The hall assigned for the announcement was far larger than any classroom Rei had seen in the academy so far.
Rows of long benches filled the chamber, rising in tiers toward the back. Tall windows lined the walls, allowing pale morning light to spill across the polished stone floor.
Nearly every initiate from the previous day had gathered inside.
Yet the hall was strangely quiet.
Rei noticed it immediately.
Even the students who had been the loudest after the capability test were speaking only in low whispers now.
At the front of the hall stood several unfamiliar figures.
They wore robes similar to the academy instructors—but darker, heavier, lined with silver thread.
Their presence filled the room in a way that was difficult to describe.
They weren't doing anything.
They weren't speaking.
And yet the air felt… heavier.
Like the atmosphere itself had grown dense.
Mana.
Rei could feel it faintly pressing against his senses.
Beside him, Shin sat unusually still.
That alone was enough to show how unusual the situation was.
Shin leaned slightly closer.
"…You feel that?"
Rei gave a small nod.
"The pressure."
Shin glanced again toward the front of the hall where the unfamiliar instructors stood.
Even without doing anything, their presence seemed to weigh on the entire room.
"Those aren't normal academy teachers," Shin murmured.
Rei's gaze lingered on them for a moment longer.
"High Academy."
Shin exhaled quietly.
"That's what I was thinking."
He looked around the hall.
The usual noise of students had vanished. Even the more arrogant initiates were speaking in careful whispers.
Shin folded his arms.
"Still," he muttered, "I didn't expect it to feel like this."
Rei said nothing.
Shin glanced sideways at him.
"You're not even a little tense?"
Rei shook his head once.
"They're just watching."
Shin studied him for a moment.
"…You're strange."
Before Rei could answer, two familiar figures approached from the aisle.
Mira dropped onto the bench beside Shin.
Elira followed more cautiously, sitting beside Mira.
Mira leaned forward slightly.
"So it's not just me, right?"
Shin raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"These instructors," Mira said quietly. "They feel different."
Shin nodded toward the front of the hall.
"They're probably from the High Academy."
Elira's eyes widened slightly.
"The actual professors?"
"Most likely."
Mira let out a low whistle.
"No wonder everyone's acting like statues."
Rei remained silent.
At that moment, movement stirred near the front of the chamber.
Several familiar academy instructors entered the hall.
They took their places beside the High Academy professors.
One of the standard instructors—an older man with sharp features—stepped forward.
He looked across the rows of students.
Then he chuckled.
"Well," he said, his voice echoing easily through the chamber. "This is a surprise."
Several students glanced at each other.
"In previous years," the instructor continued, "this hall was much louder."
A few nervous laughs rippled through the crowd.
"I see our colleagues from the High Academy have had a… calming influence."
Even a few of the High Academy professors allowed faint smiles.
The instructor folded his hands behind his back.
"Now then."
His expression grew more serious.
"As you all know, the capability test yesterday determined which initiates would be considered for admission into the academy's special training program."
The room grew even quieter.
"Last year," he continued, "twelve initiates were selected."
Murmurs spread instantly.
"Twelve students."
"The second highest number in the academy's history."
The instructor paused.
Then he sighed slightly.
"Unfortunately… this year's results were somewhat less impressive."
Students exchanged uneasy glances.
"This year…"
He lifted a small slate.
"Only six initiates have been selected."
The hall exploded.
"Six?!"
"That's impossible!"
"That's half of last year!"
Students near the front immediately began arguing.
Some of the higher ranked initiates looked particularly angry.
"I ranked seventh!"
"How is that not enough?!"
The noise grew rapidly.
Then—
One of the High Academy professors stepped forward.
He didn't raise his voice.
He didn't gesture.
Yet the moment he moved, something in the room shifted.
The air grew heavy.
Mana filled the hall like an invisible tide.
Marks across the chamber flickered faintly.
Conversations died instantly.
Students who had been shouting moments before fell silent as if someone had pressed a switch.
The professor's gaze swept calmly across the room.
"Silence," he said quietly.
