Jered collapsed onto the grass, chest rising and falling like he'd run through fire.
"You're a monster, you know that?" he said between gulps of air.
Kaelen was seated cross-legged nearby, calm as still water.
"I know right, I'm too powerful, don't be so jealous."
"No, no, no I'm serious," Jered wheezed, raising a hand like he was filing a complaint with the gods.
"You kept up with me and Neal. Do you realize how insane that is? The rest of our class is still working on basic channeling control. And you? you're dancing around Neal's Solar flame wrecking ball like it's your bedtime routine."
Neal stood a few paces away, arms folded, skin still faintly glowing from the lingering heat of his light-forged aura.
"He's not wrong," he muttered. "You're level five, and you're useful. Most people at level five won't be able to handle a blow from me and are still trying not to set their shoes on fire when casting."