The prospect of competing in the team division excited Beatrice and Eric. While individual matches depended on personal skill and some uncontrollable factors, the siblings still placed their hopes on the team battles.
"Kid, you're just an apprentice. We don't expect you to take anyone down," Beatrice said dismissively. "Since it's best-of-three, Eric and I can handle it." In her eyes, Thunder was just there to fill the roster. To his dismay, Eric nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Beatrice!" Professor Maria shot her a disapproving look before turning to Thunder. "Don't take it to heart. She's always like this."
Thunder nodded. *At least the professor is kind.*
"You two, go practice your spells. If you drain your mana, meditate!" Maria instructed. The siblings obeyed.
"Thunder, come here." Maria beckoned him closer. "Did they test your mana reserves when you enrolled?"
"Yeah, they did."
"Did they tell you the results?"
"They said… it reached intermediate mage level?" Thunder replied.
The siblings, still buzzing about the tournament, suddenly whipped their heads around, their eyes locking onto Thunder like leeches.
"What level?" Even Maria's beautiful eyes widened in surprise.
"Intermediate mage," Thunder repeated, shrinking slightly under their stares.
"No way!" Beatrice darted forward, craning her neck to glare up at him.
"That's what they said."
"Eric!" Beatrice barked without looking away.
"Your wish is my command, O mighty mage!" Eric bowed theatrically.
"Get a mana crystal!"
Eric vanished in a blur and reappeared, clutching a glowing crystal orb.
Under the stunned gazes of the entire Lightning Magic class, the orb emitted a soft white light.
**"He really has an intermediate mage's mana reserves!"** Beatrice gaped at the sight. Suddenly, the apprentice she'd dismissed moments ago seemed towering in her eyes.
Eric reacted swiftly, snatching the orb back.
"What are you doing?" Beatrice snapped, her mood souring further. Seeing the perverted idiot possess such strength left her inexplicably frustrated.
"Shh!" Eric pressed a finger to his lips. **"Don't say anything! Imagine everyone's faces when Thunder shocks them during the tournament!"**
"Shock my *ass*!" Beatrice rolled her eyes. "If he's already an intermediate mage, why would he even compete?"
"Right!" Eric blinked. "Wait, if you're an intermediate mage, why enroll at all?"
The academy only trained students up to the intermediate level. Beyond that, graduates sought personal mentors.
"Because… I can't cast spells," Thunder admitted, spreading his hands.
Beatrice rubbed her temples, raising a threatening palm. **"Say that again."**
"Violence is bad!" Thunder side-eyed her. "But it's true. I don't know any magic."
"Then how do you have an intermediate mage's mana?" Maria asked, voicing everyone's confusion.
"Well… I admired mages, so I tried meditating. Somehow, I sensed elemental fluctuations. Then, somehow, my body stored mana. And then, somehow, I ended up like this." Thunder spun the tale with a straight face.
*Somehow?!* Beatrice felt her breath hitch. Did he think communing with magic elements was child's play?
"Has no one ever taught you before?" Maria asked gently.
Thunder shook his head. "I figured it all out myself."
"Brother!" Eric latched onto Thunder's arm. **"Teach me your meditation techniques!"**
"Ugh, have some dignity!" Beatrice yanked Eric away by the ear—though her eyes betrayed her own curiosity.
"Alright. Thunder, today we'll start with basic lightning spells. We'll discuss meditation tomorrow." Maria couldn't hide her anticipation. A student with intermediate-level mana who couldn't cast spells? This was unprecedented.
Eric and Beatrice abandoned their practice, crowding around to watch.
"Lightning magic has two basics: **Falling Thunder** and **Palm Lightning**," Maria explained. "Beatrice was practicing Falling Thunder earlier. Palm Lightning looks like this."
She extended her slender hand, and a jagged bolt shot from her palm like a striking serpent.
"Falling Thunder targets distant enemies, while Palm Lightning is for close combat. Since you already have mana, you should sense elemental fluctuations. Use your internal mana as a guide, gather the surrounding elements into a flow, and once you're familiar with the sensation, you can cast the spell. Watch closely."
Maria demonstrated slowly, emphasizing the process of channeling mana and drawing in external elements.
**"Mighty thunder spirits, by the ancient covenant, unleash your destructive power—Falling Thunder!"**
A bolt crashed down, its force rivaling even Thunder's Five Lights Divine Lightning talisman.
Mimicking Maria's movements, Thunder chanted the incantation, channeling his mana and reaching for the elements.
Nothing happened.
"That's normal. Keep practicing," Maria reassured him, gently correcting his awkward finger positioning. "This flourish is just my habit. You don't need to copy it."
*Oh.* Thunder flushed. He'd wondered why casting required such a pose.
After hours of practice, Thunder still couldn't produce a single spark. Initially, the siblings watched eagerly, but they eventually lost interest and wandered off.
Something felt *off*. Thunder could mobilize his internal mana, but the moment it connected with external elements, the link snapped. It was like success was within reach—only to be severed by some invisible force.
*What's going wrong?*
**Will Thunder unlock his magic—or is there a deeper reason for his failure?**