The second day began without rest.
No bells.
No announcements.
No peace.
The academy was already awake.
Students trained before sunrise, their bodies exhausted but their minds unwilling to stop. The fear of what was coming in just two days pushed them beyond their limits.
"Again!"
"Don't stop!"
"Put everything into it!"
Magic clashed across the training fields as instructors forced every student to improve—fast.
But no matter how hard they trained…
There was still a gap.
A massive, terrifying gap.
Zareth Voidragon stood silently, observing everything.
"…They've improved," Lyra said beside him.
Zareth nodded slightly.
"…But not enough."
Lyra clenched her fists.
"…Then what do we do? At this rate—"
"They die," Zareth said calmly.
The words cut through the air.
Lyra glared at him.
"…You really don't sugarcoat anything, do you?"
Zareth didn't respond.
Because to him—
There was no point.
At the center of the field—
Kael Draven stood once again, his body covered in minor burns and bruises.
But his eyes—
They had changed.
"…Control…"
Zareth's words echoed in his mind.
"Power isn't about how much you release… it's about how much you can hold back."
Kael took a deep breath.
He raised his hand.
Flames appeared—
But this time—
They didn't explode.
They stayed.
Stable.
Controlled.
"…So this is what he meant…"
The fire around him became smaller.
But denser.
More dangerous.
An instructor attacked.
Kael responded instantly.
A single slash—
The attack was destroyed completely.
Clean.
Precise.
The instructor stepped back, surprised.
"…That's… different."
Kael lowered his hand slowly.
"…I get it now."
From a distance—
Zareth watched.
"…He's learning."
Lyra crossed her arms.
"…Faster than I expected."
Zareth turned slightly.
"…Pressure creates growth."
Elsewhere—
In a secluded part of the academy—
Lyra stood alone.
Her hands trembled slightly.
"…I need to get stronger."
She raised her hand.
Ice magic formed instantly—
But it cracked.
Unstable.
"…Damn it…"
She remembered Zareth's power.
That overwhelming presence.
That absolute control.
"…How can anyone reach that level…?"
A voice answered from behind.
"You don't."
Lyra turned.
Zareth stood there.
"…Then why are you here?" she asked.
Zareth walked closer.
"…Because you're trying the wrong way."
Lyra frowned.
"…Then show me the right way."
A brief silence followed.
Then—
Zareth raised his hand.
"…Watch carefully."
A small sphere of energy appeared in his palm.
It was calm.
Still.
But the space around it—
Distorted.
"…This is controlled power," Zareth said.
He tightened his grip slightly—
The sphere shrank.
But its presence—
Increased.
"…Compression," he explained.
Lyra's eyes widened.
"…You're not increasing power…"
Zareth nodded.
"…You're refining it."
He released the sphere.
It vanished instantly.
"…Try."
Lyra hesitated—
Then raised her hand again.
Ice formed.
But this time—
She focused.
Not on making it bigger—
But smaller.
Denser.
The ice stopped shaking.
It stabilized.
"…I did it…"
Zareth nodded once.
"…Good."
For the first time—
A small smile appeared on Lyra's face.
Meanwhile—
Inside the academy's core—
Valthor monitored everything.
"…They're improving faster than expected…"
But his expression remained serious.
"…Still not enough."
A sudden pulse interrupted him.
"…What?"
A crack appeared in the barrier.
Small.
But real.
Valthor's eyes widened.
"…Already?"
Far away—
The five traitors stood together.
One of them lowered his hand slowly.
"…Testing the barrier."
Another smirked.
"…It won't last."
The leader stepped forward.
"…One day left."
Dark energy surged violently.
"…Prepare."
Back at the academy—
Zareth looked toward the horizon.
His expression turned serious.
"…They've started."
Lyra felt it too.
A faint tremor in the air.
"…The barrier…"
Zareth nodded.
"…It won't hold."
Silence fell.
The reality of the situation became clear.
No matter how much they trained—
This fight…
Could not be avoided.
Zareth turned away.
"…Rest while you can."
Lyra frowned.
"…Rest? Now?"
Zareth glanced at her.
"…Tomorrow…"
A pause.
"…Everything changes."
The wind grew colder.
The sky darkened slightly.
And across the academy—
A single thought echoed in every mind.
One day left.