Lord Aric Valen stepped onto the platform, his golden aura flaring like a beacon of raw power. As he raised his hand, the space around him shimmered and twisted unnaturally, drawing gasps from the crowd. The distortion was impossible to miss—the air itself seemed to ripple as though reality were being bent to his will.

  “Is this… space magic?” a girl whispered, her voice tinged with awe.

  “He’s really a noble,” another girl said, her eyes locked on Aric’s sharp, handsome features. “Only someone like him—a genius, a noble—could be a space-class mage.” Her cheeks flushed as she continued to stare, her admiration thinly veiled.

  Excited murmurs spread like wildfire. Even the master mages observing from their elevated seats couldn’t maintain their usual stoic expressions. Their faces were alight with anticipation, eyes gleaming as they leaned forward to watch more closely.

  Aric’s golden aura intensified, enveloping him like a second skin. The distorted space around him became so pronounced it was visible even to the weakest mages in the audience. He turned his gaze to one of the large test stones in the arena and spoke softly, his voice carrying an unshakable confidence.

  “Countless Distorted Space Blades.”

  A sudden, eerie silence fell over the arena as shimmering distortions raced toward the stone. The air seemed to crackle with unseen tension, and for a brief moment, nothing happened. Confused whispers began to rise, but before they could spread, the stone exploded into a cascade of shards. The impact was so precise, so devastating, that it left the crowd breathless. Dust swirled in the aftermath, and the sheer power of Aric’s magic was undeniable.

  The audience erupted in cheers and gasps of disbelief. For most of them, this was their first time witnessing space magic—a class so rare and complex that even seasoned mages struggled to comprehend it. Aric’s flawless execution and overwhelming power left no room for doubt: he was exceptional.

  Thirteen master mages rose to their feet in unison. “Accepted,” they declared, their voices resonating with a mixture of respect and excitement. It was an unprecedented moment. Never before in the academy’s history had all thirteen masters unanimously accepted a candidate. The second-highest record was a mere seven.

  “Thirteen masters? That’s insane!” one girl exclaimed, her eyes wide with amazement.

  “Yeah, all the masters watching the test accepted him. That’s almost unheard of. Only a prodigy like him could pull that off.”

  “He’s the dream of most girls here,” another chimed in, her voice dripping with admiration. “Lord Aric Valen… the king’s son.”

  But not everyone was caught up in the wave of adoration. Julian stood off to the side, his brow furrowed as he observed the scene with a critical eye.

  “Master,” he muttered in his mind, addressing the AI that shared his consciousness. “Something’s weird about that magic.”

  “You’re right,” Alice responded, her voice calm yet tinged with curiosity. “It’s not just his magic. That boy himself has an unsettling aura.”

  Julian’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve always said the magic in this realm is flawed. Even when others’ spells look impressive, something always feels… incomplete. But his spell—it felt pure, powerful.”

  Alice’s tone grew more serious. “Impressive. I didn’t expect you to notice that. You’re right. That spell wasn’t from this realm. It’s a technique from a higher realm. How he got it, I don’t know. But be careful, Julian. That boy is dangerous.”

  “Don’t worry,” Julian thought with a faint smirk. “I have no intention of picking unnecessary fights.”

  After Aric’s breathtaking performance, a few more candidates took the stage. None of them came close to matching his impact, so their demonstrations were met with polite applause at best.

  Then the next name was called:

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  “Elias Silverthorne!”

  Julian turned to the boy next to him and grinned. “Your turn.” But then he noticed Elias didn’t look so good. His handsome face was pale. “Hey, don’t worry. Believe in yourself and show them what you’ve got.”

  “Thanks, boss. I’ll try.” Elias’s voice trembled, and he looked like he was walking to his doom instead of a test arena.

  As he stepped onto the platform, a soft, greenish glow surrounded him. He reached out toward a withered sapling brought in for the test. Within seconds, the tree’s branches straightened, its leaves unfurled, and vibrant green returned to its bark. The transformation was so smooth and natural it felt magical—because it was.

