The moon hung high over the academy's training field, silver light spilling across the quiet sands.
Mila stood in the middle of it, her hair tied loosely behind her the faint sea breeze brushing past as she raised her right hand.
"Blagos Endos."
The familiar red-and-black fireball bloomed instantly, swirling in her palm like a living heart of flame.
She launched it into the air it burst apart in a perfect explosion of red light before fading harmlessly into sparks.
She smiled faintly.
"Perfect control… finally."
The air shimmered from the lingering heat, and she took a few steps back, summoning her next spell.
"Flamedro Tonado."
A tornado of flame spiraled upward, wild and fierce yet contained within her circle of command. She gritted her teeth and focused harder, keeping it steady. The flames roared like a caged beast, clawing at the air but obeying her will.
"Still too unstable… but I'll get there," she whispered, sweat trailing down her face.
The tornado shrank and vanished, leaving behind only smoke and the faint scent of ash.
She took a deep breath, her hand trembling slightly. Then her gaze hardened.
"Now… the difficult one."
She lifted her arm toward the empty horizon, where the sea met the stars.
"Arthianos."
The word itself made the air hum a deep vibration that stirred something ancient inside her. The ground cracked beneath her feet. A faint light gathered in front of her, forming the shadow of a dragon's head massive, spectral, and shimmering in red light.
Her heartbeat quickened.
"Easy… easy…"
The dragon opened its mouth raw energy gathering inside, shaking the ground.
But before it could release, Mila winced in pain her head splitting in agony.
"Not… again!"
The spell collapsed instantly. The dragon's light shattered into embers, and she fell to one knee, clutching her temple.
The pain pulsed like lightning through her skull brief but brutal, like something inside her was rejecting the spell itself.
She gasped for air, panting. "Every time… it's like something inside me says no…"
After several seconds, the pain faded. She stayed there, staring at her trembling hands.
"Blagos Endos, mastered. Flamedro Tonado, nearly there…"
"But Arthianos…" she whispered, looking toward the sea. "Why can't I control you?"
The wind answered only with silence soft, endless, and cold.
She stood again, brushing the dirt off her clothes. "No matter… I'll try again tomorrow."
And as she walked away, the faint glow of her maroon eyes lingered just for a moment before fading back to gold.