------
The courtyard was a sea of students, each one more nervous than the next.
The air was thick with anxiety, excitement, and a slight chill, as if the weather itself was preparing for what was coming.
The students gathered in small clusters, each whispering to one another about what the assessment would entail.
For some, it was a reminder that they still had a lot to learn.
For others, it was just another day to prove they were the best—though, I was willing to bet, most of them were simply pretending to be confident.
It was all a front.
I leaned against the stone wall at the far side of the courtyard, arms crossed, observing them.
I wasn't too worried about the assessment itself.
After all, I wasn't the one being tested.
My job was to supervise and evaluate.
Easy enough, or so I thought.
The loud "QUIET!" that rang out from Headmistress Emily was enough to silence the crowd instantly.
Students froze like deer caught in headlights.
You could practically feel the collective breath hold in the air.
Everyone knew that when Emily spoke, it wasn't just a suggestion—it was a command.
The courtyard might as well have been a tomb for how quiet it became.
I shifted my gaze to Group Three, the ones I was assigned to supervise today. They were all standing in a loose formation, their faces a mix of determination and mild panic.
This was the moment that would determine whether they could take their training to the next level or if they were going to face the harsh reality of failure.
I glanced down at my wrist, activating my wristwatch to pull up their data.
It wasn't exactly cheating.
I called it "preparing for the inevitable."
After all, knowing what I was dealing with made my job easier.
------
• Silas Kingslay
• 16 Y/O
Rank: 2nd (Temporary)
Element: Lightning
Skills: ??
Sword Art: ??
------
Ah, Silas. The guy who was walking around like he was the sun itself.
Confident, borderline cocky, with a hint of arrogance that didn't quite sit right with me.
I watched him flick a glance at Ren, then at Lyrium, before he cracked his knuckles in a show of readiness.
Lightning. The way he moved, the way he carried himself—there was more to him than the average student realized.
But I didn't need to know all of it just yet. Lightning was fast. If he got it under control, he could be a serious threat.
--------
• Ren Sullivan
• 16 Y/O
Rank: 3rd (Temporary)
Element: Fire
Skills: ??
Sword Art: ??
Ren. The laid-back kid who thought everything was a game.
I couldn't figure him out, and that was probably his strength.
You could never predict what he'd do because he didn't seem to care about the outcome. Fire was a tricky element—adaptable, and unpredictable.
That was Ren in a nutshell.
He could dash from point A to point B in the blink of an eye, but what would happen when it was time to face something solid and unyielding?
He might be too distracted by his own laid-back nature to take things seriously.
Then again, maybe that was exactly what made him dangerous.
------
• Lyrium Blackwood
• 16 Y/O
Rank: 15th (Temporary)
Element: Lightning
Skills: ??
Sword Art: ??
Out of all the Students I've encountered so far, he was the most interesting one.
I don't have many information about him but,
He was the one who always seemed a little too serious, a little too focused.
Lightning, yes, but there was something else lurking underneath—something that made him far more dangerous than anyone realized.
Something dark was in him. Something dangerous that we couldn't quite caught on. It was subtle, sneaky, and hard to track.
How would he handle this?
But one this is certain.
Could he keep his emotions in check, or would he let his hidden darkness take over when the pressure came?
------
• Lily Broom
• 15 Y/0
Rank: 4th (Temporary)
Element: Earth
Skills: ??
Sword Art: ??
------
Lily, according to her background was an energetic girl. She couldn't stand still for more than five seconds, always looking like she was about to jump into something.
Earth was about being grounded, strong, and reliable—but Lily?
She was anything but grounded.
It wasn't a matter of power;
it was a matter of focus.
Could she control that frantic energy of hers when it really mattered?
Or would she throw a tantrum the moment things got tough?
I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache brewing.
I could already tell this was going to be one of those assessments where I needed to keep my eyes on everyone at all times.
You never knew what kind of surprise one of these students might throw at you.
"Group Three," I called called out as I continued. "Silas Kingslay, Ren Sullivan, Lyrium Blackwood, and Lily Broom. Step forward."
The four of them slowly made their way to the front.
Silas moved with his usual cocky confidence, taking the lead without hesitation.
Ren, as always, took his sweet time, not in a rush to do anything, like a person who had all the time in the world.
Lyrium was the most subdued, his movements sharp and calculated.
He didn't speak, didn't make eye contact with anyone.
He was in his own head, and I was curious just how deep that headspace went.
Lily, on the other hand, practically skipped forward, her wide grin plastered on her face.
She was either overly confident or completely oblivious to the seriousness of the situation.
*******
The morning light streamed through the large windows of one of the second-year classroom, casting warm hues across the space as the students settled into their familiar positions.
The air was thick with excitement and anticipation, yet there was a certain unease hanging in the room, palpable in the way the students fidgeted and whispered among themselves.
At the far end of the room, near the window, a young woman stood, her long white hair cascading down her back like snow, almost glowing in the light.
Her red eyes, vivid and piercing, were fixed on something unseen outside, her expression as calm and composed as ever.
She radiated an aura of icy perfection—too perfect, almost unreal—like she didn't belong to this world.
