Radiance - The Alight Archives Book #1

19. Letters

"Needless to say, I'm more than impressed with you all," Professor Knight boomed. 

The class had gathered in a tight cluster just inside the entrance doors, their faces still flushed with exertion after the grueling exercise. Despite Professor Knight's words of encouragement, Elaine struggled to muster a sense of pride or enjoyment from the day's events. Instead, she felt utterly drained, as though she had just completed a marathon or spent hours laboring alongside her father to clean out the old shed in their backyard—a truly burdensome task. 

"Those homunculi were intended for second and third years," Professor Knight continued, his eyes scanning the group, "yet you all managed to take them out anyhow. Outstanding!" His voice rose with enthusiasm, and a broad grin broke across his face. "Well, at the very least, most of you did."

Elaine heard a low muttering of a curse from the boy next to her. It was Custas, and his expression had twisted into a frustrated scowl. He rubbed the nape of his neck repeatedly; apparently, his homunculus hadn't released him until the very last minute. A part of her wanted to offer a few comforting words to lighten his mood, but she found herself lacking the energy to even muster a smile. She was running on fumes, her own spirit dimmed by the relentless adversities they faced.

"Regardless," Professor Knight continued, "this should give you a little taste of how some of your lessons in this class will unfold. Don't be fooled into thinking you've seen the worst of it, you implings. I mean to push you to your breaking point, to awaken the sorcerer buried deep within your Essence." His words hung heavy in the air, a combination of promise and threat. "That said, however, I am by no means a monster. So, it would serve you all well to know that the results of today's lessons won't be graded."

"Wait, for real?!" Rayla exclaimed, gleaming at him happily. She'd been one of the students who had finished the exercise last, and Elaine hadn't seen precisely how she defeated her homunculus, assuming she did so at all.

"Truthfully speaking, I was only interested in seeing how you would react, and what spells you'd use to overcome this challenge," Professor Knight grinned. "You've done well, but I've got this nagging suspicion that some among you have yet to bare their fangs. I guess it's up to me to apply more pressure, what do you say?"

Hands resting gently on her stomach, Elaine leaned slightly to the left, her curiosity piqued by the crowd gathered before her. In the throng, she spotted Kliff Dresden, someone she had suspected was among the students Professor Knight had mentioned. His magic was undeniably potent, and he showcased a level of skill that suggested he was no rookie sorcerer. His ease with the exercise was evident, as he, alongside Adeline and Jack, emerged as one of the first to complete the task. 

As she watched him, a nagging itch of curiosity crept into the back of her mind. What would it be like, she pondered, to witness someone like Kliff unleash his full potential? To see him pushed to his limits, forced to summon the more advanced spells that she knew he had meticulously tucked away, like a magician with secret tricks? She imagined an arsenal of powerful incantations at his disposal, spells that could overhaul existence itself, if only he felt compelled to use them.

A wave of envy washed over her as she observed Professor Knight, whose shoulders shook with mirth as he let out a hearty laugh, his wide grin revealing teeth that sparkled. From his elevated position, he had the privilege of seeing it all—the majestic displays of magic unveiled by each of her classmates. A sense of longing coiled within Elaine; she craved the opportunity to experience their spells firsthand, to witness the creativity and raw power of her peers in action. Every flick of their wands, every incantation spoken, held the promise of magic that danced just out of reach, leaving her both intrigued and envious of their talents. Elaine desired to know everything about magic that she could, she kept a strong yearning for—