"Hit the showers - thirty minutes until breakfast!" The instructor's voice cut through the morning air. "Anyone late to class gets double training tomorrow!"
Leo's muscles burned as he jogged toward the dormitory buildings. Around him, other cadets dragged themselves forward, their uniforms dark with sweat. The morning sun had dried the grass, leaving behind only memories of dawn's dew.
Marco fell into step beside him. "Race you to the washroom?"
"Save your energy." Leo pushed through the heavy wooden doors. The cool interior offered blessed relief from the growing heat outside.
The washroom echoed with running water and the clatter of wooden buckets. Steam rose as cadets scrubbed away the morning's exertion. Leo grabbed a fresh towel from the stack near the door and claimed an empty spot at the washing station.
"Fifteen minutes left!" A senior cadet called from the doorway.
Sarah's voice carried from the girls' side of the partition. "Has anyone seen my spare uniform?"
Leo changed quickly, his fingers working the brass buttons of his fresh academy uniform. The fabric felt crisp against his clean skin. He ran a comb through his damp hair, checking his reflection in the clouded mirror.
The dining hall buzzed with activity as hundreds of cadets filed in through the grand archways. Morning light streamed through tall windows, highlighting the rising steam from porridge bowls and fresh bread.
"Over here!" Marco waved from a table near the center of the hall.
Leo grabbed his portion and navigated between the crowded benches. The smell of honey and warm bread made his stomach growl. After the morning's workout, even simple porridge tasted like a feast.
Sarah joined them, her copper hair still wet from washing. "Twenty minutes left before class. Better eat fast."
They ate in comfortable silence, surrounded by the clinking of spoons and murmured conversations. Through the windows, Leo watched senior cadets crossing the courtyard toward the classroom buildings, their uniforms pristine in the morning light.
Elly slumped into the seat next to Leo, her blonde hair barely contained in a messy braid. Dark circles shadowed her green eyes.
"I can't feel my legs." She dropped her head onto her folded arms. "Who invented morning training?"
Leo pushed his bread toward her. "Eat something. You'll feel better."
"Thanks." She tore off a piece, chewing slowly. "Did anyone catch what the instructor said about today's lesson?"
Before anyone could answer, a bell rang through the dining hall. Students rose in a wave of scraping benches and clattering dishes. The crowd split at the main doors - knights headed east toward the training grounds, mages west to the practice halls.
Leo followed the stream of mages into a circular room. Sunlight poured through high windows, creating pools of warmth on the stone floor. The instructor, Master Chen, stood in the center.
"Find your space. Today we begin breath work." His voice carried to every corner. "Close your eyes. Feel your element in the air around you."
Leo settled cross-legged on the floor. The stone beneath him hummed with familiar energy. He drew slow breaths, sensing the earth's presence - solid, patient, eternal.
"Let your element flow into you with each breath. Your mana will grow stronger as you learn to channel this power."
Across the room, Elly's face relaxed as she connected with the water element. Tiny droplets of moisture gathered on her skin, drawn by her growing awareness.
In the eastern courtyard, knight apprentices sat in ordered rows. Their instructor paced between them, voice steady.
"Life energy flows through all living things. Feel it pulse with each heartbeat. Draw it in, let it strengthen your core."
The two groups practiced in parallel - knights gathering life force, mages absorbing elemental power. Each breath brought them closer to understanding their chosen paths.
Leo maintained his steady breathing rhythm, drawing earth energy through the stone floor with practiced ease. His technique, refined through countless hours of private training, let him filter and absorb the power efficiently. The familiar warmth spread through his core, strengthening his mana reserves.
Beside him, Elly's connection to water flowed naturally. Her chest rose and fell in the advanced pattern Leo had taught her months ago. The moisture in the air responded to her call, creating a subtle shimmer around her form.
Around them, frustrated mutters and shifting bodies broke the intended silence. Students squirmed and peeked at their neighbors, searching for signs of success. Master Chen walked between the rows, adjusting postures and offering guidance.
"Focus on your breath. The energy will come."
A girl near the front raised her hand. "Master, I don't feel anything."
"Keep practicing. These foundations take time."
Only two other students showed signs of progress. A boy with fire affinity managed to raise his body temperature slightly, while a wind-touched girl created the smallest stirring in the air around her fingers while trying this new breathing technique offered by the academy for mages.
The rest of the class continued their futile attempts. Some tried forcing their breathing, resulting in red faces and light-headedness. Others gave up entirely, going through the motions while their minds wandered.
Leo kept his eyes closed, maintaining his disciplined rhythm. The earth's power flowed steadily, familiar as an old friend. He sensed Elly doing the same beside him, both of them careful not to draw attention to their advanced progress.
Master Chen observed his students with patient eyes, his hands clasped behind his back. After decades of teaching, he knew the familiar pattern - the initial excitement, followed by frustration when progress came slower than expected. The breathing technique demanded dedication and persistence.
"Remember," he addressed the class, "reaching apprentice mage level typically requires two years of consistent practice. The path to mastering elemental control begins with these fundamentals."
A collective sigh rippled through the room. Several students slumped, their earlier determination wavering at the prospect of such a long journey ahead.
"But Master," a boy with wind affinity spoke up, "what about Leo and Elly? They're already-"
"Focus on your own progress." Master Chen's tone carried a gentle warning. "Each student advances at their own pace."
The class fell silent, though a few glances darted toward Leo and Elly. Their reputation as apprentice mages was well-known, but few understood the grueling work behind their achievement.
Master Chen moved between the rows, adjusting postures with practiced hands. "The breathing technique passed down through generations requires patience. Some may grasp it quickly, others might need more time. Both paths are valid."
He paused near a struggling student. "Think of it like learning to walk. You didn't stand up and run on your first try, did you? First came crawling, then standing, then those first wobbly steps."
The lesson continued, filled with the sound of focused breathing and occasional frustrated sighs. Leo and Elly maintained their phase, their progress speaking for itself without need for acknowledgment or explanation.