As the bell chimed, signaling the transition to the next class, Elian made his way toward Mana Control Theory, a subject that many students found either enlightening or frustrating. The corridors were filled with murmurs of excitement—duels from the previous class had sparked countless debates about strengths, weaknesses, and hidden potential among the students.
But Elian paid them no mind. He had more important things to focus on.
Upon entering the Mana Control Hall, he immediately noticed the difference in atmosphere. Unlike the combat arena, which was filled with raw energy and competitive tension, this room was designed for precision and finesse. Glowing mana lines ran across the marble walls, forming intricate runes that pulsed with a rhythmic energy. Large floating crystals hovered in a circular formation at the center of the room, their radiance shifting between various hues depending on the magic being demonstrated.
At the front stood the instructor—Professor Seraphina Vael.
Professor Seraphina Vael
Appearance: Tall and graceful, with flowing silver hair cascading past her shoulders. Her eyes were an eerie glacial blue, exuding an aura of deep wisdom and scrutiny.
Attire: A dark violet robe lined with shimmering silver threads, denoting her status as one of the academy's Senior Instructors in mana manipulation.
Personality: Sharp, analytical, and highly perceptive. She is known for her unwavering discipline and zero tolerance for inefficiency in magic control.
Abilities: A master of Mana Weaving, a technique that allows her to bend mana into delicate yet powerful constructs.
Seraphina's piercing gaze swept across the students as they settled into their seats, but when her eyes landed on Elian, they lingered for a fraction longer than necessary.
"So this is the boy..." she thought to herself, her fingers subtly tracing the edges of a crystalline rune on her desk.
Her mind flashed back to the previous evening when Vice Principal Alaric had convened a private meeting with the academy's top instructors.
---
Flashback: The Staff Meeting
Seated in the dimly lit chamber, a handful of academy instructors listened as Vice Principal Alaric stood before them. His usual composed demeanor was laced with an unspoken urgency.
"There has been an anomaly," he began, his voice carrying weight. "A surge of power—brief, but unmistakable. We believe it originated from one of our students."
Professor Seraphina had leaned forward slightly, intrigued. "And you suspect Elian?" she asked.
Alaric nodded. "He has shown remarkable improvement in an impossibly short span of time. It is... unnatural." His gaze hardened. "From this point forward, I want every instructor to monitor him closely. If he is hiding something, we need to know."
The room fell into a tense silence before Seraphina finally spoke. "Understood."
---
Back to the Present
Now, as she observed Elian, she could already sense it—the unusual stillness of his mana flow. Most students struggled with mana control, their auras fluctuating wildly with inefficiencies. But Elian's energy was calm, disciplined... almost unnatural.
"A fifteen-year-old shouldn't have this level of refinement," she mused, her suspicions deepening.
Clearing her throat, she addressed the class. "Today, we will be focusing on precision control. Raw power means little if you lack the finesse to wield it efficiently." She gestured toward the floating crystals. "Each of you will attempt to manipulate these mana orbs without direct contact. The goal is to shape your energy into delicate threads and guide the orbs through an obstacle course without letting them shatter."
The students murmured in anticipation as the test began.
Elian, however, had other concerns. He could feel the weight of Seraphina's gaze on him. She was watching him. Closely.
He had been noticed.