The glow of the runes illuminated the entire garden. The stone figures Nicolas had summoned stood throughout the area, alert and ready to attack. There were five in total, each radiating a magical pressure that made them seem somehow alive.
Aurelian stood upright in the center of the circle, his eyes assessing every detail. His magic already pulsed around him, ready to erupt at any moment.
Nicolas spoke, his tone solemn.
"Your first test is simple. Endure. No matter how many times you fall, you must get up until your body and mind reach their limits."
Perenelle raised her hand, and with a brief gesture, the surrounding columns of green flames rose even higher, sealing the practice field in a cage.
The stone figures stepped forward, the ground shaking beneath their footsteps.
Aurelian smiled, a cold, confident smile he often wore before rushing into battle.
"I'll show you... how strong I am."
With a roar, the golems charged. The first swung his spear at his chest, the second raised his sword to attack from above. Aurelian raised his wand, and a burst of magic shot out quickly, splitting the spear in two and knocking down the first opponent.
The second fell on him with force, but Aurelian simply turned his arm and cast a banishment spell. The air vibrated, the stone cracked, though it did not yield completely.
"Good," Nicolas murmured from outside the circle. "Use what you know, but don't forget to think beyond power."
The third and fourth golems attacked together, coordinated like experienced warriors. Aurelian took a step back, raising a magical barrier that withstood the blows.
The young man kept a calm gaze, analyzing every aspect of his enemies.
Perenelle spoke in a clear voice, her words cutting through the din of battle.
"Don't try to finish them off quickly. Learn to see the rhythm of the battle. Feel how they move, how they watch you. Only then will you learn."
Aurelian closed his eyes for a moment, letting his magic spread throughout the area. He felt the cracks, the movement patterns, the vibration that animated them. When he opened his eyes again, they shone brightly.
"I've got them..."
His wand moved like a whip, releasing a chain of fire that coiled around the fourth golem, shattering it instantly. The fifth immediately lunged at him, but Aurelian met it with a reinforced shield and a magical blow that blew it apart into many fragments of stone.
Silence returned to the circle, broken only by the echo of his breathing.
Aurelian straightened up.
"Is that all?"
Nicolas smiled slightly, and with a wave of his hand, the runes on the ground glowed again. More figures began to emerge from the ground, larger and faster.
"No, boy," he replied calmly, "This is just beginning."
The new figures emerged from the ground with a thud. The stone colossi had broader bodies, heavier weapons, and much faster movements than the previous ones. They glowed with the magic that kept them standing.
Aurelian took a step back. Sweat dripped down his forehead, but there was no fatigue in his eyes, only anticipation.
"Let's see if they can handle this..."
He raised his wand, letting out a murmur in Parseltongue.
The magic responded instantly. His spells became stronger, sharper, cutting through the golems as if they were butter. One of them split in half upon impact, another staggered backward with glowing cracks spreading across its chest.
From outside the circle, Perenelle's eyes widened in surprise.
"Is he... using Parseltongue?"
Nicolas smiled from ear to ear, a hint of bravado in his tone.
"Of course he is. I always knew he could."
Perenelle looked at him with arched eyebrows, crossing her arms.
"And why didn't you tell me?"
"Because it was more fun to watch him surprise you," Nicolas replied calmly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
She snorted, though she couldn't help but let her lips curve into a smile.
"You're incorrigible... Nicolas."
Inside the circle, Aurelian moved swiftly among the giants. His spells, enhanced by Parseltongue, easily pierced through their resistance enchantments. A spear crumbled into black dust, a sword bounced off his shield, the echo of his whispers filling the air.
Perenelle watched, impressed.
"I've never seen such control in someone so young..."
"He's unique," Nicolas admitted, a glint of pride in his eyes. "And he's only just beginning to understand what he can really do... truly unique."
The golems regrouped, attacking together. Aurelian raised both hands and released a shockwave that knocked them down violently, causing the earth itself to shake beneath their feet.
Aurelian stood in the center of the circle, barely panting, and looked at his two teachers.
"So... what's next?"
Nicolas laughed softly, crossing his arms.
Perenelle rolled her eyes, though there was warmth and pride in her gaze.
"Oh, heavens... fate really did send us this child."
The dust from the battle had not yet settled when Nicolas raised a hand to stop Aurelian.
"Calm down. Enough with the stone dolls. Now you'll have to face us."
Aurelian raised an eyebrow.
"You?"
"That's right," replied Perenelle, calmly tucking a strand of her silver hair behind her ear. "We won't attack you. We'll only defend ourselves. Your task is simple. Try to knock us down."
Aurelian's smile widened, a spark of excitement running through his body. Since awakening as a Invoker, he had not had the opportunity to unleash his full potential against an opponent.
"You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this..." he murmured, his magic beginning to flow around him with a green aura.
Nicolas narrowed his eyes, giving him a calm smile that seemed to never fade.
"That's what I wanted to see. Go ahead, boy, attack us with everything you've got."
Aurelian raised his wand, casting the first spell, a beam of energy powered by Parseltongue. The air crackled as it passed, Perenelle barely moved her hand, and a crystalline mirror-shaped shield emerged in front of her, deflecting the attack with a blue flash.
"Wow..." she said softly, feeling the force of the impact. "It's much stronger than I thought."
Aurelian didn't stop. A chain of spells shot toward Nicolas, followed by a gust of wind in the form of conjured chains, without a word. The alchemist simply raised a translucent barrier, smiling as he watched the excitement and precision of each spell his disciple cast at him.
