Akari’s father quickly realized that sending her to Gale Haven Academy wasn’t an option—at least not for a few more years. Students weren’t allowed to enroll until they turned fourteen, and Akari had only just discovered her powers. Until then, she would have to train independently, learning to control the incredible force that had already revealed itself.

Her mother, a water mage, stepped in immediately. Though her magic differed from Akari’s, the principles of control and focus were the same. Her mother often reminded her that magic wasn’t just about power—it was about balance. Fire, especially, could quickly spiral out of control if it wasn’t tamed, and that was something Akari would need to master before she could even consider enrolling at Gale Haven.

The manor’s library became her sanctuary. Dusty tomes lined the shelves, filled with ancient knowledge about fire magic, elemental control, and the history of magic itself. Her mother carefully selected books to help Akari begin her journey, often sitting beside her as they studied the fundamentals together.

“The key is focus,” her mother would say during their training sessions. “Fire is wild, but it responds to intent. You must be calm inside, no matter how strong the flames are.”

But controlling fire wasn’t easy, especially for someone with Akari’s raw power. Small flames would often flicker too bright, too fast, and sometimes she could feel the same overwhelming heat surging through her, threatening to explode like it had the day she faced the wolf.

Her mother, with the steady hand of a seasoned mage, helped her through those moments. She guided Akari, teaching her breathing techniques to calm her mind and showing her how to ground herself before attempting any magic.

At first, the lessons were frustrating. Akari wanted results—she wanted to master fire and be strong and independent like the mage she knew she was destined to be. But with time, she realized that controlling her magic was as much about patience as it was about skill.

And so, in the quiet of the manor, surrounded by her mother’s gentle guidance and the wisdom of ancient texts, Akari’s training began. Each day brought her closer to mastering the flames within her, but she knew her real test would come when she finally stepped through the gates of Gale Haven Academy.

At long last, the day had come. Akari stood at the towering gates of Gale Haven Academy, the grand school where the most promising young mages from noble families across the land came to hone their abilities. Four years of waiting, studying, and training with her mother had led to this moment, and now she was ready to step into the next chapter of her life.

Her father had insisted on riding with her to the academy, though he’d kept a respectful distance as she dismounted the carriage. Her mother, though proud of Akari’s progress with her fire magic, had chosen to remain behind at the manor, knowing that this was Akari’s journey to take on her own.

The academy itself was magnificent. Towering spires pierced the sky, and vast, open courtyards buzzed with the energy of students practicing their elemental magic. Some were manipulating water with graceful ease, while others worked with wind, earth, and lightning. Akari could sense the different flows of mana in the air, each unique to the element it belonged to.

But she was here for one purpose—to become the strongest fire mage the world had ever seen. The fire still roared within her, more controlled now but no less powerful. The years of studying from books and training under her mother’s watchful eye had tempered her abilities, but she knew this was where she’d truly be tested.

As Akari stood among the other first-year students, waiting for the entrance exams to begin, she couldn’t help but feel the simmering excitement under the surface. Gale Haven Academy prided itself on challenging even the most gifted students, and the entrance exams were the first chance for each mage to demonstrate their potential. For Akari, it would be her first real opportunity to reveal the power she had been hiding for years.

Akari stood before the examiners, her heart steady as they explained the task. It sounded simple enough: each student had to demonstrate their ability by hitting a target with their chosen element. The targets were placed a reasonable distance away, backed by a sturdy stone wall that had seen many years of magical testing. It seemed like a reasonable challenge, and Akari was determined to keep her display as controlled as possible.

The other students went before her, each casting their spells with varying degrees of success. Some hit the target cleanly, while others missed, or their spells barely left a mark. Akari observed carefully, mentally preparing herself for her turn. She didn’t want to show too much—not yet. She planned to release only a tiny amount of her power, just enough to hit the target and move on.

Finally, her name was called.

She stepped forward, her gaze locking on the distant target. It was a simple wooden structure painted with a red bullseye. Akari took a deep breath, extending her hand, feeling the fire stir within her. She gathered only a tiny fraction of her magic, enough to send a fireball toward the target—nothing too dramatic, nothing that would draw too much attention.

With a flick of her wrist, she released the spell.

