Professor Leo took up his position on the raised platform, crossing his arms behind his back, like a sentry over the audience. His eyes, sharp as thorns, glanced through the garden of prospective students; his voice cut through the silence like a sharp blade.
"Note, you'll go through two tests. First is the mana test. Second is the mental strength test. Those students who succeed in these two tests can attend the academy and note that these are just the basics.
After six months, your qualification test will start. Students who will fail the test will lose their admission rights, and students who will pass it will be transferred to upper classes, which is the senior class. More information will be relayed in your class activities. That's all today."
"Now I will examine each of you individually in order to find out your mana and your tier level." His voice had an air to it that made it sound like it dropped onto the room massively. He paused deliberately, his hand coming out from behind his back to bring forth a crisp parchment with their names on it. "Luthor Victoria."
A young lady stepped forward, her long white hair cascading like a silken waterfall down her back. Her small frame, at 5.2 feet, was imbued with icy graciousness; her skin as pale as freshly fallen snow. Her step onto the stage had been so poised that it stifled even the faintest whisper. She walked right up to the crystal tablet and placed her hand on it. The crystal tablet glowed fiercely in its icy blue with an undertone of glacial white, as if the tablet itself were freezing under her touch.
Three stars lit up beside the glow, shining like frost-kissed stars on a winter's night. "Frozen Aura, Tier Three. Qualified," Professor Leo said, nodding in approval, his voice as steady as stone. He turned toward the opposite side of the stage and gestured. "Please move over there."
The crowd began to murmur as a storm of applause rose in the room. "As expected of the only daughter of the Luthor clan." "There's a rumor about her swordsmanship too."
"The next in line is Dominic Griffin; please come to the stage." A youth emerged onto the stage with grace. His deep blue hair glistened with polished sapphire under the light and his strong physique reflected the strength he carried in his steps as he went right up to the crystal tablet and lay his hand on it.
The tablet flared with aquamarine blue, streaked with translucent silver, as three stars sparkled beside the bright light, like jewels in a crown. "Crystal Aura, Tier Three. Qualified."
Professor Leo's voice cut through the air with finality. Dominic stepped down the stage, his shoulders squared with pride, as he walked toward Mark with a gait that was almost daring.
"Leif Hunter." Professor Leo's voice boomed again. A young man, about 5.5 feet tall, ascended the stage with short, sparkling silver hair. He walked in measured steps and calmly with a confident stride.
Laying his hand upon the crystal tablet, he stood still as a pale grey light with silvery mist tendrils flitted across the face. Three stars beside the light shone very bright; their shining beamed like a lighthouse on a foggy night.
"Vapour Aura, Rank Three. Passed," the professor declared. Leif stepped down from the stage, his form breaking through the crowd like a phantom apparition.
In the sea of students, Drake's eyes were on Griffin's action. He turned to Mark and raised an eyebrow. "Why did he do that to you?" Mark shrugged slightly, with a wry smile playing on his lips. "Hum, about that. Both our clans happen to be rivals since we both use fists. He came here to boast about his achievement."
Drake nodded, his eyes dropping back to the examiner.
"Victor Freya, please come up to check your mana status," Professor Leo called. A young lady with pale blue hair hesitated and stepped forward; her locks shone like moonlight on water. At 5 feet, she seemed fragile, yet in each step lay quiet determination.
She placed her hand upon the tablet, and over its surface, there flowed a mild aqua light with luminous pearl highlights, as if it had been reflecting the peaceful bottom part of a crystal lake. The three stars beside shone with placid brilliance.
"Healing Water Aura, Tier Three. Passed. You may come down, please," the examiner announced. She glided down with poise, her expression unbroken.
Back with Drake and Mark, the former's interest was once again roused. "But I thought all healer mages use magic. Why aura?"
Mark let out a soft chuckle, his face thoughtful. "That's the way it's always been with the Victor family. They wake up like every other knight only to become healer mages. They have a rival too, and one of them is present. Her name is." His sentence hung in the air and melted with the instructor's next call.
"Sebastian Harper."
Drake was riveted by a self-confident young woman who stepped up onto the stage.
Her long blue hair, two bold white strips running down her side hair, bounced with each step, speaking of energy. The moment she touched the crystal, a bright cobalt blue flashed over the tablet, streaked with crashing white. Three stars gleamed next to it, sharp and demanding light.
"Protective Healing Water Mana, Tier Three. Qualified." She leapt off the stage with grinning beaming, matching her achievement.
"The next on my list is Ronan Smith," Professor Leo announced, his voice level but fascinated.
A young boy mounted the stage; his 5.3 feet height added to his stern presence. His furrowed brow and narrowed eyes radiated intensity. The moment his hand made contact with the tablet, a sharp crackling sound rang through.
The crystal tablet fractured, and sinister vibes rippled through the room like shockwaves. The hall was silent with tension as thick as thunderclouds.
From a hidden vantage point, the long white-haired elder with the chin adorned by a regal beard narrowed his eyes at the scene, his expression unreadable yet intrigued.
To everyone's shock, the three stars still lit up beside the cracked crystal. Ronan turned to the stunned professor, a smirk of arrogance twisting his lips. "Please, will you call out the results?" His words dripped with audacity.
Professor Leo's calm cracked, but he snapped it back into place. "Oh yeah. Mana, unknown. Tier Three. Qualified." Ronan strode down the stage with fake bravado, his grin aimed directly at Drake.
Chills ran up and down Drake's spine. "Why did he come into my view and smile?" he muttered.
Mark waved it off with a dismissive tone. "He's a narcissist who loves attention. You caught his eye because of the spotlight you've been getting. Don't let it bother you. He's notorious for stunts like this." "Mark Fist," the professor called, bringing Mark's attention. "I'm up," he growled to Drake and strode confidently to the stage.
Laying his hand on the tablet, a deep sea green light with glowing teal ripples erupted, its energy raw and untamed. Three stars appeared next to it. "Torrential Aura. Tier Three. Qualified," Professor Leo announced. Mark stepped down, his expression calm but confident.
All the other students were called one by one. Some succeeded, others faltered. "Fifth from the bottom on the list, Alexander Drake." Drake stepped up to the crystal tablet, his stride firm, though his muscles tensed, anticipating. Putting his hands on it, the tablet came alive with a beautiful sky blue light touched by soft white highlights, as if the heavens themselves had fallen into the crystal.
The cracks on the tablet healed in an instant, radiating silent but unmistakable dominance. Only Professor Leo noticed it; his hawk eyes narrowed for a moment. The color stumped the crowd.
"What kind of mana or aura is that?" whispered voices speculated. "It could be a low mana affinity for water," someone theorized. With that doubt came a consensus among the students: this was Healer Mana, evidenced by the crystal's repair. The room was abuzz with speculations, a whirlwind of curiosity and doubt swirling around Drake.