The air in the Mana and Aura Check-In room was thick with tension, like a resonance generated by an overactive leyline, as most of them spoke in hushed tones about their results.
"Freya Victor, you're next," Professor Leo's voice came out clear and sharp, cutting through the heavy hum of discussion. With a determination that did not waver, Freya moved into the glowing stone circle, her movements effortless and confident, much like a river flowing to its preordained destination.
The moment her hand touched its surface, the sigil blazed with light, and numbers appeared above it, like stars in the night sky.
"5,700 units, Mage Expert. You may proceed back. Harper Sebastian, come forth," Professor Leo commanded, his tone beaming with absolute authority. Freya turned, her form weaving in and out of the audience of onlookers, until their eyes met for a moment.
The force of their gazes was like storm clouds gathering over an open plain. "Looks like you've managed to find yourself a pretty decent team. Good luck; I'll be watching to see just how far you can go," Harper said, her words fraught with a confusing confluence of sincerity and challenge.
Freya clenched her fist, the pain of their broken bond wrapping around her like a poisonous snake. Still, something in her stirred, like molten lava, and crystallized into an unspoken vow. The barest whisper of a smile touched Harper's lips before she turned and walked away, leaving Freya with a fire raging inside her.
As Harper approached the circle of stones, it was as if the air itself paused, the anticipation so thick it seemed to writhe the fabric of time. Her hand touched its surface, and the sigil blazed with light, demanding instant attention.
"6,100 units, Mage Expert," Professor Leo announced, his voice cutting through the whispers like a knife through silence. Harper withdrew her hand, her manner as firm as an ancient oak, and returned to her place in the chair, with the whispers of the crowd trailing her like leaves on a wind.
"Alexander Drake, come forward for your evaluation," Professor Leo ordered, his voice cutting through the background cacophony of the room like a whip hashing the ground.
Drake stepped forward, purpose in every calculated step, as old gossip still lingered around him like a persistent fog. "All, let us keep our focus on the score and not the gossiping," Ronan cut in, his grin as sharp as an animal predator, and he refocused everyone onto Drake.
The crowd moved closer together, the air electric with anticipation as Drake's hand touched the stone.
The sigil blazed with brilliant light, its radiance flashing through the room like lightning. Professor Leo stopped, his usual calm façade shattering like fine glass. "W-what?" he stuttered, his shaking fingers covering his lips.
There was a gasp in the room; each sounded like a rock being tossed into a placid lake. Even Ronan's confident composure withered, replaced by a fleeting spark of doubt.
"6,500 units, Mage Expert," Professor Leo announced, his voice laced with disbelief. The room erupted like a volcano, voices melding in a cacophonous orchestra of shock and curiosity.
Now, while being trained with the "Essence Sight Codex" by the sharp Xena, Drake had observed his mana core's capacity like some astronomer mapping the stars.
During Drake's training using the "Essence Sight Codex" under Xena guidance. One of the things he observed was his mana core capacity. Based on his analysis, the size of his mana core measured approximately 7,000 units after his interaction with Lena.
Along with the increase, he gained two other abilities, which are resistance to extreme cold and dragon sense, as well as the sky blue manaring.
Following his idea with Xena. Drake experienced another transformation. His manacore expanded further, reaching an impressive capacity of 13,000 units. He gained a burning red mana ring and two new abilities: resistance to extreme heat and dragon wave.
But right now, Drake's body remains the limiting factor. Currently, his physique can handle a maximum of 6,500 units of mana per day. Exceeding this limit will numb or even paralyse his body.
To fully realise his growing abilities, Drake must continue rigorous physical training to strengthen his body and unlock his full potential.
"Sir, are you sure about that claim, or is this some kind of trickery?" Ronan's voice cut through the air of veneration, thick with doubt as a threatening storm.
The room was silent, the intensity of his accusation hanging heavy like a death knell. "Are you suggesting that I am either blind or prejudiced?" Professor Leo's retort was cutting, able to slice through the tautness with surgical precision.
"Not exactly," Ronan said, his voice laced with skepticism. "But everyone knows Drake's previous evaluation was 1,500 units. How could he jump this high in just five months?" Whispers swirled like a restless wind.
"It seems impossible unless there's manipulation," one student said, feeding the storm. Griffin stepped forward, his voice a hammer striking an anvil. "Please give us an explanation, or we'll believe the stone circle's been tampered with."
Before Professor Leo could react, Mark strode through the throng, his glare a spear aimed at Griffin. "You always think in extremes. Just because you're a loser doesn't mean others can't achieve greatness," he snapped, his words striking like lightning.
The tension thickened, the room now a cauldron of dissent. Drake raised a hand, his calm command a balm over the roiling storm. "Please, all of you, be quiet. I will explain," he began, his voice resolute as a captain steering through treacherous waters.
"You all know that my previous estimate was 1,500 units. But think about this: can a 1,500-unit mage possibly become a three-circle mage without being crushed under that pressure?" His words boomed in the room and were met with nods of understanding.
"The stone measures mana and aura core capacity by gauging the mana currently present," he continued, looking back to Professor Leo. "Is that so?" The professor nodded, his face softening.
Drake stood before the students, his presence a lighthouse in a storm.
"During my last testing, my mana was severely drained, which is why the results were so low. I hope this answers your question to your satisfaction." An expectant hush fell, his words dropping like dew in the morning, and the hostility in the room dissipated into reluctant approval.
But Ronan's face contorted in rage, a failure that seared him like a branding iron. As he walked back, Drake gave Ronan a wink; his smirk was the final twist of the knife.
The room emptied as students returned to their dorms, the echoes of Drake's triumph lingering like the notes of a haunting melody.