The Quadra Elemental

The grand hall of the academy buzzed with anticipation as the gathered applicants stood in neat rows. Hundreds of young men and women from various noble and common backgrounds filled the massive chamber, all aspiring to earn a place at the prestigious institution. The air was thick with tension, and the sheer number of competitors made it clear that only the strongest and most talented would pass.

Elias stood near the front, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd. He recognized a few noble insignias—symbols of powerful clans whose members carried immense influence. The Varian emblem was visible among them, and sure enough, Lucian Varian stood not far away, his arms crossed and an expression of bored disdain on his face.

A sudden pulse of mana silenced the murmurs. At the front of the hall, a middle-aged man in a dark blue robe stepped forward. His presence alone demanded respect, and the golden insignia on his chest marked him as an instructor of high standing.

"I am Instructor Alden," the man announced, his voice amplified by magic. "Welcome to the Academy Entrance Examination. You stand here today because you seek admission into the most prestigious academy in the world. But let me be clear—only those who prove their worth will earn a place among us."

A subtle wave of mana swept through the hall as Alden gestured toward a set of floating crystal pillars behind him. Each pillar emitted a different hue, pulsating in sync with the energy in the room.

"The first stage of the exam is a Mana Evaluation Test. This will assess the strength, control, and affinity of your mana core. You will step forward one at a time and place your hand on the crystal. It will judge your capabilities, and only those who meet the academy's standards will proceed."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. The test wasn't unexpected, but it meant that some applicants would be eliminated before they even had a chance to fight. Elias remained composed—he had prepared for this.

Alden continued, "Each crystal will analyze a different aspect of your mana:

Crimson Crystal: Measures raw power.

Azure Crystal: Tests mana control.

Emerald Crystal: Detects elemental affinity and strength.

Fail any two of the three, and you will be disqualified."

The first few candidates stepped up. Some displayed impressive results, causing the crowd to stir with interest, while others failed and were escorted out without ceremony.

"Lucian Varian," Alden called.

Lucian stepped forward with a smirk, placing his palm on the crimson crystal first. A surge of brilliant red light erupted from the pillar, signaling high raw power. The azure crystal pulsed steadily, proving his mana control was precise. Lastly, the emerald crystal flared with a deep orange hue, confirming his strong fire affinity. The results were undeniable.

"A flawless assessment," Alden nodded. "Proceed to the next stage."

Lucian shot a glance at Elias before stepping aside, his smirk widening. The message was clear—he expected Elias to fail.

More names were called, and finally, it was Elias' turn.

"Elias Raelith."

He walked forward calmly, placing his hand on the crimson crystal first. A bright red glow pulsed outward—not as intense as Lucian's, but strong enough to pass. The azure crystal followed, its glow brighter and steadier than Lucian's, signifying Elias' superior mana control. Then came the emerald crystal.

As his hand touched it, the crystal flickered unpredictably. The colors shifted between blue, purple, green, and orange before settling into a strange stormy hue—a mix of lightning, wind, fire, and water.

Gasps spread through the room.

"What…?" one of the instructors whispered. "Is that… four elements?"

"Impossible," another murmured. "He's a quadra elemental? But that's—"

The instructors exchanged incredulous looks, and the other students were no less stunned. A quadra elemental? It was practically unheard of. For a single person to possess four elemental affinities was so rare that many questioned whether it could even be real. And yet, here stood Elias, his mana radiating with four distinct elements.

Elias withdrew his hand and returned to his spot, ignoring the stunned stares. Lucian, however, frowned ever so slightly, his expression betraying a rare moment of unease.

Alden regained his composure and addressed the crowd. "I've seen many talented students in my time, but this—this is something else. Elias Raelith, you pass."

The rest of the test continued, with some failing while the majority passed. Once the last candidate was evaluated, Alden addressed the remaining group.

"You have passed the first stage. The next trial will not be as simple."

With that, the doors to the next arena creaked open, signaling the beginning of the true challenge.