GameDev Reincarnated into His Own Creation

Vol 2 - Chapter 28.2: Recursive Expansion

That got everyone's attention. Even Mira propped herself up on her elbows.

"And the bad news?" Tomas asked, though his voice suggested he already suspected.

"We only have five students."

The group looked among themselves. Tournament teams required three members.

"Which means we need to find someone," Lyvenna continued. "Someone willing to join us."

"But who?" Enya asked, finally dropped the glass piece. "Who would join a band of outcasts?"

Rohen let out a bitter laugh. "By the look of it, Mira's already given up. We just need one more to do the same, right?"

The joke landed with a thud. Nobody smiled.

"Only one team?" Tomas confirmed, his voice carefully neutral.

"The Academy board suggested that having more would tip the balance of fairness," Lyvenna replied, her tone suggesting what she thought of that reasoning. "Some already objecting the idea. Reasoned that students were divided into classifications for a reason."

The students exchanged glances. Five students, one team slot. The math was simple, the implications less so.

Lyvenna let them process the information for a moment before continuing. "How has your spellcasting been progressing?"

They all shook their heads. Rohen wiped clay residue from his arms. Enya kicked the glass shard aside. Mira averted her gaze, still lying flat on the ground. Tomas just stared at his wand.

Vel remained sitting by his sword.

"Might as well give up," Mira said, staring up at the sky. "Join the Academic Trials. Accept our fate as failed magic users." She let out a bitter laugh. "Fight among ourselves for the spot while we're at it."

Enough.

Vel surged to his feet and drove the practice sword into the sand with resolute force, the blade standing upright like a banner of defiance.

"Enya," he called out, dusting sand from his clothes. "You mentioned you tried the spell. What went wrong?"

The group's attention shifted to him, surprised by his sudden intervention.

Enya's hands clenched into fists. "The spell was too powerful. I couldn't keep control and almost fainted." She looked down at her hands. "I felt like I was drowning in my own magic."

"Expected," Vel said, placing both hands on his hips. "That magic circle was too complicated. Not to mention it would lead to overcasting at your level."

He looked around at each of his defeated classmates. Then walked closer.

"Why don't we try starting small?"

Lyvenna fixed him with that same analytical stare, studying and judging. But Vel had no patience for it anymore.

"Start small?" Tomas asked, a flicker of hope creeping into his voice.

"We modify the spell. Make it smaller, more manageable. Use what we already know."

The group moved closer, drawn by Vel's sudden confidence. He reached for Tomas's wand—not to cast, but to sketch in the training ground. Tomas blinked in confusion but handed it over.