familiar purple writing spread into the air, but something was different this time, the lines were thicker, more pronounced.

"Being able to condense your mana like this has various benefits."

The slithering trails of purple shifted, their color deepening. The trails thickened and rounded, their glow so bright it was visible even in the daylight.

"The more you are able to condense your mana, the more efficient your spells will become."

As he spoke, his mana spread through the air, forming an intricate web of swirling tendrils. The patterns resembled the sprawling roots of an ancient oak tree, twisting and branching out above them. 

"And eventually, with enough skill…" His eyes began to glow the same vibrant purple as his mana, waves of energy radiating off him like heat on asphalt. His hair shifted to a deep glowing violet.

"…you won't need to cast spells at all."

Without warning, the mana roots erupted outward, shooting through the air at blistering speeds. In an instant, vines and tendrils lashed out, ensnaring all fifty students in Rank 1 at once.

A chorus of panicked yelps and startled cries filled the air.

Jace felt the purple energy tighten around him, lifting him off the ground. He had experienced dense mana before in training rooms, but this… this was something else entirely.

It was as if Lord Severian had given his mana a physical form, something far beyond anything Jace had ever felt.

"This is trippy," Ethan muttered.

Jace turned his head, taking in his teammates' reactions.

Ethan looked relaxed, his expression curious as he studied the mana wrapped around him.

Aurora, unsurprisingly, was completely unfazed, like this was just another ordinary demonstration.

Orion, however, was the complete opposite. His hands clutched tightly at the tendrils, his entire body tense, as if he were bracing against being flung across the training ground.

Astra, on the other hand, was grinning wildly, clearly enjoying herself as she was lifted.

Even though Elias was her twin, his reaction was different, more in line with Aurora and Ethan's calm demeanor, letting himself be carried without resistance.

Lyra and Felix, ever the analysts, were focused on observing Severian's magic, their eyes sharp as they tried to decipher exactly how he was manipulating his mana.

Selene and Lucian, however, both looked slightly sick.

Lord Severian's voice cut through their curiosity. "And the strongest among you may one day be capable of things like this."

With a pulse of energy, the vast mana tree he had been forming suddenly completed itself.

"This is an original spell of mine," Severian continued, his tone measured. "It allows me to condense my mana to the absolute limit. There aren't many who I allow to witness my mana tree."

A second pulse of magic surged outward, and Severian clenched his hands. The roots and vines holding the students flared with light, glowing more intensely.

Jace stiffened as he felt a shift in the vine wrapped around him. The energy inside it surged, then, suddenly, he felt his own mana begin to leak away. As if the tree itself was using his energy as nutrients.

"My mana tree absorbs any and all mana from its surroundings," Severian explained, his voice calm, controlled. "Including, as you are experiencing, the mana of my enemies."

Then, as effortlessly as it had appeared, the spell unraveled.

Severian settled back into his wooden throne, his eyes and hair returning to their usual colors. With a mere thought, he released his magic.

The towering tree of roots and vines dissolved into tiny specks of mana, scattering like fireflies into the wind.

The students found themselves gently returned to the ground.

"Being able to use condensed mana in these ways is commonly thought to be the pinnacle of an Elementalist's capabilities," Severian concluded. "Any questions?"

Jace immediately stood up. "Sir? Why is it purple?"

Of all the things he could have asked, that was the first question that came to mind.

Lord Severian turned to him, his expression unreadable. "The color of your condensed mana varies depending on your elements. The strength of your affinity influences the exact shade."

He gestured toward Ethan before continuing.

"Take Ethan, for example. Since he currently only has Lightning, if he were capable of condensing his mana in this way, it would be a vibrant yellow."

This sparked an explosion of conversation as students eagerly discussed and theorized what their own colors might be.

"Quiet down!" Severian's voice cut through the noise, silencing the room instantly. "Now, everyone close your eyes and focus. Step one is separating a piece of your mana. That alone will be difficult enough for now."

Jace inhaled deeply, centering himself. He turned his focus inward, searching for his mana. He could feel it, pulsing within him, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to separate even the smallest piece from the whole.

Frustration crept in. He pushed, pulled, tried to mold it with sheer will, but nothing worked.

After a while, he exhaled sharply and decided to switch tactics. If condensing mana wasn't working, he might as well use the time to work on something else.

Adaptive magic.

Silently, he shifted his focus, alternating between the two techniques, trying to grasp even the smallest breakthrough.

The rest of class blurred by in a haze of concentration. Jace barely registered when others spoke or asked Severian questions, his mind was locked onto his own struggles.

By the time class ended, it felt as though only minutes had passed.

It took Ethan physically shaking his shoulder to snap him out of his focus.

"Hey, man, are you good?" Ethan asked, amusement flickering across his face.

Jace blinked, shaking off the daze. "Yeah, sorry," he said, standing up. "I just got really caught up in the challenge of it."

Ethan chuckled. "That sounds like you." He clapped Jace on the back. "Come on, we're heading to lunch. Probably going to talk about something important, like the contest, the color of our mana, or most importantly… What's the best fruit."

Jace laughed, falling in step beside him. He had a feeling it was going to be a good day.