  “Would you look at that? He’s a healer-class mage,” Julian said.

  “And a pretty talented one,” Alice replied. “Maybe this realm has more hidden gems than I thought.”

  Healers were one of the most prestigious mage classes. They couldn’t fight or kill, but they could save lives—and everyone needed a healer eventually. That’s why mages made a point of staying on their good side.

  Two master mages rose. “Accepted,” they declared. Elias had passed the test and was accepted into the academy.

  Julian smirked. “That guy’s full of surprises. Luckily I stepped in to help him. He’s going to be my right-hand man when I rise to the top.”

  “Help him?” Alice replied, “Weren’t you the one complaining about why you listened to me and helped him in the first place? You should thank your wise and wonderful master.”

  Elias returned to them, his face glowing with relief and joy.

  “Congratulations! That was amazing,” Lyra said, her voice warm. “My magic’s kinda similar to yours.”

  Julian opened his arms dramatically. “My good, dear best friend Elias. I knew you’d pass, of course.”

  Elias blinked, surprised by Julian’s sudden warmth since he’d been cold to him up until now. “Uh… thanks. I was so nervous, but I passed!”

  Lyra stared at Julian in disbelief, then turned to Elias. “You really need to trust yourself more. You’re way more amazing than you think.”

  Elias blushed. “Th-thanks,” he mumbled.

  Before they could say more, the principal’s voice rang out: “Lyra Pearl!”

  Lyra froze, her face turning pale. She took a hesitant step forward, but Elias quickly said, “Good luck! You’ll do great.”

  Julian added, “Don’t get me wrong—I still don’t like you. But I know you’ve got this. We came here together, and we’re all passing this test. I believe in you.”

  Lyra looked at him, startled, then smiled. “Thanks,” she said softly.

  When Julian saw her smile, he couldn’t help but think, "She’s actually kind of cute."

  As she approached the stage, she confidently waved her hand, summoning a cauldron and ingredients from her spatial ring. A small flame flickered to life in her palm, dancing and shifting like it had a mind of its own. With precision, she melted and mixed the ingredients, the cauldron bubbling as it produced a shimmering blue potion.

  When she poured a drop onto a piece of metal, it dissolved instantly, leaving the crowd gasping.

  “Flame control and alchemy combined…” someone whispered in awe.

  “I’m an alchemist too, but her skill is on another level,” another muttered. “Who is this girl? A noble family? If not, any guild or house would fight to recruit her.”

  The potion’s sweet scent filled the air, leaving even the non-alchemists in the audience amazed.

  Four masters rose to their feet, their faces full of approval. “Accepted,” they announced.

  The crowd buzzed with excitement. “Four masters? It was that good?”

  “Of course! Controlling flames while handling complex alchemy is incredibly difficult. Honestly, I wouldn’t have been surprised if all seven masters accepted her.”

  Lyra returned to Julian and Elias, her face glowing with happiness.

  Julian opened his arms again. “My dear fri—”

  “Don’t,” Lyra cut him off, glaring.

  Elias grinned at her. “Lyra, that was incredible! I had no idea you were an alchemist.”

  “We haven’t had much time to talk—we just met and came to the academy,” Lyra replied. “But after we all pass, we’ll have plenty of time.” She glanced at Julian. “Your turn now. Remember, we came here together—we’re all passing.”

  The principal’s voice echoed the next name. “Julian Stark!”

  Julian smirked, turning to them. “Don’t worry, I don’t plan on failing. I’m going to be the king of the hare—I mean, the school.”

  Elias gave him a thumbs-up. “Good luck, boss! You’ve got this.”

  Lyra rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

  Julian just laughed, taking two steps toward the stage before turning back. “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

  Elias and Lyra exchanged surprised looks as Julian confidently strode to the test platform.