I follow the professor to the headmaster's office. Right next to his closed door is his secretary's workspace—a mage around fifty years old who gestures for me to take a seat and wait. I want to argue with her, tell her I have to take my practical exam, that I'd prefer to come back another time, especially if they're making me wait. However, the woman simply readjusts her glasses and ignores me. I end up swallowing my impatience and sitting in one of the waiting room chairs.

  After about twenty minutes, a man wearing a royal army uniform approaches and the secretary lets him in. Five minutes later, she receives a magical notification from her boss, stands up and signals for me to follow. I, still trying to calculate how many students are left to be examined, to see if I can still make it in time, hurry to obey her. The mage knocks on the office door, opens it and introduces me:

  "Headmaster, the student Bianca L'Crom."

  "Thank you, Estella."

  I enter and hear the secretary closing the door behind me. In the office there are only three people: the headmaster, the uniformed man who entered earlier, and what appears to be a professor. The headmaster, with gray hair and a short beard, is behind his desk. In front of him are three chairs. Two already occupied and the third seems to be mine.

  I greet them feeling a bit self-conscious.

  "Come in and sit down, Bianca," the headmaster indicates with a kind voice.

  "Thank you."

  I do so and wait for them to say something. This is so awkward that I even forget I'm about to miss my practical exam entirely.

  "Bianca L'Crom," the headmaster continues, "your results on the stone slab were exceptional. Have you read them?"

  I feel the army man's gaze fixed on me. I avoid looking at him, but he's making me nervous.

  "Yes," I answer.

  "Please tell us what you read."

  "Medium elemental affinity for the basic elements earth, air, fire and water. Medium affinity for light. Very high affinity for spirit."

  I hear a snap, look toward the uniformed man and see he's just broken the pencil he's holding in his hand from excessive pressure.

  "And you believe her?" he says to the headmaster.

  "My examiner read it. If I didn't believe it, I wouldn't have called you here. Professor Swaina, here present, specializes in elemental affinities. She has confirmed that never in history has any mage managed to have all four, not even before the last great war."

  "And yet," she interjects with a voice that seems more childlike and musical than what I would associate with her thirty-something face, "in the ancient religions it was believed that someone favored could achieve them and that it would give him even greater power."

  The military man slams his fist on the table when he hears her.

  "You're treading dangerous waters, miss."

  "Excuse me, I don't mean to talk about religion. I'm just amazed that the synergy of the four basic elements has given rise to a fifth never seen before: spirit."

  "Colonel, you are the highest-ranking government official in the area. You'll understand why we summoned you so you can both inform His Majesty and speak on his behalf," the headmaster explains him.

  "I understand."

  "Bianca, I request that you take the practical exam before the three of us, once your classmates have completed theirs."

  Hearing this, I relax. I really didn't want to go home for being late to the exam. It's not just about maintaining my family's expectations anymore, but rather that the best way to improve in magic and combat is to attend the academy.

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  "As you say, headmaster," I answer him.

  "In the exam, you'll show us the spell you possess from each basic elemental magic. Just for that alone, your grade will already be a ten."

  "Thank you."

  "There is no need to thank me. Exceptional students always have a place in this institution but, in exchange, the government expects to be able to use their services when necessary."

  If this were back on Earth, it would feel like doing unpaid overtime—something I despised. Let’s ask.

  “Is there payment?”

  “It should be an honor for you to be allowed to serve the crown and the kingdom,” the colonel replies sharply.

  It seems he didn’t appreciate my question.

  “I understand, sir,” I respond.

  “Yes, there is payment,” the rector interjects, his tone measured and professional. “A copy of the contract will be sent to your family, specifying the various payments based on the difficulty of the mission. You will never be obligated to accept any mission—it is entirely voluntary. Additionally, as an added benefit, you will receive guided training from this academic institution, a privilege very few students are granted. To help you adjust, this training will begin in the second trimester.”

