Julian jumped onto the test stage and bowed dramatically, making an exaggerated show of greeting the academy director, the master mages, and the audience. His eyes scanned the crowd until he spotted two girls he had his eye on earlier—Zara Nightshade and Aeris Moonstone. Flashing a flirtatious smile, he sent a wink their way.

  The girls, however, didn’t even blink. Cold, unimpressed stares were all he got in return. Some people chuckled at his boldness.

  “Gosh,” Lyra muttered, rolling her eyes, “why doesn’t he focus on passing the test instead of flirting with girls way out of his league? If he fails here, I’ll boil him in my cauldron.”

  Elias smirked. “You worry about him too much.”

  “Me? Worried? Ha! Never,” Lyra snapped, though her tone betrayed her. “It’s just… we came here together and promised we’d all pass. And look at him! Acting like that! If he doesn’t give it his all, he’ll fail. You’ve seen how easily they reject people.”

  Elias just smiled warmly. “Don’t worry. He’s got more going on than you think.”

  Lyra frowned. “How do you know? You just met him too.”

  “I just know. Trust me. Watch and enjoy the show.”

  Julian stood confidently on the stage, scanning the crowd with a sly smile. He took his time, letting the silence build, like he was hyping everyone up before the main event.

  From the audience, Lord Gray sneered. “Julian Stark, the village idiot. The guy can’t even handle basic magic.”

  Julian didn’t even glance his way. Instead, he stepped forward and spread his arms wide like he owned the place. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he declared, his voice full of flair, “get ready for the greatest show of your lives. Watch closely—” He paused, shifting to a playful tone. “But try not to fall for me too hard, alright?” He flashed a meaningful look at Zara and Aeris.

  The girls, predictably, didn’t budge. Their icy stares could’ve frozen the sun.

  “What a clown,” Lord Gray muttered loud enough for others to hear. “Big talk, no skill. Watch—he’ll mess up and go hide somewhere.”

  Murmurs of curiosity rippled through the audience. Was Julian all bark, or did he actually have the bite to back it up?

  Finally, the principal spoke. “If you’re ready, Julian Stark, show us what you’ve got.”

  Julian nodded, and his playful expression dropped. Suddenly, he was serious.

  He took a deep breath and raised his hand. The air around him shifted. He could feel it—the chaotic swirls of space and voids all around. He’d done this before, and now it felt even more natural. With a flick of his wrist, a crack appeared in the air, glowing with chaotic purple energy.

  Everyone held their breath as they realized what was happening.

  "Wait… is that a void?" someone whispered, eyes wide.

  "Did he seriously just make that? Without even saying a spell name?"

  "Yeah, like it was no big deal! Who is this guy?"

  "All he did was wave his hand. No chant, no effort… nothing!"

  "That’s gotta be the coolest spell I’ve ever seen in my life."

  That day, everyone who witnessed Julian’s magic was left awestruck, a moment they would carry with them for the rest of their lives.

  The master mages seated at the front were especially stunned—not just by the void itself, but by the precision, control, and sheer mastery behind it.

  The more they analyzed what they had seen, the more they realized just how profound the method was. Even studying a fragment of that technique could revolutionize their understanding of magic. Each master silently reached the same conclusion: no matter what, they had to take this boy as their disciple.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  But while the crowd was still reeling from the sight of the void, Julian wasn’t finished. With a playful grin, he stepped forward, into the void, and vanished.

  Chaos erupted.

  “Where is he?!”

  “Did he seriously just jump into a void? Is he insane?”

  “Wait, isn’t the inside of a void supposed to be dangerous—even for master mages?”

  “Yeah! It’s like the most unstable, chaotic thing in existence. Nobody messes with voids!”

  Everyone held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next. Would Julian reappear on the stage? Or had he just disappeared forever into the abyss? Instead, Julian emerged right in front of Zara Nightshade.

  “Hey,” he said with a cheeky smile, “how you doin’?”

