That afternoon, the first test began.
Each student received a mana crystal, resonating with their inner magic.
They had to keep it glowing while fighting illusionary beasts inside a vast forest arena.
Ren's crystal burned scarlet—wild and untamed.
Iris's gleamed icy blue—sharp as glass.
Yukino's, however, glowed faintly pink… almost white.
> "Weak mana?" someone whispered behind her. "She won't last five minutes."
But Yukino didn't draw her wand.
She closed her eyes, pressed the crystal to her chest, and whispered—
> "Guide me… to the truth."
The air trembled.
The beasts halted mid-charge.
Then, slowly, they bowed their heads and dissolved into petals of light.
The arena fell silent.
From the observation tower, Headmaster Alden leaned forward.
> "Interesting," he murmured. "That resonance… isn't ordinary magic."
Beside him, a young man in a black uniform stared down with golden eyes—
eyes that flickered with something between confusion and recognition.
> "Sir," he said quietly, "she used the same wavelength as… Project Bloom."
Alden's expression darkened.
> "Then we've found her."