Ray walked toward the testing area, his steps deliberate and unhurried. The onlookers dismissed him initially, still immersed in the overwhelming performances of the prodigies who had gone before him.
However, as Ray neared the orb, a subtle yet undeniable shift in the atmosphere swept through the training grounds. He undid his Mana concealment skill slowly.
The air thickened, charged with an indescribable weight, and the crowd instinctively stilled. A sudden pull on their mana left many gasping as if their own energy was being sucked away. A vortex started forming around Ray, and all the mana in the area was sucked in as if it want to cling to Ray.
Myra, an experienced Archmage, staggered back, her breathing labored.
'What kind of energy is this?! she thought, her heart pounding.
Ray finally stopped before the testing orbs. The stillness of the air seemed louder than any shout, heavier than any blow. Myra managed to recover enough to speak, her voice shaky.
"Right orb for mana, left for primal energy," she instructed, despite her certainty that Ray was a mage.
But Ray's next move shocked her and everyone else. Without hesitation, he extended his hand, not toward the mana orb but toward the primal energy orb.
Confusion swept through the crowd like wildfire. Whispers turned to stunned silence as anticipation gripped them.
The prodigies couldn't take their eyes off him. The Instructors, and everyone present or nearby, felt at loss seeing the scene in front of them. Lily Dragonborne clenched her fist, the smile of a battle maniac unconsciously curling her lips. Katherine's hood flew off, revealing her otherworldly beauty. The mere sight of her face caused several weaker candidates to faint.
Ray placed his palm on the primal energy orb, and the scene that followed was unlike anything the academy had ever witnessed. A solid gold and silver hue erupted from the orb, enveloping it entirely. The orb seemed to pulse, as though alive, before shattering into countless fragments.
The released energy burst outward, as if not wanting to be caught in anything, as if it had its own will, creating a shockwave that swept across the arena and went back to Ray. Myra, closest to the epicenter, instinctively activated all her barrier spells. Despite her efforts, the force hurled her backward, and she collapsed to the ground.
When everyone thought, finally it stopped and started to take in some air as they looked at each other and towards the man clad in black attire and sword.
But Ray wasn't finished. With a calm confidence, he placed his hand on the mana orb next.
Seeing that, many couldn't comprehend what was going on anymore and started being delusional assuming it all was a dream. Still...
The mana orb flared immediately, cycling through countless hues, each brighter and more vibrant than the last. The intensity grew until the orb, unable to contain the energy, disintegrated into fine powder.
A deep silence followed, broken only by the sound of Sullivan's rapid arrival. The headmaster, who had sensed the extraordinary phenomenon from his distant office, blinked onto the scene just as the dust began to settle.
As the air cleared, Ray lowered his hood. His silver hair shimmered like molten moonlight, and his ocean-blue eyes held a lazy but undeniable confidence, yet it was sharp and gentle. The women in the crowd fell to their knees, unable to resist the charm that radiated from him like an aura.
Even Katherine, always composed, looked visibly awestruck. Unable to take her eyes oof of him, and those eyes, they spoke....a weird feeling she never felt.
Ray smirked faintly,
"Is that all?" he said, his tone nonchalant.
His voice carrying effortlessly across the stunned audience, using his wind mana on his vocals, he announced,
"Well...as the instructor is passed out, let me announce my results,
Mana and Primal Energy Quality: Unknown, believe me, you don't want to know further."
With the room still reeling from the display, Ray turned and walked back to his spot, pulling his hood over his head once more. He glanced around and saw some intense gazes of Katherine, Lily, and many more. He sat down, closing his eyes as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, chaos erupted among the instructors. Klaus rushed to assist the unconscious Myra while Gerald and Sullivan remained onstage, trying to regain their composure.
Sullivan stepped forward, his voice unsteady.
"Attention, students!" he called out, casting a recovery spell to revive some energy in those who had fainted.
As the spell took effect, the crowd slowly returned to their senses, though none dared to look toward Ray's direction. Sullivan continued, his voice heavy with disbelief and awe.
"Whatever Candidate Ray displayed here today… it is something beyond this realm. Beyond 'any' realm, even the Dragon Realm, as far as I know."
He paused, taking a deep breath to steady himself.
"Let us move forward to the next stage of the examination, the second test, where your use of powers and your strength will be checked. Instructor Gerald will take over from Myra."
Sullivan vanished from the stage, leaving the crowd buzzing with nervous energy. Everyone, even the prodigies, understood one thing: they had just witnessed an event that would become legend.
Ray, however, sat quietly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. Luna chimed in,
[Quite arrogant aren't you, Ray]
Ray replied.
"Was I? Am I always not like this, Luna? O'god My Luna has forgotten about me, please return her memories....hu..hu.." He faked crying, teasing Luna back.
[Stop the drama, Drama-queen] said Luna, as she went off, thinking about certain word Ray referred to her by.
Unknown to Ray and Luna they have become close, him being reliant on her for everything and also gaining that sentient a bit by bit every passing days...
For Ray, this test was only the beginning, to a long road ahead.