Adrian exhaled slowly, steadying his thoughts as he surveyed the copper coins on the desk. His fingers brushed the quartz shard, its rough surface cool beneath his touch.

  Quartz into glass… He sifted through fragments of memory from the lectures, his mind racing to piece them together. I uh, probably was too sleepy before. I'll just have to rely on what I know to complete this task.

  Adrian sifted through his fragmented knowledge of magic, the pieces falling into place like fragments of a shattered mirror. Transmutation thrived on equilibrium, balance. Always balance.

  Copper, a reliable catalyst, meant energy transfer. The iron filings? They amplified conductivity, a necessary conduit. His thoughts sharpened, the puzzle clicking together in his mind.

  He grabbed his quill, the scratch of its tip on paper barely audible over the rush of his thoughts. A quick diagram emerged on the corner of his notebook. He could see it in his mind's eye: the copper’s latent energy coursing through the iron filings, grounding and stabilizing the transformation of the quartz shard. Each step felt precarious, like walking a tightrope over an unseen abyss.

  Next to him, Alisha tapped her quill against her notebook in an irregular rhythm. “Any idea where to start?”

  Adrian didn’t look up. “Start with the energy flow, copper’s the key.”

  She hesitated, doubt flickering in her eyes, but eventually nodded and turned back to her materials. Adrian paid her no mind. His thoughts churned. This has to work. If I miscalculate…

  He rolled the copper coin between his fingers, its surface cool and familiar against his skin. His gaze locked on it, sharpening as his mind dissected the process. The energy needed to escape in controlled bursts. Too fast, and the quartz would shatter. Too slow, and the transformation would falter, energy dissipating into wasted potential.

  Placing the coin on the desk, Adrian aligned it carefully. He sprinkled a fine line of iron filings around the quartz shard, the grains catching the faint light and glittering like tiny, inert stars. No room for error now.

  Adrian exhaled slowly and extended his hand over the array, his palm trembling faintly as he summoned his bluish flames. The flickering light wreathed his fingers, its faint warmth both comforting and unnerving. As the energy hummed to life, he directed it toward the coin. Threads of energy wove through the filings, light dancing along their metallic surfaces. A faint vibration rippled through the circle, resonating with the shard at its center.

  The quartz started to glow, a dim ember kindling within its jagged form. Its edges softened under the growing heat, the transformation taking hold. Adrian’s heart pounded, each beat syncing with the rhythmic pulse of energy flowing through his hand. Steady. Not too much. Keep it stable. The world around him faded into the background, his focus narrowing to the faint shimmer of light and the growing clarity within the quartz.

  As the glow intensified, the shard’s opaque surface smoothed, its core shifting toward perfect transparency. The light grew brighter, almost blinding, as Adrian adjusted the flow with surgical precision. His teeth clenched, a bead of sweat trailing down his temple. Almost there. Just a little more.

  Finally, the quartz shifted, the last remnants of its roughness melting away. It now rested as a flawless piece of glass, clear as water and glistening with an almost ethereal light. Adrian released the energy, his body sagging slightly as the bluish flames flickered out. The light dimmed, leaving the glass pristine and motionless on the desk.

  A soft gasp broke the silence. “Adrian,” Alisha whispered, “you actually did it.”

  The professor’s heels clicked sharply against the stone floor as she approached. Professor Hale’s green eyes narrowed slightly, appraising the glass as she held it upto the light. “Excellent work, it seems Adrian has demonstrated a flawless transmutation.”

  Several murmurs swept through the room. Some students glanced at Adrian with surprise; others scowled, their expressions tinged with envy. He straightened in his seat as a faint smile tugged at his lips. Glad to know that

  Professor Hale placed the glass back on his desk with a measured nod. “Your control over the energy flow was precise, and your application of the principles was exemplary. Class, take note, this is the standard I expect.”

  Adrian ducked his head slightly, his cheeks warming under the sudden wave of attention. “Guess being sleepy isn't quite enough to make you fail a class." Alisha murmured, leaning over with a grin.

  "It'll take a lot more than that for me to completely flub a class." Adrian said with a chuckle.

  ***

  Adrian stepped out of the classroom, the heavy oak door creaking shut behind him. Beside him, Alisha adjusted the strap of her bag, her fingers toying with the frayed edges. “Well, that class was relatively underwhelming. Thought it’d be more... I don’t know, exciting?”

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  "I mean, we did get a decently challenging practical at the end of the class."

  "Yes, one that you managed to solve while barely paying attention for most of the class."

  Adrian snorted, his hands buried deep in his pockets. “I'd say that's more indicative of my skills than the class itself."

  Alisha exhaled an amused sigh. "Perhaps, perhaps."

  They strolled along the academy’s winding path, their footsteps soft against the cobblestone. The sprawling grounds stretched before them, vast and serene. Faint laughter drifted from clusters gathered near the courtyard, mingling with the rustling leaves swaying in the gentle breeze.

  Alisha glanced at the manicured gardens as they passed, her gaze resting on the fountain ahead. “You ever notice how... peaceful this place can feel?”