"Impressive. Your control improves with every second."
Perenelle, on the other hand, began to grow more serious. Aurelian's magical pressure was increasing alarmingly, filling the garden like a storm. The ground cracked beneath his feet, and a serpentine, almost hypnotic murmur ran through the air, which would have left anyone else in a trance.
"Nicolas, this child..." she said in a low voice, reinforcing her defenses. "He already has the level of a Invoker."
The alchemist let out a small laugh and shrugged.
"Incredible, don't you think, dear?"
She turned her face toward him, with a mixture of surprise and reproach.
"Are you really not going to tell me anything?"
"And ruin your look of amazement? Never," Nicolas replied, amused.
Perenelle glared at him, though she couldn't help but let her lips curve into a small smile.
Meanwhile, Aurelian let himself be carried away by the excitement. His magic flowed uncontrollably, growing stronger and stronger with the whisper of Parseltongue. Columns of fire, lightning bolts, and shock waves attacked the Flamels' joint defenses with precision.
"This is what I wanted!" exclaimed Aurelian, feeling his magic respond to his every movement.
Perenelle blocked another wave of attacks with effort, her expression completely serious.
"He's not playing, Nicolas. If he keeps this up..."
"I know, I know," her husband interrupted calmly.
The garden roared under the pressure of his magic. Aurelian moved like lightning, his eyes ablaze with euphoria. Each spell he cast was powered by Parseltongue, his voice filling the air with an ancient chant. Chains of energy snaked around him and gusts of wind cut through the air with devastating force.
The Flamels watched from the center, remaining calm. Perenelle stood tall and serious, her wand responding with grace and precision; Nicolas blocked attacks with barely a movement of his hand.
"Come on, harder!" Aurelian shouted, panting between casts. "I want to see you really go for it!"
The pressure was mounting. Perenelle waited patiently, analyzing his rhythm. When she saw him turn too quickly toward Nicolas, she found an opening. She moved her wand deftly, and a paralyzing bolt shot out, cutting through the air.
But at the last moment... the spell simply dissolved, as if it had collided with something invisible. Vanishing without a trace.
Perenelle opened her eyes, incredulous.
"What...?"
Nicolas tilted his head, still smiling, though this time with a hint of intrigue.
"Your magic... never ceases to amaze me."
Aurelian didn't waste a second. With a roar of his magic, he unleashed an explosion of energy that shook the ground, forcing the Flamels to reinforce their defenses. The earth trembled, the runes of the place glowed as they tried to contain all the destruction in one place, the air was saturated with overflowing power.
A glance between Nicolas and Perenelle was enough. They were two of the greatest wizards in the world. And they had decided to show him the difference.
They went on the offensive. Perenelle deployed chains of light that spread around the circle, closing off his escape routes with impeccable precision. Nicolas summoned a burst of golden energy that nullified Aurelian's counterattack.
The young man resisted, his magic roaring with each attack, his movements beginning to grow heavy. Each breath was rougher, each spell more difficult.
Finally, a combined attack, Perenelle's enveloping light and Nicolas's shockwave, knocked him to the ground. The impact kicked up dust, the runes of the circle fading with a faint glow.
Aurelian lay on the ground, panting, his body exhausted... but a broad smile lighting up his face.
"Never..." he said between breaths, "have I had such an interesting battle."
Nicolas approached and held out his hand.
"And this is just the first of many."
Perenelle also approached, letting her seriousness dissipate and giving way to a warmth that softened her features. She watched him like a grandmother proud of her grandson.
"You did wonderfully."
Aurelian took Nicolas's hand and slowly sat up. The world faded to black when his body could take no more.
When he opened his eyes, the first thing he felt was softness. He was not on the garden ground, but in his bed. The light of dawn filtered through a nearby window, bathing the room in golden tones.
Aurelian blinked several times, still dazed, until a soft voice brought him back to reality.
"It's about time you woke up, dear."
He turned his face and saw Perenelle sitting in a rocking chair beside him, knitting calmly.
"How long... have I been asleep?" he asked hoarsely.
"A whole day," she replied serenely. "That's no small thing. Many I know would have been much worse off than you."
The boy tried to sit up, but Perenelle stopped him with a gentle gesture.
"Stay still. Your body is still healing; it needs to get used to your magic flow."
Aurelian looked at his hands, surprised that there wasn't a scratch on them. He could feel his power burning beneath his skin.
At that moment, the door opened, and Nicolas entered with a tray of food: eggs with bread, fresh fruit, and a jug of water.
"Ah, our young warrior has returned to the world of the living," he said jokingly, placing the tray on the table.
"Warrior?" Perenelle snorted, amused. "He's just a boy who was made to fight by two cruel old men."
"Old men, yes," Nicolas laughed, sitting at the foot of the bed, "but I admit, you surprised us."
Aurelian looked down, feeling a mixture of pride and shyness, which was rare for him.
"I've never... fought like that before. It was... incredible."
The two looked at each other and then laughed softly, as only grandparents proud of their grandson would.
Perenelle bent down to tuck him in.
"You're strong, Aurelian. But more importantly... you have a heart and a mind that never gives up. That's what matters most."
The young man remained silent. He wasn't used to that kind of attention.
Nicolas raised a glass of water, as if toasting.
"Rest well today, little one. Tomorrow we will continue with your education."
Aurelian nodded with a smile, enjoying the moment.
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