Luka swept his gaze over the gathered students, smirked, and clapped his hands together.

"Throughout this month, you'll be working in different groups until you find people you work well with," he announced, clearly enjoying himself. "But for now, let’s start simple. Today is your first magic class, so let's try creating a magic sphere."

The students began whispering among themselves, but Luka continued without giving them any time to hesitate:

"A magic sphere is like a lightbulb that lights up at your will. Its shape and color depend on how much magic you put into it. But don’t overdo it: too much magic, and the sphere will explode. Too little, and it will start absorbing everything around it."

"We’ll split into trios. Two who can already create a sphere, and one who hasn’t tried yet. It'll be easier that way."

Harabi looked around, trying to figure out who she would be working with. Although she was a third-year student, she was still considered new at the Academy.

Suddenly, a calm voice spoke up behind her:

"Shall we work together?" Tatsuki had already stood up.

"Of course," Harabi replied with a soft smile and nodded.

If anyone knew how to handle a magic sphere properly, it was her.

"Where is Viktor? Wasn’t he here just a second ago?" Harabi asked.

"He was," Tatsuki nodded. "His little sister asked him to help. Victor agreed."

She didn’t show much emotion, but Harabi noticed her fingers clenching slightly behind her back.

"I guess he just didn’t want to refuse," Harabi said gently.

"Maybe. It doesn't matter," Tatsuki replied in an even tone, though it was clear she wasn’t entirely pleased.

At that moment, Harabi’s attention was caught by another figure-a red-haired girl with a bright spark in her eyes.

"Oh, Eiles is free!" Harabi suddenly said and raised her hand to call out to her.

"Wait," Tatsuki began, but it was too late.

Eiles immediately headed toward them, a wide grin on her face. Her red hair was slightly tousled, and her eyes shone with lively curiosity.

"Well, aren’t I lucky?" she exclaimed, joining them. "Two wonderful girls in one team!"

Harabi chuckled, while Tatsuki, keeping her usual composed expression, calmly asked:

"Are you sure you know how to create a magic sphere?"

"Of course!" Eiles replied enthusiastically. "I practiced on my own once!"

"That's not exactly the same."

Harabi didn’t know exactly what the new teacher had planned, but she felt this lesson would be far from boring. Soon, it was time for practice. Luka stepped aside, giving the students room to show their skills. Each group began working on creating a magical sphere.

Harabi looked at Tatsuki, who stood nearby, closely watching her hands. Tatsuki was always calm and confident when it came to magic. She began explaining.

"Don’t rush. It’s important you feel the magic, not just shape it. It’s like breathing," she said softly but firmly. Harabi nodded, trying to focus on her friend’s words.

"To form the sphere, you first have to feel the flow of magic in your hands. Imagine energy gathering there, like water filling a vessel. When you feel there’s enough, let it flow to your fingertips. Then you can try shaping it-any color, any form, depending on your intent. And remember: too much, and it’ll explode; too little, and it’ll collapse."

Meanwhile, Eiles stood a little off to the side, swaying lightly on her feet as always-unpredictable and lively. She didn’t say a word but was ready to demonstrate the process once Tatsuki finished explaining. Eiles was always confident in her magic, and lightning was like an extension of herself.

She casually raised her hand, immediately starting the process. Sparks of lightning burst from her palms, weaving into streams that lit up the air. Harabi lifted her head just as the first hints of a sphere appeared in Eiles’s hands-small, but already glowing from within. Tatsuki leaned closer and whispered:

"Hold it until you feel you can control it. Don’t rush. Magic requires time and patience."

But at that moment, an unexpected explosion happened. Eiles’s sphere flared sharply, and her lightning bolts shot out like a storm, striking in different directions. Some students yelped and jumped aside to dodge.

Harabi and Tatsuki immediately retreated, hiding behind nearby students.

"Eiles!" Tatsuki shouted. "What are you doing?"

Eiles stepped back, shaking her head with a crooked grin despite her usual carefree attitude.

"It’s not my fault," she said lightly and with a hint of irony. "Lightning magic... isn’t always obedient."

Tatsuki frowned, her expression serious.

"Are you kidding me? Your magic always goes out of control. Can’t you learn to manage it at least once?"

Eiles shrugged.

