Peer Pressure II

It’s working. Imagination and acceptance. This is how it feels. New… alive again. Crack. The sound of ice cracking—but not mine. A small part of it passed my face. Caelis cast a spell against the cube, but the effort weighed on him, the pressure building. I raised the heat. The cube was massive—how long could this take? The crowd starts to chant and cheer.

“Looks like you’re enjoying this, Thalia-san.”

“Oh, professor, good morning. It’s our class lesson.”

“Looks like class is getting intense.”

“Yeah, those two challenge the best mage of the second year to teach them.”

“Aeter?” Professor Selene chuckled. “When did she become popular with the underclass?” She continued. “They both deserve to be trained by a genius for their skill.”

“So they only want the best to train them?”

“Not they.”

The light spell. What a noble. He whipped the ice cube with it. I could tell he was imagining a blade. But with power this low… that could barely take shape. What’s inside feels like a flame trying to break free for me. Yet, at best… It’s only strong enough to boil water in a pot. Flame, compared to light, opposes ice—I have the advantage. My hand starts to freeze; there’s a limit. When I picture it right now, I’m afraid of losing. Only focus on my best. Power. Acceptance. Condition. Everything’s on the highest bar. The sound of the crowd starts to fade; there’s only me and Ice Cube.

The crowd’s chanting rose beyond my thoughts, drowning out everything I was pondering. Caelis’s light spell shifted, adapting to reflect the sunlight, intensifying its heat, and melting the cube. His ambitious eyes sharpened into something intense, like they said, I can’t afford to lose. I could feel that magic wasn’t just his passion. It was his lifeline. His whole future depended on it. All the people at the dorm who taught me are here, too. It may be a few days for them, but their teaching stuck with me for a month or maybe half a year.

The burn faded, leaving only a steady flame. Compared to Caelis, light reflects sunlight, like the sun to a light bulb. Yet, his ambition and adaptation always surprise an audience. Combine, intensify, and whip the ice. Now, our competition comes down to a matter of time. Who will last longer? Who will win?

“It’s impressive, isn’t it? Just from looking at my jar, he figured it out.” Emil said. Ruri takes a sip of tea. “You talked like you meant to advise him,” Ruri replied. “I didn’t even know he was the challenger… But I’m proud of him. For someone from our dorm—an underclassman—to have this much talent…”

“Um.”

“Stop your coldness; he’s already frozen enough.” Ruri giggled. “Nice one, Emil. Look at Aeter, she seems to like your joke.” Next to Ruri. Aeter stares at the field like she is in another world. “Aeter, you want a tea?” Emil said. “Aeter?” Emil repeated. Aeter's eyes are wide, full of surprise. Ruri tapped on Aeter's shoulder, and she snapped back. “Are you okay?” Ruri asked.

“Yeah… Ruri, if Auron win can you takecare of him?”

“Why?”

“His initial spell is fire. Doesn’t that suit you more?”

“Don’t be like this; you’re speaking the opposite of your feelings.”

“You’re the last person who should say,” Emil mumbled. “Huh?” “A tea?” Emil raises her pot. “Thanks for reminding me, Ruri, but the decision is for his greater good,” Aeter said with a plain smile. An outcome everyone wants, but not a decision everyone wants to make. The battle is close, and the result is unpredictable. Eventually, Ruri or Aeter will be chosen as upperclassmen to train them. With power like this, it’s obvious—they must’ve been trained by the number one and two of the second year. “If either of you can’t decide. I’ll train him by myself.” Emil said with unusual piercing eyes.

The challenge had reached its final phase, judged by the size of the ice cubes. Caelis had trimmed his into a thin, plated layer. Auron’s had melted into a smooth circle resting in his palm. They were saving their strength for the final lap. Speed. Ambition. Acceptance. A spell mastered only today, and yet it would decide the course of their entire year.

The crowd started chanting and cheering. The professor stepped forward, raising her hand. The crowd hushed. The winner is… Auron. Both were exhausted, too fatigued to speak, or too used to the no-verbal rule. Caelis dropped to one knee. He had lost. Auron stepped forward, wide-eyed, and reached out a hand. Caelis looked up, then took it and rose to his feet. “Your hand is cold,” Caelis said. Auron glanced at his hand and clenched it.

“At the very last moment… it wasn’t just the spell that melted it; there was warmth in my hand too. I can’t say I fully won this.” “Proudly accept this victory, or I’m gonna take the prize. I don’t want to hear fake encouragement.” Caelis narrowed his eyes but accepted his defeat. “But this is just the beginning. As a representative of my family, I can’t accept this,” he added. I had the sportsmanship to tell him the truth, but I was selfish enough to do whatever it took to get what I wanted. Then came the footsteps. Professor Selene, smiling, approached.

“What’s the winner’s prize? May I ask?” A professor with white hair, but her face looked young. Was it just genetics, or was she far older than she looked? “To be trained by the number one first year… to be trained with Aeter.”

“You can’t take two prizes.” She grabbed my hand. “Your flame is your specialty, this hand is warmed from burning inside combustion by the acceptance. Wouldn’t that suit you better? If you trained with Ruri, a fire specialist.”

“Two prizes? Flame? Isn’t Aeter number one of the second year?”

“Nothing is permanent, not even student rankings… not even as a mage. If you ask me how different they are, the gap is barely noticeable as mages. But when it comes to training fire… You know exactly who should be teaching you. So, what’s your decision, Auron?”

Hand or heart. My choice. My decision. The one who fuels my fire or who opens the path ahead.