Jade

  "I can't believe it's been three weeks since the integration mission, and those prisoners the Elders and Guar Knights captured still haven't confessed to knowing who Oz is!" Thornton's frustration was evident as his voice echoed down the path to the training field.

  "Maybe they have confessed," I replied, attempting to soothe his temper, "but if the villagers and kingdom residents don't know about the incident, then I'm sure they're keeping some secrets from us too."

  Thornton let out a bitter laugh. "But we were part of the mission! Shouldn't that mean we're informed of any new information? At the very least, we deserve that much."

  I sighed, trying to ease his paranoia. "It's not our mission anymore. I wouldn't dwell too much on it. The Elders and the King seem to have everything under control."

  He turned sharply, his eyes dark with disbelief. "Then why have we had extra security in the village for the past three weeks? Because everything is under control? The Elders are scared, Jade. They don't have any answers, and that's why they're keeping us in the dark."

  I stopped walking, planting my feet firmly on the ground. "Thornton, I'd rather not talk about this right now. We have a week until the PURE. This is an opportunity not many get. Let's focus on that and worry about Oz after."

  He clenched his fists and growled under his breath. "Whatever you say."

  As we entered the training area, Thornton slammed his gear onto the ground, the sound reverberating like a thunderclap, before stomping off to train alone. His frustration was palpable, but I knew better than to chase after him right now. I made my way to the rampaging river nearby, needing its calming presence to center myself.

  Taking a deep breath, I submerged myself in the roaring current. The icy water embraced me, pulling me downstream before I caught my concentration. Closing my eyes, I focused my mana, commanding the torrent to still around me. The water obeyed, forming a tranquil bubble in the middle of chaos. Standing firmly on the riverbed, I felt the power of the current hum against my skin. Drawing my bow, I notched an arrow, pulled back, and fired it into the air. It soared upward, then curved back toward me in a lethal arc.

  "Focus," I whispered to myself.

  Summoning my mana once more, I directed the rushing water upward, forming a spiraling barrier. The arrows collided with the torrent, each one deflected harmlessly into the river. A small smile tugged at my lips—a fleeting moment of pride.

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  "That was pretty cool," a voice said from the shore.

  Startled, I turned to see Cole and Lane watching me. They approached with relaxed smiles, though their presence brought a flicker of unease.

  "Oh, hey, guys. What brings you here?" I asked, climbing out of the river.

  "We were invited to the PURE next week," Cole said casually. "Figured we should get some training in."

  "Thornton and I are going too," I said, eager to shift the focus. "You two should train with us."

  Lane glanced at Cole before answering. "We could, but we'll train our way. You and Thornton focus on combat. Your mana control is okay, but there's a lot more to mana than just manipulating the elements."

  Cole nodded. "What you just did with the water? That's surface-level stuff. With practice, you can reshape objects, even change their nature temporarily. Watch."

  He motioned for me to shoot an arrow at him. Hesitant but curious, I obeyed. The arrow streaked through the air, but before it reached him, it transformed into a handful of pebbles, clattering harmlessly to the ground.

  "See? Mana isn't just about control," Cole explained. "It's about transformation."

  The pebbles shimmered and reverted into the arrow I had fired. Lane added, "Since you've got an affinity for water, you should be able to liquefy solid objects. Try it. Focus your mana on that arrow and imagine it as water."

  I stared at the arrow, channeling every ounce of concentration into the task. My breath hitched as a strange sensation washed over me. The world seemed to fade, my body growing tense. Then, everything went blank.

  When I came to, Lane and Cole were shouting. The arrow was gone, replaced by a towering white flame edged in purple. It danced between us, radiant yet unnervingly calm. Lane had pulled me back, her mana shield glowing as she stared at the flame in horror.

  "What the hell, Jade? Are you trying to kill us?" Cole yelled, his voice shaky.

  "I didn't mean to! I thought it would turn into water!" I protested.

  Thornton appeared, sprinting from his training area. "Is everything okay?"

  "Your sister's insane! She nearly roasted us alive!" Cole snapped.

  Before I could explain, Thornton charged at Cole, landing a punch that sent him sprawling to the ground. "Watch your mouth," Thornton growled.

  Cole stood, his fists hardening into stone. "You're as crazy as she is."

  Lane pulled me farther back, her mana shield thickening. "We need to stop them!" she said, panicking.

  Thornton and Cole circled each other, mana flaring around them like storm clouds. Cole's stone fist shot forward, but Thornton deflected it with his sword, the impact shaking the ground. Cole charged again, his strikes wild but powerful. Thornton moved with precision, dodging and countering, his sword turning to stone with every clash.

  "Jade, we need to intervene," Lane urged.

  "No. Thornton's using his training sword. He'll bruise Cole at worst. Besides, Cole's throwing real punches."

  The fight escalated. Cole encased himself in stone, launching forward on a pillar of earth. The ground trembled as he barreled toward Thornton, who braced himself. The collision sent a cloud of dust and debris into the air, obscuring them both.

  "THORNTON!" I screamed, my voice cracking with fear.