Across the room, a group of second-year students gathered around, chatting quietly about the day's events.
Their voices were hushed, as if they knew there was something bigger at play, but none dared voice their concerns too loudly.
"Today's the day," one of them said, a boy with short, messy hair who glanced around the room. "The first-years' physical assessment. That's when we'll see what they're really made of."
"Yeah, the 'fresh meat' test, right?" a girl with freckles on her cheeks laughed nervously, looking over at the young woman by the window. "I mean, it's always interesting to see who's going to be able to handle it and who's going to break under pressure."
The boy nodded, twirling a pen in his fingers absentmindedly. "Honestly, I don't expect much from them. First-years are usually just... well, first-years. The ones who stand out tend to be obvious."
"You're telling me," the freckled girl agreed.
"Most of them will be stumbling over their own feet. It's gonna be a disaster."
The mood in the room seemed to lift slightly as they spoke more freely, moving from idle concerns to playful banter.
"Yeah, but there's always one or two that surprise us," the tall boy said with a shrug. "The ones who somehow manage to shine despite everything. I think it'll be interesting to see how they hold up."
"True," the freckled girl agreed, her eyes scanning the others. "I mean, have you heard about the guy who's supposed to have lightning powers?"
Another student perked up at that.
"Lightning? Seriously? Now that could be interesting. If he actually knows how to control it, he might not be half bad."
The tall boy chuckled. "You're really buying into rumors, huh? That's just what they all say about the first-years. There's always one with 'special powers' or some sort of secret talent."
The freckled girl nodded slowly, though her curiosity was clearly piqued. "I wonder who he is. I mean, with all the rumors going around, I wouldn't be surprised if some of them had something really impressive."
The boy with the messy hair rolled his eyes.
"Let's not get carried away. They're all just a bunch of rookies. Let them prove themselves first, and then we'll see. Right now, I'm more concerned about how many of them are going to fail miserably."
The discussion shifted again, this time focusing on the more general aspects of the first-year assessment.
The second-years were particularly fixated on which students might fail, as it was always a point of pride to see how well their peers performed in comparison to the newer initiates.
They spoke of the students who would probably excel—like Margaret Windsor, who was always poised and perfect in everything she did, and Silas Kingslay, who was rumored to have a natural gift for Lightning.
"Margaret Windsor... She'll top the list, no doubt," the freckled girl mused, her voice filled with admiration. "I saw yesterday. Her control over ice is flawless. She makes it look like she's born with it."
The boy nodded, smirking slightly. "I mean, if you could freeze a person with just a glance, you'd probably feel pretty confident, too."
They all laughed, but the conversation moved on quickly.
"Silas Kingslay's Lightning affinity is bound to catch attention, too," the messy-haired boy said. "If he can keep that under control, he'll make a big impression. His Lightning's got the potential to electricute the whole field, though."
"Yeah, but let's be honest," the freckled girl said, leaning back in her chair with a knowing grin. "I don't know for others but in my perspective, he looks like a cocky and arrogant bastard. One slip-up and that's the end of it."
The boy with messy hair raised an eyebrow.
"You don't think he's good?"
She shrugged. "I think he's good, but I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to show off too much and electricute himself out in the process."
As they continued discussing the potential of various students, the group seemed to grow more animated, but there was one topic that none of them dared touch—the identity of the mysterious first-year with the rumored lightning powers.
The tall boy raised his eyebrows, his voice dropping slightly in a mock-serious tone.
"You think we'll see someone like that today?
A total wildcard?"
"I don't know," the freckled girl said, clearly intrigued. "But I think the first-years are about to have one hell of a day. You know how it goes—the ones who seem like they've got it all together are usually the ones who crumble when it matters."
The door to the room creaked open just slightly, and the group paused.
They turned to see the young woman by the window still standing there, her back to them.
Her expression remained unreadable, but as her gaze flicked toward the door, she spoke, almost as if addressing herself more than anyone in particular.
"The first-years are always full of surprises," she said softly, her voice carrying an eerie calm. "But it's never the ones you expect."
Her words hung in the air, as cryptic as ever, and her gaze seemed to drift somewhere far beyond the room.
The group of second-years exchanged uncertain glances, but no one spoke.
They all knew better than to challenge her presence.
With a small, barely noticeable smile, the young woman turned and walked toward the door, leaving the room in her wake.
For a moment, the room was silent, save for the soft hum of murmurs that seemed to surround them.
"Does anyone else find her... kind of intimidating?" the freckled girl asked after a beat.
"Yeah, definitely," the messy-haired boy replied. "But that's just how she is. Always a mystery."
"Anyway, enough about that," the tall boy said, eager to return to the topic of the first years.
"Let's see how they all handle it today. I bet there'll be some good entertainment."
They all nodded in agreement, their attention once again on the upcoming physical assessment.
The first-year students were about to face their trial by fire, and the second-years were waiting to see who would rise to the challenge—and who would fall.
But none of them knew that this year, the biggest surprise wasn't going to come from the typical standouts.
Someone else was about to make their mark.
Someone who would change everything.
---
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