Ranking Exams [3]

The ground trembled beneath Lucian's feet as the tremors grew stronger.

All around, students and staff at the academy scrambled in confusion and fear.

The once-bustling atmosphere turned to chaos as the quake shattered windows, sending shards of glass crashing to the ground like a deadly rain.

Lucian quickly activated his Mana Sensory Field, his heightened awareness picking up every vibration in the air.

The newly constructed building nearby swayed dangerously, its scaffolding groaning under the pressure.

Cracks raced up its surface, and with a deafening creak, the structure began to collapse.

Before Lucian could act, an ominous tear ripped through the sky above.

The heavens split open, revealing an abyss of swirling void energy.

The sun dimmed, shrouded by the strange phenomenon. From the tear, a surge of mana poured into the atmosphere, thick and oppressive.

It was like breathing through a dense fog, the sheer pressure suffocating.

Lucian's breath caught in his throat. The mana density was unlike anything he'd felt before. It wasn't just power—it was chaos, pure and unfiltered.

Panic spread through the crowd. People screamed and scrambled for cover as debris rained down, vehicles skidded to a halt, and the collapsing building teetered precariously.

The chaos threatened to spiral out of control.

Lucian's instincts screamed at him to move, to act—but just as the building began to fall, an emerald-green light surged through the air.

The falling debris froze in place. Vehicles halted mere inches from collision. Even the panicked crowd seemed to calm as the oppressive mana in the air dissipated.

Lucian turned toward the source of the mana, his eyes widening in shock.

Hovering above the chaos was a figure radiating power—a middle-aged man with sharp, regal features and an aura of absolute authority.

His cloak billowed in the wind as he extended his hand, his mana forming invisible threads that wove through the chaos, holding everything in place.

"That's... Valen Sylphar," someone whispered, awe and fear evident in their tone.

Lucian had heard of him. The head of the Sylphar family, one of the Seven Great Families.

A Savant-level awakener, Valen was a master of wind magic and renowned for his unparalleled control and range.

Lucian's eyes narrowed as he watched Valen work. The man's mana extended for miles, his power stabilizing the collapsing building and gently guiding debris back into place.

Vehicles were set down safely, and the people within them were unharmed.

The tear in the sky began to close, the swirling void retreating as the fabric of space mended itself. Within minutes, the chaos subsided.

Lucian exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on Valen. "So this is the power of a Savant..."

As the last remnants of the rift disappeared, Valen descended gracefully, landing amidst the crowd. His presence was commanding, his gaze sweeping over the gathered people.

"You're safe now," he announced, his voice calm and steady. "Return to your homes or the academy grounds. The situation is under control."

The crowd murmured in awe and gratitude, their panic replaced by relief.

Lucian felt a presence beside him and turned to see Elena, her face pale but composed.

"That was close," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly.

Lucian studied her expression. "You didn't seem surprised when he appeared."

Elena hesitated, then smiled faintly. "Well, I'd hope not. He is my father, after all."

Lucian froze, the weight of her words sinking in.

"Your father?" he repeated, his voice low.

Elena nodded, her smile growing. "Yes, Valen Sylphar is my father. And I suppose I should properly introduce myself." She gave a small curtsy, her tone laced with playful formality. "Elena Sylphar, daughter of the Sylphar family."

Lucian's mind raced. He had suspected that she was no ordinary student, but to learn she was the daughter of the head of the Sylphar family.

Elena seemed to sense his thoughts. "I didn't tell you earlier because I didn't think it mattered. You're interesting enough on your own, Lucian... Eryndral."

Lucian stiffened at her words. "You knew my name?"

Elena laughed lightly. "Of course I knew. The Eryndral name may have faded in prominence, but it's still recognized by those who pay attention."

Lucian's jaw tightened. He had hoped to keep a low profile, but clearly, that was no longer an option.

Elena tilted her head, studying him. "You're not like most people from the great families. You're... different."

Before Lucian could respond, Valen approached them, his gaze sharp.

"Elena," he said, his tone gentle but firm. "We should leave. There are still matters to attend to."

Elena nodded, then turned back to Lucian. "It's nice knowing you, Lucian Eryndral. Let's talk again sometime."

With that, she followed her father, the two of them disappearing into the crowd.

Lucian stood still, his mind churning.

Elena Sylphar. Daughter of a Savant. And their meeting wasn't just an accident—it had been intentional.

But for now, he had bigger things to worry about.

"What the hell was that" he said

'In the novel there is no such thing as sky tearing though, Is this normal?' his thoughts raced.

'No, it isn't normal, there are variables in real life that didn't stated in novel' he muttered.

'But the problem how much these variables affect the storyline'.

The aftermath of the chaotic event left a lingering sense of unease across the academy grounds.

The written exams, originally scheduled for the afternoon, had been canceled due to the unforeseen phenomenon.

Instead of the usual procedure, ranks were distributed based on the results of the practical test and preliminary assessments.

It wasn't perfect, but the results were close enough to satisfy the examiners.

Lucian's name sat comfortably in the top 10—his performance against the mana constructs had been exceptional, and his rank reflected it.

However, the final dormitory placements and the official top 10 rankings wouldn't be revealed until the entrance ceremony, which was scheduled to take place in 10 days.