But instead of the small, controlled flame she intended, an enormous fireball shot from her hand, roaring through the air with incredible speed. It slammed into the target, obliterating it instantly. The wooden structure exploded in a shower of ash and splinters, and the fire didn’t stop there. The blast tore through the stone wall behind the target, reducing it to rubble in seconds.

The onlookers gasped as the flames surged forward, carving a blackened path through the forest beyond the wall. Trees were scorched, the ground charred in a straight line as far as anyone could see. The entire field was engulfed in stunned silence as the extent of the destruction became clear.

Akari’s eyes widened in shock. That wasn’t what she had meant to do. She had barely tapped into her power, yet the result was beyond anything she’d imagined. The fire within her was far more substantial than she had anticipated, and it had erupted with a force she couldn’t yet fully control.

The examiners stared in disbelief, their expressions a mix of awe and fear. One of them slowly stood, his voice trembling as he addressed her.

“Akari of House Maylor… You… you’ve passed.”

The other students were equally stunned, whispering amongst themselves. Some looked at her with admiration, while others seemed wary, clearly shaken by the sheer force of her magic.

Akari lowered her hand, her heart still racing. She hadn’t meant to destroy the wall, nor the forest beyond it. But now, everyone knew the truth: her magic was beyond powerful, and no matter how much she tried to hide it, there was no going back.

The meeting room was filled with a heavy silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of parchment or the quiet murmur of disbelief from the examiners and teachers gathered there. They were all still reeling from what they had witnessed during Akari's entrance exam—the sheer force of her fire magic, the obliterated target, the stone wall reduced to rubble, and the charred forest beyond.

One of the examiners, an older mage with decades of experience, shook his head in disbelief. "I’ve never seen anything like it. The girl barely seemed to exert any effort, and yet… that fireball was stronger than anything I’ve seen from even our most advanced students."

"Stronger than anything our masters can produce," corrected another, a younger instructor who had specialized in fire magic himself. He looked pale, still trying to comprehend the display of raw power. "And she didn’t even chant an incantation. It was instinctual. Controlled, but… how can someone so young wield such destructive magic so effortlessly?"

The principal, a stern woman with sharp eyes and a commanding presence, sat silently at the head of the table. Her hands were clasped together, her expression unreadable. During her time at Gale Haven, she had witnessed countless entrance exams, but nothing like this.

"Akari of House Maylor..." she said slowly, her voice carrying the weight of her thoughts. "The question is, can she control it?"

"She must be able to," one of the teachers insisted. "She didn’t just incinerate the target—she blasted through the reinforced stone. That’s not just power; it’s a complete disregard for collateral damage. What happens if she loses control?"

Another examiner spoke up, a cautious tone in his voice. "Perhaps she doesn’t even know how powerful she is. We should speak with her. Immediately."

The principal nodded, standing from her chair. "Agreed. Summon her at once. We need to understand the full extent of what we’re dealing with."

A short while later, Akari sat nervously in the principal’s office, her hands fidgeting in her lap. She knew why she was here. The destruction she had caused during the entrance exam had been beyond anything she intended, and now she found herself facing the consequences.

The principal sat across from her, and the examiners and teachers gathered around. They all stared at her, a mixture of awe, concern, and curiosity in their eyes.

"Akari," the principal began, her voice firm but not unkind. "Do you understand the magnitude of what happened during your exam?"

Akari’s heart pounded in her chest. She lowered her gaze, feeling a knot of guilt tighten in her stomach. "Yes, Principal," she said softly, her voice filled with regret. "I’m really sorry for all the trouble I caused. I didn’t mean for that to happen… I was trying to hold back as much as I could."

Her words caused a ripple of shock to pass through the room. The teachers and examiners exchanged stunned glances, whispering among themselves.

"You were… holding back?" one of the examiners repeated, incredulity in his voice.

Akari nodded, biting her lip. "Yes. I didn’t want to use too much power. I just wanted to hit the target… but the fire is always so strong, even when I try to use only a little. It’s hard to control sometimes."

The room fell silent again, the weight of her words sinking in. The principal studied her closely, her sharp eyes narrowing. "You mean to say that the fireball you cast, the one that obliterated the target, the stone wall, and half the forest… was a fraction of your full strength?"

