Maya stepped up to the orb with quiet confidence, placing her hand on its crystalline surface. I found myself leaning forward, hands clenched with anticipation – somehow more nervous for her test than I had been for my own. The air in the room seemed to grow thicker, heavier with expectation.
When she began channeling her mana, the difference was immediate and striking. Unlike the gentle auras that had emanated from previous participants, the orb erupted with brilliant orange light. It wasn't just glowing – it looked as if the sphere itself had been transformed into a contained inferno. The flames danced within, casting flickering shadows across the polished walls and drawing gasps of surprise from the group.
When Maya finally released her grip on the orb, the clerk emerged from the monitoring room. Her eyes were wide, and she wore an expression of disbelief that made her earlier shock at my lack of magic seem mild in comparison. The tension in the room grew as we waited for her announcement, the silence broken only by the soft hum of residual magic.
"C- C class," the clerk stammered, as if the words themselves were fighting to escape her mouth.
The room exploded into chaos almost instantly.
"C CLASS? HER? That can't be possible!" One of the adventurers' voice rose above the general outcry, his face reddening with indignation.
The clerk tried to maintain order with her usual response, though her voice wavered. "T-the test doesn't make mistakes."
The protesting adventurer stormed toward Maya, towering over her small frame. "How old are you, girl?"
Maya met his gaze with cool indifference. "Twelve," she replied, her voice steady and unconcerned.
"TWELVE? C class at only twelve, is that even possible?" The man's voice cracked with disbelief.
Maya's lips curled into a slight smirk as she threw the clerk's words back at him. "The test doesn't make mistakes." She brushed past him as if he were nothing more than a piece of furniture, returning to where Rowan and I waited.
"You're amazing, Maya," Rowan breathed, his eyes shining with admiration. "C class at your age is almost unheard of – prodigy is an understatement."
A faint blush colored Maya's cheeks before she managed to compose herself. The crack in her usual stern demeanor was brief but noticeable, at least to those who knew her well.
"Yeah, Maya, you're truly something special," I added, placing a hand on her shoulder.
She shifted slightly under the praise. "T-thanks guys," she mumbled, before quickly redirecting the conversation. "It's your turn now, Kai. Put on a show at the combat test and show them what you're made of."
I couldn't help but smile. "I'll try my best, but expectations set by the Fire Princess are gonna be hard to meet." A wry grin accompanied my words.
Maya's expression darkened playfully. "This Fire Princess is gonna make you bald if you call her that one more time."
I chuckled, knowing full well she meant it, and her own giggle followed – the first genuine laugh I'd heard from her in what felt like ages. The sound sparked a warm feeling in my chest, and I couldn't keep the smile off my face.
"What's that weird smile about?" she asked, catching my expression.
"Nothing," I replied simply, savoring the moment of levity. Before Maya could press further, the clerk's voice cut through the room.
"It's now time for the combat test," she announced, her professional demeanor mostly restored. "Organize yourselves and follow me."
As we fell in line behind her, heading toward the next phase of our registration, I felt a curious mix of emotions. The shame of my failed magic test still lingered, but it was overshadowed by pride in my friends' achievements and determination to prove myself in the coming combat test. Maybe I couldn't use magic, but that didn't mean I was helpless.
The clerk led us down another corridor, our footsteps echoing off the stone walls. Whatever challenges awaited us in the combat test, I was ready to face them. After all, I had a Fire Princess and an air mage at my side – and more importantly, I had something to prove.