No one argued.
After a moment, the pressure faded.
The professor glanced toward the instructor holding the slate.
"Proceed."
The instructor nodded.
He cleared his throat.
"We will now announce the six initiates selected for the High Academy's special training program."
Every student leaned forward.
"The first selection…"
The instructor looked down at the slate.
"Shin Raiga."
A wave of murmurs moved through the room.
Shin simply sighed.
"Predictable."
Mira nudged him.
"Don't act humble now."
The instructor continued.
"Second selection—Valen Drayke."
Valen, seated near the front, allowed himself a faint smile.
More whispers spread through the hall.
No one seemed surprised.
"Third selection—Elira Voss."
Several heads turned at once.
Elira froze.
Mira grinned and nudged her.
"Hey. That's you."
Elira nodded slowly, still looking slightly overwhelmed.
"Fourth selection—Mira Solenn."
Mira blinked.
"…Well, that's nice."
Shin smirked.
"You sound surprised."
"I wasn't sure," Mira admitted.
Students throughout the hall began whispering again.
"Those are just the top ranks…"
"Obviously…"
The instructor continued.
"Fifth selection…"
He paused.
The hall grew quiet again.
Many students were already predicting the next name.
Then the instructor read the slate.
"Rei Takeda."
For a moment—
no one reacted.
Then the entire hall erupted.
"What?!"
"The unmarked?!"
"That has to be a mistake!"
Students shot to their feet across the chamber.
Even several of the academy's regular instructors exchanged confused glances.
Shin turned slowly toward Rei.
Mira stared.
Elira looked genuinely stunned.
Rei himself remained completely still.
At the front of the hall, the High Academy professor watched the reaction calmly.
Then he spoke.
"Potential," he said evenly, "is not always visible to those who measure strength only by results."
The hall remained quiet.
And the announcement was not finished yet.
The instructor waited for the murmurs to settle before continuing.
"The sixth and final selection…"
He glanced once more at the slate.
"Cassian Virel."
A tall student near the front of the hall rose slowly to his feet.
He had dark hair, sharp features, and wore a long coat bearing the subtle crest of a noble house.
The reaction in the hall was immediate.
"Virel?"
"The second-ranked house…"
"So that's him?"
Cassian stood with the calm confidence of someone accustomed to attention.
Yet his expression shifted slightly.
Not surprise.
Displeasure.
His gaze moved briefly across the hall.
Then he spoke.
"Instructor."
The room quieted again.
Cassian's voice carried easily through the chamber.
"May I ask something?"
The instructor looked up from the slate.
"Briefly."
Cassian's eyes flicked once toward the row where Rei sat.
Then back to the front.
"My name," he said evenly, "was announced last."
A pause.
"Is there a reason for that?"
Several students leaned forward.
The instructor's expression tightened slightly.
A faint line formed between his brows as he exhaled through his nose.
"The order of announcement is irrelevant."
His voice remained calm.
"Sit down."
Cassian did not move immediately.
For a second it seemed as if he might press the issue.
Then his gaze shifted again.
This time it landed directly on Rei.
An unmarked student.
Announced before him.
His eyes lingered there for a moment.
Cold.
Evaluating.
Then Cassian gave a small nod to the instructor and took his seat.
The hall remained quiet.
The instructor allowed the murmurs to settle before speaking again.
"The selection of six initiates does not diminish the rest of you."
The room quieted gradually.
"Admission to the special training program is not the only path within the academy."
His gaze moved across the rows of students.
"Those who were not selected today will continue normal training. Future evaluations will occur throughout the academic term."
A few students shifted in their seats.
"Talent develops through effort," the instructor continued. "Those who wish to advance will have opportunities to prove themselves."
He paused briefly.
"For now, return to your assigned classes. The six selected initiates will report to the High Academy wing at noon."
A final glance across the hall.
"Dismissed."
The room erupted almost immediately.
Benches scraped against the floor as students stood. Conversations broke out in every direction.
Some looked frustrated.
Others stunned.
