Page 422 of Axis of Fire

Mr. Shiford repeatedly stretched his fingers.

Eugene's jaw tightened and shifted as though it had developed a mind of its own.

Every one of them looked uneasy.

"Pria Haradas."

"You're first."

Pria rose from the third row.

Dozens of eyes followed her as she walked toward the center of the arena.

Unlike the first evaluation, her movements were calm.

Confident.

She no longer looked like someone trying to impress everyone around her.

She didn't need anyone's approval anymore.

Pria demonstrated not raw power, but remarkable mastery over her lightning.

Every movement was precise.

Controlled.

Effortless.

Several other students followed her, most of them wielding mental forms of magic.

No one seemed particularly worried about their control.

It was the elemental mages everyone feared would lose control.

"I honestly don't see why the mental mages even need to be tested," Stasia murmured.

"Am I the only one hearing a hint of jealousy?" Kaeron asked, arching a brow.

Stasia snorted.

"And what exactly would I be jealous of?"

"I actually agree with Stasia."

Pria's voice carried from the third row, where she sat beside Loretta and an unusually grim-looking Taylor.

"We should be saving time."

"...How did you even hear us from over there?" Stasia asked in surprise.

Before anyone could answer, Draksen Ardevain's voice echoed through the arena.

"Illariana Arden."

"You're next."

My entire body froze.