Taming the Elements

The heavy silence that filled the room was palpable. His classmates were in shock, unable to form any reaction. The only certainty at that moment was that only the strongest would survive.

Ryuji turned his back on them, aware that this would be the last time he saw them—and in that moment, he felt relieved not to have any friends.

"YOU TWO... BECOME GREAT MAGES!" Katsu's voice tore through the silence, laden with emotion, as he left the room with tears in his eyes.

Ryuji looked back and responded with determination, "You can count on it."

Takeda led them down a narrow corridor illuminated by a soft, diffused light. Every step they took echoed off the metallic walls, heightening the tension and anticipation. Finally, they reached a set of double doors that opened automatically, revealing the next testing room.

The room was spacious and circular, with a high ceiling that conveyed a sense of vastness. It was a perfect blend of technology and nature. In the center, a large magical circle was drawn on the floor, its glowing runes pulsating in various colors, reflecting the magical energy flowing through them.

The walls were lined with polished metal panels, each displaying holographic monitors showing real-time data. Sensors and cameras were scattered throughout the room, capturing every movement and magical fluctuation of the candidates.

Throughout the room, crystal pillars shone in different colors—each representing one of the elements as indicated by the symbols etched on them: Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Electricity, Darkness, and Light.

Near the wall opposite the entrance was a control desk where several instructors were intently monitoring panels and observing the holographic displays. Each one appeared completely focused, adjusting parameters and analyzing the data appearing on their screens.

Ryuji noticed that there were few people in the room besides him and his partner—just a shy girl and one exceptionally tall boy. Takeda spoke with the other instructors and, after a brief dialogue, announced:

"The first test is over. Today, more than 2,000 people took this test; only 10 passed at Yamato Institute. This means they are automatically admitted to Yamato School of Magic. Although they come from other cities in the southern part of the Eastern Union, don't expect many new classmates."

"Then where are the other six who passed?" the tall boy asked.

"Haruki, right? They're checking their elemental affinities—it's what they're about to do now."

Takeda then divided the students into pairs for the next test. Ryuji was paired with Hana. As soon as the pairing was announced, she introduced herself.

"Hello, I'm Hana Eversong," she said confidently. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I hope we can learn a lot together, Ryuji."

For the first time, Ryuji stopped being merely awed and truly noticed his partner—immediately sensing her strong presence. Despite being shorter than him, her large red eyes and the intensity of her hair, combined with her perfect posture and delicate lips, left an impression.

He was intrigued, especially upon realizing that, like him, Hana seemed to have mixed heritage—hinted at by the size of her eyes, the antique color of her hair, and even her name.

As they followed Takeda to the next stage of the test, the instructor explained:

"Ryuji, since you seem to have attuned to four different elements, we need to be sure you can truly control them. Meanwhile, it's obvious that Hana has an affinity for Fire and probably for Light, so we'll start with you."

Takeda led Ryuji to a section of the room where seven crystals were arranged in a semicircle, each representing an element. Taking a deep breath, Ryuji positioned himself at the center of the magical circle. The red crystal was the first to move toward him. He focused, remembering his Uncle Hiroshi's words: "Trust yourself."

Ryuji concentrated on the red crystal, feeling the fire element flow toward his core. A small, vibrant flame appeared in his hand. He struggled to control it, but managed to keep it stable.

"Fire," Takeda murmured. "Don't use all your energy. Move on to the next."

The blue crystal was next. Ryuji attempted to control Water but could only create small, undulating movements on the surface of a container.

With Air, he only managed to raise tiny particles of dust from the floor. Electricity proved even more challenging; he produced a few sparks, but nothing significant. With each unsuccessful attempt, Takeda simply said, "Next."

When the brown crystal approached, Ryuji felt an immediate connection with Earth. He concentrated, feeling the solid energy beneath his feet, and managed to raise a small column of stone from the ground, shaping it with his will.

"Well done," Takeda said. "You have a good affinity for Earth."

Finally, it was time for Light. The white crystal shone intensely, and Ryuji felt a deep connection. He created a sphere of light that floated above his hand, glowing with pure, steady intensity.

"Excellent control of Light," commented Takeda, with a rare smile.

Lastly, the black crystal, representing Darkness, glowed. Ryuji tried to manipulate the dense, hard-to-control energy, but only managed to form unstable shadows in his hand.

"You have an affinity for Darkness, but clearly you need to work on it more."

After all the tests, Takeda remarked, "You've demonstrated a good elemental control with Earth, Fire, and Light, with Earth being your strongest. However, remember that true mastery comes with practice and focus."

Now it was Hana's turn. She stepped into the center of the magical circle, and the crystals began to glow once more.

As soon as she started, it became evident that she possessed a natural talent. Hana manipulated Fire with grace and precision, creating complex shapes while keeping the flame both stable and powerful.

Light flowed naturally from her, forming brilliant illusions with an ease that left Ryuji impressed.

Ryuji watched Hana in admiration. He knew she would be a formidable rival and that he would have to work hard to catch up to her. After her test, he approached her. "You were incredible, Hana. Even if you started ahead, I'll work hard to catch up to you."

Hana smiled, determination sparkling in her eyes. "You can try, Ryuji, but it won't be easy. I work very hard and don't intend to let anyone surpass me. But I'd love to see you try."

As they left the room, Hana turned to Ryuji, still smiling. "I'm sure we'll see each other again soon. Get ready, because I'm not going to make it easy for you."

Ryuji returned the smile, feeling a healthy competition building between them. "You can count on it. I'm ready for the challenge."

