Ao was stunned by Renuru's overwhelming presence—so intense it froze him in place.
But soon the atmosphere faded, dissolving like mist, and the Renuru he knew returned in front of him.
"Something like that. Think you can try it, Ao?" Renuru grinned, proving he was really back.
"Help me check my score?"
Ao looked down at the result sheet in his hand.
"You got 349!! That's insane!!"
He couldn't believe the number. Renuru, on the other hand, smiled like it was nothing.
"No need to freak out. This is normal for someone who graduated from a magic-track school."
"Huh—!? You were magic-track!??" Ao's shock doubled.
"Wait, did I really never mention that??" Renuru blinked.
"Alright, round two." He closed his eyes again and released his mana.
Renuru's scores:
1st: 349
2nd: 352
3rd: 350
Average: 350.33
"Man… your numbers are huge…"
"Right!? C'mon, praise me more!" Renuru beamed proudly.
"Okay! Your turn! You remember how, right?"
"Of course."
Ao stepped onto the mana pad. He shut his eyes, relaxed his palms, and slowed his breathing.
The room seemed to pause. He stood completely still—too still.
Renuru began to sweat a little.
But then, finally, the air around Ao started to ripple—just slightly—
Before fading away just as quickly.
"How'd I do!?" Ao opened his eyes eagerly.
"Uhh… about that…" Renuru held the sheet with a troubled expression.
"…It's blank!!!"
Ao's scream echoed across the room. Nearby students turned to stare, whispers spreading almost immediately.
Ao stood frozen, mouth hanging open in shock. Renuru patted his back, trying to calm him.
"I-I mean… maybe you messed up the first time? Try again! C'mon!"
But the result stayed blank.
Again.
And again.
Ao collapsed to his knees, staring lifelessly at nothing. Then he laid flat on the floor, eyes wide like a corpse.
"I can't believe this… Maybe I should just forfeit…" he whispered hopelessly.
Renuru panicked, trying to comfort him.
"N-no no!! Don't give up yet! There are still other parts of the exam… probably… maybe…?"
Even he sounded unsure—he had never seen someone get a blank score before.
"Wait! Think positive, Ao! Maybe your score was so high the machine couldn't measure it!
Sometimes when it's too high, it won't show, and when it's too lo—…"
His voice slowly faded.
Ao finished the sentence with dead eyes.
"When it's too low, it won't show either…"
"Uhh… l-let's not think about that. Come on, stand up!" Renuru tried pulling him up, but Ao's body was limp like wet noodles.
Suddenly, someone else shouted—
"BL—BLANK!!!"
Ao perked up immediately.
"I—I'm not the only one…?" A weak smile returned to his face, relief flooding in.
His eyes regained their spark. Renuru looked at him like he wasn't sure whether to be happy or confused.
Across the room, at the source of the scream, stood a white-haired boy wearing a sweater.
His expression showed no panic whatsoever—
He looked distant, almost empty, his movements slow and indifferent.
His partner, however, was pale as a ghost.
The boy said nothing. He simply stared blankly at his partner before stepping aside for him to test next.
"Wh-who are you…?" the partner stammered.
The white-haired boy turned his empty gaze toward him.
"…Don't know. Don't understand," he replied monotone.
Before more whispers could spread, another shout erupted—
"SE—750!!!"
The entire room snapped their heads toward the number.
The source: A red-haired boy with a scar down his face and a torn left ear.
He wore a red tracksuit and emanated nothing but hostility.
His partner trembled beside him.
Ao stared, shocked. That guy looks pissed even when he's standing still… poor whoever got paired with him…
The red-haired boy then turned his sharp eyes toward Ao. Ao flinched violently and looked away.
But the boy's gaze moved on— Landing on the white-haired boy.
His fist tightened until it shook, as if he'd found a target.
Then the proctor clapped his hands.
"Alright, time's up for phase one! Return your mana pads!
Next is phase two: evaluating your personal magic proficiency.
We won't need equipment for this—your stickers will auto-record everything.
There are eight magic categories:
Offense, Alteration, Control, Enhancement, Healing, Creation, Summoning, Territory.
Use magic according to the task given. If you can't do a category, cross it out."
Ao grabbed his head immediately.
"This is bad…"
"What's wrong, Ao? What magic do you use?" Renuru asked.
"Huh? Didn't you hear me?"
"Nope. What's your type? I use Earth mainly. A little Lightning and Water."
"My type, huh… uh…"
Do I tell him the truth? Or do I stick to what I wrote on the form…?
I totally filled that in randomly because it forced me to choose…
He swallowed hard, sweating bullets.
"…Probably superpower-type, I guess."
In the end, he went with whatever he wrote on the form.
Phase Two — Magic Proficiency Evaluation
Offense:
Ao — 0 (couldn't fire any spell and forgot to cross it out)
Renuru — 30 (threw gravel with earth magic, not very accurate)
Alteration:
Ao — crossed out
Renuru — 50 (able to change matter's form)
Control:
Ao — crossed out
Renuru — 70 (controlled floating rocks decently)
Enhancement:
Ao — 100 (pure brute physical strength)
Renuru — 50 (stone armor but unstable)
Healing:
Both crossed out
Creation:
Ao — crossed out
Renuru — 100 (can shape stone freely)
Summoning:
Both crossed out
Territory:
Both crossed out
Ao sank into despair again.
Damn it!! Even when I expect nothing, I still get disappointed!!
His thoughts screamed while his real voice sobbed.
"Hey—hey… there's still one more step! You can still come back from this…"
Renuru tried desperately to soothe him.
"Really…?" Ao lifted his head—eyes dead like a zombie.
Renuru burst out laughing.
"That wasn't crying! That was zombie-mode!!"
"Quit laughing, Renuru!! I'm seriously depressed!!"
Ao yelled while Renuru kept laughing uncontrollably.
They were loud enough that other examinees turned to stare—a third time today.
When time was up, they returned their score sheets.
The proctor stepped forward again with a big box.
"Alright! Before we dismiss you—inside this box are the magic devices required for phase three.
We'll distribute them at 13:00 sharp. Anyone late will not be allowed to continue."
He raised a necklace with a strange mana stone.
"You must have this necklace to participate in the next trial.
You now have two hours of free time. Do anything you want,
but be back before 13:00."
The doors opened.
Excited voices. Nervous whispers. Panicked murmurs.
Because the next trial— would be the one that decides everything.
Flashback — Day 1, at the restaurant
"Did you study a particular part for the exam, Ao?" Renuru asked suddenly.
"I guess… the practical exam?"
"Same here. Actually, that's what everyone focuses on."
"Huh!? Really!?"
"Yeah. There used to be leaked info from seniors who dropped out of Aspida."
"SERIOUSLY!?"
"They said the third phase is the one that decides everything. Even if you fail theory and the other practical tests, phase three is where you can comeback."
"FOR REAL!?"
"So don't stress about the rest. Stress about phase three instead."
He leaned in, whispering:
"Everyone is here for that phase. Because those seniors…
They also failed everything except phase three."
When the room finally emptied, the lights dimmed.
Ao stared at the glowing sticker on his wrist— Its faint light pulsed like his anxious heartbeat.
"Two hours left…" he muttered.
Renuru nudged him with a smile. "Don't forget to come back before 1pm. Phase three is where you turn it around."
Ao nodded, but his smile wavered.
As they were about to leave, Ao caught sight of the white-haired boy.
The sticker on his wrist flickered—The characters glitching, twisting into distorted symbols—
Before returning to normal.
Ao gasped. He looked at his own wrist— and saw the exact same glitch.
Does… a blank score mean something else?