Milly stood in the middle of the training ground, her chest still rising and falling rapidly. Sweat clung to her hair, and the faint smell of smoke lingered around her. She glanced at the Sage, who was slowly adjusting his robes, his burned arm wrapped in a makeshift bandage.
"I… I concede," he said, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable weight of acknowledgment. "That will be all for today's test."
Milly blinked, surprised. "Th-that's it?" she asked, unsure if she should feel relief or disappointment.
The Sage gave a faint nod, his eyes meeting hers for a brief second. "Yes. You've shown control, skill, and… ingenuity. Remember this lesson, Mila. Power without control is dangerous not just for you, but for everyone around you."
He turned, moving quietly toward the exit of the training grounds. His steps were deliberate, each one measured despite his injured arm. The students, who had been hiding at a distance, whispered among themselves, their awe and shock barely contained.
Milly exhaled, a mixture of relief and lingering tension washing over her. Control… I need more control, she thought, clenching her fists. And that beam… I can't let it slip out next time.
As the Sage disappeared from view, she sank onto a nearby bench, letting her body relax for the first time in what felt like hours. Her mind raced with strategies, thoughts of improving her magic, and the faint, nagging worry about how much more dangerous her powers could become.
For now, though, the test was over and Milly had survived.