The next morning, the fire class was already lively by the time Ian walked in. Conversations floated around the large chamber, a blend of laughter, gossip, and bursts of flame from eager students practicing their control. Ian made his way to his seat, receiving a few glances along the way. He had already made quite the impression the previous day, and people had begun to notice.

Two familiar faces approached him...the same girls who had sat beside him before. The taller one, with flowing auburn hair and confident eyes, smiled as she stopped in front of him.

"I never actually told you my name yesterday," she said, tilting her head slightly. "I'm Eve."

Ian offered her a warm smile, "Eve, huh? I thought you just enjoyed keeping an air of mystery."

She laughed softly. "Maybe a little. It's fun watching people guess."

Her friend beside her rolled her eyes with a playful smirk. "And I'm Mira, by the way. Don't let this one fool you...she likes attention."

Eve gasped dramatically, nudging Mira's shoulder. "That's not true. I just like to talk to interesting people." Her gaze shifted back to Ian. "And you, new boy, seem very interesting."

Ian chuckled, brushing his hair back. "Interesting can mean a lot of things, you know. Hopefully the good kind."

"Hmm," Eve teased, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "We'll see."

As the class settled, Mistress Adira entered. The room quieted almost instantly. She carried herself with effortless grace, her black hair cascading over her shoulders, her presence commanding without even trying. Her voice, calm yet filled with authority, drew everyone's focus.

"Today," she began, "we'll continue where we left off...channeling fire mana into controlled bursts. I expect precision, not recklessness. Fire may be life, but in the wrong hands, it is destruction."

Ian's eyes followed her every motion. There was something magnetic about her...the confidence, the elegance, the way she spoke with such certainty. It wasn't infatuation, exactly, but admiration mixed with intrigue.

Eve leaned toward him, whispering just loud enough for him to hear. "You're staring at her like she's cast a spell on you."

Ian smirked faintly without turning his head. "Maybe she has."

Mira giggled quietly beside them, covering her mouth to keep from being noticed. "He's bold, I'll give him that."

"Quiet back there," Mistress Adira's voice rang suddenly, though her tone remained calm. "If you have time to whisper, you have time to focus."

Ian straightened immediately, his composure returning. Eve gave him a quick sideways grin, clearly enjoying the small exchange.

As the class continued into their practice session, Ian summoned his mana carefully. The orb of flame flickered into life above his palm...steady, controlled, and brighter than most around him. Adira noticed.

Her sharp eyes met his for a fleeting moment. A spark of approval lit within them before she looked away and addressed the class as a whole.

Eve leaned closer once more. "You're not bad, Ian. Maybe you'll even beat me someday."

He smiled, eyes still fixed on the flame. "Someday might come sooner than you think."

The class moved deeper into its exercises, the heat of the chamber thick with magic and concentration. Flames shimmered in various forms...some bright and controlled, others wild and unstable. Mistress Adira's calm but piercing voice guided them as she moved through the rows of students, correcting mistakes with quiet precision.

Ian worked steadily, his focus unwavering. He was adjusting the temperature and flow of his flame when he noticed his new friend nearby struggling to maintain balance in his control. The flame in the Arlene's palm sputtered weakly before dying out altogether, leaving behind a puff of smoke and a sigh of frustration.

"Hey," he whispered just loud enough for Arlen to hear. "You're forcing the energy too quickly through your palm. You're trying to control the shape before you even stabilize the core."

Arlen blinked, surprised. "The core?"

Ian nodded. "Yeah. Think of it like breathing. You don't start by running; you start by finding your rhythm. Breathe in the mana first, feel it settle, then push it gently into form. Don't try to shape it too early. Let it obey you, not the other way around."

Arlen followed his advice, inhaling deeply, his focus narrowing. Slowly, the mana in his palm glowed red, small at first but stable this time. A flicker of flame appeared, and for once, it held steady. His eyes widened in disbelief before turning to Ian with a grin of genuine gratitude.

"Thank you," he whispered. "I didn't think it would actually work."

Ian smiled faintly. "You're doing the hard part yourself. I just nudged you in the right direction."

Eve had been watching the small exchange, her lips curving into an amused smirk. "So, the new guy's not just good-looking but also generous. Who would've guessed?"

Ian raised an eyebrow at her teasing tone. "What? You expected me to be arrogant?"

She leaned closer, pretending to think. "Maybe just a little. It's usually the talented ones who act like they're too good to help others."

"Well, I'm flattered to prove you wrong," Ian replied, returning his attention to his own flame.

