The morning sunlight spilled across Rycloss Academy like a golden tide, reflecting from the stone towers that rose high above, the entrance exams were bustling like a festival. Birds and small magical constructs flew among the spires, carrying messages or floating scrolls for the students. The air vibrated faintly with mana. Over two hundred first-year students from across the Rycloss Ostelrik had arrived, accompanied by nobles, scholars, commoners, and guardians. Some were escorted by family, others alone. Each student carried the air of anticipation, pride, or nervousness.
Caelum walked beside Aeyla, both of them marveling at the sheer scale of the academy. Even from the gate, it was clear that this place was not just a school, but an overwhelming power.
Aeyla's expression was calm yet proud. "This is where I've been training for the past year," she said softly, her voice barely above the hum of the gates. "Everything here… every tower, arena, library, it's all for students like us. But it's not easy, especially if you're not from a noble family."
Caelum glanced around, taking in the high walls, the gleaming runes that floated in the air as wards, and the students moving purposefully along the stone-paved paths. "It's… massive," he said.
"This is the true beginning," Aeyla said quietly. "Once you pass these gates, everything changes."
Caelum looked around. Lightning coiled faintly around his hands. He could sense the pulse of mana in every student, every elemental signature. Even a few unusual ones with faintly dark auras.
The massive gates parted with a resonant boom, revealing the Grand colosseum Plaza. Professors lined the elevated platforms. Senior students in different Class uniforms stood at attention along the walls. At the highest balcony stood the Head of Rycloss Academy himself.
Archmagus Valdyr Aurelion.
His presence alone silenced the crowd.
"Welcome," Valdyr's voice echoed, magically amplified yet calm. "You stand at the threshold of Rycloss Academy. Of the two hundred gathered here only those who adapt will rise. Talent is meaningless without control. Power is worthless without discipline."
He raised one hand. "Let the entrance examination begin."
Entrance Exam – Exam One: Target Destruction
The arena activated. Using Mana or elemental manipulation their targets are ten crystalline orbs. Each floated at different heights and distances, their surfaces layered with defensive mana barriers that adjusted to incoming force. Each student was given three attempts. Points were awarded based on precision, control, output, and efficiency. The passing score is 3500 points. Maximum scores of 10,000 points of the student who got.
"Exam One: Target Destruction," a professor's voice echoed.
"Each student is granted three attempts."
"Scoring is based on precision, control, output, and efficiency."
"Passing score: 3,500 points."
"Maximum possible score: 10,000 points."
The arena seals closed with a thunderous BOOM.
Above the floating battlefield, elevated chairs formed a crescent of authority.
The crowd composed of academy spectators, visiting nobles, and fellow students erupted in whispers.
The examiner's voice echoed across the arena, clear and authoritative. "Entrance Exam One begins. Call the first candidate."
The examiner's voice rang out clearly. "Candidate, Lioran Kalwind."
"The Blue fire flared." of the Kalwind Family
Lioran stepped forward confidently.
"Watch closely," Lioran sneered. "This is the true power of kalwind ."
He executed a perfect Fireblade arc, slicing cleanly through three targets in succession. The blue fire burned through the defensive mana with surgical precision.
The crystal blazed.
The Examiner announced the result in a clear, measured voice. "Total score 9,600."
Professor Elyss observed calmly. "Blue Fire affinity confirmed. High-grade lineage."
"As expected from the Kalwind family." Councilor Myrienne said.
Professor Halvren nodded with approval. "Fireblade technique specialist. Excellent sword discipline."
Councilor Myrienne added, "That control is insane."
Headmaster Valdyr nodded. "Blue flames… interesting."
The examiner announced the next candidate. "Candidate, Mira Solen."
She raised a single hand. Water condensed from the air, forming flowing whips and layered shields. Instead of brute force, she wrapped targets, crushing them inward with controlled pressure.
Each orb shattered quietly. Targets crushed inward with precision.
The Examiner announced the result in a clear, measured voice. "Total score 9,200."
"Perfect mana efficiency," an examiner noted.
Professor Elyss spoke first. "Excellent mana efficiency."
Councilor Verion stated. "No wasted output."
Councilor Thorne concluded, "Support-class perfection."
Professor Nyvale added,"Excellent enchantment flow."
The examiner lifted his hand, his voice steady and formal as it echoed across the arena. "Candidate, Threnor Brock."
He stone crawled over his arms, forming granite armor. He slammed the ground metal fragments from the arena twisted upward as he clenched his gauntlet.
Targets shattered from sheer force.
The Examiner announced the result in a clear, measured voice. "Total score 8,800."
Professor Halvren commented firmly. "A frontline monster."
Professor Kaedor followed. "Metal bending in the first year… impressive."
Councillor Thorne stated, "Without external catalysts… impressive."
