By the time the sun began sinking behind the academy towers, the training arena was already crowded.
Stone tiers curved around a wide circular field of pale sand. At the center stood the resonance pillars: tall crystalline structures embedded in black iron frames. Five of them formed a half circle, their surfaces faintly reflecting the dying orange light of the evening sky.
Students gathered along the edge of the arena in loose clusters. Some stood with arms crossed, others whispered nervously. Marks glowed faintly as initiates subconsciously tested their mana.
Rei stood beside Shin and Mira near the middle of the group.
The murmuring never quite stopped.
"…that's him."
"The unmarked one."
Rei ignored it.
Shin didn't bother looking at the students either. His gaze rested on the pillars instead, studying them with quiet interest.
"They measure resonance, output, and control," he said casually.
Mira glanced sideways at him.
"You sound like you've read the manual."
"My family takes these tests seriously."
Rei glanced at the pillars.
They looked ordinary enough. Just tall crystals.
Yet the faint pulse inside them suggested something far older than the academy itself.
A tall instructor stepped forward onto the arena floor.
His robes were deep gray, marked with the insignia of the academy's training division.
"Listen carefully," he announced. His voice carried easily across the arena.
"The capability test determines your training placement. Channel your elemental mana into the resonance pillar before you. The relic will measure your affinity, output, and stability."
A pause.
"Do not attempt to force excessive output. The pillar will record accurately regardless."
Several students straightened.
The instructor gestured toward the first initiate.
"Let's begin."
The early attempts were… mixed.
One boy with a fire mark stepped forward confidently.
He thrust his palm toward the pillar.
A burst of red light flared inside the crystal.
A small flame projected outward before quickly fading.
Polite murmurs followed.
"Acceptable," the instructor said, marking something on a slate.
The next student tried water.
The pillar shimmered blue, forming a short ribbon of liquid that coiled briefly through the air before collapsing.
Another student stepped up.
Nothing happened.
The pillar remained dull.
The student's shoulders slumped as quiet snickers rippled through the crowd.
Rei watched silently.
Patterns formed quickly.
Some students produced faint reactions. Others stronger ones. A few struggled to produce anything at all.
The pillars didn't lie.
A small figure stepped forward when her name was called.
"Elira Voss."
Several students glanced around, trying to place the name.
The girl who approached the pillar looked almost uncomfortable being watched. She kept her shoulders slightly hunched, dark hair falling forward as if it might shield her from the crowd.
Rei had seen her earlier during the ceremony.
She had stood near the back.
Silent.
Unnoticed.
The instructor gestured toward the pillar.
"Begin."
Elira placed a hand on the crystal.
For a moment nothing happened.
Then the pillar ignited.
A deep emerald glow filled the crystal as wind gathered sharply around her hand. The air twisted into a tight spiral before dispersing in a clean burst.
No wasted motion.
No dramatic buildup.
Just perfect control.
The reaction faded quickly.
Elira withdrew her hand almost immediately, stepping away as if eager to escape the attention now directed toward her.
A low wave of murmurs followed.
"…who was that?"
"That control was insane."
The instructor wrote something down with clear approval.
"Excellent stability."
Elira had already retreated to the edge of the crowd, trying very hard not to make eye contact with anyone.
Eventually the instructor called another name.
"Shin Raiga."
Several heads turned immediately.
Even the instructors seemed a little more attentive.
Shin stepped forward without hurry.
The lightning mark along the side of his neck flickered faintly as he approached the pillar.
He placed his hand against the crystal.
For a moment nothing happened.
Then the air shifted.
A sharp silver glow ignited inside the pillar.
Cracks of light raced through the crystal's interior like branching lightning.
A narrow bolt erupted outward, snapping across the air before dissipating.
The pillar shone brilliantly for several seconds before dimming.
The arena filled with murmurs.
Even students who had tried to remain unimpressed couldn't hide their reactions.
"That's—"
"Lightning…"
"Rare, huh?"
Shin simply stepped back.
No grin. No arrogance.
Just the calm expression of someone who already expected the outcome.
He returned to Rei and Mira.
Mira raised an eyebrow.
"Show-off."
