After Lily's assessment confirmed her lightning element with a Level 2 mana strength, it was finally my turn. I stepped forward, taking a deep breath as I placed my hand on the crystal. It was cool beneath my palm, and I could feel my heart beating faster with every second.
The crystal shone with a radiant white light, and then, after a few moments, it shifted slowly to red, which drew a gasp from the students watching. The instructor's expression was surprised but intrigued.
After the assessment ended, I glanced at the teacher, confused. "Teacher, what does this mean?"
The teacher looked at me, her eyes widening. "This is the first time in two years we've had a student with dual elements," she said, clearly impressed. "The white light indicates lightning, and the red signifies fire."
As I finished the assessment, I noticed another male student—a tall guy with jet-black hair and a serious expression—placing his hand on the crystal. To everyone's shock, it revealed that he, too, had dual elements: earth and fire. His mana level registered at Level 3, a full rank above mine.
"Teacher, look," I pointed out, nodding toward him. "He also has dual elements, but his level is higher."
The class murmured, awed by his strength and dual elements. His Level 3 rank drew a lot of attention, just like my assessment had.
As I turned to leave, the teacher asked me, "Which element would you like to focus on and develop further?"
I thought about it for a moment, glancing over at Lily. "Since Lily has lightning, I'll focus on lightning too."
She smiled and handed me a number card. "All right, here's your room assignment. You're on the second floor, Room 3."
Lily grinned as we left. "I can't believe you're a dual element user, though just Level 1." She laughed, teasing.
I gave her a look, half-amused. "Don't laugh at my level. Besides, six years ago, when I was trying to help a few villagers, I felt something spark inside me. I think it was lightning back then. I never expected fire to show up, though."
Lily shrugged. "Forget it for now. And look, we're in the same room! Come on, let's go."
As we climbed the stairs, we passed groups of students who looked powerful. The halls were bustling with excited newcomers, and most seemed to have fire or water affinities. Glancing into a few classrooms, we noticed that each floor was assigned specific elements:
On the first floor, we noticed earth and water students grouped together. Fire and lightning students, including us, were assigned to the second floor. There were even whispers about shadow element users—only three were known to exist, all at the top academies.
Finally, we reached our room and found about twenty students already inside. Lily picked a seat and patted the one next to her. "Michael, sit next to me."
"Sure," I said, settling in.
After a few minutes, our assigned teacher walked in, and there was a collective hush. She was strikingly beautiful, and a few students couldn't help but whisper, "We got the beautiful teacher!"
"Good morning, class. My name is Alvida Morales," she introduced herself, her voice firm. "I'm your instructor for lightning element control in this classroom."
One of the students raised his hand, asking, "Ma'am, do you also have powers? Are you a lightning awakener?"
Alvida's expression hardened. "Of course. All teachers here are awakeners, and we're assigned based on our elemental affinities."
A few students murmured, "Looks like we got a strict one… strict but beautiful."
Alvida's gaze swept over the room. "Now, let's start with introductions. Stand up one at a time, and state your name."
As each student introduced themselves, I noticed a tall, blonde boy at the back, staring out the window, looking completely uninterested.
When my turn came, I stood up. "My name is Michael Alexander D. Grayson. Nice to meet you all."
Lily followed next, smiling as she said, "Hello, everyone! I'm Lilith Serena A. Collins, but you can call me Lily."
Her introduction caught the attention of several students, some whispering about her looks, which made me a bit annoyed.
As we went through introductions, I couldn't help but keep an eye on the blonde boy. Finally, when it was his turn, he stood up with a calm, almost detached air.
"I am Bryan Montefalco," he said, his tone flat. Without another word, he sat back down, his expression completely indifferent.
I heard some students muttering, "Is that it?" "What a stubborn guy." Nearby, a few girls whispered, "Weird guy."
With introductions done, Professor Alvida stepped to the front, drawing everyone's attention.
"Welcome to Spellcasting Fundamentals," she announced, her voice warm but confident. "Today, we're starting with the basics. By the end of this term, you should be able to summon a spark, conjure a shield, and perhaps even manipulate an element or two." She smiled, letting the words settle in. "But first, you need to understand mana. Without that, any spell is just... words."
She gestured to the class. "Close your eyes, everyone. Feel for your mana."
I hesitated, but after glancing at Lily—who was already fully engaged—I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, following Professor Alvida's instructions. Slowly, my mind cleared, and I felt a faint warmth at my core. It was subtle, yet alive, like the pulse of something ancient.
"Good," Professor Alvida's voice guided us. "That warmth is your mana, your inner energy. But it doesn't just sit there. To cast a spell, you need to guide it. Picture it moving—flowing—to your hands."
I clenched my fists, visualizing the warmth gathering in my palms. For a fleeting moment, I felt a hint of heat just under my skin, and my heart skipped in surprise.