[All students, please be ready. The practical exam is about to begin.]
The test announcement echoed everywhere. It rang through the stone walls of the academy, reaching every corner. The voice bounced off the cold marble corridors, hitting the ceilings and returning like a whispering wind in every student's ear. The crowd suddenly stirred; the rustle of uniforms, the soft scuff of feet, and murmured last-minute preparations brought the amphitheater to life.
Kaelen looked around at the crowd of students. Many were heirs of famous families. Their confidence was visible from across the room.
Kaelen stood tall amid the chaos. He slowly closed his eyes and noticed the sweat in his palms.
"Just like before," he sighed.
He remembered the first time he had come here. As a child from the orphanage, he had barely passed and was placed in the lowest class. If not for a stroke of luck, he wouldn't have passed at all—it had been a tough start for Kaelen.
"I have to endure..."
The words echoed in his mind.
Kaelen was extremely talented, but because he came from the lower ranks, he was often looked down upon. He clenched his teeth. The things he had experienced were starting to weigh heavily on him.
He didn't care what others thought, but it was still frustrating.
What a pitiful life.
He shook off the thoughts and focused back on his surroundings.
The heirs of the great clans were gathering students around them, laughing among themselves. Their uniforms were spotless, and their faces radiated confidence. Some had golden hair, others fiery red, and even a few had blue. In the academy, those with high mana affinity often exhibited physical changes—like unusual eye colors or unnatural hair hues.
Kaelen's eyes involuntarily searched for certain individuals. Even among the crowd, the pair standing across the room was hard to miss.
Sofia and Arnold were talking to each other. They had been friends since childhood.
Both were from prestigious families. A few students approached them, trying to strike up a conversation, but gave up quickly, realizing it was pointless.
To Kaelen, they looked like movie stars—one with incredible endurance and the other with immense offensive power.
Seeing them again made Kaelen happy. There were others too—Seth, Amanda, Rey, and Elene Escard.
Kaelen glanced at the slender girl standing alone at one end of the amphitheater. Despite her skinny appearance, she was strong.
She wore a new uniform, her green eyes fixed straight ahead. Strands of red hair occasionally fell into her face, blocking her view.
"She's bored."
Kaelen had known Elene for a long time. He clearly remembered how she often said the academy bored her.
She was the only one who had graduated without breaking a sweat.
She had no rival.
A faint smile formed on Kaelen's face.
For now.
He took a deep breath to calm himself. If this was going to be anything like before, it would be a true life-or-death arena.
His eyes drifted toward the towering platform where the professors sat, radiating authority. Two familiar faces caught his eye immediately: Alfia and Headmaster Herald. Seated beside them, clad in royal blue robes with a majestic posture, was Pheniyet le Neur, who seemed to dominate the space with her aura.
Pheniyet had been specially appointed for this exam as a master mage. Kaelen remembered the first time he had felt her magic. He could still feel a tremor beneath his skin. Her power was beyond description.
"What a monster," Kaelen thought with a shiver.
Soon, 500 students would engage in a battle royale, trying to eliminate one another—a terrifying déjà vu.
Pheniyet would create an artificial environment for them. In this trial, each student would fight to become number one out of 500. Fortunately, the environment was fully artificial, so even if someone "died" there, it wouldn't be a real physical death. However, the sensations would be real. Pain, fatigue, fear—all of it would be vividly experienced and etched into their consciousness as a result of the magic.
For Kaelen, this wasn't an issue. He had felt death's cold breath before.
And yes, Pheniyet le Neur was terrifying enough to replicate even that feeling artificially.
Even in his former life, Kaelen had always admired and been astonished by her skills. Pheniyet was the proof of what a mage had to possess to surpass their limits.
Just then, a sharp announcement echoed through the air:
"[Now announcing the rules for Eldorian Academy's 50th Class Combat Trial.]"
A deep silence fell across the wide amphitheater. Kaelen felt as though even a single breath from his mouth would shatter the atmosphere.
The rules were laid out one by one. Kaelen listened carefully.
"The content isn't that complicated," he thought. But its simplicity didn't mean it would be easy.
The test would run on a point-based system, tracking individual performance. Every action—decisions made, damage taken, and attacks executed—would either increase or decrease a student's score throughout the exam.
Though it seemed simple, the tension in the air revealed how serious it truly was.
A student raised his voice and asked:
"What about our weapons? We weren't told to bring any. Are we supposed to fight barehanded?"
The announcer replied with a warm smile:
"As for that… There will be various mana beasts in the field. You will be able to hunt them and obtain weapons and equipment. Plus, the rewards you earn are yours to keep. Consider this a gift from the Council. Remember, it's not easy to get quality weapons without entering a mana seed."
The announcement reminded everyone once again of the gravity of the exam. Students began whispering nervously.
Failing to place in the top 100 meant elimination and rejection from the academy. Even if accepted, students would be assigned to classes based on their performance.
A great opportunity—but also a great risk.
"What if we kill someone? Are there no penalties?" one student asked nervously.
Another answered mockingly:
"Better worry about protecting yourself. Attacks can come from anywhere."
"This is going to be a nightmare," another muttered.
As the murmurs grew louder, an unexpected movement drew everyone's attention. Pheniyet le Neur rose from her seat of honor. All eyes turned to her.
She wore a thick fur coat that went against all modern fashion trends. But the way she carried it gave her a majestic air. Her natural grace, beauty, and immense power made her seem like a living legend.
Her voice was clear and cold:
"Well then, if everyone is ready and the rules are clear... May luck be with you."
And at that moment, a deep bell rang, marking the official start of the exam.