Shin shrugged slightly.
"I followed the instructions."
Rei glanced at the pillar Shin had used.
The crystal was still slowly dimming.
Interesting.
The instructor glanced at his list again.
"Valen Drayke."
The reaction from the students was immediate.
Unlike Shin, Valen didn't walk quietly.
He moved with the composed confidence of someone accustomed to attention.
His fire mark burned across his forearm like a living ember as he approached the pillar.
Valen rested his palm against the crystal.
For a brief second he looked toward Shin.
Then he released his mana.
The pillar erupted in a blaze of deep crimson light.
A plume of flame surged outward, rising nearly twice the height of the crystal before collapsing in a controlled spiral.
Heat rolled across the arena.
Several students stepped back instinctively.
The pillar continued glowing for several seconds before slowly dimming.
Valen withdrew his hand calmly.
Not smiling.
But satisfied.
The instructor gave a slow nod.
"High output. Strong affinity."
As Valen walked back, his gaze briefly passed over Rei.
Just long enough to register quiet disdain.
More students followed.
Then the instructor's voice rang out again.
"Rei Takeda."
The murmurs returned immediately.
"The unmarked one…"
"Why are they even testing him?"
Rei stepped forward anyway.
The arena felt strangely quiet as he approached the pillar.
No mark warmed his skin.
No elemental affinity waited to answer his call.
Just mana.
Unshaped.
He placed his hand against the crystal.
The surface felt cool.
Behind him someone whispered,
"Nothing's going to happen."
Rei exhaled slowly.
Then he pushed a small thread of mana forward.
Not an element.
Just raw energy.
For a moment the pillar remained completely dark.
Several students began chuckling.
Then—
Inside the crystal, a faint glow appeared.
Not red.
Not blue.
Not any elemental color.
Just a dim, pale white haze deep within the pillar's core.
So faint it almost looked like reflected light.
The glow flickered once.
Then vanished.
The pillar returned to darkness.
Silence lingered for a second.
Then the whispers began again.
"That was it?"
"He barely triggered it."
"Pathetic."
Rei withdrew his hand.
The instructor glanced at the pillar briefly before writing on his slate.
"Resonance minimal. Output extremely low."
Rei walked back.
Shin's eyes were fixed on the pillar.
"That light," Shin said quietly.
Rei looked at him.
"What about it?"
Shin hesitated.
"…Nothing."
Mira crossed her arms.
"At least it reacted," she muttered.
Above the arena floor, the instructor lingered near the pillar Rei had used.
Inside the crystal, the faintest trace of pale white still lingered before fading completely.
His brows pulled together slightly.
Neutral resonance.
That was unusual.
Resonance pillars translated elemental mana into identifiable affinity. Even weak initiates produced some form of elemental response.
The reading had been… indistinct.
Perhaps the relic had struggled to categorize the input.
The instructor studied the crystal a moment longer, then straightened and stepped back toward the center of the arena.
"Next initiate."
But the observation remained quietly noted.
More tests followed.
Then Mira stepped forward.
Her water mark glowed softly along her collarbone.
When she channeled her mana, the pillar responded smoothly.
Deep blue light flowed through the crystal.
A narrow ribbon of water spiraled outward with precise control before dispersing.
The reaction was strong.
Not explosive like Shin's lightning, but stable and elegant.
The instructor nodded once.
"Very good."
Mira returned to the group.
Shin gave an approving nod.
Rei simply watched the pillars again.
By the time the last student finished, the sun had nearly disappeared.
The arena lights flickered on, casting pale illumination across the training field. The resonance pillars stood dim and silent once more.
The instructor stepped forward.
"Rankings will now be announced."
Students leaned in, attention snapping toward the central board.
Names began shifting as the scores finalized.
After a moment, the list settled.
At the very top:
1 — Shin Raiga
A ripple of impressed murmurs moved through the crowd.
Lightning marks were rare enough. A performance like that made the result feel inevitable.
Just below it:
2 — Valen Drayke
Valen stood with his arms folded near the front of the crowd, posture relaxed, expression composed with quiet satisfaction.
Further down the list:
3 — Elira Voss
The small girl stood several rows back from the center.
