---
"So when is this test starting?"
Aaron shifted his weight, impatient.
"How do you expect me to know?"
Kai rolled his eyes.
"Guys, it would be better to focus on the professor than let your minds wander."
Jude said it with a smile, but his tone left no room for argument.
---
"Hello, students."
The professor on the podium raised one hand, commanding immediate silence.
"The tests will now begin. I would like to remind you all that Asterea is primarily a school for mages—so the first test will assess your magical aptitude. After this, both the qualified and unqualified will be tested for the other fields this academy offers."
The professor—a man with long black hair pulled tight against his scalp—spoke without inflection, his expression carved from stone.
"The test has begun."
A mana wave erupted from his position, rushing outward toward the students in a visible ripple of force.
