"Alright, everyone. Let's begin the class. I need you to take out your notebooks."
The rustle of backpacks opening filled the classroom as students reached for their supplies. At the same time, the teacher began to write on the board, the squeak of the marker echoing softly in the room.
Once everyone was ready, he turned to face us, his expression calm and composed.
"First of all, we'll talk about the age at which a person can develop magic."
The room went still. Some students began jotting notes immediately, while others simply listened.
"At the bottom tier, we have those who possess no magic at all. These are individuals who haven't inherited magical energy from their bloodline, or whose lineage simply lacks affinity altogether. We call them ordinary people."
His tone was slow and measured—not boring, but thoughtful.
"Next, we have individuals who develop magic between the ages of thirteen and nineteen. Depending on their lineage and how much magical energy they can hold, they're sometimes referred to as prodigies—though their power can vary quite a bit."
He paused for a moment, his gaze slightly more focused.
"And finally, at the top of the spectrum are those who awaken their powers at the age of ten. These individuals are incredibly rare—so rare they could be counted on a single hand. Their potential is so great that, for a limited time, they could rival even the Demon King himself. One such person was Garieth Sara, the only recorded individual in history to awaken at that age."
Wait… Mom? Was she really that incredible?
Not only was she able to stand against the Demon King, she was also the most powerful figure ever recorded in our world. I guess I'm lucky… to have had someone like her as a mother.
But… if that's the standard for those who awaken at ten… does that mean I'll be even stronger?
I don't know yet. She used to tell me I had a rare talent, that I might even surpass her one day. Though… maybe she only said it to make me feel confident.
Could I really reach her level? Or… maybe I've already surpassed her and just don't realize it yet.
Whatever the case, what matters is that I have the potential—to reach her, or go beyond.
My thoughts were interrupted as the teacher pulled a crystal orb from his briefcase. It glowed faintly, as if holding a dormant energy inside.
"The time has come. Today, we'll be conducting the magic evaluation and assigning ranks accordingly. We'll begin with the first on the list… Ardriud Vatrurd, step forward."
A nervous-looking student stood and slowly approached the orb. He placed his hand over it carefully.
A pale blue glow began to shimmer within the crystal. It wasn't particularly bright, but it was visible enough for everyone to see. Then, a number appeared in the center of the orb.
"Blue. One hundred seventeen points. Passed," the teacher announced in his usual calm tone.
The classroom buzzed immediately.
"He barely made it," someone whispered.
"I thought he'd score even lower," murmured another.
As their voices blended together, my own curiosity began to rise—along with a creeping sense of anxiety.
"Looks like you want to know what's going on, huh?"
Valentina glanced at me sideways, a faint smirk on her lips. I nodded quickly, maybe out of fear that I'd be called next without a clue of what to do.
She let out a soft sigh and began to explain at a pace slow enough for me to absorb every word.
"Well… this evaluation was supposed to take place a few weeks ago, but it got canceled at the last minute. Today was supposed to be a regular class with practical training afterward, but the headmaster decided to hold the test now instead."
Her voice wasn't annoyed—just informative. She seemed used to the unpredictability.
"Each color represents an elemental affinity. The number indicates how much magical energy you possess. I'm guessing that part's already making sense, right?"
I nodded once more, grateful for the explanation.
"Grey Valentina, please step forward."
She answered with a firm, "Yes," rising from her seat with an elegance that made heads turn. Her presence had a weight to it, like a quiet storm.
Valentina approached the crystal and placed her hand upon it with practiced ease. The orb lit up immediately, filled with a deep, rich brown that grew in intensity with every passing second. The glow was so strong it cast warm reflections across the nearby desks.
A number appeared at the center of the orb, glowing steadily.
The teacher stepped forward and stood beside her before announcing the result.
"Grey Valentina. Deep brown. Five hundred eighty-one points. Passed."
The classroom erupted into hushed murmurs. It was clear that what we had just witnessed wasn't ordinary. Valentina returned to her seat calmly, as if she'd known all along how it would turn out.
And the evaluation continued. One after another, students stepped forward. None came close to Valentina's score.
Only a few of us remained. I was still among them.
Then came Marie's turn.
She stood with the same elegance that always seemed to surround her. Though her expression was serene, the air around her shifted—subtle, but noticeable. A pressure that made the room just a little heavier.
With a composed stride, she walked up to the front and placed her hand on the orb. The response was immediate.
Two colors flared within the crystal: green and blue. At first, they were faint, but with each passing second they intensified, blending and surging as if they were fighting for dominance. Then, a number emerged at the core of the glow.
"Withe Marie. Green and blue. Five hundred eighty points. Passed."
A pause.
Then whispers spread like ripples on a pond.
"The first one with two elements…"
"She's just one point below Grey Valentina…"
Marie had clearly stunned everyone. A dual affinity—something no one had expected.
She didn't react. She simply returned to her seat with the same composure she'd left with. Though, if you looked closely, her cheeks were slightly flushed. Not pride. Something quieter. As if the attention made her uncomfortable.
And then came someone completely different.
"Worder Ronny, step forward."
He stood with a swagger that made the air shift again—but this time in a very different way. Hands in his pockets, a crooked grin on his face… he walked like the world owed him something.
He didn't even wait for the teacher to signal. He just extended his hand over the orb, confident, like he already knew what would happen.
The crystal reacted violently.
Three colors exploded from within: green, red, and brown. The light was so intense, several students had to shield their eyes.
"Worder Ronny. Green, red, and brown. One thousand six points. Passed."
Silence.
Total, suffocating silence.
No one moved. No one spoke. Even the teacher seemed stunned.
It was Worder who finally broke the moment—returning to his seat with that same cocky smile, as if he'd just confirmed something he'd always known.
"He's in a league of his own," someone whispered.
Even Valentina furrowed her brow slightly. It wasn't envy. It was something else… something more thoughtful. As if quietly reassessing a piece on the board.
The teacher clapped his hands gently, trying to settle the growing tension. He continued with the remaining names, but the excitement had already peaked. Nothing that came after could compare.
And then… the silence returned—but this time, it felt different.
Longer. Awkward.
The teacher glanced at his list again, then looked up, scanning the room as if realizing something.
"Ah, right… you're still left. Garieth Kael."
His voice held a note of embarrassment—like he'd genuinely forgotten I existed.
"You weren't on the list. My apologies for calling you last. That was my oversight."
"It's alright. No problem."
I stood without hesitation, though my heart was pounding. A strange mix of nerves and anticipation churned inside me.
This was it.
I walked to the orb, trying to keep my steps steady. When I reached it, I raised my hand… and placed it on the crystal.
Nothing happened.
No color. No flicker. Not even a faint glow.
I furrowed my brow and pressed my palm more firmly against the surface. Focused.
Still… nothing.
A thick, uncomfortable silence spread across the room.
Then, at last, the crystal stirred—barely. A dim white light shimmered faintly inside, so faint it could've been mistaken for a trick of the eye.
The teacher stepped forward cautiously, inspecting the orb closely. He took a moment, double-checking the result, and then—softly, but clearly—he said:
"Garieth Kael. White. Zero points."
The classroom descended into quiet confusion.
Some students exchanged glances.
Others muttered in disbelief.
Even the teacher looked at the orb again, as if expecting it to correct itself.
Zero points.
Not even a hint of magical energy.
Valentina and Marie were surprised, only the two of them knew what he was capable of doing, so there was only one conclusion, yes, it could be a big mistake.