  Adrian’s eyes followed hers, settling on the fountain’s gentle ripples. The soft trickle of water echoed faintly, soothing in its constancy. “Yeah,” he said quietly. Funny how a place like this can pretend to be calm when there's so much going on beneath the surface.

  Their conversation meandered, shifting to upcoming assignments and whispers of yet another surprise assessment. Adrian rolled his eyes at the thought, but before he could voice his complaint, Alisha slowed her steps. “Adrian, look over there.”

  He followed her gaze, and his stomach tightened. By the edge of the courtyard, half-hidden in the deepening shadows, a group of boys loomed in a loose circle. Their postures radiated menace, their mocking laughter carrying on the cool breeze.

  In the center of the group, a smaller figure hunched forward, clutching a battered notebook to his chest as though it might shield him. The faint light from a nearby lantern caught his trembling hands and the unmistakable tension in his posture.

  Adrian’s breath hitched. Curties? Seems like he's being as arrogant as ever… and he's bullying Remus?

  The boy's pulse quickened as he stared at the unfolding scene. The mocking laughter of Curties and his gang grated against his ears, their jeers and taunts carrying a cruel edge. Remus shrank further into himself as he clutched the torn notebook like it was the only thing holding him together.

  Alisha tugged on Adrian’s sleeve. “We have to do something. Now.”

  “I don't know… Remus isn’t the type to accept help, Alisha. He’s stubborn, and he’ll just say I’m meddling.” Adrian said. Besides, I'm not exactly the most excited to help Remus of all people.

  Alisha’s violet eyes flashed with frustration. “So what? You’re just going to let them treat him like this? Whether he wants help or not doesn’t matter. It’s about doing what’s right. If you won’t step in, I will.”

  Adrian’s hand shot out, catching Alisha’s wrist with gentle firmness. “Alright, alright, I’ll handle it,” he said, his voice low but steady. I can’t let her get caught up in this mess.

  Alisha huffed, blowing a stray strand of hair from her face as she stepped back. Her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her frown laced with reluctant trust. “You’d better,” she muttered.

  Adrian squared his shoulders and strode toward the group, his steps deliberate, each one echoing softly off the courtyard stones. The evening air felt heavier now, as if the tension from the looming confrontation pressed against his chest.

  “Aw, what’s wrong, Remus?” Curties jeered, leaning closer to the smaller boy. “Did nobody teach you how to stand up for yourself?”

  His gang roared with laughter, their voices sharp and cruel. Adrian’s fists clenched at his sides, but his voice was calm and firm as it rang out. “Leave him alone, Curties.”

  The group of bullies froze, their mocking laughter stuttering to silence as they turned to face him. Recognition dawned in Curties’ eyes, his smirk faltering for a heartbeat before sliding back into place, sharper and more condescending.

  “Well, well,” Curties drawled, straightening his posture. “If it isn’t Adrian. Come to play the hero, huh?”

  Adrian stopped a few paces away, his arms loose at his sides. “I’m just here to remind you that bullying doesn’t make you strong. It just makes you a coward with an audience.”

  Curties barked a laugh, the sound harsh and grating. “Oh, listen to this guy! Always with the little speeches. Do you rehearse those, or are you naturally this annoying?”

  Behind Curties, Remus shifted uncomfortably. His face flushed, and his grip tightened on the tattered notebook he clutched like a lifeline.“I… I don’t need your help, Adrian. I can handle this.”

  Adrian’s gaze flicked to the younger boy. As much as I don't like Remus, I can't help but feel sorry for him. His brother is well… dead, and I remember Lysander telling me that Remus's father isn't exactly too fond of him. Maybe if I help him out this once, I could turn him around.

  “Handle this?” Curties mimicked, his laughter booming. “You hear that, boys? He can ‘handle this!’” His accomplices soon dissolved into jeers, the sound bouncing off the courtyard walls like a twisted chorus.

  Adrian’s jaw tightened, his eyes locking on Curties. Every fiber of him wanted to wipe that smirk off the boy’s face, but he forced himself to keep his voice calm. “Leave him alone, Curties."

  “What’s wrong, Adrian? Lost your nerve? Or are you finally realizing this isn’t your fight?”

  “No, I’m realizing that picking on someone smaller than you is the best you’ve got. You think that makes you impressive?”

  Curties’ smirk faltered, his features twisting into something harder, darker. “Careful, Adrian. You don’t want to make this personal.”

  Adrian crossed his arms, his stance unwavering. “It’s already personal."

  Curties tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as though weighing Adrian’s words. Then, his lips curled back into a sneer. “You’re awfully confident for someone who got bailed out by Princess Zuri last time. How about we settle this properly? A mage duel. You against me.”

  The air thickened, the gang falling silent. Even Alisha, standing at a distance, held her breath. Adrian felt the weight of Curties’ words settle like a stone in his gut. If I back down now, I'm never going to hear the end of it. Also, I do want to put a brat like him in his place.

  Adrian straightened, his gaze meeting Curties’ without hesitation. “Fine. Name the time and place.”