Akari swallowed hard, nodding once more. "Yes. I’m really sorry. I’ve been trying to control it, but no matter how much I hold back, the magic… it just comes out too strong."

The principal let out a slow breath, clearly processing this revelation. "Akari, your power is unlike anything we’ve seen before. It’s clear you’re capable of great things, but this level of strength without full control is dangerous."

Akari nodded, feeling the weight of her responsibility pressing down on her. "I understand. I’ve been training with my mother but still need more help. I don’t want to hurt anyone."

The principal’s gaze softened, though her expression remained serious. "We will provide that help. You’ll need specialized training, and we will assign the best instructors to guide you. This isn’t just about developing your abilities—it’s about ensuring you can control them. We can’t afford another incident like today."

Akari felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had feared the worst—that they might not want her at the academy, that her power was too dangerous for them to handle. But instead, they were offering her a path forward, a way to master the fire that burned within her.

"Thank you," she said quietly. "I promise I’ll work hard. I’ll do whatever it takes to control it."

The principal nodded, a faint smile touching her lips. "We believe you, Akari. But remember, this is just the beginning. Your journey will be difficult, and you’ll face many challenges. But with the right guidance, you can become something truly remarkable."

As Akari left the office, her thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions. She knew the road ahead would be difficult, but she was ready. She had to be. This was her chance to prove that her power could be controlled—that she could become the mage she was destined to be.

As Akari made her way to the dining hall for lunch, she could feel the stares following her. Whispers spread through the crowd of students like wildfire, the story of her explosive entrance exam having reached nearly everyone by now. Everywhere she turned, she caught people pointing in her direction, their faces filled with awe, curiosity, and, in some cases, fear.

"Did you hear? She blew up the whole target and the wall behind it!"

"They said she was holding back… imagine if she wasn’t."

"I wouldn’t want to duel her in class. I’d be ash in seconds."

Akari tried to ignore the whispers, keeping her head down as she moved through the crowd. She knew this attention was inevitable after what happened, but it didn’t make it any easier to handle. All she wanted was a quiet lunch, but it seemed like that was impossible now.

As she approached the food line, a group of older students gave her a wide berth, muttering under their breaths as she passed. She caught a glimpse of their wary expressions and felt a pang of guilt. She didn’t want to be feared—but the sheer power she had unleashed left people unsettled.

Grabbing a tray, she found a seat at one of the less crowded tables, trying to distance herself from the buzz of conversation around her. A few brave students glanced her way as she ate, but no one approached her. The solitude was a strange mix of relief and loneliness.

Later that afternoon, Akari finally made her way to her assigned dormitory, her stomach still tight from the tension of the day. The room was larger than she expected, with two beds already occupied by personal belongings. She sighed, realizing she had been assigned roommates, though she didn’t know who they were yet.

As she began to unpack her things, the door creaked open, and two girls entered. They froze when they saw Akari standing there, their eyes widening as they recognized her. The taller of the two, a girl with long brown hair tied back in a braid, spoke first.

"Wait… you’re Akari, right? The one who… uh, well… blew up the target?"

Akari flushed, embarrassed. "Yeah, that’s me. I didn’t mean to cause so much trouble."

The shorter girl, who had bright green eyes and a curious expression, stepped forward, seemingly unfazed by the rumors. "That was amazing! You’ve got some serious power. I’m Lila," she said with a smile. "And this is my friend, Mira."

Mira, still looking a bit stunned, nodded slowly. "Yeah… I’m Mira. It’s, uh… nice to meet you."

Akari smiled, relieved that they didn’t seem scared of her. "Nice to meet you both."

Lila sat on her bed, tossing a pillow aside. "Don’t worry about the rumors. People are always quick to talk about anything new around here, especially when it’s something big. But honestly, you should be proud. Not everyone can do what you did."

Akari relaxed a little, appreciating Lila’s straightforwardness. "Thanks. I just… I didn’t mean for it to get out of control. I was trying to hold back."

Mira finally spoke again, her voice soft but curious. "Holding back? That was holding back?"

Akari nodded. "Yeah. I’ve been training with my mother, but sometimes the fire just… it gets away from me."