"I can’t exactly force lightning to behave like a kitten. That’s not how it works. It’s not my fault lightning is unpredictable. Am I to blame for having lightning magic? I can’t constantly restrain it. I know it’s dangerous, but I also can’t completely control my gift. You know yourself-every mage has limits."

"That’s not an excuse. At least try not to hurt anyone next time!"

Eiles smirked, her eyes gleaming mischievously.

"Are you sure you control your magic a hundred percent? I’ve seen you slip up too sometimes, Tatsuki."

Tatsuki shook her head slightly, shifting her gaze to the other students, who were still trembling a little from the charges radiating off Eiles.

Meanwhile, Harabi sighed and shook her head. Despite everything, Tatsuki and Eiles had a good relationship-though far from perfect. She opened her eyes and decided to follow their advice before Tatsuki turned her attention to her.

Harabi stood still, arms crossed in front of her, palms pressed lightly together, her fingers almost touching. She closed her eyes, ignoring the ongoing argument between Eiles and Tatsuki. Only Tatsuki’s words echoed in her mind, repeating again and again:

"Feel the magic. Feel it in your hands. Focus on the energy inside you."

She concentrated on her hands, feeling the currents of magic she usually commanded begin to gather in her palms. Dominion magic. Normally, she would coat existing objects with her energy, helping to move them. But this time...

Harabi exhaled, feeling her fingers lightly reaching out into the air, as if searching for something to grasp. A light flow of magic filled her hands, barely noticeable at first, like a soft breeze, but growing stronger with every breath. A slight pain in her wrists reminded her that too much magic could be dangerous.

"There," she whispered to herself. "Almost got it."

But when she opened her eyes, she didn’t see the result she expected. A sphere had appeared in her hands-but it was... dark.

"Harabi, what is that?" Eiles asked in surprise, approaching with Tatsuki, both feeling the magic starting to swirl around them.

"I don't know," Harabi answered, trying to understand what was happening. Inhale, exhale, looking at the sphere... she didn’t know how to control it.

Tatsuki stepped even closer but stayed cautious. She could feel something was wrong too. The light fluctuations of magic around her grew stronger. The sphere began to shift shape, stretching and contracting as if trying to become something far greater than it was.

"You said you were just trying to compress magic, right?" Tatsuki asked. "Trying to control it?"

"Yes... I was kind of trying to give it form," Harabi replied, staring into the endless darkness of the sphere. "But... it’s not responding. I can feel the magic slipping away."

Tatsuki leaned in, watching closely as the sphere pulsed and shifted restlessly.

"You could try redirecting it," Tatsuki suggested calmly and confidently. "Send the magic down into the ground. The earth will absorb it. You’ll break the connection, and it will dissipate."

Harabi tried to follow Tatsuki’s advice. She attempted to pull the magic back and send it downward, but the sphere not only refused to disappear-it became even more aggressive. The magic began to churn, and Harabi suddenly felt her energy snap.

At that moment, Harabi felt the sphere detach from her fingers and the flow of magic break.

"It... it’s not leaving..." Harabi looked away, feeling a rising unease. "It even detached from my magic."

"What do you mean?" Eiles asked, frowning.

"It... just flew away."

"What the...?" Eiles shouted. "Watch out!"

Tatsuki didn’t have time to react. The sphere stopped right above her head, moving slowly toward her. But at the last moment, Eiles coordinated her magic and unleashed a bolt of lightning into the sphere. In an instant, it was surrounded by electrical discharges, flashing wildly like a storm in the night.

Tatsuki stumbled back, but just then Luka appeared. His stern gaze quickly took in the situation as he approached the group with an unreadable expression.

"Everyone, put up shields!" Luka shouted, his voice echoing off the arena walls. He moved quickly, heading toward the nearest group of students, helping them conjure protective barriers.

Eiles, standing beside Harabi, immediately spread her arms wide, and a massive shield formed in front of them, as if the very air condensed into an impenetrable wall. Harabi stood frozen, feeling Eiles’ magic envelop her protectively.

Meanwhile, the other students rapidly grouped together, erecting their own shields. Mages from different families used various forms of defense: from solid barriers to wind magic that strengthened resistance against attacks.

