It had been six years since the Great Incident that changed everything. The world was different now, with governments, awakened guilds, and the prestigious Hunter Association banding together to combat the threats spilling from mysterious Gates. In response, academies were established to train young Awakeners, preparing them to protect humanity.
And here I was, heading toward one of the top-ranked academies in the country for Awakeners: Arcane Haven Academy. Known as the fourth most prestigious among the Seven Academies, Arcane Haven was legendary for producing some of the strongest mages and warriors. I could feel a mix of nerves and excitement as I approached, watching other students flood through the gates, some looking sharp and powerful, others a bit nervous like me. I couldn't help but think, I wonder if there are any cute girls here, too...
Just as I was musing over that, a familiar voice rang out.
"Michael!" A girl ran up, surprise lighting up her expression. "No way, you're coming to Arcane Haven too? Why didn't you tell me?"
It was Lily, my childhood friend. I grinned, equally surprised. "Lily! I didn't know you were coming here either. And… wait, you have powers too?"
She nodded. "Yeah… I awakened after that incident six years ago. I still don't fully understand it. After I left you at the hospital, I went back home to find my parents, but…." Her voice faltered, eyes clouding with the memory. "They… didn't make it. I was in shock. And then monsters showed up everywhere. I was so terrified, screaming for help, and… somehow, they just started collapsing. There was no one else around, only monsters, but I felt something inside me shift."
I put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm really sorry, Lily. I know what that's like."
She took a deep breath and gave me a small smile. "It's okay. Let's go inside together."
We walked through the main hall, marveling at the sprawling campus. A large line had formed ahead, so we stopped a nearby student to ask what was going on.
"Hey," I introduced myself. "I'm Michael, and this is Lily. We're new here—do you know what this line is for?"
The student smiled. "Nice to meet you, Michael. Welcome to Arcane Haven! This is the line for new students. Up ahead, they're testing each student's mana levels and elemental affinity using a crystal ball. It's how they place you in your dorm and assign you a training schedule."
"So it tells us our elemental affinity?" Lily asked, intrigued.
"Exactly. The crystal glows in different colors depending on the element you're aligned with, and it'll show your mana level as a number. Once they know your element and strength, you'll get your dorm room number and be assigned a group for training."
"Thank you!" I said, glancing over at Lily. "You ready?"
She grinned. "Let's do this."
As we waited, I watched other students take the test. Most were ranked Level 1 or 2, with a few managing Level 3, which the teachers seemed impressed by. After what felt like ages, it was finally Lily's turn.
She placed her hand on the crystal, which began to glow intensely. A bright white light filled the room, illuminating her hand, and a Level 2 appeared above it.
Lily's eyes widened. "What does this mean, Teacher?"
The instructor looked pleased. "Congratulations, Lily! You've awakened with the lightning element, one of the rarest and second-strongest of the six elements discovered so far. With a Level 2 mana, you're above most new students. Your room will be on the second floor, Room 3."
She turned to me, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Michael, did you hear that? I have the power of lightning! Isn't that awesome?"
I grinned, nodding. "That's amazing, Lily! You'll be the star of the academy at this rate."
Then it was my turn.
I stepped forward, placing my hand on the crystal. It felt cool beneath my palm, and I tried to keep calm, but my pulse was racing. After a moment of stillness, the crystal began to glow, brighter and brighter, and a soft murmur started among the students around us.
And then, the crystal erupted in a dazzling light, flooding the room with a brilliance that seemed too intense for any one element. My heart pounded as I glanced at the instructor, who looked utterly stunned.
The crystal continued to glow with a strange, shifting light—something beyond the colors I'd seen so far. And above it, the mana level displayed a number none of us could have expected.