"I feel weird wearing this." Juka tugged at the stiff collar of his Academy uniform, the deep blue and silver robes making him feel like he stood out more than he already did. "I feel like I shouldn't be wearing this at all."
His aunt Louise, who was busy straightening his sleeves, gave him a stern glance over her glasses. "Nonsense. You've earned your place here. You're more prepared than you think."
Juka sighed, not quite convinced. It wasn't the uniform itself that made him uncomfortable—it was what it represented. He had grown up hearing stories about Merlin's Academy for Gifted Mages, the finest magical institution in the land. Yet here he was, not even fully certain of his magical potential, standing among those born into wealth, privilege, and centuries-old magical bloodlines.
"I know, I know," he muttered, glancing out of the window. From the Academy's tower, he could see the sprawling courtyards below, already filled with students making their way to the entrance exam. "But everyone here... they've been practicing magic since they were kids. Meanwhile, I only figured out I had any abilities a few months ago. It's hard not to feel like I don't belong."
His mother, Averon, a retired adventurer, let out a hearty laugh from the doorway, arms crossed over her chest. "Belong? Juka, you've got more raw talent than half these brats put together. If only they knew what you could do! You've been practicing for this moment."
Juka gave her a half-smile, but inside, he felt the weight of expectations—his aunt's, his mother's, even his own. He was ready for the written part of the exam; Louise had drilled theory into him until he could recite spell formulae in his sleep. But the practical part? He was still getting used to the idea of having magic at all, much less mastering two affinities.
"You'll do fine," Louise assured him, patting him on the back. "Remember, the Academy doesn't know you're a Storm mage candidate yet. It's better that way. Let them underestimate you."
That didn't make him feel any better, but he nodded anyway, trying to suppress the nerves crawling up his spine. He gathered his things and, with a final nod from his aunt and a thumbs-up from his mother, made his way to the courtyard.
As he stepped out among the other examinees, the difference was stark. Most of the students came from rich, influential families, their robes lined with gold and gems that whispered of magic passed down through generations. Some of them glanced at him, their noses wrinkling at his simple attire. Juka overheard a few of them muttering as he passed.
"Who's that?" one boy sneered, his voice loud enough for Juka to hear. "Looks like he got his robes from a bargain bin."
"He probably doesn't even have any real magic," a girl added, her eyes narrowing. "Just another peasant hoping to get lucky."
Juka clenched his fists, but he kept walking, forcing himself to ignore them. He knew who he was, even if they didn't.
The first part of the exam was the written portion. He entered the exam hall, seated among rows of students, and soon the room fell silent as the examiners passed out papers. Juka's eyes scanned the questions: magical theory, spell constructs, potion ingredients—it was all second nature to him now, thanks to Louise's grueling training sessions. He breezed through the questions, finishing well before the time was up.
When he handed his paper to the examiner, the woman raised an eyebrow at how quickly he was done, but she said nothing. Juka could see some of the other students struggling as he left the hall, which gave him a small boost of confidence.
Next came the practical exam. This was the part Juka had been dreading.
He found himself standing in front of one of the instructors, a tall man with a sharp gaze and arms crossed, sizing him up like a hawk watching its prey.
"Juka Evernight," the instructor read his name off a scroll. "You've already completed the written portion. Now, show me what you can do."
The courtyard was divided into several testing areas, each focused on different aspects of magic—elemental manipulation, transmutation, enchantments. Juka took a deep breath and walked toward the elemental testing grounds. This was his strength—earth and fire magic—but his true power, his Storm affinity, he'd been keeping hidden.
He wasn't sure if now was the time to reveal it.
"Let's see what you've got, then," the instructor said, stepping back to give him space.
Juka raised his hands, feeling the familiar surge of magic flowing through him. The earth beneath his feet trembled as he willed it to rise, shaping the stone into jagged pillars. The air around him grew hotter as he summoned fire, wrapping the flames around the pillars, creating a swirling vortex of molten rock.
The instructor's eyes widened, clearly impressed. "Impressive. You've got control over both earth and fire magic. Not many can handle two elements so easily."
But Juka wasn't finished. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a gust of wind that tore through the flames, extinguishing them in an instant. He let the stone pillars collapse back into the ground, the magic leaving the air still and calm once more.
The instructor stared at him, speechless for a moment, before nodding. "You've got potential, Evernight. A lot of potential."
Juka allowed himself a small smile. He had passed the practical test.
As he turned to leave, he nearly bumped into someone—a girl, her dark hair tied back in an intricate braid, her green eyes bright with recognition. Juka blinked, unsure why she seemed familiar.
"Juka, right?" she said, her voice soft but steady.
"Uh, yeah," he replied, scratching the back of his neck. "Do I... know you?"
She smiled, a secretive smile, as if she knew something he didn't. "You saved me once. A long time ago. I was in trouble, and you helped me. No magic, just... you."
Juka stared at her, trying to place her. "I... saved you?"
