Jace the Elemental

Jace's breath hitched for a second, his body remembering just how much pain he was about to endure. But with Elizabeth's mocking disdain fresh in his mind, he steeled himself. He would endure it again, and again, if that's what it took.

He forced his mana out of his body in a torrent, flooding the room with his energy and increasing the mana density. His reserves dwindling rapidly, and gritting his teeth, he cast another spell.

Pain seared through his skull like a white hot fire poker, his blood burning as if molten lava coursed through his veins. A scream tore from his throat as he collapsed onto all fours, his head slamming into the ground on a futile attempt to release the torment.

The process lasted only five minutes, but each second stretched into an eternity. Finally, the pain began to fade, leaving Jace gasping for breath, his body trembling with exertion. But as he laid there, he felt the small increase in his mana capacity, a grim smile tugged at his lips.

After catching his breath, he sat back up, focusing on the mana in the room. He absorbed it greedily, letting the dense energy accelerate his recovery. The process still took time, there was a limit to how much his body could absorb at once, but the room's unique properties made it far faster than normal. Once he felt recovered, he started the process again. His body could only handle this a few times a day, but from now on, he would do it every single day.

It took him a couple hours, but he finally reached the point where his body wasn't able to handle anymore. Taking a deep breath, his whole body shook from the strain. Muscles twitched, his vision blurred slightly, and his hands trembled as he tried to steady himself. 

He sat against the wall, allowing himself a moment of recovery. "Whatever it takes," he murmured to himself, his voice low but resolute. He was determined to keep advancing, no matter the cost.

After recovering enough, Jace got up, his legs still a little shaky. Once he had steadied himself, he grabbed his bag and headed for the door. However, upon opening it, he was taken aback by what, or rather, who, was on the other side.

Standing at his full height, both hands resting on his cane, his suit as pristine as always, Was Lord Severian. The teacher's piercing gaze locked onto Jace, and for a moment, the air seemed to grow heavier.

"Come with me," Lord Severian said, his tone leaving no room for argument. Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked toward the elevator.

Jace blinked in surprise, his mind racing. What could Lord Severian want with him? The man's presence was always imposing, always so deliberate. Swallowing hard, Jace followed, his legs still unsteady but his resolve firm.

The elevator ride was silent, except for the soft sounds of the elevator itself, Jace stood behind Lord Severian, his reflection in the polished metal doors looking pale and uncertain. He watched as the elevator reached the strategy floor on the top floor, but then kept going, ascending to an unmarked floor. 

Jace's heart skipped a beat. He had never even heard of a floor beyond the strategy room. What could be up here?

Finally, the elevator stopped just above the strategy floor, opening to a sleek, modern office space. The large central area was filled with screens displaying live feeds from various training rooms, their glow casting a soft light across the room. 

But Lord Severian bypassed them all, heading straight for a private office at the far end of the room. "Come in and sit down," he said, gesturing toward a chair as he stepped inside.

Lord Severian sat behind his desk, his cane resting against the edge. He leaned forward slightly, his piercing gaze locking onto Jace. "I'm not one to mince words, so I'll get straight to it," he said, reaching down and pulling out a folder from one of his drawers. He placed it on the desk, his fingers tapping lightly on its surface. "I need you to continue challenging the nobles."

Jace blinked, caught off guard. "Excuse me, sir?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion. He had expected Lord Severian to reprimand him or question his methods, not to make such a direct request. After all, every noble he'd encountered so far, excluding Aurora, had either dismissed or outright antagonized him.

Lord Severian's expression remained unreadable, his tone calm but firm. "You heard me correctly. From what I've seen so far, you are the only one who doesn't fear them, the only one with enough talent and determination to push them."