When a few students turned to look at her, she seemed to shrink slightly under the attention, gaze dropping toward the ground. If the ranking pleased her, she didn't show it.
Shin glanced briefly in her direction.
"Good control," he said quietly.
Next:
4 — Mira Solenn
Mira exhaled softly.
"Not bad," she muttered.
Shin nodded in agreement.
Then, near the bottom of the board—
The final placement appeared.
Last — Rei Takeda
A few students snorted.
"Called it."
"The system doesn't lie."
Valen's gaze drifted briefly toward Rei.
His expression carried faint amusement.
"As expected," he said under his breath.
Rei didn't respond.
The instructor waited until the murmurs around the rankings settled.
Then he raised a hand.
"Quiet."
The arena slowly fell silent.
"The capability test is only the first step," he continued. "Students who demonstrate exceptional potential may be selected for the academy's advanced training program."
A ripple of attention moved through the crowd.
"The list of selected initiates will be announced tomorrow morning."
Several students immediately began whispering again.
The instructor ignored them.
"Those chosen will train under senior instructors and receive access to specialized facilities within the High Academy."
His gaze moved across the initiates.
"Regardless of your ranking today, remember this: potential is only meaningful when supported by discipline."
A brief pause.
"Dismissed."
The moment the word left his mouth, the rigid atmosphere of the arena dissolved into conversation.
Students broke into clusters, already arguing about scores and rankings.
Shin stretched his shoulders slightly.
"Well," he said, "that was predictable."
Mira snorted.
"Easy for the guy in first place to say."
Shin gave a small shrug.
Rei walked beside them quietly as the crowd began drifting toward the academy buildings.
Night had settled fully now. Lanterns glowed along the stone pathways leading back toward the dormitories and dining hall.
Around them, students continued discussing the results.
"…training program tomorrow…"
"…Valen almost matched Shin…"
"…that wind girl ranked third…"
Rei didn't react to any of it.
The dining hall was loud.
Long wooden tables filled the room while students crowded in with trays and endless speculation about the rankings.
Shin spotted an open section and sat down.
Mira dropped onto the bench across from him.
Rei sat beside Shin, setting his tray down quietly.
Across the hall, a large group of students had gathered around Valen. Several of them were clearly replaying his fire test while he spoke with calm confidence.
Mira followed Rei's glance.
"Already building a fan club."
Shin shrugged.
"People respect strength."
Rei picked up a piece of bread.
"Confidence," Rei said calmly.
Mira smirked.
"Same difference to most people."
Before the conversation could drift further, someone stopped beside their table.
Elira Voss stood there holding a tray.
She hesitated slightly.
"Is this seat taken?"
Mira gestured to the empty bench.
"Nope. Sit."
Elira sat down carefully.
For a few seconds she focused entirely on her food.
Then she spoke quietly.
"The rankings will probably influence tomorrow's selection."
Shin nodded.
"Most likely."
Mira leaned forward slightly.
"You hoping to get into the program?"
Elira paused before answering.
"…Yes."
Rei glanced at her.
"You controlled the wind well."
Elira blinked, slightly surprised he was the one who said it.
"Thank you."
Mira pointed her fork at Rei.
"Look at that. The quiet one speaks."
Rei shrugged faintly.
"You were all saying the same thing anyway."
Shin looked amused.
"You noticed the control too?"
Rei nodded once.
"No wasted movement."
Elira lowered her gaze a little, clearly uncomfortable being analyzed by three people at once.
Across the hall, chairs scraped against the floor as Valen's group began to leave.
They passed between tables on the way to the exit.
Valen's gaze swept the room.
It paused briefly on Shin.
Then Mira.
Then Rei.
His expression shifted slightly.
A hint of irritation.
Rei didn't look up.
He was still eating.
Valen looked away and continued walking.
Mira watched the exchange and leaned back.
"Well. That one definitely noticed you."
Rei shrugged.
"He noticed Shin."
Shin smirked faintly.
"Second place tends to notice first."
Elira spoke quietly.
"The rankings aren't final."
The dining hall slowly began to empty as students finished eating and drifted back toward their dormitories.
