"Now you can give Rowan his retest, right?" Cael asked coldly, glaring at Sebastian, who was slumped on the ground.
Sebastian didn't respond. Instead, he just lay there, a look of exhaustion on his face. Cael noticed that his system screen now displayed a "2,808 VT" for energy value.
"Using Lightning Mirage to counter my Embrace of the Storm... I never expected that." Sebastian muttered to himself, still caught up in the aftermath of their fight.
He couldn't help but chuckle as he spoke: "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! That move was genius!"
"If you're fine, then hurry up and give Rowan his retest! And remember—you promised to make it easier this time." Cael continued, his words seeming unrelated to Sebastian's, as though they were on different channels.
The onlookers quickly stepped forward. Some helped Sebastian to his feet, while others began to set the tables and chairs back upright. Rowan also walked over to Cael, his face showing even more shock than the others.
Growing up with Cael, Rowan had always believed he knew him better than anyone. But now, Cael was far too strong. He had suddenly mastered a number of new moves, some of which were clearly advanced techniques—far beyond anything someone at their level could even begin to imagine, let alone master with such ease.
Countless questions swirled in Rowan's mind. He stared at Cael for a long moment, trying to convince himself that the person before him was really the Cael he had known.
After a moment, he finally spoke: "Where did you learn all these elemental attacks? Someone who's never trained couldn't possibly master techniques like these…"
"And that Lightning Bolt you used when you injured me in the valley… It was a basic move, but the energy behind it…" Rowan continued.
Cael quickly interrupted: "I'm really sorry about what happened in the valley… I didn't mean to hurt you! I just… lost control for a second…"
He had intended to take this chance to explain and apologize, but his words were interrupted by Sebastian's voice.
"Rowan, time for your retest!"
Rowan and Cael both turned to look at the source of the voice almost the same time.
Sebastian was standing in the crowd, straightening his clothes in an attempt to look less disheveled. He was tall and stood out in the crowd, waving at Rowan and signaling for him to come over.
"Alright!" Rowan responded without hesitation.
"Hey… Rowan… I'm not done yet…"
Cael called after Rowan's quickly disappearing figure. When he realized Rowan hadn't heard him, he shot a furious glare at Sebastian.
This musclehead really doesn't know when to pick his moments!
Sebastian led Rowan into the room designated for the entrance exam. While everyone knew it was just another sparring session, Sebastian always liked to make it seem more official and mysterious. He made sure no one was allowed to watch.
Taking advantage of the moment, Cael moved to the wall and sat down.
The truth was, he'd been pushing himself hard. After unleashing several elemental attacks in quick succession, he could feel his energy draining, his body starting to feel weak.
But he didn't want Sebastian or Rowan to notice his exhaustion, so he pretended like nothing was wrong.
He crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and focused on calming the energy flowing through his body.
A short time later, Sebastian and Rowan emerged from the room
The moment they appeared, every pair of eyes turned to them.
"I hereby announce that Rowan, of the Cyclonaris, has passed the entrance exam!" Sebastian proclaimed loudly.
Standing behind him, Rowan looked absolutely thrilled. He pressed his lips together, clearly trying to contain his excitement.
At that moment, Cael finally let out a sigh of relief.
He'd always hated dragging others down. From the moment he realized he'd been holding Rowan back, guilt had weighed heavily on him.
Now that he had finally made up for that mistake, the burden in his heart had finally lifted.
"At the same time, about Cael…" Sebastian continued, his voice deep and magnetic, drawing everyone's attention.
"After my evaluation, I can confirm that he didn't use any Cyclonaris techniques during the sparring. Therefore, I conclude that he is not a Elemental-Hybrid, but from the Thundaris."
As soon as Sebastian's words fell, the hall erupted in low murmurs, like a spark had set the crowd alight.
Cael couldn't help but think to himself: My system already shows I'm from the Thundaris. I knew it couldn't be wrong. And honestly, I don't need you to prove that.
At that moment, Sebastian turned to Cael and announced loudly:
"Since he's from the Thundaris, I hereby announce that Cael has passed the entrance exam!"
Huh? What?
Cael, still irritated by Sebastian's actions, was stunned by the announcement. He blinked in surprise before blurting out:
"I never said I wanted to take the entrance exam!"
I can't stand these muscleheads, always acting on their own! Cael muttered to himself.
Though he wasn't entirely opposed to attending school, he hadn't made any decisions yet.
After all, Rowan's father had mentioned that his aunt was opposed to it. He hadn't dared to make a decision, he knew his aunt's objections must have been for a reason.
"You've reached the right age for school, and with such incredible talent, it's only natural that you should continue your studies!" Sebastian said, his voice laced with a hint of pride. It was clear that his opinion of Cael had changed.
"But I didn't even take the entrance exam!" Cael frowned.
"The sparring just now was the entrance exam. You passed! Tomorrow, the village council will make an official announcement!" Sebastian responded, clearly excited.
