In the few days since arriving at the academy, Zayn and Riven had explored nearly every corner of the vast academic city. It wasn't just a school—it was an entire world dedicated to magic, research, and discovery. Everywhere they went, students and scholars alike bustled about, discussing theories, conducting experiments, and practicing their spells.
Now, seated at the very back of the orientation ceremony, Zayn couldn't help but feel a mix of nerves and curiosity. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, eyeing the stage where a professor was preparing to address the crowd.
"This place is huge," Zayn muttered, glancing around the massive hall filled with new students. "I swear, I get lost just looking for the bathroom."
Riven, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed, chuckled. "You'll get used to it. Or you won't."
"Hey!"
As Zayn grumbled, he couldn't help but notice the flurry of whispers and pointing from the students up ahead. His eyes followed the crowd's focus to the front of the room, where the silver-haired duke's daughter sat, easily recognizable even from a distance. Her friend, the dark blue-haired girl, was seated beside her.
"There they are again," Zayn muttered, nudging Riven. "The duke's daughter and her entourage. They're practically glowing with attention."
Riven rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Nobles. Honestly, I don't get the big deal. They put their pants on one leg at a time just like the rest of us."
"Sure, except their pants are probably made of silk and enchanted to wash themselves."
"Okay, fair point," Riven conceded with a grin.
Before they could continue, the room fell silent as the professor stepped onto the stage. He was a tall, thin man with a long, flowing robe and an air of authority. His voice boomed as he greeted the students.
"Welcome, new arrivals, to the academy!" he began, his voice echoing through the hall. "First, let me congratulate you all on making it here. Your journey begins now."
Zayn listened intently, but he could feel his nerves rising as the professor continued.
"Now, as part of our school's records," the professor went on, "everyone will be required to have their levels certified and recorded. This is standard procedure, and it ensures we know where each of you stands."
At this, a few students exchanged glances, murmuring softly. Zayn felt a knot form in his stomach. "Here we go," he muttered under his breath.
But then, the professor's tone shifted. "However, there is another purpose to the assessment," he said, and suddenly, the room was alive with whispers. Even Zayn leaned forward slightly, curiosity piqued.
Riven, however, looked unimpressed. "Bet it's something super dramatic," he whispered sarcastically. "Like, 'The fate of the world depends on this test.'"
Zayn elbowed him. "Shut up, it might be important."
The professor raised a hand, signaling for the students to quiet down. "This assessment," he continued, "will also activate the World System within you."
Zayn blinked. "World system?" he whispered to Riven, who shrugged in response.
"The world system," the professor explained, "is an ancient magical framework that will make your magic easier to use and quicker to activate. It will allow you to perform spells with less effort and more control."
Now, the murmurs in the room grew louder, excitement buzzing through the crowd. Zayn felt a twinge of excitement too—anything that could make magic easier was good news in his book.
"But that's not all," the professor added, his voice cutting through the chatter. "The world system also grants you an ultimate skill. These are the core principles by which your magic will function, unique to each individual. Most of you will receive only one ultimate, though there are a few who may receive two or three."
Zayn exchanged a look with Riven. "An ultimate skill? Sounds fancy," Zayn whispered. "Wonder what mine'll be."
The professor wasn't finished. "There are currently only a handful of individuals in the world with more than two ultimate skills. Those of you who receive such blessings will be... quite exceptional."
The murmurs turned into excited chatter now, as students imagined what their ultimate skills could be. Zayn couldn't help but feel his palms grow sweaty. He wasn't sure if he should be thrilled or terrified.
"The assessments will begin immediately," the professor announced, motioning to the large chamber behind him. "When your name is called, proceed through the door to undergo the process."
Zayn could feel the anticipation growing in the room. Students were practically buzzing with energy, and even he couldn't deny the excitement creeping in.
Riven stretched lazily. "Well, this should be fun. I wonder if they hand out snacks while we wait."
Before Zayn could respond, the first name was called out.