Everything was happening so quickly that Harabi barely realized she was at the very center of it all.

"Head for the exits!" Luka commanded, his eyes full of urgency. He knew time was running out. The sphere was growing more dangerous by the second.

Eiles grabbed Harabi’s hand firmly and confidently. One of Eiles' hands maintained the shield, while with the other, she led Harabi toward a safer zone.

"Hold on, Harabi, we’re together," Eiles said quietly, her voice like the wind-calm but powerful. Harabi nodded, feeling her shoulders relax under the protection.

Once everyone was safely sheltered, Luka turned sharply to the group and said, "Adena, Eiles, protect everyone. We cannot let this magic spiral out of control."

Eiles didn’t hesitate. Following his command, her magic manifested: multiple layers of shields appeared around the students like an invisible wall of defensive magic.

Adena, standing a little apart, raised her hands, and tongues of flame began to swirl in the air, forming a massive wall of fire that filled the area with intense heat and light.

Harabi felt her heart pounding in her chest. She knew the magic had already broken loose-and this was just the beginning. The sphere of lightning continued to grow. Though the shields and the fire barrier provided protection, the tension in the air was almost tangible.

But then, Luka’s watchful gaze sharpened. He turned toward the group, and when his eyes met Rumiya’s, he said her name slowly and with particular emphasis:

"Rumiya Sudzukawa..."

At that moment, everyone turned.

Harabi, lifting her head slightly, saw Luka’s desperate and wary look locked onto Rumiya.

"Yes, it's you," Luka continued, his voice not just anxious, but filled with genuine need. "We need you to use your Abyss magic. You must absorb this sphere."

A lightning bolt of realization struck Harabi’s heart. There was terror hidden in his words that she couldn’t quite understand. She pressed her lips together, unable to say a word. Everything around her seemed frozen, as if time had slowed down. She looked at Rumiya, her eyes wide open. Harabi felt a chill run down her spine.

"But... how do you...?" she began, but her voice faltered as she realized that everything around her had gone silent, everyone holding their breath.

No one knew what kind of magic Rumiya possessed. The youngest daughter of the Sudzukawa family had hidden her magic and kept it as a secret.

Harabi knew: Abyss magic... Miré Sudzukawa… Miré had the same magic, and because of it, Meruka Kurosaki had vanished… Harabi’s head began to spin.

Luka approached Rumiya.

"You must absorb this sphere with your magic, Rumiya. Only you can stop this."

Luka, holding Rumiya’s hand, led her toward the exit of the field, but suddenly Rumiya stopped. She squeezed her eyes shut, as if trying to push away the anxiety that was building inside her. Everything happening around her was too fast, too terrifying, and suddenly her voice came out softly, barely audible:

"I…," she began, her words barely escaping her lips. "I don’t know how to use my magic… I’m forbidden to use it..."

The entire group, including Harabi, immediately turned around, their gazes piercing her. The tension that had once been linked to lightning and fog became suddenly lullingly quiet, but desperate. Harabi felt her heart tighten.

"What?" Harabi asked softly, not believing her own ears. Rumiya stood there, her shoulders hunched, and despite all her courage, she looked like a little girl caught off guard.

"Scared again, Sudzukawa?" suddenly Adena said with a smirk.

Rumiya opened her mouth to say something in return, but Luka abruptly grabbed her hand, his eyes blazing like fire. At that moment, she wanted to scream something that could bring her back to reality, but she couldn’t-her body was paralyzed by fear.

In the final second, Joon appeared. He burst from the crowd, and without hesitation, he pulled Rumiya from Luka’s grasp.

"You’re acting like no teacher!" Joon said sharply. He was on the verge of irritation, but he didn’t allow himself to cross the line. "Look around, everyone is already terrified of the situation. And you’re just pressuring a new student of the Academy."

Luka seemed a little surprised, his eyes flickering as if he had just come to his senses. He slowly shook his head, a softening expression appearing on his face.

"Sorry," Luka said, his voice now quiet and tired. "I don’t know what came over me..." He stepped back a little, his gaze less tense. "But she’s the only one we can rely on right now."

Harabi noticed how Luka’s words, which could have been a threat or an order, suddenly became full of certainty. He was completely confident in his decision, despite the emotions that had just stormed through his eyes.