The few remaining hopefuls left in the crowd murmured in awe and excitement, still buzzing from Kiran’s performance. The whispers turned to praises as they recounted the spiraling torrent of sand that had ripped through the arena. Some speculated on the upperclassman trial he must now face, while others wondered aloud who might be next to demonstrate their skills.


    Then, someone noticed the heat.


    A faint wave of warmth rolled through the arena, subtle at first but quickly becoming impossible to ignore. Heads turned as the rising temperature drew their attention to the back row.


    Elias stood there, arms crossed, his foot tapping impatiently against the ground. But it wasn’t his stance that caught their eyes—it was the fire.


    A solid layer of bright red flames emanated from his body, clinging to him like a second skin. The fire flickered and surged, its intensity growing with every passing second. Elias’s wide, determined grin stretched across his face, his excitement impossible to contain.


    The crowd nearest to him instinctively shuffled away, a mix of awe and unease spreading among them. “What’s with him?” one hopeful whispered, his voice tinged with both curiosity and fear.


    “Is he glowing?” another asked, her gaze fixed on Elias as the flames flared brighter.


    Elias barely noticed. His thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions, from pride in Kiran’s display to the anticipation of his own moment to shine. He had waited long enough, and now his fire demanded to be seen.


    Uncrossing his arms, Elias let out a low chuckle, his grin never faltering. “Can’t help it,” he muttered to himself, watching the flames dance around him. “Guess it’s my turn to stoke the fire.”


    A bead of sweat rolled down the forehead of a nearby hopeful, and not just from the heat. “Hey, uh, is he going to burn the whole place down?”


    The murmurs turned into scattered laughter, but it was clear they weren’t entirely joking. Lenara’s sharp voice rang out, cutting through the noise.


    “Candidate!” she barked, her tone commanding as she looked directly at Elias.


    Elias froze, his flames dimming slightly as his attention snapped to her. “Yes, ma’am?”


    Lenara’s eyes narrowed. “Control yourself, or I’ll make sure you don’t step foot in that arena.”


    Elias blinked, his grin faltering for a split second before he reined himself in. The flames around him shrank to a faint glow, the oppressive heat fading just enough to let the nearby students breathe more easily.


    “My apologies,” he said, though his grin returned almost immediately. “Just… excited, that’s all.”


    Lenara’s expression didn’t soften, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she turned back to the center of the arena. “Good. Stay excited—but don’t forget, this isn’t a game.”


    Elias nodded, his excitement simmering beneath the surface. The flames lingered faintly, a testament to his barely contained eagerness. He knew his turn was coming. And when it did, there would be no holding back.


    It was clear, however, that Elias’s patience was wearing thinner with each passing moment. The steady disappearance of hopefuls from the crowd, one after another, only added fuel to the fire—quite literally. His feet tapped faster, his fingers twitched at his sides, and the faint glow that surrounded him earlier was beginning to resurface.


    By the time only himself and two other hopefuls remained, Elias could no longer restrain the flames coursing within him. He clenched his fists, and the fire answered, flickering brighter and hotter with every passing second.


    At first, it was subtle—just a faint shimmer of heat that only those nearby could sense. But as another candidate stepped forward into the arena, the flames grew, spreading outward like a living thing eager to break free.


    The current demonstration was impressive, even Elias had to admit that much. Thick cables of wire, seemingly ordinary at first glance, came alive under the command of the boy in the arena. They coiled and uncoiled with precision, forming intricate patterns before striking the dummy with sharp, metallic force. Sparks flew as the wires tightened around the target, constricting like snakes before snapping back into their original shape.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Gasps and murmurs of admiration rippled through the remaining crowd. But Elias’s focus was elsewhere. His fire, barely contained, surged back to life.


    A young girl standing nearby was the first to notice. She flinched as a wave of heat brushed past her, her gaze snapping to Elias with wide eyes. “What—?”


    Her friend, standing beside her, followed her gaze. His expression shifted from curiosity to alarm as he took a step back. “Is he… okay?”


    Elias didn’t seem to notice their reactions. His flames danced around him, licking at the air with an almost playful energy. The faint glow intensified, turning into a steady radiance that drew the attention of more students. Whispers spread quickly.


    “It’s him again,” the girl muttered.


    “Does he even know how to turn it off?”


    “He looks like he’s about to explode…”


    Elias’s eyes remained fixed on the arena, his smile tight and unrelenting. He wasn’t angry—far from it. The fire wasn’t born of frustration or impatience, but of sheer anticipation. His turn was so close he could feel it, and his flames reflected his eagerness to finally step into the spotlight.


