Valen strode through the academy grounds with his usual quiet confidence, following Professor Zorath to the second test area.
The tension from Elara's earlier outburst still hung in the air, but Valen was unbothered. His thoughts were focused on the task ahead.
The second test—a combat evaluation—would be an opportunity for him to observe the academy's students and assess their abilities firsthand.
The test site was an open combat arena, vast and well-equipped. In one corner stood racks of practice weapons, neatly arranged in rows.
Swords, spears, axes, bows, and other weapons were all made of wood, but despite their appearance, the Shattering of Veils had altered the very nature of plants and trees, making them as durable as steel.
These wooden weapons were no less lethal in the hands of a skilled combatant.
At the opposite end of the arena stood the Mana Sentinels, their gleaming silver bodies towering over the students.