Lila and Mira exchanged glances, clearly impressed. "Well, you’ve got nothing to worry about here," Lila said. "We’re all learning, right? And besides, I think it’s pretty cool to room with someone who will be one of the most powerful mages here."

Mira smiled a little, her initial apprehension fading. "Yeah. Just, you know, maybe give us a heads-up next time you plan to cast something big?"

Akari laughed softly, feeling the tension ease. "I’ll try."

As the three girls settled into their new room, Akari felt a weight lift from her shoulders. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all. Sure, her powers were intimidating, and she still had a long way to go in mastering them, but for now, she had allies. And that was a good start.

That evening, as Akari unpacked the last of her things, Lila and Mira were already making themselves comfortable in their shared space. The room had a cozy vibe to it now, with Mira’s books neatly stacked on her desk and Lila’s personal items strewn casually across her bed. Akari took a deep breath, feeling the nervousness she’d carried all day start to melt away.

Lila, ever the talkative one, flopped onto her bed and started a conversation. "So, Akari, where are you from? You having crazy fire powers is cool and all, but..." She winked playfully, trying to lighten the mood.

Akari smiled shyly. "I’m from the Maylor estate. It’s a little out in the country… kind of far from here."

Mira, who had been quietly flipping through one of her spell books, glanced up. "Maylor… that’s a noble house, right?"

Akari nodded. "Yeah, my parents are the Duke and Duchess of Maylor. I grew up there, and my mom helped me train with my magic before coming here."

Lila sat up, her eyes wide with interest. "Wait, so you’re, like, a legit noble? That’s so cool! And your mom’s a mage, too?"

"Yeah," Akari replied, rubbing the back of her neck. "She’s a water mage. She’s really good at controlling magic, so she helped me with mine... though fire is a bit different."

"Fire and water, huh?" Mira mused thoughtfully. "That must’ve made for some interesting training."

Akari laughed softly. "Yeah, you could say that. There were a lot of… unexpected fires during our sessions."

Lila chuckled, clearly enjoying the idea. "I can imagine! Sounds like your mom’s pretty patient if she was handling that. Water’s all smooth and flowing, but fire…" Lila waved her hands around dramatically. "It’s like, 'whoosh! Boom!' You know?"

Akari couldn’t help but giggle at Lila’s animated gestures. "Exactly! She kept her cool, though. Always."

Mira closed her book and leaned in slightly, her curiosity getting the best of her. "So... what’s it like being able to cast magic that powerful? I mean, I heard what happened today, and if that’s you holding back, well…" She trailed off, unsure how to finish the sentence.

Akari frowned slightly, thinking about how to respond. "It’s… complicated. I didn’t ask to be this strong, and sometimes it feels like it’s too much, you know? Like I’m always scared I might lose control."

Lila’s expression softened. "I get that. Everyone has something they struggle with, right? But, hey, at least you’re not alone anymore! You’ve got us now."

Mira nodded in agreement. "We’ll help however we can. We might not be fire mages, but… we can help you keep things balanced, I guess?"

Akari smiled, touched by their words. It was strange to think that she had felt so isolated just a few hours ago, but now, sitting here with these two girls, things felt a little brighter. "Thanks. I really appreciate that."

Lila grinned, jumping up from her bed with an exaggerated stretch. "No problem! We’ve gotta stick together, right? Plus, think about all the fun we can have. I mean, who knows what crazy stuff is going to happen at this academy?"

Mira rolled her eyes, clearly used to Lila’s antics. "Just as long as we don’t end up on the wrong side of those crazy things."

Lila laughed and gave Mira a playful nudge. "Come on, Mira! Where’s your sense of adventure? We’re at Gale Haven Academy—the best place for mages to grow, learn, and cause a little chaos."

Akari chuckled, feeling her spirits lift even more. "I guess we’ll just have to see what happens."

As the evening wore on, the three girls settled into an easy rhythm, chatting about their favorite spells, the teachers they’d met, and what they expected from their time at the academy. Despite the rocky start to the day, Akari found herself feeling hopeful. Maybe, with Lila and Mira by her side, she could figure out how to handle her powers and make this new chapter in her life something extraordinary.