Chapter 13: The Trial of Magic

Mira stepped out of the combat arena, shaking the stiffness from her hands. The fight had been satisfying, but she knew it was just the beginning. If she wanted to solidify her place at the academy, she needed to crush every part of the entrance exam.

She found Nia waiting near the teleportation platform, her golden eyes filled with relief. "You won?"

Mira smirked. "Of course. It was barely a warm-up."

Before Nia could respond, another ripple of mana surged through the air. A voice boomed overhead, resonating through the academy courtyard. "All candidates proceeding to the magic trial, step into the teleportation sigil."

Mira took a deep breath, her excitement bubbling beneath the surface. This is where I prove myself.

Stepping forward, she felt the familiar pull of magic, and in an instant, she was standing in another examination area. This one was different from the combat arena—a vast, circular chamber with no visible walls or ceiling. Instead, it was filled with floating platforms, ancient runes glowing in the air around them.

Instructors sat at elevated positions, their eyes gleaming with interest as they evaluated the incoming students.

A robed figure stepped forward. "The Trial of Magic will test three things: power, control, and adaptability. Each of you will face an elemental construct tailored to your abilities. You must neutralize it without excessive destruction. If you lose control, you fail."

Mira rolled her shoulders. Power and control, huh?

One by one, students were called forth. Some wielded fire, others summoned lightning or ice. The academy was filled with prodigies, each showing off years of rigorous training.

Then, it was Mira's turn.

She stepped into the designated summoning circle. The air crackled, mana swirling as the construct took shape before her. A massive being of stone and fire materialized, its molten veins pulsing with heat. Its eyes, if they could be called that, flared as it locked onto her.

The instructors whispered among themselves. "A Tier 4 construct? That's higher than usual."

Mira tilted her head. Are they testing me specifically? Good.

The construct moved first, swinging a flaming arm toward her. She didn't flinch. With a flick of her wrist, a burst of raw force magic repelled the attack, sending the construct skidding backward.

The observers murmured. "That was unstructured mana. No chant, no formula—just raw force."

Mira smirked. Let's have some fun.

She extended her hands, crimson energy flickering at her fingertips. The curse that plagued her had altered more than just her mind—it had made her magic hungry. She had spent the past few days experimenting, realizing she could force mana to obey her will with unnatural ease.

The construct roared, launching a barrage of molten projectiles. Mira walked through them.

A crimson barrier shimmered around her, each impact dispersing harmlessly as if the magic itself refused to harm her. With a snap of her fingers, the barrier condensed into a blade of energy. She surged forward, the blade slicing clean through the construct's leg.

The stone cracked, lava spilling out like blood. The construct staggered, attempting to regenerate, but Mira wasn't done.

She raised a hand, and the fire within the construct flickered, twisted—then bent to her will.

The audience gasped as the elemental energy within the creature rebelled against its own form. The fire dimmed, turning black as it was consumed by Mira's magic. In seconds, the construct crumbled, reduced to inert stone.

Silence.

Then, a slow, deliberate clap.

One of the instructors leaned forward, a smirk on their face. "Fascinating. She doesn't just control mana—she dominates it."

Cedric Varian, watching from the highest seat, narrowed his eyes. "That kind of ability… is unnatural."

Mira dusted off her sleeves, stepping away from the circle. Two trials down. One to go.