  Even Zara, usually composed, stared at him in shock. She blinked, quickly masking her surprise before coldly replying, “If you don’t want me to throw you back on stage, move.”

  Julian held up his hands. “Okay, okay, don’t get mad. I just wanted to say hi.” He strolled back to the stage, looking as proud as a peacock.

  The crowd erupted into applause, some even cheering his name. Julian soaked it all in, winking at a few girls as he walked. To his surprise—and delight—some actually smiled back.

  “Space magic really does open doors,” he thought, smirking. “Girls never smiled at me before.”

  In his head, Alice’s voice echoed. “You didn’t inherit Bubu’s legacy to flirt with girls, Julian. Focus on your mission!”

  “Alright, alright, Master,” Julian thought back. “Let me enjoy the moment, though!”

  Then he saw her—Aeris Moonstone. Her silver hair shimmered like moonlight, her bright blue eyes glowing with an almost otherworldly light. Her delicate features—pale skin, sharp nose, small mouth with red lips, and the elegant dress she wore—made her look almost unreal.

  Julian couldn’t help himself. He strode toward her, dropped to one knee, and took her hand. “My princess,” he said with a roguish grin, “Julian Stark at your service.” He kissed her hand like a knight.

  Aeris quickly pulled her hand back, her cheeks turning red. Julian braced himself for the slap—whether it was a slap, punch, or kick, he was ready for anything. Totally worth it, he thought. But the slap never came. Instead, Aeris murmured, her voice soft, “Thank you.”

  Julian’s heart nearly stopped. For the first time, a girl hadn’t rejected him outright. And not just any girl—Aeris Moonstone.

  From the audience, Lyra glared at the scene. “What a show-off.”

  “Jealous?” Elias teased.

  “Of course not!” she snapped.

  The principal’s voice cut through the moment. “Julian, back to the stage! Results will be announced.”

  Julian sighed, reluctantly leaving Aeris and returning to the stage.

  “Your results are clear,” the principal said. Before he could continue, all thirteen masters rushed forward.

  “Would you join my class?”

  “No, mine!”

  “Pick me, Julian!”

  The principal raised his hand, silencing them. “Please return to your seats. The apprentice will choose after all selections are complete.”

  The crowd buzzed with excitement.

  “Julian, the village idiot, is a space mage? How is this even possible?” Lord Gray muttered, looking utterly baffled.

  Lyra turned to Elias. “How did you know he was talented?”

  Elias, still wide-eyed, shook his head in disbelief. “Honestly? Even I didn’t see that coming.”

  Julian stepped off the stage with a big grin, his confidence practically radiating. The crowd was buzzing, clearly impressed by what they’d just seen. A few hours ago, no one knew who he was or cared about his background. But now? None of that mattered anymore. Julian had shown them something unforgettable, and that was enough to make him stand out.

  Some girls in the audience even shot him shy smiles, hoping to catch his eye. But Julian, for once, ignored the attention and made a beeline for his friends. He flashed a proud smile as he approached Elias and Lyra.

  Elias smirked. “Look at you, the hero of the day.”

  Julian puffed out his chest dramatically. “Hero? Oh, please. I prefer ‘legend.’”

  Lyra crossed her arms, trying to look unimpressed. “Legend? More like a show-off. What if you’d messed up?”

  “Mess up? Me? Come on, Lyra.” Julian winked.

  She groaned, but the small smile tugging at her lips betrayed her.

  As Julian soaked in his friends’ reactions, a sudden chill ran down his spine. He froze, sensing something—or someone—watching him. Turning his head, his eyes locked onto a strikingly handsome young man in the crowd.

  Lord Aric Valen.

  The noble’s smile was cold, his piercing gaze sharp enough to cut through steel. Julian felt a shiver crawl up his back.

  Alice’s voice rang in Julian’s mind, calm but serious. “We’ll have to keep an eye on him. He’s trouble.”

  Julian forced a warm smile, nodding slightly to Lord Aric Valen to show his respect.

  “I think so too, Master”