CH7

Chapter 7: The Assembly

I couldn't sit still. My legs bounced under the table, and my fingers drummed lightly against the wood. My excitement was impossible to hide. This was the first real step toward becoming someone who mattered. Someone powerful.

The mass hall was filled with students—easily a hundred of us, buzzing with whispers and anticipation. At the front of the room stood a man with hair as green as grass and eyes as dark as coal. His presence was imposing yet calm, exuding confidence without arrogance.

He raised a hand, and the room quieted instantly. "Good morning," he said, his voice firm and commanding. "My name is Master Daelen Harrow, and I am here to guide you on your journey of power and understanding."

He paced slowly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Each of you is here to grow stronger, to unlock the potential that lies dormant within you. But let me remind you of one crucial truth—knowledge is power. Without understanding, strength is nothing more than chaos."

The room was utterly silent as he continued, his voice steady but intense.

"One of the first steps in this academy is forming your mana circle. A mana circle is the foundation of your power. It is a representation of your connection to the elements you wield. For those of you with a single element, your mana circle will be straightforward. But for those with multiple elements, the process is more complex."

He gestured with his hands, creating a glowing, circular rune in the air. It was intricate, with swirling lines and symbols that pulsed with energy.

"Each element occupies a part of your mana circle. For example, if you wield lightning and fire, your circle will be split, one side for each element. The more elements you have, the more intricate and time-consuming the process becomes. Forming a mana circle is not easy. It requires focus, discipline, and an intimate understanding of your element."

He let the glowing rune linger for a moment before dispersing it with a flick of his hand. "Until your mana circle is complete, you will not be able to fully control your powers. For some of you, this may take days. For others, weeks. It depends entirely on your effort and ability."

Master Harrow's black eyes scanned the crowd again, his expression serious. "This academy is not for the weak-willed. You must earn your strength. Thank you, and good luck."

As he stepped down from the stage, murmurs broke out across the room.

Tim nudged me with his elbow, a sly grin on his face. "How long do you think it'll take you to form one?"

I leaned back in my seat, letting a confident smirk spread across my face. "Faster than you, obviously."

Tim chuckled, shaking his head. "We'll see about that."

We laughed, the tension between us dissolving into camaraderie.

Then Tim glanced around the hall. "Where's Amelia?"

I shrugged, my smirk softening. "She's with Master Harrow. Said she wanted to ask him a question."

"Ah, makes sense," he said, nodding. "She's probably trying to get ahead of us already."

"Wouldn't be surprised," I replied.

Splitting Off

Shortly after, the students began to disperse, heading to their assigned elemental classes. Tim and I parted ways, him heading to the Gravity Division while I walked toward the Lightning Division.

The hallway was quieter now, the excitement from the assembly lingering in the air. I reached the Lightning classroom, the door already open.

Inside, there were only 12 other students. I scanned the room, noting their faces and their postures. Some looked nervous, others eager.

"Not a lot of students," I muttered under my breath as I walked to an empty seat near the back.

I leaned back in my chair, my smirk returning. This should be interesting.