The big gates of the Southvale Ember Academy closed behind them with a thud.
It was a sound that meant something to each person.
For some people it sounded like a chance to do something
For others it sounded like they were being judged.
Kael was standing in a crowd of people who wanted to join the academy.
He was looking around at everything.
The air inside the academy walls felt different.
It was like the air was pushing against his skin all the time.
The pathways were made of stone. They went in all directions.
There were buildings everywhere that seemed to be burning with a quiet power.
There were places to train and big rooms for competitions.
Each one of these places seemed to have a purpose.
This was not a place for people who're weak.
Then a teacher yelled out "Line up."
The teacher said that all the people who wanted to join the academy would have to register and get a number.
Everybody started moving to get in line.
Some people were being orderly. Some people were being chaotic.
Kael just walked over to one of the lines. Stood in the middle of it.
The people in front of him were talking to each other.
They were saying their names and where they came from and what level they were.
"I am Initiate " one person said.
"I am Mid but almost Late " another person said.
"That might be good enough " someone else said.
Kael did not say anything.
Then the teacher said, "Next."
Kael walked up to the table.
There was a man sitting behind the table with a piece of paper in front of him.
The man did not look up. Said, "What is your name?"
Kael said, "My name is Kael."
The man stopped writing for a second.
Then he said, "What is your family?"
Kael said, "I do not have a family."
The man looked up at Kael.
For a second they just looked at each other.
Then the man looked back down. Said, "Okay."
He wrote something on the paper. Gave Kael a small metal token.
The token had the number 47 on it.
The man said, "Go to the grounds."
The central grounds were really big.
There were hundreds of people standing in an open area.
The area was surrounded by raised platforms and towers where people could watch.
At the end there was a big stone stage.
There were teachers standing on the stage.
Each one of them seemed powerful.
The air was tense with excitement.
Kael walked over to the side of the crowd so he could watch without being noticed.
Then a voice said, "Number 12."
Kael turned around. Saw a girl walking up to the stage.
The crowd started talking.
"That is her " someone said.
"She is from a family " someone else said.
The girl walked up to the stage with a presence.
A teacher said, "What is your name?"
The girl said, "My name is Lyra Vale."
The crowd started talking
"Vale, like the family?" someone said.
The Vale family was a deal even in Southvale.
They were known for being precise and controlled and for having Aether refinement.
The teacher said, "What is your level?"
Lyra said, "I am Awakened, Mid Stage."
The crowd was silent for a second then they started talking
"That is amazing " someone said.
"She is so young " someone else said.
Kael just watched.
Lyra was really powerful more than him.
Least that is what it seemed like.
Lyra raised her hand and a faint glow of Aether appeared around it.
The teacher. Said, "You are accepted."
It was simple.
Lyra walked away.
As she turned around she looked at Kael for a second.
Then she looked away.
Kael thought, "She noticed me."
He did not say anything.
Then another person walked up to the stage.
"Number 23 " the voice said.
The person said, "My name is Riven Tal and I am from the Tal family."
Some people in the crowd nodded.
They recognized the name.
The Tal family was not a family but it was still a family.
The teacher said, "What is your level?"
Riven said, "I am Initiate, Late Stage."
Riven released his Aether. It was strong and direct.
The teacher watched for a second said, "You are accepted."
Riven. Walked away.
As he turned around he looked at Kael with a challenge in his eyes.
Kael just ignored him.
More people walked up to the stage. Said their names and levels.
Most of them were stronger than Kael.
This was the reality of Southvales best.
Then the voice said, "Number 47."
It was Kaels turn.
He walked up to the stage.
The crowd was quieter now.
They were tired and not as interested.
The teacher said, "What is your name?"
Kael said, "My name is Kael."
The teacher said, "What is your family?"
Kael said, "I do not have a family."
The teacher said, "What is your level?"
Kael paused, then said, "I am Initiate "
It was not true. It was the closest thing to the truth that he could say.
The teacher. Said, "Show me."
Kael raised his hand. Made a faint weak flow of Aether appear.
It was not strong. It was not wrong either.
The teacher watched then said, "You are barely acceptable."
Kael was accepted,. Nobody paid attention to him.
As he turned around he felt someone watching him.
It was Lyra.
She was looking at him with an expression.
Kael looked away.
Not now.
The evaluations ended quickly after that.
Out of hundreds of people only a few were left.
The teachers stepped forward. Said, "The trials are not over."
The ground started shaking and stone platforms rose up from the earth.
The platforms formed arenas.
The teachers said, "You will fight each other."
The crowd was silent then they started getting excited and scared.
The teachers said, "The matches will determine your ranking and who survives."
Kaels eyes narrowed.
This was not about getting into the academy.
It was about competition.
Riven. Lyra remained calm.
Kael just watched.
The tournament had. Kael was finally stepping onto the stage.
This was where everything would start to change, not for the academy but, for the world.
The moment the weak started to rise and the system started to break everything would be different.