The tension in the hall grew thicker as the first few names were called. The Duke's daughter, with her flowing silver hair, was among the first to be called, followed by her blue-haired companion. Zayn watched as they confidently stepped through the door at the front of the hall, the crowd murmuring in awe. Their presence seemed to cast a shadow over everyone else in the room.
"Bet they get something crazy," Riven said lazily, leaning back in his chair as he watched them go.
Zayn nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. His turn was coming soon, and he wasn't sure what to expect. He'd been running scenarios in his mind since the ceremony started, but nothing quite prepared him for the anxiety creeping up his spine.
Before long, both of the girls emerged from the chamber, the Duke's daughter looking as composed as ever. The murmurs in the crowd picked up again, everyone trying to guess what they might have seen inside.
And then, Zayn heard his name.
"Zayn Eldrion."
His heart skipped a beat. Riven sat up straighter, grinning. "Well, that's you. Good luck, man."
Zayn took a deep breath and stood. "Thanks," he muttered, his legs feeling heavier than they had just moments before. As he made his way through the crowd, he could feel eyes on him—though not with the same awe as the nobles had garnered. Still, the anticipation was there, thick and pressing.
He stepped through the large door, and immediately, everything went dark. The atmosphere was eerily silent. He strained his eyes, trying to make out any details, but the room seemed to swallow all light.
"Is this part of it?" Zayn whispered to himself, his voice barely a murmur in the vast blackness. He took a cautious step forward, every sense on high alert. Suddenly, he heard a faint whooshing sound behind him.
Before Zayn could react, a shadow lunged at him from the darkness. His instincts screamed, but he knew he couldn't move in time. Yet, just as the strike was about to connect, a screen-like projection flared to life in front of his eyes.
"System active," said a woman's robotic voice, cold and efficient. "Beginning host safety ensurement."
Zayn's body moved on its own. With a speed and agility he never knew he possessed, he dodged the incoming strike, spinning to face his attacker. He barely had time to process what had just happened before the lights flickered on, revealing a large chamber and, at the far end, the professor who had led the ceremony.
The shadowy figure that had attacked him vanished as if it had never existed. Zayn's heart was still pounding as the professor stepped forward, his expression unreadable.
"Impressive," the professor said, his voice calm. "Your system has been successfully activated."
Zayn blinked, trying to wrap his head around what had just happened. "I… dodged that?" he asked, still in disbelief at the speed he had just displayed.
The professor nodded. "Yes, your system recognized the threat and ensured your safety. You should get used to such responses. Now, come here, and I'll show you the results."
Zayn walked over to the professor, and as he did, the familiar holographic screen reappeared in front of him. His stats had been updated, with new information he hadn't seen before:
LEVEL: 1/7
TYPE: ENERGY
SUB-TYPE: VECTOR
STR: 50
SPE: 70
VIT: 50
INT: 70
MAG: 150/???
ULTIMATE SKILL: PANTA RHEI
The professor gestured to the screen. "Your stats are as expected for someone at your level, but this," he pointed to the ultimate skill slot, "is particularly interesting."
"'Panta Rhei'?" Zayn read aloud, confused. "What does that mean?"
The professor smiled slightly. "It's an ancient phrase meaning 'everything flows.' Your ultimate skill is tied to the concept of constant movement and change. As you grow, it will evolve alongside your other abilities, adapting and becoming more powerful over time."
Zayn stared at the screen in awe. "So… it'll change as I get stronger?"
"Exactly," the professor replied. "It's a rare type of ultimate. Few are as flexible as this one. It means your potential is vast, but it will require you to continue developing your skills to unlock its true power."
Zayn's mind raced with the possibilities. He'd always thought of himself as an underdog, especially next to people like the Duke's daughter. But now, hearing that his ultimate skill could grow and evolve—he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
The professor gave him a nod of approval. "You did well for your first time. Return to the hall, and don't forget—your real journey has just begun."