The examiner raised his voice again. "Candidate, Kelira Solmar."
She vanished.
A sudden sonic crack split the air as compressed wind blades struck the targets. Some shattered before the sound even reached them.
"Wind… no, sound-enhanced wind," a professor muttered.
The Examiner announced the result in a clear, measured voice. "Total score 9,100."
Professor Elyss narrowed her eyes. "Sound-wind resonance?"
Headmaster Valdyr added, "Rare… very rare."
Professor Varkun noted, "That specialization is dangerous if refined."
The examiner's voice echoed across the arena. "Candidate, Zhavren Dorvan."
"The Nightflame." of the Dorvan Family.
Targets shattered one after another, struck by shadow fire by his sword style.
The Examiner announced the result in a clear, measured voice. "Total score 9,200."
Councilor Verion: "That impressive."
Councilor Thorne: "Dangerous student."
Professor Halvren: "I lost track of his blade."
The examiner announced the next candidate. "Candidate, Taren Flint."
He laughed loudly.
"Let's burn it all!"
Rock and flame fused into magma bursts, detonating targets in explosive fashion.
Magma exploded.
The arena shook.
"Too much output," an examiner sighed. "Still impressive."
The Examiner announced the result in a clear, measured voice. "Total score 8,900."
Professor Kaedor cautiously. "Unstable, but powerful output."
Councilor Verion concluded, "Control issues."
Professor Varkun frowned slightly. "Magma hybrid confirmed."
The examiner's voice rang out clearly"Candidate, Sylvea Avelight."
"The Lightweaver." of Avelight Family.
Light gathered calmly at her fingertips.
She fired needle-thin beams, each piercing a target's core without excess damage. Clean. Precise. Beautiful.
"Impressive." The examiner nodded.
The Examiner announced the result in a clear, measured voice. "Total score 9,300."
Professor Elyss smiled faintly. "Perfect control."
Councilor Myrienne nodded in clear approval. "True noble refinement."
Councilor Verion concluded evenly, "a light user with precise control… impressive"
The arena grew tense as the next name rang out. "Candidate, Zareth Therion."
A whisper of wind.
Targets shattered one after another, struck by unseen shadow daggers enhanced by air.
The Examiner announced the result in a clear, measured voice. "Total score 8,900."
Professor Halvren narrowed his eyes. "Assassin-grade instincts."
Professor Varkun leaned forward. "Air-shadow synchronization is rare."
Councilor Draeven murmured, "He disappears too easily."
The examiner stepped forward, his voice amplified by the runic array surrounding the arena, carrying clearly to every corner. "Candidate, Elira Frostveil."
Ice spears formed mid-air.
Each throw froze a target solid before shattering it with pinpoint accuracy.
The Examiner announced the result in a clear, measured voice. "Total score 9,100."
Professor Elyss spoke with approval. "Cold precision."
Headmaster Arkhavel added quietly, "Good control."
The examiner barely finished speaking before the next student stepped forward. "Candidate, Orik Mirevale."
Lightning surged violently through clawed gauntlets.
He slashed through targets with lightning claw and brute force, electricity tearing and ripped mana barriers apart.
The Examiner announced the result in a clear, measured voice. "Total score 8,800."
Professor Halvren crossed his arms. "Too aggressive."
Councilor Thorne observed, "Battle-hardened type."
Professor Elyss sighed lightly. "Lightning overflows constantly."
The next name was called. "Candidate, Milo Vorin."
He planted his spear.
Earth surged upward, crushing targets through raw mass and pressure.
The Examiner announced the result in a clear, measured voice. "Total score 8,600."
Professor Halvren nodded once. "Reliable formation fighter."
Professor Kaedor added calmly, "Earth flow is stable."
Councilor Verion concluded, "Predictable."
The examiner spoke once more, his tone sharpening slightly. "Candidate, Caelum Arctis."
Caelum stepped forward calmly.
Caelum raised his hand.
A thin bolt of lightning wrapped in light struck the target. Nothing happened.
The evaluation crystal orbs flickered.
The examiner furrowed his brow, staring at the flickering crystal. "Mana orbs… error?."
Murmurs spread.
Second attempt.
A light formed instinctively around the lightning projectile as it struck.
The target shattered but the crystal remained.
"Second failure recorded."
Some students laughed. "Commoner", "A low class boy", "Can't even register mana."
Caelum calmly prepares for the last strike.
Third attempt.
He structure his insane mana form in his hand ,his power burst
The Light magic compressed. Lightning stabilized. Light aligned and synchronized to Lightning form. A burst beam of light charged with electricity.
The orb didn't just shatter, It ceased to exist. The evaluation crystal exploded with blinding light, scattering mana residue across the arena.
Smoke and sparks filled the air, everyone got frost and silence. Then chaos.