"Wait a second…"
"Cael passed the entrance exam? What the hell happened?" A voice suddenly rang out from the doorway. It was Cael's aunt, Nadia.
She rushed into the hall, visibly flustered, as if she were ready to confront Cael.
Just then, a woman of similar age approached Nadia and whispered a few words, likely filling her in on everything that had just happened.
"I won't allow it! I won't let him go to school!" Nadia's voice rang out, almost a shout. Her outburst made the entire hall fall silent once more.
"Are you worried he's a Elemental-Hybrid?" Sebastian stepped forward, speaking in a calm yet confident tone:
"I've already verified—he's not a Elemental-Hybrid. He's from the Thundaris. Every move he made came from the Thundaris."
"You verified? How?" Nadia asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Sebastian went on to explain his theory about verifying Cael's Elemental Clan through their sparring, but Nadia still looked unconvinced.
"Anyway, I won't allow it!" Nadia declared once again, her voice firm.
Cael felt a twinge of sadness deep down. To be honest, when he first heard Sebastian say he could go to school, he had been happy, but because he didn't like Sebastian, he always found himself opposing whatever he said.
But now, hearing his aunt say he couldn't go to school, he was left feeling confused and frustrated.
Then, he saw Sebastian pull Nadia aside. The two whispered for a while. Cael noticed his aunt's expression slowly relaxing, her attitude softening.
"Alright, Cael, I'll seriously consider the idea of you going to school, but I need some time."
Nadia said as she walked over to him, her tone noticeably gentler.
"But in two days, we have to set off." Rowan, who had been standing beside Cael, reminded him.
"Then tomorrow. I'll tell you my decision tomorrow." Nadia replied quickly, then pushed Cael and Rowan toward the door.
"Alright, you two, hurry home! After all that fighting, you must be tired!"
After leaving the lively village hall, Cael and Rowan walked side by side down the quiet path.
Rowan seemed much more excited now, probably because he had passed the entrance exam.
He rambled on and on, and Cael took the chance to learn more about the world from him.
It appears that their village is called "Voltwood," located in the country of Thorvia, a place where the Thundaris predominantly reside.
Rowan's family is the only one from the Cyclonaris; everyone else in the village is from the Thundaris. That explains why everyone Cael sees in the village hall has the Thundaris listed in their system info.
In this world, there are over a dozen countries. Most are formed by alliances of different clans, but there are also a few countries founded by a single clan.
For example, Hydranor is established by the Fluidaris, while Ordanis is founded by the Terraris.
Countries are established to maintain stability, but that doesn't guarantee they will stay that way.
Wars between clans and power struggles can cause a country to collapse in an instant. That's why the number of countries isn't fixed. A powerful empire today might be gone tomorrow, or its rulers might change.
Thorvia is a large, historically significant country, with a history spanning over three hundred years. It is a nation inhabited by multiple elemental clans, primarily the Thundaris and the Cyclonaris, along with the Fluidaris, and a small portion of the Sonaris and the Icenaris.
The current ruler, the President Vaelorn, from the Thundaris, has immense power of energy. But despite his power, he's a failed ruler. The country is in chaos—factional fights and internal wars have left the people suffering.
Fortunately, Voltwood is located in a remote area, a three-day walk from the nearest town, with several mountains to cross along the way. Because of this, it's a place that's far from the chaos.
However, despite this, exotic beasts often wandered near Voltwood, adding a lot of instability to the otherwise peaceful village.
"What about school?" Cael asked again.
Rowan, knowing about Cael's memory loss, patiently answered every question.
It turns out that children in this world don't attend school until they're twelve because their energy levels are too weak before then.
Up until that age, they are usually taught at home by their parents, learning basic life skills, reading, and other essential knowledge. These things aren't taught in school. Of course, some wealthy families might hire private tutors for a more advanced education.
Schools are managed by the government, and they focus on practical survival skills: energy control, knowledge of exotic beasts, and combat training, and more.
The education system is divided into secondary academy and grand university, but not everyone can get in.
The acceptance rate for secondary academy is 30%, and grand university is even more competitive, with an acceptance rate under 10%.
secondary academy covers basic combat skills, while grand university allows for specialized studies based on personal interests.
After graduation, students typically find positions within national institutions. The top performers may even secure roles in key government agencies, while even those who graduate from secondary academy can join the town or village guard, or take on administrative roles.
For any eligible teenager, getting into the academy is considered the most important goal of their life.
Secondary academy admissions take place once every three years. Applicants must first pass a test and get approval from local authorities, then travel to the city where the academy is located for the final assessment.
In other words, one must pass the exam in Voltwood village before being eligible to attend the assessment at the secondary academy in Aetherium city.
"What?!" Cael gasped in disbelief.
"So even if my aunt agrees to let me attend, and I pass the village exam, we still have to go to the city for another test?"
"Exactly." Rowan confirmed with a nod.