The moonlight shimmered on the academy's training ground once again. The air was still only the sound of gentle waves echoed from the distance.
Mila stood at the center of the field, her cloak swaying behind her.
"Alright," she muttered to herself, steadying her breathing. "One more time… Arthianos."
The red glow returned. This time, it didn't flicker or break apart.
The faint outline of the dragon head emerged before her again smaller, more focused.
Her hands trembled slightly as she forced herself to stay calm.
The ground rumbled beneath her, pebbles lifting from the force of her power.
"Control it… don't let it control you."
The dragon's maw opened light gathering like molten fire condensed into energy.
Then, with a low growl that reverberated through the night
"Arthianos!"
A beam of pure red energy tore through the air.
It wasn't as massive or as deafening as before but still powerful enough to shake the nearby trees and scorch the sand beneath her feet.
It extended far into the horizon, vanishing into the night sky.
Mila gasped, her knees buckling slightly as she watched the beam fade.
"I… did it…" she whispered between breaths, a faint smile forming on her lips. "Finally… even if it's weaker…"
But that triumph was short-lived.
Her body swayed, drained from the energy loss. The world blurred around her.
"Just… a little rest…" she murmured, collapsing gently onto the warm ground.
As her consciousness began to fade, something unseen stirred high above the clouds.
The remnants of the energy she released shimmered faintly then scattered into the upper atmosphere.
Moments later… a cluster of faint red streaks lit up the night sky.
Tiny meteors glowing with the same crimson hue as her dragon's beam began to descend quietly, far away beyond the academy's walls.
Mila, now unconscious, didn't see any of it.
Her silver hair rested softly against the dirt as the moonlight reflected in her peaceful face unaware that her quiet success had just reached the heavens.