The Examiner raised his concerns to judges, council, and head master.
Professor Elyss's voice cut through the stunned silence. "That mana isn't standard!"
Professor Kaedor stared at the shattered remnants of the orb, disbelief clear on his face. "The orbs exploded…impossible!"
Councilor Verion echoed the word quietly, his expression dark. "Impossible."
Professor Halvren leaned forward in his seat, eyes sharp with professional awe. "The orb… it detonated from output. I've never seen such controlled destruction."
Professor Kaedor spoke again, this time with forced composure. "The orbs failed to contain the energy… but the strike was perfect. The orb can't measure it!"
Councilor Myrienne: "A commoner surpassing every noble prodigy? This is unprecedented."
Councilor Myrienne's voice carried a sharp edge of disbelief. "If he ever fights in the field… the battlefield will tremble under that mana."
Councilor Verion frowned, even the enforcer of law. "The orbs exploded. Did he break academy protocol?"
Councilor Saelis answered calmly, without hesitation. "No, the explosion is proof of maximum output efficiency, not recklessness. Ethically, this is perfect."
Councilor Draeven's tone was cold and measured. "The system failed ethically."
At last, Headmaster Valdyr rose from his chair. The murmuring audience fell into absolute silence.
"Enough speculation." His voice carried effortlessly across the arena.
"The system did not fail him… the system failed to measure him."
He paused, allowing the words to settle heavily over the crowd. "The explosion of the orb confirms the maximum output possible. The score of 10,000 points is perfect."
His gaze swept across students, professors, and council alike."Let it be known: this student's mana is flawless. The system is inadequate."
"Did… did he just max the orb?!"
"I thought that was impossible!"
"He… he's a commoner!"
"Ten thousand points… that's insane!"
"IMPOSSIBLE"
"The first two didn't register!"
"What kind of mana core does he have?!" The Crowd's Reaction. Whispers, gasps, and shouts filled the arena.
The head examiner stood, raising one hand. Silence spread reluctantly through the stands. "The system failed to recognize his mana… not the other way around."
The examiner's voice rang clear across the arena. "Total score 10,000."
Some students stared at Caelum in awe. Others like nobles in the crowd felt a twinge of anger, fear, envy, rivalry tension. The professors exchanged worried glances.
After the results were recorded, he turned his gaze to the next student. "Candidate, Aeyla Zack."
Nervous but focused.
Wind and water intertwined into a controlled storm spiral, gently but firmly breaking targets apart.
The Examiner announced the result in a clear, measured voice. "Total score 9,200."
Professor Nyvale: "Enchantment talent far above her rank."
Professor Elyss: "Storm alignment forming naturally."
Councilor Draeven: "She will grow dangerously fast."
Other Students – Final Calls
Names echoed.
Passing Scores: 3,500–5,200
Borderline Failures: 3,000–3,499
Severe Failures: Below 2,000
The Examiner announced, "Total participants are 200.", "Passed 125.", "Failed 75."
Top Scores Displayed
Caelum — 10,000
Lioran Kalwind — 9,600
Sylvea Avelight — 9,300
Mira Solen — 9,200
Aeyla Zack — 9,200
Zhavren Dorvan — 9,200
Kelira Solmar — 9,100
Elira Frostveil — 9,100
Zareth Therion — 8,900
Taren Flint — 8,900
Threnor Brock — 8,800
Orik Mirevale — 8,800
Milo Ironhand — 8,600— 15 — 8,400
Council Conversation (Seated Above)
Judge Verion spoke first, his voice low but sharp. "That boy broke our expectations."
Councilor Myrienne frowned, fingers tightening against the armrest of her chair. "A commoner topping nobles?"
Professor Elyss adjusted her glasses, eyes never leaving the arena floor. "His mana core is abnormal."
Professor Kaedor nodded calmly, gaze fixed on the shattered remnants of the orb. "The orbs couldn't recognize it."
The Headmaster leaned back.
"Then we will build new standards." Headmaster Valdyr spoke.
His gaze locked onto Caelum. "Exam Two will be interesting."
Whispers and Exclamations
"Did you see Caelum? The orb exploded… exploded!"
"Ten thousand points? That's… that's the maximum!"
"He's only a commoner!"
Near the bleachers, some students muttered among themselves.
"Lioran still did insanely well… 9,700."
"Sylvea's technique… perfect. She barely lost to him."
"Kelira's sound-wind attacks… insane timing."
Crowd chatter
"The Headmaster said the system failed, not him."
"Maximum output… 10,000 points."
"I've never seen the judges so confused."
"Who even is Caelum?"
The arena was filled with awe, envy, fear, and anticipation. Every eye was on Caelum.
Above all, a tense silence lingered as the Headmaster's declaration settled into everyone's minds. "The first examination has ended."