The academy's magical hall buzzed with anticipation. Floating crystals hovered in the air, their glow reflecting off the polished stone floors. Each student was called forward to test their ability, measured and ranked.
Lyra stepped up, palms sweaty. She pressed her hand to the crystal. It glowed faintly… F-Rank.
Murmurs swept through the hall. She's weak…
But inside the crystal, cracks slowly spread, almost invisible, as if the stone recognized the forbidden power inside her.
Kael, observing from above, frowned. "That reading… is impossible," he muttered under his breath.
Lyra walked away, feeling the weight of judgment but also the spark of hope. If they knew… I would already be dead.
The trial ended, but she knew this was only the beginning. The academy had many secrets — and she would need every ounce of courage to survive them.