Jace the Elemental

As the training room fell silent, Jace took a deep breath to calm himself after the excitement. The cool air of the room brushed against his skin, a welcome contrast to the heat of the flames and the chill of the water. He sat down, his body still humming with the energy of the session, and began to think about how he had performed. Was there anything he could have done more efficiently? Any move he could have executed better?

Just then, the calm voice rang out again, its tone as serene as ever. "Would you like to try level two, student Jace?"

"So there are different levels to it," Jace thought to himself. "Good, I was concerned when I got five out of five on the first try." He couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction, but he knew pushing himself too hard too soon could be counterproductive.

"No thank you, computer," he said, standing up and brushing off his clothes. "I think I'm done for today." He didn't even really realize that he kept his normal politeness even with the computer. It was just how he was—always respectful, no matter who or what he was interacting with.

Jace cracked his neck as he stepped out of the training room, the faint hum of magical equipment fading into the background. His mind was still replaying the session—every move, every decision—when a sudden presence snapped him back to reality. He barely had time to sidestep before colliding with the figure in front of him.

Staggering back, he quickly apologized, "Sorry, didn't see you there."

The woman before him was short in stature but carried herself with an intensity that made her seem larger than life. Her midnight-black hair was pulled into a tight braid, and her sharp eyes locked onto his with an almost predatory focus. Her posture was straight, her chin slightly raised, exuding a quiet authority. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice calm but edged with a precision that cut through the air like a blade.

Jace took a step back, caught off guard by her directness. There was something about her—something that made him feel like he owed her an answer. "I'm Jace," he said, his tone polite but firm. "Just finished some training. Have you tried it yet?"

Her gaze didn't waver, her expression unreadable. Instead of answering, she countered with her own question. "How well do you think you did in the entrance exam?"

Jace blinked, momentarily thrown by her abruptness. He hesitated, then shrugged. "I think I did alright. Why do you ask?"

She studied him for a moment, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly, as if weighing his response. "Because you're good," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. "And how well you did determines what group you end up in." She paused, her lips curving into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "I know I'll be in the top group. So, I'll see you there." With that, she turned on her heel and strode toward the exit, her braid swaying slightly with each step. Over her shoulder, she added, "I'm Aurora. See you tomorrow."

Jace stood there for a moment, utterly bamboozled. "What just happened?" he muttered under his breath, still processing the encounter.

Ethan's voice rang out from behind, snapping him out of his thoughts. "What was that about?" Ethan asked, his expression a mirror of Jace's confusion.

Jace turned to face him, shrugging helplessly. "I have legitimately no idea," he replied. For a beat, they just stared at each other, the absurdity of the situation sinking in. Then, almost simultaneously, they burst out laughing, the tension of the moment dissolving into shared amusement.

"I don't think we'll figure it out standing here," Jace said, finally bringing his laughter under control. He ran a hand through his hair, still grinning. "Let's just head back to the dorms and get some rest, man."

"Don't have to tell me twice," Ethan agreed, clapping Jace on the shoulder as they turned and made their way out of the training facility. The faint hum of magical equipment faded behind them, replaced by the gentle breeze of the evening air.

The two friends continued joking with each other as they walked back towards the dorms, having already submitted their stuff to the school they would be staying in one of the many dorm halls on Academy land. 

Following the directory, they came to a small, unassuming building manned by a man wearing an Academy uniform. His expression was as flat as his voice when he asked, "Names, please."

"Jace Carter," Jace said, using his thumb to point at himself, then at Ethan. "Ethan Hayes."

The man glanced at a glowing holographic list. "Jace Carter, Stag dorm. Ethan Hayes, Longhorn dorm." He gestured to a small, circular pad on the floor. "Step onto the pad, and you'll be transported to your dorms."

Jace raised an eyebrow at Ethan. "Guess this is where we split. See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, don't get lost in your fancy Stag dorm," Ethan teased, grinning as they clasped hands.

Jace stepped onto the pad, and the transporter whirred to life. A tingling sensation spread through his body as magic coursed through him. For a moment, everything blurred, and then he was standing in a cozy, wood-paneled room. The sudden stop left him feeling a bit queasy, and he took a deep breath to steady himself. The room was small but inviting, with a large window overlooking the Academy's gardens. A neatly made bed and a desk filled with unfamiliar gadgets awaited him.