Jace the Elemental

"Now we just need to get the other six members," Jace said, scanning the crowd. His gaze flicked over the other students, noticing something odd. Several smaller groups kept glancing their way, whispering among themselves. The air buzzed with the low hum of conversation, punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter or the sharp crack of magic being practiced in the distance.

"Is it just me?" Ethan muttered, shifting uncomfortably as he caught another pair of eyes darting in their direction. "Or do the others keep looking at us?"

"Makes sense," Selene shrugged, her tone matter of fact. She leaned casually against a stone pillar, her arms crossed. "Aurora's here. Everyone assumes she's connected to the Dusk family. And then you three went and won your fights. Of course people are watching."

Jace sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, at least that should make it easier to get the members we want." He turned to Aurora, ready to bring up a plan, except she wasn't there. His finger, already halfway raised to point at her, now aimed at empty space. "Uh… where did Aurora go?"

Ethan and Selene snapped their heads toward where she had been standing just moments ago. The space she occupied was now empty, save for a faint shimmer in the air, as if the light itself had bent around her departure.

"She was just there," Ethan said, his voice laced with surprise. "Right?"

Selene narrowed her eyes, scanning the area. Her gaze lingered on the spot where Aurora had stood, her lips pursed in thought. "It's Aurora we're talking about. She's not exactly the type to wait around while the people she wants get snatched up by another group. She's probably already recruiting."

Jace considered this for a moment. From the little he knew about Aurora, Selene was probably right. She had a reputation for being unpredictable, always one step ahead. Still, her sudden disappearance left him uneasy. "Well, I'm not going to just wait around," he said, striding toward Lyra, who was standing near the edge of the training grounds, her arms crossed as she watched a group of students spar.

"Lyra might I have a word?" He called as he approached.

Lyra turned to face him, her expression guarded "What do you want?" she asked, her tone accusatory.

Jace didn't waste time. "I won't bother beating around the bush. You should join our team. Your speed and ability to adapt during combat would be a massive asset in any of the larger group battles." He paused, studying her reaction. "Plus, after losing to Aurora the way you did, you're probably not getting too many options right now right?

Lyra's eyes narrowed, but she didn't immediately dismiss him. "And just because you won you think you're the best option? She asked, her voice low.

Jace met her gaze evenly. "Winning has nothing to do with it. Selene joined us, and I beat her in our duel." He explained plainly. "It's about forming the best team we can, and as far as I'm concerned, you're a part of that." When Jace had been considering potential fights, Lyra kept going to the top of the list for the most annoying opponents. Her speed and unpredictability were a nightmare to counter, and he knew she'd be even more formidable on their side.

For a moment, Lyra was silent as she was considering her options. Then she slowly shook her head. "You've got some nerve Jace. But if you think I'm just going to go along with you just because you asked nicely, you're wrong."

Jace shook his own head in response. "It has nothing to do with asking nicely. It has everything to do, with the fact that I know that deep down, you know you're better than them. And we're your best bet at proving it."

Lyra's lips twitched, apparently trying to hold back a smile. "I hate that you're right, I really wanted another chance to take Aurora down. But maybe being on the same team as her will be just as interesting." Extending her hand

Jace nodded, shaking her hand firmly. As he did, he glanced over her shoulder at the rest of their group. It seemed Aurora had returned, with five others in tow. Jace cocked his head for a second, a thought striking him. "Did she know I was going to get Lyra to join?"

"I guess there's only one way of really knowing," he thought as he and Lyra headed back to the group. Aurora stood at the center of the newcomers, her expression as unreadable as ever. Her eyes met Jace's for a brief moment, and he could have sworn he saw the faintest hint of a smirk.

"I see you've been busy." Jace said, smiling as he approached the group

"And I see that you completed my next objective for me." Aurora glancing at Lyra. "I'm glad that you agreed to join the team Lyra."

Lyra was taken aback. "You're saying that you also intended to get me on your team?"

"I did." Aurora said simply, "your speed and adaptability in the larger group battles will be a massive asset."

"Funny," Lyra said, chuckling at the irony. "Jace said something very similar.