-BOOM!!
I gasp, startling awake from my sleep by the crash of thunder. Hitting my head against a branch of leaves above me as I sit up abruptly, nearly falling off my perch in my surprise.
Rubbing the back of my head I glance around the dim clear morning skies, my body relaxing slowly, then a cold breeze cuts through my clothes, making me wrap my jacket tighter around myself.
I grumble, "Maybe deciding to sleep in the giant tree wasn't the greatest idea...getting up here was a whole adventure, and it's a miracle I didn't fall to my death at least twice..."
The sound of faint voices draws my attention, as I look down to see a familiar head of white, accompanied by two other figures in blue. They pause at the foot of the tree and look around for a moment before North turns to get their attention and points up. All three of them look upwards.
I catch North's eye, who smirks knowingly back. The other two familiar faces blink up at me.
Kyle cups his hands around his mouth, "HEY!! Fine morning isn't it?!!"
The president narrows her eyes at me, seemly bemused.
I carefully hop down onto neighboring branches, making it down to the ground level as I clear the last one, landing on my feet with as little as a stumble as I could, the frost crunching softly under my shoes.
"SO! That's where you were all night!" Kyle exclaims, "How comfortable were the branches of the tree? Couldn't be more comfortable than an actual bed can it?"
I look off to the side, "It was good enough. I slept."
"Well now that we got both of you here, we should proceed to the assessments now..." Minuet glances pointedly at Kyle, before turning to us with a small smile, "You don't need to worry about the tests too much, we will just be measuring your magic potential and element so we can assign you the appropriate classes. Alright?"
Both North and I nod in response, Kyle grins.
"The President and I will be there to help you all the way, as foreign transfer students, you get some extra guidance during your first years! And like Mizuku said, don't worry too much about it, it will come naturally like drinking water!"
I blink, nodding absentmindedly, a little disoriented from getting startled awake earlier, and Kyle's energy this early in the morning is astounding...
I attempt to remember my dreams, but my memory declines, as per usual...yawning behind my hand, I try to blink back the grogginess, "...mn."
North elbows me and I snap a sharp gaze at him, he whispers, "It's the Headmaster, coming this way...!"
I turn my head and sure enough, the Headmaster was heading this way.
His eyes twinkle kindly at each of us, "Yuuki, and the transfers, seems like I'm right on time now hm?" He nods at the President, "Mizuku, hope you got the required materials now."
She nods, holding up a school bag in her hand, "I have them."
The Headmaster smiles, "Let us proceed, shall we? And if you are wondering, yes, you two will be the only ones to receive this test, for today, given your- special, circumstances...we have to do something a little more different than the normal procedures."He motions for Minuet to continue, "Let us start."
The president nods, unzipping the bag, and pulls out a small crystal the size of a slightly larger-than-average acorn- she steps toward the trunk of the big tree, carefully fitting it into a groove in the bark seemly perfectly. The crystal emits a glow as it sits in place, the light seems to seep outward throughout the bark, making the patterns glow softly with light.
"Oh yeah, did we forget to mention? This tree is ancient, so it is also sacred, its sort of has magical power in itself over the centuries." Kyle said, "The crystals were found near its roots, only recently we find out we can use it like this! Isn't it interesting?"
North observes the crystal curiously, obviously running scenarios in his head at the natural phenomenon.
My stomach churns uneasily at the thought of getting my potential scaled, since..since...I was already told long ago, I had no talent. Not a sign of magic of where there usually were. I knew someone who caused minor earthquakes with his tantrums as a child, then another, who nearly triggered a tsunami, then my brother...who could create arcs of lighting with his swordsmanship...
Then there's me, a pathetic excuse of a demi to the proud demons of our homeland.
The president steps back from the trunk of the tree, gesturing towards us.
"...Who's first?"
I give North a light push from behind, "You go, you seem more awake than me right now, so go ahead."
North looks at me over his shoulder, "You sure..?"
I nod, and he glances at me again before stepping towards the tree trunk.
"Just simply touch the crystal, whenever you are ready," The Headmaster told him.
I notice North gulp before slowly touching the crystal.
There was a flash of light and I suddenly detect a hint of ozone and the air sparks with a faint streak of light. Then it all fades, all except for sudden visible gray clouds in the sky, gathered toward the middle of the trees canopy.
Minuet nods at North, who steps away, she whispers something under her breath and taps the crystal with her finger, a surge of electricity flies outward from the light in waves.
The Headmaster gestures to me, "Now it's time for you."
I steel my nerves and stop in front of the tree. The crystal, which seemed to pulse with contained energy, glowing with a bright blue light.
"Whenever you are ready," The Headmaster said.
I close my eyes and take a breath. Exhaling, I lift my hand and brush my fingers against the crystal's smooth surface. The light seems to react, growing brighter, and then-
...Nothing.
For a second nothing happened, the air was still, everyone looked on expectedly. But another moment passes, and another...
Then I realize this was my result, nothing.
A feeling of heavy disappointment hangs in my gut, and just as I start to drop my hand from the tree, an electric shock jolts from the crystal up through my arm, and then there's a bright flash of white.
I shut my eyes against the light, the wind picks up, whispering in my ear...
"..Monster.."
I open my eyes with a gasp, the bright glow had immediately vanished as soon as it appeared. I blink, bewildered as I numbly step away.
'What...was that?'
The Headmaster strokes his chin thoughtfully, "Hmm..."He claps suddenly, grinning merrily, "Well that's all then! Thank you for your cooperation, and thank you President but I will take it from here now."
Minuet looks surprised for a moment before nodding slowly, "...Of course Headmaster."
Kyle walks over with a handful of cups, "Oh are you guys all done? I got drinks! Lily helped me prepare them, hope you all like hot chocolate, and there's coffee for the president!"
He hands off the cups, I shake my head when he comes by me, shoving my hands into my pockets.
"I'm good." I turn my head to the side to see the president idly sipping her drink, a white winter scarf wrapped warmly around her neck, the steam from her drink curling off in the air as her glasses slide slowly down her nose.
My eyes can't help but be drawn to her, as I watch her stare down into her cup, her expression pondering...
North whispers next to my ear, "Hey sis, see something you like?"
My ears burn, making me snap my gaze to his smug expression. I glare at him, "N..none of your business!" I embarrassedly stomp away, annoyed but feeling the disappointment from the moment earlier start to ebb away. I stop under a tree, and I look over to the president again, only to see her already looking in my direction.
Her piercing gaze meeting mine, peering at me over the frames of her lens. She holds the eye contact, almost seeming to appraise me. After a moment too long, she looks away, pushing her glasses back in place.
Kyle claps me on the shoulder, startling me, "Hey! That glow at the end was pretty intense huh? They do say the brighter it is, the more powerful you might be! Don't look so down."
I hold back a snort but remained quietly staring at the intricate patterns of the frost on the grass, "...I doubt it."
North comes up next to me, a smirk still tugging at the corner of his mouth, "Kyle might be right, you definitely got something brewing in there sister."
I give them both a flat stare. I mumble under my breath, "...Says who that summoned storm clouds..." I sigh slowly, lightly kicking a rock with my feet."It doesnt matter anymore. It has always been this way," I smile bitterly,
"In a world where almost everybody can use magic, I can't."