One Week Later.

As the days trudged on, we toiled tirelessly, our once bright and eager faces now sallow and drooping with exhaustion. Our progress slowed to a crawl, as the weight of fatigue began to bear down upon us as a group. Despite our struggles, Remi and I were able to defy the odds by learning not three, but four spells in just one week. Such a feat was unheard of, as even the most skilled of wizards would struggle to master even a single incantation in such a short span of time.

As the teacher addressed the class, her voice cutting through the dense fog of fatigue that enveloped us, I surveyed the room. Only Remi and I had raised our hands when asked if we had succeeded in our task. The rest of our classmates hung their heads in defeat, unable to overcome the steep learning curve that confronted them.

When I revealed to the class that Remi and I had learned four spells, a chorus of gasps and murmurs rippled through the room. Even our teacher was taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise and admiration.

Eager to showcase our newfound skills, Remi and I stepped forward, and began our demonstration. As we cast our spells, the air crackled and hummed with raw energy, our wands flickering with bright flashes of light. Strings of pure light coalesced in our hands as we uttered the incantation for "Absolve", each strand glowing with an otherworldly radiance. With a flourish of our wands, we wove the strings together, forming a shimmering, sinuous whiplash that danced through the air.

But our most impressive spell was yet to come. As I contemplated whether or not to unleash the full might of "Luminous Tide" in the classroom, Remi's concerned expression caught my eye. With a mischievous grin, I decided to improvise, channeling the energy of the spell into a dazzling display of light that filled the room with a warm, comforting glow.

Remi was taken aback by my sudden outburst, but even she couldn't deny the power and beauty of the spell. As we basked in the warm, radiant light, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride and accomplishment.

Beads of sweat dripped down my face as I poured all my mana into the spell. The room was dead silent as the roots shot out from the floor, like green tendrils reaching towards the ceiling.

As I released the spell, the roots slowly retracted back into the ground, leaving behind small sprouts that would eventually grow into beautiful flowers. It was a breathtaking sight, and the entire class erupted into applause.

Despite my exhaustion, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in what Remi and I had accomplished. We had gone above and beyond what was expected of us, and it was clear that Ms. Smith was impressed as well.

But as the class filed out of the room, I was left alone with Ms. Smith. She asked me to stay behind, and my heart sank. Was I in trouble? Had I done something wrong?

As we sat down to talk, Ms. Smith asked me a question that caught me off guard: "What are you exactly?"

I furrowed my brow in confusion. "I'm a human being, of course."

Ms. Smith leaned forward in her chair, her eyes piercing mine. "I know that Remi didn't help you speed up the process of learning those spells. You could have easily done it on your own."

Her words stung, and my anger bubbled to the surface. "With all due respect, Ms. Smith, Remi did help me. She encouraged me when I didn't have the strength to continue. She helped me pick myself back up and keep going. I only learned those four spells because of her encouragement and the company that I had with me, so I would really appreciate if you didn't assume what was going on."

Ms. Smith seemed taken aback by my outburst, but she quickly recovered. "I will be observing your advancements throughout the year. When I believe that you have proficiency in the art of light magic, you will be able to go on missions, even though you are not of the age to do them."

Missions? The thought was daunting. I wasn't sure I was ready for that kind of responsibility. But Ms. Smith quickly clarified her statement. "I will observe you for now, so just enjoy yourself. You are a young child that does not need to be exposed to that kind of environment for now."

With that, I bowed my head to my teacher and made my way out of the classroom, my mind reeling from the conversation. I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for me, and what kind of challenges I would face as I continued to develop my light magic.