Second Trial

The murmurs around the courtyard hadn't settled by the time the next name was called. Even as another student stepped forward, Riven could feel the eyes lingering on him. Some were filled with intrigue, others with disdain, but most were calculating. In Solis Academy, strength dictated status, and Riven had just made his presence known.

Still catching his breath, he stepped back from the testing circle, his muscles taut from the lingering strain of the mana pressure. Ember's gaze flicked to him from the crowd, but she said nothing. Cole, on the other hand, looked as if he had swallowed something bitter.

The trial continued, each student taking their turn, their times displayed for all to see. Some lasted barely a handful of seconds, while others managed a minute or more. A few exceptional cases even surpassed two minutes, but none came close to Riven's record.

That is, until another name flashed above the runes.

"Valis Dain."

A tall young man strode forward, his platinum blonde hair neatly combed back, his uniform pristine. There was a confidence in his steps, a weight in his presence that made those around him instinctively step aside. Riven narrowed his eyes as Valis entered the circle.

The moment he crossed the boundary, the runes flared with an intensity unseen before. The mana pressure surged instantly to a level that had taken others a full minute to reach.

Valis didn't flinch.

Seconds passed. Then a full minute.

His expression remained calm, his posture relaxed. Unlike the others who fought against the pressure, he seemed almost at ease within it. The runes pulsed again, increasing the force, but Valis only sighed, as if mildly inconvenienced.

At two minutes, students began whispering.

At three, the murmurs grew louder.

At four minutes, he turned his gaze toward Riven.

And smirked.

With an almost casual roll of his shoulders, Valis shifted his stance—and the runes flared violently, reacting to him. A split second later, the entire courtyard trembled as if the very academy acknowledged his presence.

Then, just as suddenly, the magic faded. The instructor snapped his fingers, cutting the trial short.

"Four minutes." His voice was even, but the glint of interest in his golden eyes was unmistakable. "Another exceptional score."

Valis stepped out of the circle, brushing nonexistent dust from his sleeve before meeting Riven's gaze once more. There was no arrogance in his expression, nor was there hostility. It was something far more dangerous.

Recognition.

Before he could dwell on it, the instructor spoke again.

"Now that your preliminary endurance has been measured, we will proceed to the second phase of your assessment." He gestured toward the stone rings embedded in the courtyard. "Your performance here will determine your ranking within Solis Academy. Those who prove themselves will rise, and those who fail…" He paused, letting his words sink in. "Will not remain."

A ripple of tension passed through the students. The first trial had been brutal, but this implied something far worse.

Riven flexed his fingers, feeling the residual ache from the mana pressure. Whatever came next, he would be ready.

The instructor's smirk widened. "In the first trial you were tested to see how your fared under the merciless pressure of mana - now we're going to test your absorption skills."

With a wave of the instructors hand, a small gateway made of pure brilliant blue light appeared in the centre of the courtyard.

"Enter in an orderly fashion." The instructor ordered and the students didn't hesitate before filing into the pulsating gateway. Another rush of mana zapped through Rivens body as he crossed the threshold and he didn't think he would ever get used to the feeling.

The gateway led them to a huge clearing surrounded by a dense forest. A hum of mana permeated the air and Riven felt rejuvenated from the first trial just by breathing in the air here.

"This is one of the islands that surrounds the academy," the instructor explained as the last of the hopeful first years flooded through the gate. "It's one of the areas that is dense with mana and only students with permission are allowed to come here."

No wonder Riven felt so refreshed, the mana was so thick and dense here.

"You will be tested on how much mana you can absorb in five minutes." The instructor announced and a ripple of excitement rushed through the crowd. "This is also a rare opportunity for students so make sure you make the most of it."

This was great! The mana had been so lacking in the counts manor that he hadn't really made much progress towards his first circle.

"Excuse me, sir." A student asked and raised there hand. "Isn't this island also filled with ascended beasts?"

"Yes." The instructor confirmed and a fearful chatter began to explode from the crowd. The instructor held up a hand and silenced them. "But there's a magical barrier set up here so you needn't worry - as if we would let any first years be gobbled up on their first day." There was a glint to the instructors eyes that made Riven doubtful.

"We will start with those with the lowest score from the first trial up to the those with the highest." The instructor announced and Riven clicked his tongue in annoyance - he didn't want to be one of the last to go.

A student was called who barely withstood the mana pressure before. She sat crossed leg in the centre of the clearing and a small white star shaped glow appeared above her.

