Once all the non-awakened children had been filtered out, the examiner stepped forward and addressed the group. His tone was serious but encouraging. "Now, it's time to record your abilities," he said. "I will infuse a bit of mana into each of you. Your job is to memorize the feeling of the mana—how it flows, how it connects with you. If you do this correctly, your ability will manifest before you. When it does, tell me what you see, and I'll record it before sending it to the academy."
The atmosphere shifted, everyone tense with anticipation. One by one, the examiner moved down the line, making light contact with each person. As his mana was infused into us, I could feel a warm, almost electric sensation that rippled through my body. I focused on the feeling, trying to commit it to memory, as the examiner instructed.
I watched as the other kids' abilities began to surface. One child had a fire-related ability—flames flickered to life around his hands, dancing with fierce energy. Another awakened an ability that enhanced their eyesight, their pupils shifting with unnatural clarity as they could see into the distance with perfect precision. There was a mix of awe and envy in the air as we all witnessed the unfolding of these powers.
But then, it was time for Nate, the nobleman's son, to step up. His ability was something that made the others pause in silent awe. With a sudden surge of energy, a crackling bolt of lightning arced around him, and the air seemed to hum with its intensity. Nate's power was nothing short of extraordinary. Lightning, one of the rarest and most feared abilities, was capable of causing massive destruction. Not only that, it could be used to increase speed and agility to impossible levels. People feared those who wielded lightning—it was as if Nate had unlocked the ability to command nature itself.
I couldn't help but think, What a cheating ability…
It was my turn, and I pushed aside my thoughts of Nate's overwhelming power, focusing on the task at hand. The feeling of mana still lingered within me, and I tried my best to grasp it. It wasn't easy. The sensation was subtle, almost like a pressure building within my chest, but after a few moments of concentration, I could feel it start to shift. The mana responded to my thoughts, flowing through me like a current of energy.
Then, something unexpected happened.
A faint blue circle appeared in my vision, lighting up around my irises. My eyes... they had changed. The sensation was almost surreal. My ability was unfolding before me, and it was unlike anything I had imagined. I realized that I could now analyze everything I saw—people, objects, the environment—all of it would be crystal clear, like an intricate puzzle piece that I could now decode in an instant.
What the hell? I thought, stunned. My mind raced as I processed what was happening. Of all the abilities I could have received, this one was far from what I had expected. They already called me a freak, and now... this ability would only make it worse. I could feel the weight of their judgment already.
The examiner seemed unfazed by the strange blue glow in my eyes. He simply noted the manifestation of my ability and moved on, recording it for future reference. He gave us all a final piece of advice: "If you decide to join the academy, we will cross paths again. Best of luck on your journey."
The ceremony ended soon after, and the examiner bid us farewell. It felt like everything had happened so quickly, but I could feel the change within me. Something had shifted. My life was about to take a completely new direction.
That night, we gathered at home to celebrate. It was a bittersweet occasion, as this was also my goodbye party. I would be leaving for the academy the next morning. The house was full of warmth and laughter, the air filled with the scent of food and drinks. Even Matt came home to join the celebration, offering his congratulations and sharing in the moment.
It was strange, knowing that this chapter of my life was ending, that I was about to leave everything behind and step into the unknown. The academy represented a future full of opportunities, but it also meant saying goodbye to everything I had known up until now. And though there was excitement in the air, there was also a sadness—an understanding that things would never be the same again.
But for tonight, I let myself enjoy it. I let myself forget about the uncertainty of the future, just for a little while. Tomorrow would come soon enough, but tonight, I was surrounded by family, by people who cared for me, and I took comfort in that warmth as I said goodbye to the place I once called home.