"Carmen de Estaban," she introduced herself. "You didn't know it then, but I'm a princess. And you... well, you were my hero that day."
Juka felt his heart skip a beat, his mind racing to remember. How could he have forgotten something like that?
But before he could respond, Carmen gave him a quick smile and walked away, leaving him standing there, stunned and even more confused than before.
Juka stared after Carmen, her words echoing in his mind. I saved her? He dug through his memories, but nothing came to him immediately. How could he have forgotten a moment like that? A princess, no less.
The memory hit him suddenly—years ago, when he was barely a teenager, wandering the streets after running errands for his aunt. He had heard a commotion in an alley, a girl's voice shouting for help. Without thinking, he had rushed in. Three older thugs were surrounding a girl, their sneering faces full of bad intentions. She had been cornered, her back against the wall, eyes wide with fear.
Back then, Juka hadn't known a single thing about magic. But his instincts had kicked in, and, to his surprise, he had taken them on without hesitation.
The first thug had swung at him, but Juka ducked and countered with a sharp elbow to the stomach, sending the man reeling. The second thug charged him with a wooden club, but Juka had sidestepped and grabbed his wrist, twisting it until the weapon clattered to the ground. The third one hesitated but tried to grapple him, only for Juka to trip him into the wall with a well-placed kick.
By the time it was over, the thugs were on the ground, groaning in pain. The girl had looked up at him with wide, astonished eyes. She thanked him in a soft voice before running off, and Juka had assumed that was the end of it.
Until now.
Carmen. The princess. He had saved a princess without even knowing it.
Juka blinked as the realization sank in. That was her.
As he stood there processing, a couple of students nearby had clearly overheard the brief exchange and weren't shy about voicing their opinions.
"Did you hear that? He claims he saved a princess?" one of them scoffed. It was the same boy from earlier, the one who had mocked Juka's robes. His friends laughed along with him.
"Sounds like a fluke if you ask me," another added, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Just because he got lucky once doesn't mean anything. No magic involved, just brute force. That won't help him here."
Juka clenched his jaw, ignoring their laughter. He wasn't here to prove anything to them—he had already passed the exam. But their words stung. His victory against those thugs back then had been pure instinct, adrenaline, and training from his mother. Now, though, he had power—real magic. And soon, they'd see that.
But as Carmen's face lingered in his mind, he couldn't help but feel a strange mixture of pride and disbelief. He had saved a princess? And she remembered him, all this time later? He shook his head, unable to dwell on it for long, but a small smile crept onto his face.
"Well," he muttered to himself, "guess I've done something right, at least."
Carmen, now blending into the crowd of students, cast him one more glance over her shoulder, a faint smile on her lips as if she knew more than she was letting on. Juka had a feeling that this wasn't the last he'd hear from her. And something about that made his heart race.
The rich students, still chuckling and mocking him, wouldn't get to him—not today. Juka straightened his back, took a deep breath, and moved forward with renewed confidence. He was more than just a boy from a small town. He was Juka Averon, dual-affinity mage, storm candidate, and—whether he liked it or not—the boy who had once saved a princess.
Juka shook off the lingering embarrassment and let the snide comments fade into the background as he moved away from the testing grounds. Ignore them, he reminded himself. He'd already proven himself capable; if they couldn't see it, that was their problem.
But it was hard to fully brush off the whispers that seemed to follow him. The moment Carmen had spoken to him, several other students nearby had perked up, eyes narrowing with curiosity or disdain. They were all used to their world of prestige and power—Juka was an outsider, an enigma. Even with his display of earth and fire magic, they still seemed eager to label him a nobody.
One day, they'll know. He pushed the thought aside. It wasn't about them. He was here to learn and become stronger.
He found a quieter spot near the edge of the courtyard, taking a moment to steady his thoughts. He had passed the entrance exam, completed both the written and practical portions with ease. He should have been relieved. But instead, his mind kept circling back to Carmen.
Why had she approached him now? Why reveal her identity?
And what had she meant by "just… you"? What did she remember about that day?
Juka's gaze drifted back to where Carmen had disappeared into the sea of students. He wasn't used to people like her paying him any attention, and it unsettled him. He still didn't fully know what it meant to be a Storm mage, or why it made him so different. But one thing was clear: Carmen hadn't approached him just because he'd saved her all those years ago. There was more to this.
Before he could lose himself in thought again, a voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
"Alright, new recruits! Form up!"
Juka turned to see the senior students and instructors gathering the incoming class into groups. It was time for the final portion of the initiation—placement trials. Though the entrance exams determined who could enter, the trials sorted students into various classes and ranked them by their abilities. It was where reputations were made or broken. The thought of it made Juka's stomach tighten, but he took a deep breath and joined the forming line.
A tall, imposing instructor stepped forward, his uniform adorned with the insignia of a master spellcaster. His gaze swept over the gathered students, lingering briefly on Juka before moving on.
