Radiance - The Alight Archives Book #1

Glyph Academy's bells had long since chimed, their resonant peals echoing through the ancient stone corridors. The griffins, majestic creatures with feathers that glimmered in the golden sunlight, had long taken to the skies, their silhouettes dancing among the wispy clouds as they hunted for the day's meal. The usual throngs of students and staff members that filled the academy grounds had vanished, leaving behind a silence that hung in the air. Classes should have commenced by now, marking the beginning of another day of magical learning.

But, as had been the case the morning before, their homeroom teacher was conspicuously absent. As Elaine stepped into the classroom alongside Fearne, she was greeted by a scene of disinterest and mild irritation: her fellow sorcerers were slouched in their seats, some propping their heads on their hands, while others whispered in low tones, exchanging frustrated glances toward the empty professor's desk. 

Without needing to look closely, Elaine could sense the unmistakable absence of their instructor. You hate tardiness, don't you? she mused bitterly to herself as she plopped down into her seat. Then why is it you're the last person to arrive at your own class?

"Elaine," Mason called next to her, and Elaine herself flinched in surprise at the sound of his heavy yet gentle voice. "I didn't get a chance to speak with you after Spellcasting Class yesterday. I wanted to compliment you on your magic."

"Oh?" Elaine said.

"Yes, it was...bright," he said, rather awkwardly. "That wasn't a basic-level spell, was it? How did you manage to learn it?"

Elaine hesitated. "I... err..." How was she meant to tackle this question? The truth was, she hadn't the slightest idea how she had pulled off the spell either; it felt as if it had simply materialized out of thin air. But she doubted Mason would be satisfied with such a vague explanation. "Every second I could spare," Elaine began, her voice gaining confidence, "I dedicated to practicing spells with my eldest brother. I was absolutely awful when I first started out. Fire Magic, in particular, was a nightmare for me; I would tense up at the mere thought of the flames licking at my skin. Water Magic, too, proved to be a challenge—there were just too many variables to keep track of, not to mention the way it always made me drenched. 

"But Light Magic just came naturally to me. Even my older brother, who had been diligently practicing Light Magic spells for years ahead of me, admitted that he was jealous of how quickly I learned the concepts and techniques. In a matter of weeks, I had already grasped the basics. Well, for the most part anyway." Elaine chuckled at the memory; Ellend was red-faced and whining while she was glowing as brilliantly as the distant stars in the night sky. "I assumed he was putting on a front to make me feel better, but..."

"I don't remember seeing you at the Entrance Exam," Mason said suddenly.

"Oh, that's because I didn't take it."

"Ah, makes sense," Mason replied, nodding contemplatively to himself. "Even still, when we were preparing to begin, I remember the overseer of the exam mentioning that all the participants present were on equal footing. That is to say, none of our abilities outshone or fell short of a fellow participant. It gave me peace of mind."

Elaine sensed it, the sunken acrimony trapped in his words. "But..."

"But," he continued, his voice tinged with a mix of hesitation and honesty, "when the exam commenced, only then did I fully grasp just how outclassed I truly was. The other candidates were effortlessly conjuring spells that I had never even glimpsed before. I couldn't help but wonder: did someone like me realistically stand a chance here? By some inexplicable act of divine intervention, I managed to scrape through and pass, although I confess I didn't feel the excitement or relief that normally accompanies such a victory."