Chapter Eight — The Weight of Power
One by one, each student stepped into the circular platform at the center of the mage hall, where glowing sigils pulsed beneath their feet. Hooded mages—silent, stern, their robes embroidered with constellations—stood around the circle with crystal orbs in hand. Each orb flickered to life whenever a student stepped forward, reading the flow, strength, and nature of their mana.
As the tests progressed, the energy in the room shifted. Fear, excitement, disbelief… and the realization of something irreversible.
This world was no dream.
This power was no fantasy.
Their lives on Earth were gone.
And when each student finished their assessment, the escorts led them toward the grand marble exit—where choices waited. Split up. Stay together. Form parties. Go alone.
Their futures branched before them like roads carved through fate.
Some classmates left immediately, restless with possibility. Others found partners. A few lingered, afraid to take a step forward.
The room gradually emptied.
Until only a handful remained.
Roman stood silently among them, watching group after group walk through the tall palace doors, unsure of which path he would take himself.
Then—
"Roman Lancaster," a mage called.
Roman exhaled slowly and walked forward.
The platform hummed beneath him, brighter than before. The orb in the mage's hand flickered, then steadied, glowing with a rich orange-gold radiance that made the other mages stare.
The leading mage stepped closer.
Then froze.
"…What is this heat…?" she whispered.
Her hand trembled slightly as she held the crystal toward Roman's chest. The orb vibrated—softly at first, then violently.
"His core… it's burning—"
The others murmured.
"Unstable?"
"No… contained. But—"
"So much raw temperature…"
Roman blinked, confused.
Heat?
He felt fine.
But the mage examining him took a literal step back, sweat forming along her brow as if she stood too close to a forge.
This time her voice wavered.
"Your mana… is unlike the others. It is… radiant."
A pause.
"Burning hot."
Radiant.
Burning.
Roman's pulse thumped harder in his ears.
…My mana is hot? That doesn't make any sense…
A strange sensation stirred in his chest—warm, rising, pulsing like a sun behind ribs of bone. Roman pressed a palm over his heart, but nothing physically felt different. Just… a whisper of warmth.
"What does that mean?" Roman finally asked.
The mage shook her head slowly. "Only that your ability, once awakened, may not resemble anyone else's. And that whatever lies dormant in you is… potent." She swallowed. "Very potent."
He frowned but said nothing.
Her unease wasn't reassuring.
But she eventually regained her composure and cleared her throat.
"Mana reserve level: Nine," she announced.
The number echoed through the chamber.
Gasps. Murmurs. A few widened eyes from students still waiting for their results.
Level Nine.
Only one step from the highest tier.
"Next!" another mage called, dismissing him.
As Roman stepped off the platform, the head mage exhaled deeply and wiped her forehead—relief flooding her features the moment he walked away.
Roman noticed.
And the question echoed in his mind like a warning:
…What kind of ability burns from the inside out?
⸻
He spotted two familiar silhouettes waiting for him by the archway—Rin, calm and unreadable as ever, and Jordan, bouncing on his toes like he was about to burst.
Jordan rushed up to him immediately.
"Finally! Dude, I thought the mages were gonna dissect you or something—they looked terrified!"
"They were… unsure," Roman admitted quietly.
Rin studied him, golden eyes flicking briefly to his chest.
"You didn't feel anything?" she asked.
Roman shook his head. "Just heat. Not painful. Just… there."
Jordan shuddered. "Yeah, see, THAT is already a red flag. Heat should not be a mana thing unless you're literally the sun."
Roman didn't answer.
But Rin noticed the way he'd gone still.
Before she could say more, the three of them stepped aside as more classmates emerged—finished, anxious, full of uncertain futures.
Aiden exited first, stoic as always. He exchanged nods with Roman before joining Darius and Selene.
Ren Takahiro quietly slipped out with Nora Vale, the two walking side-by-side and sharing theories about mana density.
Lena and Mira left together, Mira chatting excitedly while Lena tried to calm her nerves.
Evan departed with a small wave, heading toward one of the city sectors to begin gathering information.
Others scattered. Some in groups. Some with new alliances. Some entirely alone.
A branching of destinies.
Just as the king intended.
⸻
When the last crowd thinned out, Jordan clapped his hands.
"Alright, before we leave, we HAVE to compare numbers. Come on—it's like checking our stats in an RPG."
Roman gave him a look.
Jordan unapologetically continued.
"I'll go first. Level Eight mana reserve." He pointed two thumbs at himself. "Which basically means I'm built different."
"It means your mana pool is impressive," Rin corrected, pushing her glasses up. "The king mentioned that mana reserve size helps determine how much magic you can safely output. Not how strong you are by default."
Jordan blinked.
"Okay, but built different still applies."
Then Roman spoke.
"Level Nine."
Jordan's jaw dropped.
"You WHAT—?! Bro, that's almost max! No wonder the mages acted like you were a walking volcano."
Roman gave a small shrug, uncomfortable with the praise.
Then their eyes turned to Rin.
She hesitated. Just slightly.
"…Level Ten."
Silence.
Jordan's entire soul left his body for a moment.
"LEVEL TEN?!" he blurted, grabbing his head. "Rin Yamazaki—the quietest girl in class—has a mana pool bigger than the rest of us?!"
Rin scratched her cheek, embarrassed. "The mage said it was… unusual. And that it might align with abilities that require high control."
Jordan nearly vibrated with excitement.
Roman simply stared.
Not because he was shocked.
But because it made sense.
Rin was a still lake—calm on the surface, unimaginably deep beneath.
Whatever ability awakened in her would be powerful… and precise.
⸻
Jordan's Potential Ability — Resonance Drive
Though not fully awakened yet, hints appeared during his assessment:
• His mana vibrated like soundwaves.
• The orb pulsed rhythmically, harmonizing with his emotions.
• His laughter alone made the crystal flicker.
The mage suggested he might develop abilities tied to sound, impact amplification, or supportive wave manipulation—something fitting for someone who's always uplifting others.
Rin's Potential Ability — Astral Insight
Her mana didn't glow—it shimmered.
Quietly.
Smoothly.
Like starlight beneath still water.
The mage described it as "cosmic in pattern," suggesting abilities relating to perception, foresight, astral projection, or memory pathways—power that requires unparalleled inner calm.
And Roman…
Roman's mana burned.
Like a sun caged behind ribs.
⸻
The three exchanged looks.
Their paths were unknown.
Their powers unpredictable.
Their futures completely rewritten.
But they were still together.
Jordan threw an arm around both of them—Rin stiffening slightly, Roman sighing but not pulling away.
"Alright, team," Jordan said with a grin too big for the moment, "whatever happens, we got each other. New world, new powers, new crazy king sending ravens—let's just… try to not die, okay?"
Rin nodded softly. "Yes. That would be preferable."
Roman let out a quiet exhale.
"Let's go," he said.
And together—
side by side—
they stepped through the palace's grand doors…
…into sunlight.
The beginning of their journey.
Their new lives.
Their fate in Eltoria