Chapter 23 (the evaluation)

The old man burst from his hideout and

leaped towards the stage. Professor Leo

was about to announce Drake's results

when a voice boomed from Drake's

back.

"Leo, relax. Don't rush to the

conclusion." Drake spined back, startled;

his eyes fell on the old man's broad

chest and muscular body. Despite his

sixties, the man excluded an intimidating

aura, his movements surprising agile for

his age.

Everyone else swiveled to face him,

surprised. No one noticed his presence

until he spoke. Professor Leo bows to the

man.

"Greeting principal Logan. May I ask why

you grace us with your presence?"

Waves of loud roars echo from the

students.

"What, that's principal Logan."

"There are rumours of him being

contemporaneous childhood friends with

all the patriarchs of each clan and

family."

"That's not all.There are also rumours

about his strength not being inferior to

theirs."

Principal Logan steps forward. "The

mana types displayed are called

draconic mana."

Another roar erupted from the crowds.

What those mean?"

"This is the first time everyone has heard

about this."

"Draconic mana. Why does it sound like

it's related to dragons?"

Principal Logan claps his hands. "Please

be quiet." He turned to Drake, pointing at

him. "As most of you knew, going back to

the history of magic. It all started with

dragons and how humans imitated them

to create our own. The mana displayed

by this boy."He locked gaze with Drake.

"Drake sir." Principal Logan turned back

to the crowds. "By Drake. Is the purest

form of water mana, which is also like the

water dragon's mana. With this mana,

there are no limits; he can be both a

water and ice mage simultaneously."

He turned to professor Leo. "Is

everything clear now?" Professor Leo

bows once. "Yes, Principal Logan."

Principal stepped close to Drake and

placed his right hand on his shoulder.

"Drake right." Drake nodded.

"Yes," he replied. Principal Logan smiles

at him. "Meet me at my office after your

qualification exam." He said, stepping

away from the exam.

"Draconic mana, tier 3. Qualified."

Professor Leo declared. As Drake

descended the stage, he felt Roman's

bloodlust, but it wasn't his biggest

concern, though. Everytime he looks at

Ronan, his draconic instincts, picked up

an irritating vibes. Drake ignored him just

as Mark suggested.

"Next. Rafe Liam, please come on the

stage." The crystal tablet illuminated with

faint white with glowing cyan. Three

stars shimmered beside it.

"Frost water mana, tier 3. Qualified."

Professor Leo stepped close to the

crystal tablet and placed his hand on the

runes etched on the ground before it. He

injected his mana into the runes.

"Mana circle activate. subducted." A

large mana, 6.5 radii, appeared below

the crystal tablet and completely

absorbed it.He turned to the students.

"There are 122 applicants in total, but

only 65 have passed. Those who passed

the first test should not become

complacent; for the second evaluation,

we determine your admission."

He descended from the platform. "Now

all those who passed the first test should

climb up the platform for the second

evaluation, which is the mental strength

test." He instructed.

Every qualified student ascended, all

waiting for the next evaluation to begin.

Professor Leo turned to the students on

the platform. "Prepare yourselves; the

test will begin now; you must stay

conscious under the force for five

minutes to get qualified."

He claps his hand, activating the

mechanism inside the platform. A large

blue mana circle that spanned the entire

surface of the platform appeared. All the

students looked on with anxiety.

Suddenly, a powerful force pulls them

down like a magnified gravitational force.

Seven students collapsed immediately,

unable to resist.

Drake, however, feels only two thirds of

the force as the crystal in his mana pool

absorbs the remaining third, tempering

the large rings around his heart and

strengthening the three minor rings

within it.

After 3 minutes, 20 students have been

eliminated. This time Drake's draconic

instincts alert him; he sits down with his

leg crossed, and the crystal

automatically absorbs two-thirds of the

force while the remaining third

strengthens his mental fortitude.

Only 39 students qualified, with several

experienced nose and ear bleedings.

Drake also suffered a slight nosebleed.

Those who were injured during the

mental evaluation process, both

qualified and failed students, were taken

to the academy clinic for

treatment.

Drake walked to the principal's office.

"Knock, knock, knock." He knocked on

the door. "Please come in." Principal

Logan instructed.

Drake opened the door and entered.

Principal Logan is sitting in a chair with

two armrests. The office table in front of

him was piled high with books,

documents, and files. Opposite him and

across from the door stood a large shelf,

7.1 feet tall and 4.5 feet wide. 

"I came as you instructed." Drake said.

Principal Logan rested his elbows on the

table, pressing his fingers together in a

triangle shape.

"I'm curious about your relationship with

the water dragon race." Drake, who has

already prepared for this kind of

question, responds.

"I don't know why you asked, but I don't

think my family has any relationship with

the dragon race. As you know, I came

here under the recognition of the Kaldris

kingdom." Drake remains unfazed.

Principal Logan locked eyes with him for

a moment and signed. "Okay, I won't pry

into your secret anymore. What about

being my personal disciple?" Drake felt a

wave of excitement but then thought

occupied him.

"Sorry, but I will have to decline your

offer." He replied. A few moments of

silence passed before Principal Logan

broke it. "Okay, that's all I wanted to

discuss with you for now. I look forward to

your progress. You may leave." Drake

bow. "Okay, sir," he said. He opened the

office door and took his leave.

Drake, walking out of the building where

the principal office is located. "It's better

if I don't become his disciple, not to

attract unnecessary attention that could

expose everything. Right now I need to

lay low." He muttered, and just then

professor Leo walks towards him.

"Hey Drake, right."

"Yes,."

"I don't know how you managed it, but

you ended the test with only slight

bleeding. I also received a message from

the principal not to include your fiance in

the test but to give her a direct

scholarship. I won't ask you anything and

trust in principle's judgement. Is he in his

office?"

Drake nods. "Yes, he is." Professor Leo

walked past him and stopped, then

turned to Drake. "Before I forget, your

room number is 27-J at the junior

dormitory."