The sun had risen over Kaivalya Academy. The students were already wearing their uniforms and heading to their classes. Today, the new students would undergo the Tier Examination using the academy's Magic Crystal.
The assessment was conducted in a special room prepared by the academy. The room was empty and spacious enough to accommodate all the new students. There was nothing inside except brick walls, a ceiling, and a brick floor. At the center of the room, the bricks formed a hexagonal pattern.
Before the assessment began, the academy staff explained that, in general, ordinary humans had four levels:
1: Atma
2: Anggana
3: Kalbu
4: Insan
There were individuals who had surpassed these four levels. They were called Alisha, or often referred to as "Those Protected by God." They were chosen beings, granted powers or abilities that surpassed ordinary humans.
Those who had surpassed the four levels were divided into two types of advancement.
For the Knight field:
5: Avani
6: Tala
7: Jenggala
8: Ancala
For the Mage field:
5: Avani
6: Vara
7: Yara
8: Sagara
After reaching level 8 in either field, one could advance to higher stages:
9: Cakrawala
10: Bentala
11: Chandra
12: Tara
13: Arka
14: Dirgantara
15: Vishwa
16: Nirwan
17: Bimantara
After the explanation, the academy staff raised a large crystal from beneath the hexagonal platform in the floor.
The students were mesmerized by the crystal. It was a pristine, gleaming white, perfectly clean without a single blemish. The staff instructed the students to step forward one by one, approach the crystal, and place their right palm against it.
Each time a student placed their palm on the crystal, it glowed and displayed a number along with the corresponding level name. Some were assigned to the Knight field, while others were assigned to the Mage field. On average, most students of this generation reached Level 5: Avani in either field.
Then, a female student stepped forward. She had long silver-white hair flowing behind her, diamond-like silver eyes, and a confident expression as she placed her palm on the crystal.
The crystal shone brighter than before, drawing the focus of all the students.
Mraksha was among those watching. He remembered that this girl was the one who had come to Hiraeth Village to commission a rapier. Her silver hair and silver eyes made her easy to remember.
'But why is the crystal shining brighter than before?' Mraksha wondered.
Suddenly, the students gasped in shock when the crystal revealed her level:
Level 7: Jenggala, a rank close to the highest level in the Knight field.
"As expected of the Arunika family…" one student muttered.
Others chimed in:
"They never disappoint."
"Kyaaaa, Lady Kirana is amazing!"
Kirana Arunika returned to the back with a satisfied look on her face.
Next, Indira Sanjana placed her palm on the crystal. Once again, the crystal shone brightly. It displayed Level 7: Yara, a rank close to the highest level in the Mage field.
The students erupted in surprise once more.
"And now the Sanjana family has reached the highest tier of the Mage field?!"
"Those two families are truly incredible."
Next was Nathan Askara. He stepped forward, approached the magic crystal, and gently placed his hand on it. The crystal revealed that Nathan was at Level 7: Jenggala.
While Nathan still had his hand on the crystal, a female student approached and calmly looked at him, as if signaling him to stop. Nathan slowly removed his hand and returned to the line. The girl then placed her palm on the crystal.
She had shoulder-length deep purple hair. Her bangs covered one of her ruby-red eyes.
When she placed her palm on the crystal, it emitted light and showed that she was at the same level as Indira:
Level 7: Yara.
The students immediately began talking about her openly.
"Hey… do you know who she is?"
"You don't know? She's Nara Dahayu, from the Dahayu family that always produces master swordsmen."
"Wait… you said swordsmen, but she's at Level 7: Yara. That's a Mage rank…"
"Now that you mention it… how is that possible?"
While the students were still discussing Nara, a male student stepped forward. He had dark blue hair and sharp blue eyes like an eagle's. Everyone's attention focused on him.
The female students whispered among themselves:
"Hey, look at him—he's so handsome."
"Hahaha, I agree. What's his name?"
"If I'm not mistaken, that's Akral Anggakara."
"Akral, huh…"
Not only the female students—Mraksha also found himself focusing on Akral.
'He is handsome.'
'Though I'm more handsome, obviously.'
As people talked about him, Akral placed his palm on the crystal. The crystal shone brighter than it had for the previous four students. The white crystal turned into a dazzling golden color.
The students, the academy staff, and even Mraksha fell silent, trying to see which level Akral had reached.
When the display became clear, the number and level name appeared:
Level 8: Ancala.
The previously silent room erupted into chaos.
"How is it possible that he's already at the highest level of the Knight field?!"
"One more step and he can enter the advanced stages!"
"I heard previous generations only reached levels 5 or 6!"
"In our generation, there are already four students at level 7 and one at level 8!"
"Doesn't that mean these five can be called the best students of our generation?! They deserve it!"
As the noise began to die down, the academy staff spoke up.
"Alright, since all students have learned their levels, we will conclude—"
Before the staff could finish, Mraksha raised his hand.
"Excuse me, sir. I haven't taken the test yet."
The staff looked Mraksha up and down, clicking their tongue in annoyance.
Slowly, Mraksha walked toward the crystal.
As he walked, the students began whispering about him.
"Hey, who's that?"
"Look at his cloth… white…"
"Ohh, figures."
"A commoner, huh."
When he arrived, Mraksha placed his palm on the crystal.
Five minutes passed. The crystal did not glow.
Ten minutes passed. Still no reaction.
Mraksha tried removing his hand and placing it on the crystal again.
The result was the same.
Seeing this, the students immediately began mocking him.
"Pfftt, just as I expected."
"How did he even get accepted into this academy?"
"Well, if there are five best students, there has to be one worst student."
The academy staff approached the crystal and spoke again.
"Mraksha Rajani, since there is no reaction indicating your level, for now, you do not belong to any field."
Mraksha smiled.
"Understood, sir," he said, returning to the line.
The staff continued,
"That concludes today's level assessment. We will meet again tomorrow. Starting tomorrow, you will begin your classes."
"For information regarding your class locations, it will be delivered by the attendants."
The students dispersed and left the assessment room. Before the academy staff exited, they lowered the crystal back into the ground and left the room.
Beneath the earth, the crystal suddenly displayed a number and a level name.
17: Bimantara
Then the number began to change rapidly:
16: Nirwan
15: Vishwa
14: Dirgantara
13: Arka
12: Tara
11: Chandra
10: Bentala
9: Cakrawala
All the way down to:
1: Atma
And finally, the level changed to:
0: Anantara