The academy's grand courtyard was filled with first-year students, all gathered in orderly lines beneath the pale morning sun. Towering spires and floating runes hovered above the Assembly Ground, casting dancing lights across the open marble space. On a raised podium stood five strange crystals, each pulsing faintly with different elemental colors—blue, red, green, brown, and white.
Sera leaned in close to Zane, whispering, "What do you think those are for?"
Before he could answer, a robed professor strode up to the podium. His voice, amplified by magic, rang across the crowd.
"Silence, students. Welcome to your first formal evaluation. Today, you will be tested for your mana aptitude—both in strength and elemental alignment."
He gestured to the crystals. "These crystals react to your magical potential. The brighter the glow, the greater your capacity. Each color corresponds to an element—red for fire, blue for water, green for wind, brown for earth, white for cloud. If you possess multiple affinities, it will show."
Excited murmurs filled the air as the students stepped forward one by one. Some crystals glowed faintly, others shone bright. A few students had dual-colored glows, though rarely bright.
When it was Sera's turn, she confidently approached the crystal at the center. She placed her hand on it, and instantly it lit up a vibrant green—but then, to everyone's surprise, white light swirled inside it as well.
The professors leaned in, murmuring amongst themselves.
"That's... wind and cloud," one of them said.
Another added, "A dual affinity. Rare enough—but the wind... that's very strong."
Sera turned around, eyes twinkling with pride. Zane gave her a small clap and a grin. "Not bad. You didn't blow it up."
Sera elbowed him playfully. "Try not to embarrass yourself."
Then it was Zane's turn.
He stepped up and placed his hand on the central crystal.
At first, nothing happened.
Then—crack.
The crystal split down the middle.
A heartbeat later, every single elemental crystal on the podium shattered into dust, a sharp hum vibrating through the air. Gasps rippled through the students and even the professors were stunned.
"What the...?"
"He—he broke them all...?"
"Impossible..."
The professor who had spoken earlier stepped forward, his brows furrowed deeply as he stared at the ruins of the shattered crystals. "This… this isn't mana overflow. It's something else."
Zane pulled his hand back, eyes narrowing as he stared at the fragments.
Sera moved to his side. "Zane... what the hell was that?"
He shrugged, though inside, he could feel something stirring—something ancient and watching.