023. Mana Evaluation

They all arrived at the mana evaluation chamber, and just as Kael had anticipated, the space was vast—almost overwhelming in its size—and brimming with concentrated magical energy that seemed to flow through every corner of the room.

The moment he stepped through the entrance, he could feel it—an invisible current washing over him—as the powerful energy hummed in the air, centered around a crystal orb that pulsed rhythmically atop a stone altar near the far end.

His gaze swept across the chamber, taking in the intricate design: ancient runes etched into the walls, glowing softly; arcane symbols suspended mid-air like slow-moving constellations; curious magical tools placed on pedestals; and floating orbs that emitted faint, otherworldly light.

Near the altar stood a single figure—an older man clad in flowing white robes, with a pointed hat that gave him the air of a seasoned evaluator.

"Oh oh oh," the man's voice sounded out, frail and old as he coughed afterwards.

Some other teachers had already been present in the evaluation chamber before they arrived, standing quietly in a corner near the far end of the room.

None of them spoke—they simply observed in silence, their expressions unreadable as they watched the students enter.

As the group stepped in, their instructor, Mr. Lemon, gave them a brief nod before making his way over to join the other teachers.

He said nothing further, offering no encouragement or instruction, as if the presence of the older man by the crystal orb was reason enough to step aside. It was clear that from this point forward, the evaluation would be handled solely by him.

'I don't like this.'

He followed close behind the other students as the man by the orb gave a quiet, sweeping gesture, directing them to line up along the opposite corner of the room.

Kael took his place at the end of the line, unnoticed among the others, just the way he preferred it. Once they were all in position—tense, silent, and standing shoulder to shoulder—the man finally turned to face them.

His expression was calm, almost unreadable, but there was a faint trace of curiosity in his eyes, as though he was already weighing each of them before the test had even begun.

"Good day, students. I am your evaluator, Mr. Pedroches." He smiled, his eyes following his expression.

"It would have been lovely to get to know each of your names, but we'll eventually get to that someday. For today, I'll be evaluating your mana levels for your practical classes," he explained, stepping aside to show them the orb.

"As some of you already know, this is a mystical crystal. All you need to do is place your palms on it, and it will automatically assess your mana levels."

"Now, if you don't mind, step forward one at a time. Males first, then females—continue in that order until everyone's finished." He gestured toward the altar.

Everyone hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to step forward or wait. But Joe, with his usual enthusiasm, took the lead and approached first.

Right behind him was Seraphina, unconcerned as ever, as if it didn't matter to her what color her mana would reveal.

Kael stood quietly at the back, eyes fixed on the crystal as each student stepped forward. He already knew what color his mana would show—and that, more than anything, was what unsettled him.

Joe successfully climbed the altar and stared back at Kael, who stood at the back of the crowd, before he eagerly placed his palm on the crystal.

The crystal began to shimmer and shift, cycling through the full spectrum of the rainbow—red, violet, indigo, green—one after the other in a mesmerizing blur of light. It pulsed gently, as though reacting to the very essence of his presence.

Then, slowly, the colors began to settle, fading one by one until only a single hue remained. At last, the light stilled and glowed a steady orange—the true color of his mana.

'It's just as I expected.'

Kael wasn't surprised by the color of his mana—it matched his own behavior and relentless enthusiasm. If anything, he had expected nothing less than orange.

The crystal responded in colors, each hue a reflection of the subject's mana strength. At the very bottom of the scale was black—no glow at all, indicating complete absence of mana.

A dull grey or faint white meant barely active levels, the kind found in those with almost no affinity. Blue signified low but functional mana, common among early beginners.

Green marked a moderate level—stable and usable, if unremarkable. Those who reached yellow were already considered above average, their mana vibrant and responsive.

Orange suggested high reserves and strong control, while red was a clear sign of intense, battle-ready energy. Then came purple—a rare color denoting elite talents with powerful affinities.

Beyond that, gold was nearly unheard of, reserved for those with exceptional potential, often tied to noble bloodlines or ancient gifts.

"That's an impressive mana level, my boy! With this, you could grow far stronger than most," the older man exclaimed, his voice ringing with genuine praise as he eyed the crystal's glow.

A soft ripple of applause followed—quiet enough not to echo in the silence, but sincere. Still, not everyone shared the sentiment.

A few students exchanged looks, their silent applause masking the bitterness in their eyes.

Kael watched in silence, saying nothing. But as the applause faded, his attention shifted. Now he was curious—what color would Seraphina's mana reveal?

After Joe stepped down from the altar and moved to the far side of the room—marking the end of his evaluation—Seraphina took his place without a word, ascending the steps as if she'd been waiting all along.

'Now, what mana level will you reveal, princess?' Kael thought, his eyes narrowing slightly.

More than the color, he wanted to understand something else—why she hadn't flinched when that flame vortex came hurtling toward her.

As Seraphina stood atop the altar, she calmly extended her hand and placed her palm against the orb.

The reaction was immediate—faster than Joe's by a clear margin. The crystal pulsed sharply, as if it recognized her before she even touched it.

Colors swirled around the orb, each one glowing brighter than the last—shimmering, shifting, until the room was bathed in blinding light.

Then, as if settling on a final judgment, the glow pulsed and locked into a deep, radiant purple.

There was a pause, as many had expected gold. But even so, purple was no disappointment—it spoke of elite power, rare and formidable in its own right.

"Not bad, princess. Not bad," Kael murmured from the back, a faint smirk tugging at his lips as he slipped his hands into his pockets.