Outside, the night air had turned cool. Lanterns along the stone paths cast warm pools of light across the academy courtyard.
Groups of initiates walked together, still arguing about rankings and tomorrow's announcement.
Shin stretched slightly as they stepped out of the hall.
"Tomorrow should be interesting."
Mira glanced at him.
"That's one way to say stressful."
Elira stood beside her, holding her tray a little too carefully as if unsure whether to leave yet.
Mira noticed.
"You heading to the east wing?"
Elira nodded once.
"…Yes."
"That's where we're going," Mira said, jerking a thumb toward the lit path on the right. "Come on."
Elira hesitated briefly, then followed as they began walking.
For a while none of them spoke. The sound of distant conversations drifted across the courtyard.
Eventually Mira broke the silence.
"You handled the test well," she said to Elira.
Elira looked mildly uncomfortable again.
"I practiced."
Rei walked quietly beside Shin, listening.
They reached the fork where the academy paths split.
One path curved toward the east wing dormitories.
The other led toward the west wing.
Mira stopped.
"Well. This is us."
Elira gave a small nod.
"Good night."
Mira waved lazily as she and Elira headed down the eastern path.
Within a few moments the two figures disappeared into the lantern-lit corridor leading toward the girls' dormitory halls.
Shin and Rei turned toward the western wing.
The night had grown quieter now. Most students had already returned inside.
Their footsteps echoed softly along the stone walkway.
Ahead, several figures emerged from another corridor.
Valen Drayke walked at the center of a small group of students.
Conversation among them faded slightly when they noticed Shin approaching.
Valen slowed.
The two groups stopped a few steps apart.
For a moment no one spoke.
Valen's gaze moved calmly over Shin.
"Enjoy the ranking while it lasts."
Shin didn't look offended.
"If you want it," he replied evenly, "you'll have to take it."
Valen's lips curved faintly.
"That's the plan."
Then his gaze shifted.
It settled briefly on Rei.
A quiet pause followed.
"Strange," Valen said softly, "that the academy bothers testing the unmarked."
Rei didn't react.
Shin answered instead.
"The pillar reacted."
Valen glanced toward him again.
"Barely."
For another second his eyes lingered on Rei.
Rei still hadn't looked up.
Valen gave a faint dismissive smile before turning away.
"Good night."
He and the others continued down the corridor.
The sound of their footsteps faded into the distance.
Shin watched them go.
Then he exhaled through his nose.
"Confident."
Rei shrugged slightly.
"He ranked second."
Shin smirked.
"That's not the reason."
They continued walking.
A single lantern hung from the ceiling, casting dim light across the small space.
Two beds arranged as a bunk stood against one wall. A desk sat near the window overlooking the academy courtyard.
Shin climbed easily onto the upper bunk and stretched out on his back, staring up at the ceiling.
Below him, Rei sat on the lower bed near the window.
Outside, the academy grounds had grown almost completely silent.
After a moment faint sparks of lightning flickered between Shin's fingers as he absentmindedly experimented with his mark.
Thin arcs snapped softly through the air.
"Tomorrow's selection," Shin said, watching the sparks. "They'll probably choose ten students."
Rei didn't respond.
Shin tilted his head slightly, then leaned over the edge of the bunk.
He looked down.
"You think you'll be picked?"
Rei glanced at his hand.
"Unlikely."
Shin studied him from above for a moment.
Then he said,
"That pillar didn't look like nothing."
Rei's gaze shifted slightly.
"It recorded minimal output."
Shin frowned faintly.
"That's not what I asked."
Rei was quiet for a moment.
Then he answered simply.
"Mana."
Shin stared down at him.
"That's it?"
Rei nodded once.
Shin let out a quiet laugh and shook his head before leaning back onto his pillow.
"You're going to be difficult to talk to."
Rei didn't disagree.
The lightning sparks slowly faded from Shin's hand as the room grew still.
Outside, the academy lanterns dimmed one by one.
Within a few minutes the quiet rhythm of sleep settled over the dorm room.
For Shin, tomorrow was likely just a formality.
For Rei—
the academy's decision was far less certain.