  Honestly, it sounds good. And if I remember correctly, in the otome, these kinds of contracts were typical for the most promising students.

  “Alright. My parents will decide if they want to sign it.”

  “No family has ever refused,” the colonel interjects, his lips pressed into a displeased grimace.

  “Moreover, you will need to sign a confidentiality agreement, ensuring you do not disclose anything you see during these missions,” the rector adds, handing me two documents. “The first is a copy of the contract that will be sent to your family for their approval. The second is the confidentiality agreement.”

  Since the whole “seed of darkness” ordeal, just hearing the word contract puts me on edge. Oh well... I take a look. Thankfully, these documents are much simpler than the one for the seed of darkness.

  The first, the one meant for my parents, outlines payments, assets, and other non-monetary compensations. The second is brief: it states that I have only one obligation—to maintain confidentiality. If I break it, any non-monetary compensation provided to my family will be revoked, and I will also face trial for treason.

  I understand that the things I might see on these missions could be sensitive, and it’s reasonable for the crown to demand confidentiality. Normally, I’d think long and hard before signing something like this. However, I’m not obligated to accept any mission. If I don’t go on any, there’s nothing for me to disclose. (Not that I would anyway—I’m not stupid enough to go around spilling state secrets.)

  Besides, the guided training would be incredibly beneficial. I remember from the otome that, starting in the first year, students were desperate to secure one of the few professors willing to provide personal tutoring. Finally, if, as I suspect, this is a standard agreement for outstanding students, noble families are already familiar with it and likely expect their children to be chosen.

  With that in mind, I sign. Now it’s up to Bianca’s parents to decide whether or not to accept the contract. I haven’t interacted with them much, but I have a feeling Count L'Crom will approve—it’s his ticket to more land and greater influence at court.

  “Perfect,” the rector says after collecting and storing the signed contract.

  “My family will also receive a copy of the confidentiality agreement, correct?”

  “Yes, of course. Don’t worry. Now, please follow me; we’re going to proceed with the exam.”

  Not even an hour has passed since I left, but the area is deserted. The other students must have finished their tests.

  It's a large pavilion covered by a magical dome to prevent accidents. There I show them my control over a ridiculously small stone ball, my fire bolt that hits the target, though not in the center, same with the splash. They've also brought what looks like a typical Earth fishbowl, circular, for me to put my head in and show them how long I can hold my breath with and without the spell. While I dry my face with a towel, I hear them muttering. I understand them. Just one of these abilities at medium affinity is normal. Two would be exceptional. Three the stuff of legends. Four... four they didn't believe until they saw it, at least not the colonel. The professor is super excited, looking at me like she wants to experiment on me.

  "Now the channeling, explain to us what it does."

  For a moment I'm puzzled. Don't they know? No, of course not, how would they know if I'm possibly the first being on this planet with spirit magic. I quickly consider whether I should only tell them part of it, as I understand it's a very broken ability that could revolutionize everything. Warriors might feel threatened by me who, without martial training, can do things they can't: enhance a weapon or part of my body with magic from one of the four basic elements.

  If this gets out of here, or if the king or any of the high-ranking officials let it slip… other kingdoms might even try to kidnap me.

  While I ask if I can take one of the practice swords, I decide quickly. Fire. I'm going to show them only the fire element.

  I grab the weapon they hand me and head toward one of the wooden training dummies. I spend two mana points and the blade ignites in flames. Although it's wooden, it doesn't burn. The dummy's arms, however, do. I hear amazed exclamations but prefer not to turn around. Instead, I hold the flaming sword high until it goes out. Then, I leave it in the basket they took it from and ask if we're done.

  I hope so, because I don't have any mana left for healing. Though light doesn't seem to interest them since it's not part of the four basic elements.

  "Yes, yes. Your grade and your worth are more than clear, Miss L'Crom. You may leave," the headmaster confirms.

  Good, I'm uncomfortable with so much attention. I'm going to my room.