"The colour your star changes to will decide your score. There is white, yellow, orange and red. White being the lowest and red being the highest." The instructor explained and then clapped his hands. "You may begin."

The girl closed her eyes and a countdown timer for five minutes appeared beside her.

After three minutes, the star remained white.

"Why is her glow not changing?" Riven murmured to himself and a student, Aris Dorel he remembered, answered.

"It's difficult, especially for first years to get into the meditative state needed to absorb mana." Aris said, confused to why Riven asked such a question. "In reality all of us will only get around one minute to absorb the mana by the time we get into the right state."

"is that so?" Riven raised an eye brow and Aris gave him a look of sympathy, misunderstanding that Riven didn't know how to absorb mana.

The trial continued with many students barely getting their glow to turn yellow and a few getting turning it orange.

Then, finally, it was Valis's turn.

As he strode to the center of the clearing, the murmurs quieted. Unlike the others, he didn't hesitate to sit, folding his legs in a single fluid motion. The moment he closed his eyes, the air around him shifted.

The white glow above him flickered, then deepened into yellow almost instantly. Within seconds, it darkened further, turning a rich amber.

The crowd gasped. No one else had advanced past yellow so quickly.

Then, as the final minute ticked down, the star pulsed once—and ignited into a deep, blood-red hue.

Silence.

Even the instructor's easy smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before he let out a low chuckle. "Impressive," he admitted. "Red-tier absorption on your first day." He nodded. "It seems the academy has gained quite the talent."

Valis opened his eyes, exhaled softly, and stood, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeves as he had before. His gaze flicked briefly to Riven, not in challenge, but in quiet expectation.

It was Riven's turn.

He stepped forward, ignoring the weight of the stares on him. He had been anticipating this moment, but now, with Valis's performance looming over him, the pressure was undeniable. He settled into position, letting his breath steady as the instructor gestured for him to begin.

The white glow appeared above him. He closed his eyes and then he… grinned.

"Begin mana absorption." He sent out the command mentally and a resounding digital 'ding' sounded.

[[ Absorbing Mana: (+25%)

(69%)… (70%)… ]]

Riven wanted to laugh out loud at the ridiculous advantage he now had against the rest of the students. He even had the +25% in absorption rate buff he earned when absorbing mana before.

The numbers ticked upward in his vision, climbing steadily as mana flooded into him. Unlike the other students, who struggled to enter the right meditative state, Riven's system-assisted absorption bypassed the need entirely. It was like breathing—no, it was easier than breathing.

Within seconds, the white glow above him flared, shifting to yellow. The murmurs started.

Then, it turned orange. The murmurs grew louder.

And then—

Ding!

[[ Absorbing Mana: (+25%)

(89%)… (90%)… ]]

A shiver ran down Riven's spine as the absorption rate accelerated. The surrounding mana, thick and untamed, was drawn to him like a vortex, threading through his veins, strengthening his core. It was intoxicating.

The star above him pulsed, deepening, darkening—until it turned red.

Stunned silence.

Then, someone muttered, "Another red?"

But Riven wasn't done.

The star didn't just settle at red—it brightened, pulsing stronger than Valis's had. The energy saturating the clearing twisted, drawn toward him in waves, like the island itself was responding to him.

The instructor, who had remained impassive even during Valis's turn, finally raised an eyebrow. His golden eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing.

Riven inhaled, feeling his mana core stir.

[[ Absorbing mana: (+25%)

(99%)… (100%) ]]

Ding!

[[ Mana heart expansion ready. Initiate first circle formation? ]]

His eyes snapped open.

The trial hadn't even ended, and he had already reached the threshold to form his first mana circle. He could push forward, break through now—but no, that would be reckless.

He exhaled, allowing the mana to settle within him. He could advance later, in private, where no one could see.

The timer hit zero.

The star above him remained red, pulsing with a radiance that was almost too intense. The instructor watched him carefully before finally speaking.

"Well, well." A slow smirk tugged at his lips. "It seems we have two talents entering the academy this year."

Riven stood, feeling the weight of the stares on him.

Valis, still at the edge of the clearing, tilted his head slightly. Then, to Riven's surprise, he chuckled.

"Interesting." His voice was smooth, measured. "It seems I won't be bored this year."

There was no hostility in his tone—only curiosity. But Riven knew what it meant.

Valis Dain had just acknowledged him as a rival.

And judging by the looks from the other students, the entire academy had just done the same.