After the tests were finished, the instructors gathered the ten students who had passed. Among them, Ryuji noticed that one of the boys had changed his hair color to blue, but he pushed that thought aside. Instructor Takeda then spoke.

"Now that the tests are over, I'd like to ask: which field do you intend to follow?"

Without hesitation, Ryuji replied, "Military, of course." But Takeda called for silence and waited patiently. After a moment, a girl timidly raised her hand and announced that she did not wish to pursue a military career.

Ryuji was astonished; to him, everyone he knew, regardless of gender, wanted to follow the military path. Another boy also stepped forward, expressing his desire to follow a different route. The girl, with short brown hair and green eyes, appeared determined yet shy, while the tall, thin boy, with round glasses and a serious demeanor, exuded an intellectual air.

"You two will stay with me," said Takeda. "The rest of you can go home. Return in a week, prepared to live here. Remember, this isn't a camp—it's a military school that will secure the future of our country. Think about that. You're dismissed."

The eight students were escorted back through the same corridors they had passed for the first exam. Ryuji and Hana walked together.

Along the way, Ryu commented, still intrigued, "It's strange to think that with the possibility to defend people, someone wouldn't want a military career. It seems like a waste of talent."

Hana replied calmly, "Not everyone wants to risk their lives for others or for a government. We can't judge."

Those words left Ryuji disconcerted. When they reached the exit of the first exam room, they were escorted out. Hana waved goodbye as Ryuji looked on pensively. He realized that, despite his own convictions, there was still much to learn about others—and about himself. With this new perspective, he left the school, ready to face whatever came next.

Ryuji did not return home by bus. This time, he was escorted by men in uniforms similar to the instructors'. He sensed a disturbance from the elementals around him and, intrigued, asked, "Why am I being escorted?"

"You may be the future of the nation. We need to ensure your safety. Although we've been at peace for 400 years, it would be unwise to neglect new talent. For this week, we will monitor your home, though typically students in Tokyo don't require it. Besides, your grandfather is a military veteran; he probably won't like having people around."

At the mention of his grandfather, Ryuji realized that all the demands for him to become a mage now carried a new weight. "Will Grandpa become a little more affectionate with me?" he wondered, allowing himself to be carried away by fantasies of a caring grandfather as time passed unnoticed.

When they arrived, the agents spoke briefly and directly with Ryuji's grandfather. "We are here to ensure your grandson's safety for this week."

Kenjiro, with a severe look, replied, "I don't need anyone around my house. Leave." The intimidating aura emanating from him was so powerful that the agents dared not argue.

After the agents left, Kenjiro went to the meeting room where Ryuji was preparing to report on his academic progress and monthly training.

Kenjiro did not seem like a typical grandfather; his face showed no signs of being nearly 70, and he bore an uncanny resemblance to his grandson—spiky hair and brown eyes.

"So, you passed," he said, without any emotion.

"Yes, I passed," Ryuji replied, trying to maintain his composure.

"They say you have four affinities. Let's see if they're useful," ordered Kenjiro, pointing to the garden.

Anxiety took hold of Ryuji, but upon arriving at the familiar training spot, he felt more at ease. There, in that familiar place, he calmed down. Concentrating, he quickly conjured a flame the size of his head. Although it was easier to control there than in the laboratory, it was still smaller than Hana's.

"Extinguish it," Kenjiro ordered sharply.

With some effort, Ryuji managed to put out the flame.

Expecting his grandfather to ask him to demonstrate the other elements, Ryuji was taken aback by his indifference. Without changing his expression, Kenjiro simply said, "Come here."

When the boy approached, Kenjiro attempted to hit him with a punch. Ryuji dodged downward, but soon a knee came toward his chest. With no time to evade, he braced for impact. Even while defending himself, he was thrown two meters back, feeling an intense pain in his arms.

"At least you have enough instinct to defend yourself with pure mana," Kenjiro commented coldly.

"Pure mana? What's that?" Ryuji thought, confused, his arm aching so badly he could barely think.

Not fully understanding, Ryuji counterattacked. He conjured an orb of light, positioning it before his grandfather's eyes, while attempting a spinning kick.

Kenjiro easily blocked the kick, throwing Ryuji away. "You think too highly of yourself, using dirty tricks like your father," he said.

For the first time, Ryuji heard something about his father, but before he could process it, Kenjiro launched a fire spell. The fireball, the same size as Ryuji's own, hurtled at an incredible speed.

Without time to think, Ryuji followed his instincts. He slammed his foot into the ground with all his might, raising a wall of earth to shield himself. The fireball struck with force, but the wall held. When the dust settled, Kenjiro remarked disdainfully, "What a disappointment. The talent is relegated to that inferior elemental."

Suddenly, Kenjiro did something he had never done before. Moving with incredible speed, he closed in on his grandson. Desperate, Ryuji tried to throw a punch, but a sharp pain shot through his body as he attempted to use his mana core.

Not giving up, he pushed to his limit, summoning fire around his fist. But before he could land his blow, he felt a crushing impact in his chest, followed by his body collapsing to the floor.

The shock and exhaustion caused Ryuji to pass out.

When he awoke, he was in his bed, receiving treatment. "I wonder if Miss Sora took care of me?" he thought. Feeling hungry, he went to the kitchen and found a plate of food—rice and yakitori. As he heated it in the microwave, he was surprised by the taste. Near the bottom of the plate, he discovered a message: "Congratulations on your success."

Ryuji was deeply moved. "Thank you," he murmured through tears, feeling that at least someone cared about him.