"Jett," Julia said, a hint of surprise in her voice. "He was impressed by your performance against Yegun. He knows Yegun, respects his skills, and he believes that anyone who can survive ten minutes against him, even with a trick, has potential. He thinks your... unconventional methods... might be useful in the Tallenwood and even more so in Lumenar, given the elves fascination with magic, he suspects they would be quite intrigued by the way you used your light spell."

  William raised an eyebrow, surprised by Jett's support. He'd barely interacted with the scout, had only observed him from afar. He hadn't expected him to be an advocate, to see value in his unorthodox abilities.

  "And Caspian," Julia continued, her voice now tinged with a mixture of amusement and bewilderment. "He was... fascinated. He said, and I quote, 'Wow! That is the first time I've heard of a Light spell being used like that. I must talk to this William person. This could open up a completely new branch of magic, unlike anything we have seen before.'"

  William chuckled, a genuine, heartfelt laugh, the tension finally breaking, the relief washing over him in waves. He could imagine Caspian, the scholarly prince, the man of books and ancient lore, being captivated by the unexpected application of a simple spell, by the potential for new discoveries, for new knowledge.

  "And Borin?" William asked, the final piece of the puzzle.

  "Borin gave the deciding vote," Julia said. "He watched the trial, of course. He saw your preparation, your analysis, your... unconventional tactics. He said that you demonstrated the kind of resourcefulness, the kind of adaptability, the kind of tenacity, that will be crucial for the success of this mission. He believes that you have potential, William. Potential that needs to be nurtured, guided, developed. But potential, nonetheless."

  William felt a surge of pride, a sense of validation, a confirmation that his efforts, his risks, his sacrifices, had not been in vain. He'd proven himself, not just to Borin, not just to the expedition team, but to himself. He was more than just a data analyst, more than just a novice adventurer. He was someone who could contribute, who could make a difference, who could fight for the future of this kingdom.

  With the tension eased, now that the outcome of the trial was clear, Julia turned her attention to the more immediate, and perhaps more intriguing, question. "That Light spell," she said, her voice filled with curiosity. "How did you do that? How did you make it so... bright? So... explosive?"

  William hesitated, reluctant to reveal the full extent of his abilities, but also unwilling to lie to Julia, to the person who had helped him, guided him, believed in him, even when he doubted himself. He decided to tell her the truth, or at least, a version of it.

  "I didn't know if it would work," he admitted. "It was just a theory. I've been practicing the Light spell, trying to understand how it works, how the mana interacts with the stone. I realized that the intensity of the light seemed to be related to the amount of mana I used. So... I thought, what if I pushed it to the limit? What if I overloaded the spell, pumped all my remaining mana into it at once? Would it extend the duration? Would it increase the brightness? Would it... explode?"

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  He shrugged, a gesture of uncertainty, a hint of self-deprecating humor. "It was a gamble, a long shot. I didn't know what would happen. But I had to try. And... well, it seems it worked. Sort of."

  Julia stared at him, her eyes wide with amazement, her mind racing, trying to process the implications of his words. She'd been trained in the traditional methods of magic, had learned the established spells, the proven techniques, the accepted theories. She'd never considered the possibility of manipulating a spell in such a way, of pushing it beyond its intended limits, of using it for something other than its designed purpose.

  "This is... revolutionary," she thought, her internal monologue a mixture of excitement and disbelief. "He's not just casting spells, he's experimenting with them, deconstructing them, reimagining them. He's thinking about magic in a way that no one else does. This could change everything."

  Before she could articulate her thoughts, a gentle knock on the door interrupted their conversation. The door opened, revealing Sir Roland, Jett, and Caspian, the other members of the expedition team. They stood there, a diverse group, united by a common purpose, a shared sense of duty, a willingness to risk everything for the fate of their kingdom.

  "We heard you were awake," Sir Roland said, his voice gruff but kind. "We wanted to introduce ourselves, properly. And to welcome you to the team, William."

  Jett grinned, his weathered face crinkling around his eyes. "I told you he had potential," he said, a hint of smugness in his voice. "Didn't I tell you?"

  Caspian, his eyes shining with intellectual curiosity, stepped forward, his hand outstretched. "William Shard," he said, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "I am Prince Caspian Aver. And I must say, I am fascinated by your... unconventional use of the Light spell. We must talk. At length. About the possibilities, the implications, the..."

  William smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile, a feeling of belonging washing over him. He was part of a team, a group of individuals who, despite their differences, despite their doubts, had accepted him, had welcomed him, had recognized his potential.

  "I'd be honored, Your Highness," William said, shaking Caspian's hand. "I'm grateful for this opportunity. I promise I won't let you down."

  "I know you won't," Sir Roland said, his voice firm, his gaze unwavering. "We were supposed to leave tomorrow, but I've postponed our departure by a day. To give you time to recover, and to allow us to get to know each other better. We'll need to work together, to trust each other, to rely on each other, if we're going to succeed. We leave at dawn, the day after tomorrow."

  William nodded, his heart filled with a mixture of excitement, anticipation, and a healthy dose of fear. He was ready. He was prepared. He would face the challenges ahead, whatever they may be, with courage, with determination, and with the unwavering support of his new companions.

  Two days passed in a blur of activity. William spent most of his time recovering, regaining his strength, replenishing his mana reserves. EMMA also brought him a pleasant surprise, showing that his mana was now 85 instead of 80, due to his ongoing practice just before the point of mana backlash. He also spent time with the expedition team, getting to know them better, learning about their skills, their experiences, their personalities. He practiced his Light spell, cautiously, experimenting with different levels of mana input, trying to understand the limits of his abilities, to refine his technique, to prepare himself for the dangers that lay ahead. He couldn't shake the feeling that the Tallenwood and more so Lumenar, held more than just physical threats, that his magical abilities, however unconventional, would be tested in ways he couldn't yet imagine."

  William Shard