The quartermaster's office filled with students every Monday morning. Leo stood in line, watching as each cadet received their weekly enhancement pill.
"Next!" The quartermaster's voice carried over the crowd.
Leo stepped forward and presented his identification card. The quartermaster checked his records, then placed a small blue pill in front of him.
"Mage enhancement, grade three. Sign here."
The pill glowed faintly as Leo picked it up. These weren't cheap - the academy spent a fortune ensuring every student had access to proper cultivation aids.
Back in his room, Leo sat cross-legged on his bed. The pill dissolved on his tongue, spreading warmth through his body. His awareness of the magical particles around him sharpened, making them easier to draw in and process.
Leo focused on his breathing as the pill's effects intensified. The magical particles seemed to dance at the edge of his consciousness, more responsive to his will than usual. Each week, the process became slightly easier, his body adapting to handle greater amounts of magical energy.
Some students in their year had already advanced a lot faster thanks to the academy's enhancement program. The combination of proper training, regular pills, and structured practice created ideal conditions for rapid growth.
The warmth spread through Leo's body, opening pathways for magic to flow more freely. He'd learned early on to meditate through the process - fighting the sensation only made it less effective.
Leo's eyes snapped open. The magical particles surrounding him pulsed with unprecedented intensity. His mana pathways tingled as earth energy flowed through them at triple the usual rate.
"This is incredible." Leo stretched his fingers, feeling the enhanced connection to his element. The stone floor beneath his feet responded to even the lightest touch of his magic.
A knock at his door broke his concentration. Elly poked her head in, her blonde hair falling across one shoulder.
"Leo, did you take the enhancement pill yet? The effects are different than our usual breathing exercises."
"Just finished. The increase in power is substantial." Leo traced a pattern in the air, earth magic following his fingertips like an eager pet. "How's your progress?"
Elly stepped inside and closed the door. "About fifty percent better than normal. Still, that's a huge improvement over just meditation."
"The pills affect everyone differently based on their affinity." Leo drew more earth energy into himself, marvelling at how easily it responded. "Natural talent plays a big role."
"Some of the other students reported similar results to mine." Elly dispersed her water sphere with a sigh.
Leo nodded, already planning how to incorporate this enhanced power into his training routine. The breathing technique had served him well, but combined with these pills, his progress would accelerate dramatically. The earth energy around him felt almost eager to be absorbed, unlike the usual resistance he encountered during meditation or while using his breathing technique.
Leo slumped against the training room wall, sweat dripping down his face. His earth wall crumbled under the instructor's fire blast.
"Again." Instructor Malik circled him like a hawk. "Your reaction time needs work."
Leo pushed himself up, drawing earth energy to form another barrier. The flames crashed against it, but this time the wall held.
"Better structure, but still too slow." Malik lowered his hand. "The other first-years are just starting to grasp basic manipulation while you're already casting combat spells. The academy expects results from their investment."
Through the window, Leo spotted other students in the courtyard, practicing their first attempts at controlling magical particles. Their faces lit up as tiny wisps of elemental energy responded to their commands.
"Most of them won't cast actual spells for months." Malik crossed his arms. "You're the only one getting private combat training. Don't waste it."
Leo nodded, readying his stance. His earth armor spell flickered to life, but the coverage remained patchy. Malik's fire whip tore through the weak spots.
"Focus! A real enemy won't give you time to perfect your defence."
The door creaked open. Elly stepped in, her practice robes damp with sweat.
Leo's muscles burned as he cycled through defensive positions. Each spell drained more energy than the last. But he couldn't afford to slack off - not when the academy invested so much in his training.
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the floor as Leo continued his drills, the sound of magical combat echoing through the training room.
The first semester flew by in a blur of training sessions and enhancement pills. Leo felt the difference in his power growing steadily each week. His earth magic responded faster, hit harder, and his control grew more precise.
In the training room, Leo's earth wall withstood Malik's attacks without a crack. The instructor nodded in approval.
"Your progress is remarkable. At this rate, you'll reach seventh circle in a few months."
Leo wiped sweat from his brow. The earth armor now covered him completely, its weight barely noticeable after countless hours of practice.
Down in the courtyard, other first-years gathered in small groups. Wisps of elemental energy danced between their fingers as they practiced basic manipulation exercises. Their magic power had grown from single digits to between twenty and thirty units - enough to start working with their elements, but not yet enough for actual spells. Leo's magic power was around 670 and Elly's was around 240. They were getting closer to the next mage apprentice stage.
Elly's healing abilities caught the attention of several instructors. During one assessment, she demonstrated her water healing spell on a student who'd twisted their ankle during physical training.
"A combat medic is worth their weight in gold." The head instructor made a note in his ledger. "We'll need to adjust your curriculum to develop this talent."
Elly beamed at the praise, though her eyes darted to Leo for approval. He gave her a slight nod - her progress with water magic had been steady and focused.
While Leo and Elly remained the only students capable of casting actual spells, the rest of their classmates could now manipulate their chosen elements with growing confidence.
Leo watched them from the sidelines, remembering his own early struggles with magic. Their determination reminded him of his first attempts to control earth particles, before he even learned proper spell.