    “Just a little longer,” Elias muttered under his breath, the flames responding with a brief surge. “Almost there.”


    The murmurs grew louder, and the girl who had first noticed the heat nudged her friend. “Should we… tell someone?” she whispered, eyeing Elias warily.


    Her friend hesitated, glancing between her and the glowing figure. “I don’t think he’s gonna do anything. But still…”


    Before they could decide, Lenara’s sharp voice cut through the commotion once more. “Candidate, step forward!”


    Elias stilled, his flames dimming slightly as he turned his head. The other remaining hopeful in the arena disappeared in a flash of light, leaving only one other person besides himself.


    Elias’s grin widened, but instead of the examination proceeding as expected, Lenara’s gaze shifted sharply to him. Her stern expression tightened further as she turned fully toward him, her robes billowing slightly with her movements.


    “Candidate,” she said, her voice cutting like a whip. “I’ve already warned you about control once today, and yet here you are again, flaunting your flames as if—”


    Before she could finish, a sudden burst of flames erupted behind her, roaring high into the air. The heat was intense, a scorching wave that even Lenara, experienced as she was, visibly flinched against. The remaining hopefuls shielded their faces instinctively, their murmurs of confusion quickly silenced as the flames receded just as suddenly as they had appeared.


    Standing in their place was a woman, her silhouette framed by the last flickers of embers falling around her. She was tall and striking, with a presence that seemed to demand attention. Her fiery red hair fell in waves over her shoulders, complementing the sharp, mischievous glint in her golden eyes. Her attire, though similar to the academy’s robes, bore distinct embellishments—flame-like patterns in deep crimson and gold that shimmered faintly in the light.


    “Well, well,” she said, her voice smooth and rich with amusement. “Looks like someone’s eager to put on a show.” Her gaze landed squarely on Elias, her smirk deepening.


    Lenara’s expression shifted from irritation to confusion, though her authority wasn’t so easily shaken. She straightened, her sharp gaze locking onto the woman. “Syn? What are you doing here? You’re not scheduled to be part of the examination yet.”


    Syn’s smirk didn’t falter as she crossed her arms, her fiery red hair catching the light like a living flame. “Oh, come now, Lenara. Staying put never suited me, and you know it.” She gestured vaguely toward Elias, who stood rooted to the spot, the flames around him flickering as his excitement warred with his curiosity. “Besides, we both know you’ve been saving him for last. I figured I’d save us all some time and come ahead of schedule.”


    Lenara’s eyes narrowed, her tone clipped. “There is a structure to these trials for a reason, Syn. You can’t just—”


    “Can’t I?” Syn interrupted, raising an eyebrow. She stepped forward, her movements deliberate yet casual, like a predator toying with its prey. “I mean, look at him.” She nodded toward Elias, whose flames flared ever so slightly in response to the attention. The stone beneath him was scorched black, faint wisps of smoke curling from the edges where the heat licked the ground. Small cracks spiderwebbed outward, the damage subtle yet unmistakable.


    “He’s practically vibrating with impatience. And, if you haven’t noticed, he’s already giving the arena a makeover without even realizing it.” Her smirk widened as she gestured toward the faint glow of embers trailing his feet. “It’d be cruel to make him wait any longer, don’t you think?”


    The remaining hopefuls exchanged uneasy glances, the tension in the arena thickening as they watched the exchange.


    “This is not how the trials are conducted,” Lenara said firmly, her voice like steel.


    Syn sighed dramatically, tilting her head. “Relax, Lenara. I’m not here to tear up your precious schedule. I’m just here to… expedite things.” Her golden eyes sparkled with mischief. “Trust me, it’s better this way. You get to move on, he gets to burn something, and I get a little fun. Everyone wins.”


    Elias finally found his voice, his tone edged with curiosity. “You came here… just for me?”


    Syn’s smirk deepened, her gaze flicking to him. “Let’s just say I’ve been keeping an eye on you, Firestarter. You’ve got potential. Now, I want to see if you can live up to it.”


    Lenara exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Fine,” she relented after a moment, her tone heavy with exasperation. “But you will follow the rules of the trial, Syn. No exceptions.”


    “Of course,” Syn said with a mock salute, her grin never wavering.


    Elias’s flames burned brighter, his grin spreading as he stepped forward. “Then let’s get started.”


    The other hopeful, still processing the sudden turn of events, took several cautious leaps back until he was side-by-side with the last remaining hopeful in the stands, giving the arena over to the two fire-wielders as the tension reached a boiling point.