A few near the front were openly arguing.
"I ranked seventh!"
"How does that only pick six?!"
Rei stood quietly as the crowd began moving toward the exits.
Shin stretched slightly.
"Well," he said, "Well… that escalated quickly."
Mira crossed her arms.
"Only six students."
She shook her head.
"That's brutal."
Elira remained silent beside her, still processing the announcement.
They followed the flow of students toward the doorway.
Near the exit, someone stood waiting.
Cassian Virel.
He leaned casually against the stone wall beside the doorway, arms folded.
Several students moved past him nervously.
When Rei approached, Cassian straightened slightly.
"Takeda."
Rei stopped.
Shin and the others paused as well.
Cassian studied him with calm, measured interest.
"Your father," he said, "is the regional records keeper, correct?"
Rei nodded once.
"That's right."
Cassian's gaze lingered on him.
"I see."
His tone carried no real emotion.
The implication was obvious.
"Strange," Cassian continued quietly, "that someone from such an ordinary background was selected before me."
The corridor grew quieter.
Rei didn't react.
Cassian held his gaze a moment longer before giving a faint nod.
"Interesting."
Then he stepped aside and walked out into the courtyard.
Mira watched him leave.
"…I don't like that guy."
Shin shrugged.
"Nobles."
They stepped outside.
Morning light filled the academy courtyard now. Students gathered in clusters across the stone paths, discussing the announcement.
The news had already begun spreading.
Only six selected.
Rei noticed the whispers following them as they crossed the courtyard.
"They're the ones."
"Special program…"
"That's the unmarked one…"
Mira sighed.
"This is going to get annoying."
Ahead of them, another group approached from the opposite path.
Valen Drayke walked at the center.
Two girls trailed beside him, speaking enthusiastically while he listened with polite detachment.
When he noticed Shin, he slowed.
"Raiga."
Shin nodded.
"Drayke."
Valen's gaze moved across the others.
"Elira."
"Mira."
Then his eyes stopped briefly on Rei.
"Takeda."
His expression remained calm.
"Your selection was unexpected."
Mira smirked slightly.
"You're surprised?"
Valen considered the question.
"…Curious," he said.
Shin folded his arms.
"Does it bother you?"
Valen shook his head.
"The instructors made their choice."
His gaze shifted back to Rei.
"Though I admit I would like to understand it."
Rei answered simply.
"So would I."
That drew a quiet laugh from Mira.
Elira spoke softly.
"Six students…"
She looked around the courtyard.
"That must mean the High Academy has very high expectations this year."
Valen nodded.
"That would be logical."
Shin stretched again.
"Well, whatever they expect—"
He glanced at the academy towers in the distance.
"—we'll find out soon."
The girls beside Valen were still watching the conversation with curiosity, though Valen seemed far more interested in the discussion itself.
After a moment he inclined his head slightly.
"We'll speak again at noon."
Then he continued across the courtyard with the others following behind him.
Mira watched him go.
"That one's dangerous too."
Shin chuckled.
"You're noticing a pattern?"
They stood in silence for a moment.
Students continued passing around them.
Eventually Mira stretched her arms.
"Well," she said, "we've got a few hours."
Shin nodded.
"Probably best to rest before whatever the High Academy throws at us."
Elira agreed quietly.
"That would be wise."
They began walking toward the dormitories again.
At the entrance to the girls' wing, Mira stopped.
"Guess this is where we split again."
Elira gave a small nod.
"See you at noon."
Shin lifted a hand casually.
"Try not to disappear before then."
Elira almost smiled.
The two girls disappeared inside.
Shin and Rei continued toward the west wing.
After a moment Shin glanced sideways.
"You're popular today."
Rei didn't look up.
"That will pass."
Shin laughed softly.
"Maybe."
They reached their dormitory building a few minutes later.
The courtyard behind them slowly returned to its usual rhythm.
But across the academy, one topic dominated every conversation.
The six names chosen for the High Academy's special training program.
And the question no one could quite answer.
Why Rei Takeda had been one of them.