The rest of the morning passed in an almost surreal blur for Elias. He couldn't stop thinking about what Rael had said. Magic. Ancient power. The feeling of something alive inside him, stretching and shifting, as if waking up from a long slumber.
And Rael. Always Rael, with that lazy smirk of his, the way he seemed to fill every space they were in, commanding it without effort.
"You're not the only one with magic, y'know," Rael had said as they made their way to the training room — Rael's hand casually brushing Elias's arm, his touch leaving trails of heat on his skin. "But mine... mine's not nearly as innocent as yours."
"Is that supposed to be comforting?" Elias asked, even though a part of him shivered at the implication.
Rael's grin deepened. "Depends on how you look at it."
They reached a large, sunlit room deep in the bowels of the Academy. It was empty except for a few sparsely placed wooden training dummies, which looked harmless enough. But Elias could already feel the air shifting, thickening, vibrating with magic. Rael was right. He could feel it too now, this overwhelming presence.
"You're going to learn control," Rael said, turning to face him, his eyes gleaming with that hungry, dangerous edge. "Because if you don't, that magic inside you will consume you."
"Control," Elias echoed, swallowing. His throat felt dry.
"Let me show you." Rael's voice dropped to a low murmur as he stepped forward, his body impossibly close, towering over Elias's smaller frame. The air between them seemed to crackle with anticipation.
"First, focus on me," Rael said, hands gently cupping Elias's face, forcing his attention upward. His fingers burned against Elias's skin, sending shivers down his spine. "I know it's hard — your body's probably still trying to adjust to all this new energy inside you. But you need to ground yourself."
Elias nodded, his pulse racing.
Rael's thumb traced the line of his jaw. "Close your eyes. Breathe in deep."
Elias obeyed, heart pounding, magic stirring inside him like a restless animal.
Rael's voice was a soft command, coaxing him. "Feel the magic, feel me, Elias. Let it guide you."
Elias's breath caught. He could feel it, that pulsing hum in the air around him, something just out of reach, like a part of him that had been missing. It was Rael's magic — swirling, wrapping around him, pulling him in.
It called to him.
"You see?" Rael murmured, his voice now a deep, seductive whisper. "That's your magic. And mine. We're tied together now. It's not just about you being powerful — it's about us being connected. Feeling each other's energy. Learning how to control it."
Elias's chest tightened. "And if I can't control it?"
Rael's expression darkened, his hands tightening around Elias's arms, the pressure comforting, yet possessive. "Then I'll help you, Elias. I'll make sure you learn." His tone was more serious now, a silent promise that Elias wasn't sure whether to be terrified or... excited about.
Suddenly, Rael stepped away, creating distance, his energy still swirling in the air like a storm, crackling with raw power.
"Now," he said, a dangerous glint in his eyes, "I want you to summon it."
Elias blinked. "What?"
"Focus on the magic. Bring it to the surface," Rael ordered. "Summon it, like a part of you. You've felt it before, right? The pressure inside? The heat? This is your chance to control it."
Elias took a deep breath, closing his eyes once more, trying to tune everything else out. He could feel it. That primal pull in his chest, urging him to let it out. Magic surged through him like liquid fire, but he wasn't ready. It felt... too much. Too fast.
Rael must have noticed, because he stepped back in, wrapping a large hand around Elias's wrist, holding him steady.
"Relax," he said softly. "Feel it. Guide it. Don't force it."
The sensation of Rael's hand around him, the warmth of his touch grounding him, sent an unexpected wave of calm through him. Elias focused, his mind pulling the magic in. Slowly, the crackling pressure inside him began to dissipate, redirected, controlled.
Rael grinned. "Good. Very good."
Elias blinked in surprise. It had worked. The magic had... responded to him.
"Now," Rael said, voice dipping low, "I want you to keep going. Let it flow through you, feel it." He reached down, brushing his lips against Elias's ear, and the heat surged all over again, swirling deep inside him, threatening to spill over.
Elias gasped, trying to concentrate, but Rael's proximity was... intoxicating. His warmth. His scent. His presence.
"Focus," Rael whispered. "I'm right here. You don't need to be afraid. Let go, Elias. Let me help you."
The final words melted into Elias like molten heat, and with a gasp, his magic flared — wild, untamed, powerful.
Rael's smile deepened, pleased. "You're perfect. Just like I knew you would be."
Elias stood there, trembling, drenched in sweat, heart racing. The magic inside him felt stronger now, a force he could no longer deny. And Rael... Rael was there, his touch still lingering on his skin, a silent promise of everything that was yet to come.