The lecture hall buzzed with excitement as students filed into their seats, the massive crystal screens above the stage shimmering with an ethereal glow. Today was the day they would witness their first live demonstration of elemental magic. For most, this was a dream come true—the start of a life of wonder, danger, and power. For me? It was another chance to be surrounded by overly eager teens who thought waving fire around made them gods.
I took a seat near the back, propping my boots on the bench in front of me, ignoring the glare from a bespectacled student who clearly thought he was the reincarnation of every librarian who ever lived.
"Class, settle down," Professor Kaien's voice rang out, magically enhanced to fill the space. He stood at the front, sharp-eyed and tall, his dark violet robes embroidered with runes that pulsed faintly. "Today, you will see what true elemental affinity looks like. Four instructors will demonstrate the core elemental branches—Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind."
"Hopefully no one sets themselves on fire," I muttered, earning a chuckle from a girl next to me. Akari.
She leaned in slightly, whispering, "Or maybe they will. I brought marshmallows."
I glanced at her, smirking. "Romantic picnic over magical incompetence? I like your style."
The stage lights dimmed, and the first instructor, Master Varn, stepped forward. A fire mage, naturally. With a dramatic wave of his hand, a roaring phoenix-shaped flame spiraled into the air, bathing the room in a golden-red hue. The crowd gasped in awe.
"And cue the oohs and aahs," I drawled, arms crossed.
Akari leaned closer. "Jealous?"
"Of a guy who looks like he moonlights as a torch? Absolutely."
The next instructor, Mistress Yelra, summoned a swirling wave of water that shaped itself into a graceful serpent, winding its way across the stage before exploding into mist.
Then came Earth and Wind, equally flashy, equally beloved by the crowd. When the performances ended, Professor Kaien returned to center stage.
"Impressive, yes? But remember, these are basic displays. True mastery requires decades. Talent helps, but discipline and comprehension matter more."
That part I agreed with.
"Now," he continued, "you will be broken into practice groups by elemental affinity. Mages without an affinity for these four will join the special applications class later in the week."
I stood slowly, heading for the door labeled [Ice/Wind Hybrid Affinities]. Akari followed, and I wasn't sure if she was placed in the same group or just liked annoying me. Either way, it wasn't unpleasant.
Our group was smaller than the others, which made sense—hybrids or uncommon branches were rare.
The instructor waiting for us was an older woman with silver streaks in her black hair and a gaze colder than a glacier. "I am Instructor Niyara. I teach control. Not power. If you value theatrics more than precision, leave now."
No one moved.
"Good," she said. "Then let us see what you can do. One by one, step into the circle and manifest your affinity."
Most students summoned a gentle breeze, a chill, a shard of ice. Nothing dramatic.
When it was my turn, I stepped into the circle, stretched out my hand, and whispered a word under my breath.
Frost bloomed from my palm, stretching across the floor like a web of silver veins. Tiny snowflakes danced around my shoulders. The air dropped several degrees.
Niyara blinked. "Name?"
"Yoru Mikazuki."
"Your control is refined. Dangerous, but contained. We will have to work on that bloodthirst hidden in your aura."
I gave a mock bow. "I do try to be charming."
Akari followed, flames wrapping around her like a living dress. Her eyes gleamed.
"Element: Flame, with potential hybrid evolution," Niyara noted. "Temper: explosive."
Akari flashed a grin. "Only when poked."
"Noted," Niyara said dryly.
After training, we were dismissed for the day. I wandered out into the academy courtyard, where twilight cast golden shadows on marble columns. The stars were beginning to show, faint but steady.
"You're powerful," Akari said, appearing beside me.
"And you're surprisingly observant."
She snorted. "Why do you act like this isn't a big deal?"
"Because it isn't. Not yet. Power without purpose is just noise."
She studied me. "So what's your purpose?"
"Haven't figured that out yet."
She nodded. "Fair. But I think you have one."
I didn't respond. Just stared up at the stars. If only she knew.
Later that night, I sat on my bed, staring at the ceiling, when a familiar presence tickled the edge of my thoughts.
"You're holding back," the voice echoed in my mind.
"Not now," I whispered.
"You could have frozen the entire circle. Why didn't you?"
"Because I'm not here to stand out."
The voice chuckled. "Then why do you shine so brightly, little star?"
I sighed. My companion, hidden in her smaller form, still insisted on poking at my emotions like they were some fragile experiment.
The next morning, we had our first lesson on mana beasts. Professor Kaien stood before the class with an image of a massive wyvern floating above his hand.
"Mana beasts are creatures born from condensed magic and nature's will. They range from docile to catastrophic. Contracting one is not like buying a pet. It is a bond, forged in mana and intent."
He gestured, and the image shifted through the ranks: F to S, then stopped briefly at the rare SS tier before flickering away.
"To contract a beast, one must enter the Spirit Confluence Zone, where they will be evaluated. You will not choose the beast. The beast chooses you."
Murmurs spread across the room.
"Oh great," I muttered. "A magical Tinder."
Akari laughed behind her hand.
Kaien ignored the interruption. "Tomorrow, you'll all undergo your first entrance into the Spirit Confluence Zone. You will be assessed—not just by the beasts, but by the zone itself. It will test your mana, your will, and even your intentions."
"Sounds like a personality quiz from hell," I whispered.
This time, even the student beside me who looked like they hadn't smiled in years let out a snort.
Kaien's eyes swept over the class, his gaze narrowing slightly. "I suggest you reflect tonight. The beasts will see through lies, bravado, and fear. Bring only your truth… or bring nothing."
With that ominous warning, the lecture ended. Students gathered their things, buzzing with questions and nerves. I stood slowly, slinging my bag over my shoulder.
"So," Akari said, walking beside me. "Tomorrow we get judged by magical animals. Should I dress up?"
"Depends. Are you aiming to impress a bunny or a three-story lizard that breathes lava?"
"Both. I'm versatile."
We exited the hall into the evening air. The sky had deepened into a velvet purple, stars glittering like frozen sparks. Something about it felt… heavy. As if the world was holding its breath.
"Do you think we'll actually get one?" she asked. "A beast, I mean."
I shrugged. "They say most students don't until their second or third year."
"Yeah. But we're not most students."
I gave her a sidelong glance. "That confidence. Dangerous."
She smirked. "Only if you're standing too close."
We parted ways at the dorms. I climbed the stairs to my room and sat at the window, staring into the night. My fingers tapped against the sill, restless.
The voice returned, soft as a breeze through frostbitten trees. "You fear being seen. And yet you burn to be known."
I didn't answer.
"You'll go into that zone tomorrow and hold back again, won't you?"
Still, I stayed silent.
A whisper echoed in my mind, not words this time, but memory—ice and starlight, roaring winds, and the echo of a roar that shook the skies.
Hoshiryu.
She had chosen me. And yet, I hadn't fully accepted her.
Not yet.
I whispered, "Tomorrow, I'll let them see… just enough."
"And me?" she asked gently.
"Maybe you too."
For a moment, the air shimmered. A tiny wisp of light coalesced near my hand—a miniature dragon, delicate and translucent like glass etched in moonlight. She curled into a tiny ball and rested on the edge of the windowsill, her voice a purr in my thoughts.
"I'll be watching."
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