The atmosphere inside the Noble Academy's great hall was suffocatingly tense. Mr. Yamada stood at the front, his arms folded behind his back, sharp eyes sweeping across the rows of students who sat on the polished wooden floor. His voice cut through the silence, firm and commanding.
"Now we are back to where we started. Everyone, sit in mantra position."
The students immediately folded their legs and straightened their backs, their palms resting on their knees. The faint smell of incense drifted through the room, adding to the weight in the air.
"You will chant the words fifty times," Yamada continued. "Do not break your concentration. If your focus falters, you may faint. Some of you may suffer damage inside your body that will not heal easily. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir!" the class shouted in unison, though their voices carried nervous tremors.
Yamada raised one hand and spoke slowly, letting the words linger in the silence.
"O Reikon, grant the [Family Name] power. Make me your vessel, grant me [Generational Magic Name]."
The phrase seemed to echo unnaturally, as if the air itself bent to hold the words. The students closed their eyes and began to chant, their voices overlapping until the room pulsed with rhythm. The medical team stationed at the back exchanged wary glances—they knew this ritual could be dangerous, and they were ready.
Among the students, Brod Kitsuhara clenched his fists, his jaw tight as his lips repeated the chant. But his mind wandered to that morning, to his mother's stern voice. "You must awaken Reikon, Brod. Your father once sat on the throne of the Kitsuhara House. You are his heir. That throne belongs to you now. Continue his legacy. Lead again." Her words burned like fire in his chest. His determination hardened. I will not fail. I will awaken Reikon. I will reclaim Father's throne.
A few rows away, Ryujin trembled. Beads of sweat dripped down his temples. Mr. Yamada noticed and frowned, assuming his concentration was failing. But the truth was far stranger—Ryujin wasn't chanting at all. His lips moved differently, repeating the same broken line again and again under his breath.
"I don't want to use magic again… I don't want to use magic again…"
His hands were clenched into fists, his nails digging into his skin, his body refusing to move in rhythm with the others. He was drowning in something only he could feel.
A cry suddenly broke through the chanting. A girl clutched her chest, her breath ragged, eyes wide in panic. She collapsed forward with a strangled gasp.
"Medical team!" Yamada barked without hesitation.
Healers rushed in and carried her away on a stretcher toward the infirmary at the back of the hall, a chamber so large it resembled a small hospital. The chanting wavered, but most students forced themselves to continue. Still, the chain of casualties had begun—two more fainted in quick succession, and one boy coughed blood as his concentration snapped violently.
Minutes passed like hours. Then, one voice rose above the rest.
"Sensei!" shouted Arata Kenji as he sprang to his feet, fists trembling with light. His body glowed faintly with golden sparks, his grin wide and breathless. "I got it! I awakened Reikon!"
"Do not shout!" Yamada snapped. "Others are still in the process."
Kenji lowered his head, grinning sheepishly. "Y-yes, sensei."
That was the trigger. One by one, more students began to rise, their bodies glowing faintly as magic stirred within them. Sparks, flames, and shadows danced in the air, filling the chamber with an otherworldly glow.
Then came Brod. His body pulsed with earthy energy, his eyes burning. He slammed his hands together, and from his palms formed a solid sphere of stone, rough and heavy. The air vibrated with the force of it.
The students gasped. "He didn't even chant!" one whispered. "That's impossible at our level!"
Even Yamada's usually stern face cracked into surprise. "Remarkable. To wield Reikon without chanting requires mastery far beyond your age." He clapped slowly, his approval ringing in the room. Students stared at Brod with awe, some in envy, some in fear.
Ryujin, still trembling, stood shakily. His voice was low, hesitant. "I… I got Reikon too."
But it was unconvincing. His words lacked weight, his stance was weak, and even his classmates could sense the lie. Yamada narrowed his eyes and stepped forward. "Ryujin—"
Before he could continue, a clear, confident voice rang across the chamber.
"I awakened it easily."
All eyes turned to Hikari Nakamura, who stepped calmly into the center of the hall. His eyes gleamed a sharp blue as he raised one hand. "Watch closely. Water Magic: Water Foundation."
Above the students, a vast shimmering layer of water materialized, suspended in the air like an ocean defying gravity. Its surface rippled with power, reflecting the glow of the torches. The students gaped in shock, their breaths stolen away by the sight.
"He… perfected it already?" someone whispered.
Yamada's lips curled into a rare smile. "As expected of the top scorer. Just like your father, Hikari. Well done."
Hikari gave a small nod, his gaze lingering on Ryujin with sharp disapproval before lowering his hand. The water dissolved into mist, falling softly over the class.
Soon, more students awakened—Kai, Nami, Ayase, each one glowing with the manifestation of their Reikon. Relief washed over them as they realized they had succeeded.
Then came Chizuru Mokoto. Her body trembled, but not with fear. A soft green aura began to flow from her skin, warm and luminous. Only those with sharpened Reikon senses could see it, but even the untrained felt its gentle touch like spring sunlight.
Yamada's eyes widened. "Healing magic…! Such purity of Reikon hasn't been seen in generations."
The class erupted in whispers. "Healing magic? That's divine!" "Incredible…" "So rare…"
Yamada raised his hand for silence. His voice was heavy with meaning. "This is a generation of pure Reikon. Truly, a rare blessing."
For a moment, joy spread across the room. Students laughed, congratulated one another, their faces flushed with excitement. But just as the warmth settled in, Yamada's voice cut cold through the noise.
"Do not celebrate yet."
The chatter died instantly. His gaze was hard as steel as he swept across the room.
"You may have awakened Reikon, but awakening is only the first step. Next comes Test Two—the true measure of your ability. There, you will prove whether your power is worth keeping… or if it will consume you."
The words hung in the air like a blade above their necks. The glow of Chizuru's aura faded, the room dimming once more. Nervous glances were exchanged, the weight of what was coming pressing into every heart.
Mr. Yamada's voice was final, brooking no argument. "Be ready. The real game is about to begin."