Tavin, still shivering from the strain, gave a small laugh that sounded more like a groan. "Don't even mention it. I can still feel the pressure on my body. My bones are protesting every movement."
Orin, stretching his sore shoulder, winced slightly. "And here I was, hoping I'd still be able to lift my arms after this. I just want to survive the next round without falling flat on my face."
Ronan smirked, though fatigue lingered in his eyes. "Let's just rest for tonight. I don't want to be half-dead tomorrow. You know Ms. Rose will definitely kill me if I show up like this."
They all nodded in agreement, the thought of Ms. Rose's stern gaze enough to send a shiver down their spines. The fire burned steadily as they fell into a comfortable silence, the weight of the day pressing them into the ground.
The following days were relentless. The air in the High-mana zone buzzed with energy, making every movement more taxing. At first, Ms. Rose's exercises seemed manageable—shaping small objects like jars and cups from their elemental magic. But as the days passed, the tasks grew more complex. Tables, chairs, and animal figures were next. Creating a small cat from flame or forming a delicate bird from water pushed them to their limits.
Tavin's frustration showed when his attempt at a water-formed dolphin collapsed mid-formation. "Seriously? I was so close!"
Orin patted his shoulder, half-smirking. "Well, it's better than my wind-formed bird. It looked like a plucked chicken caught in a storm."
Ronan chuckled, though his own fire-formed tree had burnt to ash moments after completion. "We're all hopeless."
Despite their struggles, they persisted. Each failure hardened their resolve. Soon, flowers grew on Tavin's trees, Ronan's flames flickered with elegant control, and Orin's wind-formed animals took on lifelike forms, swirling and shifting gracefully as though caught in an eternal breeze.
Finally, after a gruelling week, Ms. Rose gathered them together, her expression surprisingly soft.
"All of your elemental control has improved significantly," she announced, a rare smile gracing her face. "Tomorrow, you'll have a day off. Rest well. The day after, I'll evaluate your progress and decide if you're ready for the next level."
A murmur of relief spread through the group. The prospect of a free day was almost too good to believe.
That night, Ronan, Tavin, Orin, and Kellan sat around the fire, the glow reflecting their relieved expressions.
Orin stretched out lazily. "What's the plan for tomorrow?"
Kellan, ever the diligent one, answered first. "I think I'll practice for the evaluation. No way I'm risking falling behind."
"Hmm, let me think…" Orin's grin widened. "What about you, Tavin?"
Tavin shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. "Still not sure."
They all turned to Ronan, whose contemplative gaze was fixed on the star-filled sky. After a moment, he spoke.
"I think I'll explore the area."
Kellan's eyes widened. "Are you serious? You're not worried about the evaluation?"
Ronan answered casually, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "No."
Orin's face lit up with amusement. "Count me in."
"Same here," Tavin added, grinning. "Beats practising all day."
Kellan shook his head in disbelief. "You're all mad. Do you know that? I'm sure Ms. Rose has some ulterior motive behind this so-called 'day off.' You'll regret it when she's breathing down your necks."
Ronan merely smirked. "She told us to take a day off, and we're going to take a day off. Simple."
The next morning, Kellan awoke to find Ronan, Tavin, and Orin's beds empty. He groaned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "They really went through with it."
He turned to Elias, who was already awake and looking at his sword. "Hey, Elias, where are Orin, Tavin, and Ronan?"
Elias didn't bother to look up. "How should I know? They were gone when I woke up. Not that I care."
Kellan sighed. "Of course."
Later, Ms. Rose passed by to observe the remaining students. She noted Kellan, Elias and others practising diligently, though a small frown creased her brow.
"Someone is missing," she murmured. "Ah, whatever. I suppose I can't expect everyone to be as dedicated."
Just then, Mr. Alaric approached. "Good morning, Rose. How's their training progressing?"
Ms. Rose nodded, a hint of pride in her voice. "Quite well. I believe most of them are ready for the next stage. I'll confirm that tomorrow."
Mr. Alaric glanced around, noticing the absence of three particular students. "Where are Orin, Ronan, and Tavin?"
"I gave them the day off," Ms. Rose replied nonchalantly.
A shadow of concern flickered across Mr. Alaric's face. "I hope they come back uninjured."
"Why the worry?" she asked, puzzled.
He sighed. "Those three are notorious when it comes to exploring. If they find something unusual, they'll chase it without thinking."
Somewhere not very far or close to the camp, Ronan, Orin, and Tavin stood before a shimmering lake. Its waters emitted a faint mist, and the warmth in the air was undeniable.
"This lake is massive," Ronan remarked, his keen eyes scanning the surface.
Orin dipped his hand into the water. "It's warm… almost like a hot spring."
Tavin grinned, his curiosity piqued. "I heard that the water here is always warm. The heat source must be somewhere deep."
"Want to test your control?" Orin teased. "Think you can manage this water?"
Tavin's confidence flickered. "I can try."
He made a hand sign, focusing his mana. The water stirred, lifting slightly, but before it could rise higher, it collapsed with a splash.
"It's too heavy," Tavin panted. "This water isn't normal."
Ronan crouched by the shore, observing the shimmering ripples. "It's mixed with strange mana. It's no wonder controlling it feels so hard."
"We should take some back," Ronan suggested. "You can train with it."
Tavin nodded, determination returning. "Not a bad idea. Let's see if Ms. Rose has anything to say about this."