Chapter 3: The Unseen Power

Lorien: "Mom, that's it, enough training for today. I'm tired."

Liana: "NO! KEEP GOING!"

Ugh… My mom has been pushing me really hard these past few days. But all this effort has to lead to something, right? Or maybe she's being so strict because she doesn't believe in me? AHHH, STOP OVERTHINKING AND JUST WORK, YOU FOOL!

Lorien: "Uh… actually, I was just asking. I was curious, Mom. JUST WAIT FOR ME, LEVEL TEST!"

After all that hard work, the test was now only one day away. We were having one last family dinner before the big day.

Lorien: "I've worked hard, and I'm going to prove that I can use advanced magic!"

I was trying to give myself courage with those words, but there was a constant uneasiness in me. I had no idea what to expect in the test. What if everyone else there was way better than me? What if all my effort went to waste? My mom and dad's eyes were on me, as if they were reading my mind. I took a deep breath. "Alright," I thought. "I have to believe in myself."

Eris: "Hey Lorien, after the test, will you come watch me practice sword fighting? It'll be fun."

Lorien: "Sword fighting? You do remember I'm into magic, right? But maybe I'll come to watch."

Eris: "Fine. But trust me, watching a swordsman is way more exciting than your magic books!"

Eris's cheerful demeanor always warmed my heart, but right now, I had a test to focus on. My mind kept circling around the same thought: "What if I'm not good enough?" Even though I had asked myself this question a thousand times, I still couldn't find an answer. I closed my eyes and kept repeating to myself: "I will succeed. I have to."

And then, the day came.

Test day had finally arrived. My hands were sweaty, and my heart was racing so fast I thought I might forget how to breathe. I kept telling myself, "Relax, it's just a test," but no one would buy that—least of all me. This test meant so much more to me. It was my chance to prove my worth and show why I was here in this world.

When it was my turn, I took a deep breath. My hands were trembling, but I tried to hide it. I could hear snickers around me; who knew what they were laughing at. I closed my eyes and focused. "Fireball!" I shouted, but instead of the powerful fireball I was expecting, a weak spark appeared. It fizzled out before even reaching the target.

The laughter around me grew louder. My eyes involuntarily drifted to the stands. I looked at my mom and dad. Their expressions were hard to read. I couldn't tell what they were thinking, and that uncertainty was eating me alive.

In the second round, my opponent was Hikaru. Yes, my best friend. Normally, this would have comforted me, but Hikaru's talent was the talk of the class. I had seen what he could do with wind magic and had been amazed. Now, that same talent was being aimed at me.

Hikaru launched a quick wind attack. I tried to cast a shield spell. "Protective Barrier!" I shouted. But my shield was so weak that his wind shattered it and sent me flying to the ground. As my back hit the floor, the only thought running through my mind was: "Is this it? Is this all my effort, all my hard work?"

But then, something happened. At that moment, something inside me broke. A deep silence spread through my mind. In that silence, there was a feeling… Anger? No, it felt more like determination. My mom's words echoed from a distant corner of my mind, as if whispering: "If you truly believe, you can do it." And then I realized. That little voice of doubt inside me had gone quiet. In its place was a warmth that filled my entire body. Strange, yet comforting. It felt as if the whole world had stopped, and only I was moving.

I didn't raise my hands or utter any magic words. But an energy began gathering around me. It was so intense, so powerful, that I didn't even know how I was controlling it.

As Hikaru prepared for another attack, the energy inside me exploded outward. My eyes gleamed, and a wave of heat spread out. A massive surge of fire erupted in front of me, wordlessly, and sent Hikaru flying backward.

Everything went silent in an instant. The stillness in the air was suffocating. I was gasping for breath, staring at my hands as they trembled. "What… What was that?" I muttered.

Hikaru got up from where he had fallen and looked at me. At first, his eyes were filled with shock, but then a smile spread across his face. "Did you… just cast magic without words?" he asked.

The judge stood up, still stunned. The faces in the audience were frozen in shock. I glanced at my mom and dad. My mom's eyes seemed teary, and my dad's jaw was slightly open. And in that moment, I understood: This wasn't the end. It was just the beginning.