Zayn nodded, still absorbing everything. He turned and walked back toward the door, his mind swirling with thoughts about the future. As he exited the chamber, the crowd of students in the hall barely paid him any attention, but Zayn didn't care. He had something far more important to think about now.
Riven stood up, cracking his neck as he made his way to the chamber door. "Guess it's my turn now," he said casually, smirking at Zayn.
"Good luck," Zayn called after him. He was still processing his own results, but he was curious to see what Riven's would be.
As Riven stepped into the dark chamber, the door closed behind him with a heavy thud. Just like with Zayn, the room was pitch black, and the familiar sound of something moving in the shadows echoed around him. He stood still, waiting. Then, without warning, the shadow lunged toward him.
Before Riven even had time to react, the familiar projection screen appeared before his eyes.
[System active. Beginning host safety ensurement.]
But unlike Zayn, Riven didn't dodge.
Instead, the shadow seemed to stop in mid-air, then rapidly disintegrate into nothingness. It was erased completely, leaving not a trace behind. The system continued in its cold, robotic tone:
[Host threat eliminated.]
The lights flickered on, revealing the chamber once more. At the far end of the room, the professor stood there, his eyebrows slightly raised in surprise. "Interesting," he said, crossing his arms. "Most people dodge. You're one of the few who actually attacked."
Riven shrugged nonchalantly and walked over to the professor, who gestured to the floating screen in front of him, just as he'd done with Zayn.
LEVEL: 1/7
STR: 109
SPE: 150
VIT: 150
INT: 100
MAG: 000/???
ULTIMATE SKILL: ARCHÉ POINT
The professor stared at the screen, visibly impressed. "These are remarkable stats for a level 1. You're closer to level 2 than most people. And..." he trailed off, his eyes focusing on the MAG: 000/???.
Riven, noticing the look, asked, "What's with the zero? Why don't I have any magic?"
"Ah, that's standard for void magic users," the professor explained, folding his arms. "Void magic doesn't operate with traditional magic energy. Instead, it cancels out or destroys other forms of magic. Essentially, it's magic that erases magic. Hence, the zero."
Riven nodded, satisfied with the explanation. "So, my ultimate skill... 'Arché Point'?"
The professor smiled. "Arché means 'origin,' and point refers to a singularity. Your magic ability is a representation of raw, primal force—returning things to their original state or erasing them altogether. It's a powerful skill, especially as it develops."
Riven gave a slow nod, processing that. "Got it," he said. Then, glancing around, he added, "But where did that shadow thing go?"
The professor's eyes flickered with concern, though he tried to hide it. He extended his hand as though to summon the shadow again, but nothing happened. "It seems," he chuckled softly, "that you actually destroyed it. That shadow wasn't just a projection—it's part of my own magic. Void magic users like yourself have a tendency to... break things." He smiled tightly. "Well done."
Riven just grinned. "Guess I'll be careful, then."
The professor watched him leave, his smile fading into a more thoughtful expression. He rubbed his chin and glanced at where the shadow had been. "Destroyed, huh..." he muttered to himself.
As Riven exited the chamber, Zayn was already waiting outside, leaning against the wall. "How'd it go?" Zayn asked.
"Not bad," Riven said, glancing at the remaining students who still had to take their assessments. "The professor was impressed. He said I'm closer to level 2 than most."
Zayn raised an eyebrow. "You? Closer to level 2? Man, no wonder you crushed those thugs."
"Yeah," Riven said, then leaned in with a sly grin. "Also... I erased his shadow."
Zayn blinked. "You... erased it?"
"Yep. Gone." Riven shrugged. "Turns out Void magic doesn't mess around. I don't have any magic energy like normal people. Zero. But apparently, that's a good thing for me."
Zayn laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Well, remind me to never get on your bad side."
"No promises," he said, slapping him on the back. "Now let's go get something to eat. I feel like I could tear through a whole feast right now."
As they walked back to the hall, Riven couldn't help but chuckle to himself. The assessment was just the beginning, but he already had a feeling that this school was going to be more interesting than he'd initially thought.