Evaluation.

"AGHHHHHHHH!!!"

Alex shot up from the ground, his body drenched in sweat. His breath came in ragged gasps, his heart pounding like a war drum.

"HEY!! HEY!! BROSKI!!! ARE YOU OK??!!"

Rile was right in front of him, gripping his head and shaking him violently. Her eyes were wide with panic.

"Agh… agh… agh…" Alex struggled to breathe. His entire body felt like it had been dipped in ice, yet his skin burned as if he had been standing in a raging inferno.

The vision—the eyes—the voice whispering in his mind…

It had felt so real.

For a moment, he had been certain he was going to die.

"Agh… Rile… wa…ter…" he managed to croak out.

Rile grabbed a cup from the bedside table and shoved it into his hands. "What's wrong with you??!!"

Alex drank the water like a man who had wandered the desert for days. The cool liquid barely soothed the dryness in his throat.

He wiped his mouth, still trembling, and looked at Rile. Her face was twisted with concern.

"I just… had a nightma—"

"WHAT??!! Are you kidding me right now?!" Rile cut him off, her voice rising in disbelief. "You were squirming on the ground like a dying rat! Foam was coming out of your mouth, and you were sweating so much, I thought you'd melted or something! That wasn't just a nightmare, tell me what happened, Alex!"

Alex opened his mouth, trying to come up with something—anything—but he wasn't sure what to say.

"I really don't know wha—"

"It was a dream, right?"

Her words sent a cold shiver down Alex's spine.

His eyes snapped wide open.

"...How do you know that?"

His mind raced. Was she a seer? A mind-reader? A demon?? A MONSTER??

"I saw your notebook… sorry…" Rile stuck her tongue out playfully.

Alex slumped back, sighing in relief.

"Ugh…" he groaned, rubbing his temples. "Yeah, it was a dream… but this time—" He met her gaze.

"I don't think I can ignore it anymore."

--

The evaluation day had finally arrived.

The academy's largest training ground was packed with students, all standing in a massive circular arena. Excited murmurs filled the air as they craned their necks toward the platform at the center.

A towering diamond-shaped object stood there, draped in a thick cloth. No one knew what was under it, but the tension in the air was suffocating.

Alex stood among the crowd, next to him was Rile and Leon, both waiting for their turns, this time Rile was not making any jokes, she had extremely serious face on. Alex looked in front of him his fingers unconsciously tightening into a fist.

This was it.

This test would determine where he belonged.

Mage or Knight.

Weak or strong.

The path ahead of him would be decided today.

And for the first time…

He wasn't sure if he was ready.

A loud thud echoed through the arena as a tall man in regal robes stepped onto the platform. His presence alone silenced the murmuring students.

His long, dark coat shimmered with faint magical energy, and his piercing golden eyes swept across the crowd like a hawk surveying its prey.

Grand Instructor Veydris.

"Welcome, initiates," the man began, his voice cold and unwavering. ", Greetings everyone, I am Veydris, I am from the actual university sent here, That ogre Helgar and Eryndor are going to come back later before that I be your evaluator. Today, we will determine your potential. Whether you are fit to wield a sword or command magic—whether you are strong… or worthless."

A murmur spread through the students.

Alex felt his heartbeat quicken.

He wasn't afraid of the test itself.

He was afraid of failure.

Veydris snapped his fingers, and the cloth covering the mysterious diamond-shaped object was pulled away by an unseen force.

Gasps filled the air.

Beneath the cloth was a massive crystal, its surface glowing with intricate runes. It pulsed like a living heart, radiating an overwhelming presence.

"The Arcane Nexus," Veydris announced. "A relic that will assess your connection to mana."

So this is how they evaluate mages… Alex thought.

Veydris gestured to the side, where several instructors stood ready. "One by one, you will step forward and place your hand on the Nexus. If you have even a speck of mana within you, the crystal will react. If not…"

His lips curled into a smirk.

"You will be discarded from the path of magic."

A tense silence followed.

Then—

"Step forward!" Veydris commanded.

The first student walked up hesitantly, placing their hand against the crystal.

A faint blue glow flickered on its surface.

The instructor beside Veydris nodded. "Mana detected. Rank: Low-Tier Mage Potential."

The student let out a sigh of relief.

One by one, more students stepped up. Some received a reaction from the crystal, others walked away with blank expressions—denied the chance to become mages.

"Next."

The line continued.

Then—

"Azeus Graymark."

Alex looked at Azeus that did not look back, he seemed scared to look back for some reason, Azeus was covering most of his body, it was really hot today but he looked like he was ready for winter,

"He is definitely covering up the burns..." Alex murmured.

"What did you say?" Leon asked.

"Nothing." Alex responded.

The moment Veydris called his name, the crowd grew restless.

Azeus smirked and strode up confidently. He placed his palm on the crystal.

FWOOOSH!

A violent surge of lightning-blue energy exploded from the crystal's surface. Sparks danced in the air as arcs of electricity crackled around Azeus's body.

"Incredible…" one of the instructors muttered.

Veydris's smirk widened.

"Mana affinity confirmed. Rank: High-Tier Mage Potential. Lightning Affinity."

Students gasped.

Azeus grinned, basking in the awe of those around him. His eyes flickered toward Alex for a brief second—filled with smug satisfaction.

Alex clenched his fists.

"Next."

The line moved forward.

More students tested their potential, some succeeding, others failing.

And then—

"Alex Sylvannis."

The moment his name was called, a heavy silence fell over the arena.

Alex swallowed hard.

This was it.

He stepped forward, approaching the Arcane Nexus.

His heart pounded in his chest.

He reached out—

And placed his palm against the crystal.

Silence.

Nothing happened.

The crystal remained still. No light. No reaction.

Some students started whispering.

Alex felt his chest tighten.

Was this it? Was he really—

Then—

A single blue dot appeared.

Small. Faint. Almost insignificant.

But it was there.

And the moment Alex noticed it—

His vision shattered.

It happened again.

End Of Chapter.