The rest of the class continued until Mistress Adira called for a close. "Good progress today," she said, her eyes scanning the group. "Some of you have learned to control your mana more efficiently. Remember, control is everything. Fire respects those who respect its nature."

As the students began to pack up, Eve turned to Ian again, that mischievous glint lighting her eyes. "You know, for someone who just joined, you've been doing awfully well. How about we test those skills properly?"

Ian looked at her suspiciously. "Test them? How?"

She crossed her arms, stepping closer. "A duel...At the training grounds."

The few students nearby perked up immediately, and before Ian could even respond, someone had already called out, "A duel? Between Eve and the new guy?"

Another student joined in, and soon the words echoed around the room. "Duel! Duel! Duel!"

Ian held up his hands, trying to calm them down. "Alright, hold on, let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'm not fighting anyone. I just got here."

The students booed in playful disappointment, and Eve tilted her head, giving him a look that was half challenge, half amusement. "So, you're turning down a duel with me? Maybe you're afraid you'll lose."

Ian gave her a patient smile. "I just think there's no need for unnecessary showmanship. We're here to learn, not to..."

Someone from the back interrupted loudly, laughing. "He's just scared! Can't blame him though, Eve's probably stronger than he looks!"

The laughter rippled through the crowd. "Come on, new boy! Don't tell us you're afraid of a girl!" another added, taunting him.

Ian's smile faded, replaced by something more serious. His eyes lifted to meet Eve's, and though she didn't say it aloud, her teasing expression said everything.

He exhaled slowly, then stood up. "Fine," he said, his voice calm but resolute. "At the training grounds."

The room erupted in cheers, students clapping and chanting again. Eve smirked, obviously satisfied, while Mistress Adira, who had overheard the commotion, gave a faint shake of her head but said nothing.

The duel was set.

As the class dispersed and students began flooding out into the corridors, Ian stayed behind for a moment, collecting his things slowly. The room buzzed with whispers about the upcoming duel. Some were already placing bets, while others simply wanted to witness the spectacle. Ian didn't seem to care much, but as he stepped into the hallway, Arlen rushed up beside him, his expression tense and uneasy.

"Ian," Arlen began, slightly out of breath. "Hey, wait up!"

Ian turned, slinging his satchel over his shoulder. "What's wrong?"

Arlen glanced around before lowering his voice. "It's about the duel… you really shouldn't take Eve lightly. I'm serious."

Ian raised an eyebrow, half amused. "She isn't a dragon...is she?"

Arlen shook his head quickly. "I'm not joking, Ian. Eve's no ordinary student. She hasn't lost a single duel since she joined the academy. She's had six so far..won four, and the other two ended in draws. Even Mistress Adira once said her control over the fire element is frightening for her age."

That caught Ian's attention. "Four wins and two draws?" he repeated, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "That's impressive."

"Impressive?" Arlen hissed. "It's terrifying! She's fierce in duel, Ian. I've seen her knock people out cold with a single burst of flame. And the thing is...she doesn't hold back just because it's a friendly match."

Ian chuckled lightly, which only made Arlen frown deeper. "You're laughing?" Arlen said incredulously. "You could get seriously hurt. I'm telling you, she'll come at you like you insulted her ancestors."

Ian stopped walking and turned to face him properly. "Arlen, I appreciate the concern," he said with a calm grin. "Really, I do. But trust me, I've been in tougher spots. If she's as good as you say, then this should be interesting."

"Interesting?" Arlen almost groaned. "You don't get it. Everyone here knows how strong she is. She's practically the pride of this class. People come to watch her fight just because she makes it look easy. If you lose, they'll never let you live it down."

Ian shrugged. "Then I'll just have to make sure I don't lose, won't I?"

Arlen blinked at him, both amazed and frustrated at Ian's composure. "You really don't get nervous, do you?"

Ian gave a small, crooked smile. "Maybe I do. But not enough to show it."

Arlen sighed, realizing there was no convincing him. "Fine. Just… don't let her get too close. When she fights, she likes to distract her opponents with movement, then strike from an angle they don't expect. Her flames aren't her only weapon. She's quick."

Ian nodded, absorbing the advice. "Got it. I'll keep that in mind."

As they exited the hallway, a small group of students whispered excitedly nearby, clearly talking about the duel again. One of them noticed Ian and called out, "Hey! Hope you're ready for the firestorm, new guy!"

Ian just smirked and kept walking. Arlen followed beside him, still worried.

"You're not seriously confident about this, are you?" Arlen asked again, lowering his voice.

Ian gave a short laugh. "No," he said with a calm tone. "But I'm curious. Let's see what she's got."

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