"I am Instructor Vallin," he said, his voice carrying across the courtyard. "You've proven you deserve to be here, but your true potential will only begin to be tested now. Each of you will be assigned to a trial group based on your performance. Impress us, and you'll be placed in an advanced track. Underperform…" His eyes narrowed. "And you'll find yourselves in remedial classes with very little chance of advancing."
The murmurs started immediately, students shifting nervously. Juka kept his expression neutral, but his heart was pounding. Advanced track? He hadn't even considered it. He just wanted to make it through without standing out too much.
Instructor Vallin's assistant stepped forward, reading from a long list of names.
"Group One: Roland Castille, Helena Renward, Carmen de Estaban, Gregory Ralnor…"
Juka's attention snapped to Carmen's name. So she was already here under her real identity, her royal status apparent in the murmurs of the other students. But she stood calmly, her posture composed, not acknowledging the reactions around her.
"Group Two: Elara Trinn, Marcus Verne, Selene Drest…" the assistant continued. Juka's pulse quickened as the list went on. Where was his name?
Finally—
"Group Five: Juka Evernight, Adrian Fane, Lilia Norwind…"
Juka exhaled in relief. At least he wasn't alone. He glanced around, spotting the other two in his group. Adrian was a wiry boy with silver hair and a look of constant amusement in his eyes. Lilia, in contrast, was tall and statuesque, her dark hair braided tightly behind her. Both looked at him appraisingly, and Juka felt the weight of their scrutiny.
"So, you're Juka, huh?" Adrian smirked, his eyes flicking to the instructors, then back to Juka. "Heard you made quite the impression earlier. You don't look like much, but hey, appearances can be deceiving."
Juka bristled but kept his tone steady. "I'm here to prove myself, same as everyone else."
"Right." Lilia's voice was smooth, but her gaze was cold. "But proving yourself to who, exactly? This Academy isn't for the faint-hearted."
Juka met her stare evenly. "I'm here to learn," he said simply.
She studied him for a moment longer before giving a slight nod, as if satisfied with his answer. "We'll see if you're as good as you think you are."
Instructor Vallin interrupted the murmuring groups. "Each trial group will face a series of challenges, both magical and physical. Teamwork, strategy, and power will be evaluated. Consider this your first test as Academy mages. Group Five, you'll be starting with elemental manipulation. Head to the eastern arena."
Juka's heart leaped. Elemental manipulation. He could handle this—at least, with earth and fire magic. But as they moved toward the designated area, he caught a few skeptical glances from nearby students.
"Look at Group Five," one of the onlookers muttered. "The guy who barely got here and a couple of average mages. That's an easy group."
"Yeah, what's he going to do? Show off some cheap tricks again?" another snickered.
Juka gritted his teeth but stayed silent. He wasn't here to respond to every taunt. But inside, something stirred—a spark of determination. They still thought he was a nobody, that his earlier performance was a fluke.
Fine.
He'd show them.
As they reached the eastern arena, the testing grounds opened up into a wide, circular space marked with runic symbols. Stone pillars jutted out from the ground at irregular intervals, and a magical barrier shimmered around the perimeter, containing the energies within. The air crackled with latent power. This was a place where elemental magic could be unleashed without fear of damaging the Academy grounds.
Instructor Vallin stepped forward, his sharp eyes sweeping over Group Five. "Your task is simple. Each of you will demonstrate control over your primary element. Create, shape, and manipulate the element to achieve the desired result. Then, you'll be evaluated as a team on a combined test of power and coordination."
The other students leaned forward, eager to see what would happen.
"Juka Evernight," Vallin said suddenly. "You're up first."
Juka swallowed, then stepped into the center of the arena, feeling all eyes on him. He took a deep breath, reaching for the familiar pulse of power within him. He wasn't going to hold back this time. If they wanted to see what he could do, then so be it.
Raising his hands, he summoned his magic.
The ground trembled, stones and earth rising in a swirl around him. With a sharp command, he shaped the stone into towering pillars, their surfaces smooth and precise. Then, shifting his focus, he drew forth the heat simmering beneath, igniting the pillars with streams of flame that wrapped around them like serpents. The fire roared, fierce and controlled, lighting up the arena.
But Juka wasn't finished. He took a deep breath, feeling the familiar hum of his third affinity—the one he had barely touched before. A surge of electricity sparked at his fingertips, and he let it loose, arcs of blue lightning crackling between the flaming pillars, setting the entire construct ablaze in a storm of fire and thunder.
Gasps filled the air. The instructors leaned forward, eyes wide.
"By the gods, is that—?" someone whispered.
Juka held the display for a moment longer, then, with a flick of his wrist, dispersed it. The flames vanished, the stone crumbled back into the earth, and the lightning dissipated into the air.
He stood there, panting slightly, the last echoes of power fading around him.
Instructor Vallin stared at him, stunned. "You're—"
"I'm a Storm mage," Juka said quietly, meeting the instructor's gaze head-on. "And I'm here to learn."
Silence fell, the watching students exchanging shocked looks.
Let them think it's a fluke now, Juka thought fiercely. Because soon, they'd know just how serious he was.