Yesterday, The council president test the whole class A-10 on a practice match against each other.
Taika won the final round.
Today, The student council prepared another test for the class A-10.
But, this time, it will be reflecting their scores.
The difference between the practice match and practical exam is that, practice match is not graded or scored by the instructors. On the other hand, practical exam is graded and scored.
Yesterday, the student council president tested the whole Class A-10 in a practice match against each other.
Taika won the final round.
It was not recorded.
Not graded.
Not remembered officially.
But today was different.
Today, the student council prepared another test for Class A-10.
This time, it would reflect their scores.
The difference was clear.
A practice match was only observation.
No points.
No records.
A practical exam, however---
Every spell would be measured.
Every mistake written down.
Every result ranked.
The tension in the classroom was heavy.
Whispers spread.
"This is serious."
"Your future placement depends on this."
Taika sat quietly at her seat.
Her hands rested on her lap.
Taika (mind):
This isn't like yesterday.
She looked at her fingertips.
The ones that once couldn't light a candle.
Taika (mind):
I can't rely on luck anymore.
Outside the window, the training grounds were being prepared.
Banners rose.
Barriers were placed.
Above, on the balcony---
The student council watched.
Sky Tudor stood at the front.
His eyes settled briefly on Taika.
Sky (mind):
Let's see how far you've come.
The bell rang.
Instructor: [Class A-10, move to the combat grounds.]
Taika stood up with the others.
Her heart beat faster.
This time--
It would be written in stone.
At the center of the academy—
The fountain stood silent.
Water flowed gently around an ancient stone tablet, worn by time yet untouched by decay.
The Tablet of the Great Heroes.
Names were carved deep into its surface.
Students who once walked these halls.
Who studied here.
Who graduated from Galdur Academy three hundred years ago.
Magical geniuses.
World-changers.
Some letters glowed faintly----
as if the stone itself remembered them.
While the students gathered at the field, voices loud and anxious,
the fountain remained calm.
A drop of water slid down the tablet.
For a brief moment....
One empty space shimmered.
Then faded.
Waiting.
The brackets have been decided.
A large magic screen lit up above the field.
Names carved themselves into light.
First Round:
Aquilla Ashura
Vs
Clare Mahika
Murmurs spread.
Aquilla---
Sharp, fast.
Magic shaped like talons and wings.
A predator's aura.
Clare---
Calm waters.
Flowing control.
Precision over power.
Maya Sieg
Vs
Zell Aldebaran
Maya clenched her fist, smiling.
Zell Aldebaran---
A star of raw force.
Explosive mana.
Overwhelming pressure.
Maya—
Fire refined by wind.
Speed.
Adaptation.
Taika Zeit
Vs
Rigel Kentaurus
Taika's breath caught.
Rigel Kentaurus.
A star known for guidance.
Balance.
Absolute control over mana flow.
Rigel stood tall at the opposite side of the field, expression unreadable.
Rigel (thought):
So it's you.
Taika (mind):
This… won't be easy.
Vega Lyrae
Vs
Capella Aurigae
Vega---
Blinding light magic.
Pure brilliance.
Capella---
Support-type star magic.
Enhancement.
Endurance.
Grey Sirius
Vs
Cygnus
Sirius---
The brightest star.
Overwhelming output.
Prideful power.
Cygnus---
Silent.
Defensive constellations.
A shielded fighter.
The screen faded.
The instructor raised his hand.
Instructor: [Prepare yourselves.]
From the balcony above---
Sky Tudor watched quietly.
Sky (mind):
Taika Zeit versus Rigel Kentaurus…
A test of instinct against perfection.
The bell echoed across the field.
Each winner will advance to the second round.
But there was a problem.
The second round would have five winners.
An uneven number.
Students noticed it at the same time.
Whispers broke out again.
"Five…?"
"So one of them won't have an opponent?"
The magic screen flickered once more.
A new line of text appeared beneath the brackets.
[NOTICE]
One participant will advance through a special condition.
The instructor stepped forward.
Instructor: [Because the second round requires five winners, one student will be placed under an extra condition match.]
Murmurs grew louder.
Instructor: [That student will not fight another contestant---]
Instructor: [---but the academy itself.]
Silence.
Eyes widened.
Instructor: [A solo trial.]
From the balcony, the student council exchanged looks.
The treasurer smiled faintly.
Treasurer: [Interesting…]
The president raised a hand.
Sky: [The candidate will be chosen based on performance.]
His gaze swept across the field—
then paused.
On Taika.
Sky: [Someone who does not follow conventional magic.]
Taika felt her chest tighten.
Maya turned toward her.
Maya: […No way.]
The screen glowed again.
The name hadn't appeared yet.
But everyone felt it.
One student would stand alone.
And whoever it was---
Would be remembered.
The bell rang.
First Round....Begin.
Aquilla Ashura
Vs
Clare Mahika
The field transformed into a high-altitude cliffside.
Wind howled violently.
Aquilla grinned.
Aquilla: [My kind of place.]
Mana burst from his back---
Wings of sharp, glowing wind formed instantly.
He vanished.
Clare's eyes narrowed.
Water gathered calmly around her feet.
Aquilla struck from above---
A diving slash aimed straight for her neck.
Clare stepped back once.
Water rose.
Compressed.
The blade hit---
and slid off.
Clare twisted her wrist.
Water hardened into ice.
Spikes erupted upward.
Aquilla laughed mid-air, barely dodging.
Aquilla: [Not bad!]
But he didn't see it--
The ground beneath him softened.
Mud swallowed his landing.
Clare snapped her fingers.
The mud froze solid.
Instructor: [Winner.. ...Clare Mahika.]
Maya Sieg
Vs
Zell Aldebaran
The arena shifted into a scorched battlefield.
Zell didn't wait.
Mana exploded from his body like a star going supernova.
Zell: [I'll finish this fast!]
A pillar of fire roared toward Maya.
Maya planted her staff.
Wind twisted.
Fire bent.
Her flames didn't clash—
they slid.
She dashed forward, fire wrapping her movements like wings.
Zell widened his eyes.
Maya: [Too slow!]
A concentrated burst struck his chest.
Zell skidded backward, coughing.
Instructor: [Winner....Maya Sieg.]
Taika Zeit
Vs
Rigel Kentaurus
The field turned into a symmetrical stone arena.
Perfect.
Balanced.
Rigel stood calmly.
Rigel: [I won't hold back.]
Taika nodded.
Taika: […Neither will I.]
Rigel moved first--
Mana flowed like a circuit.
Clean.
Efficient.
Light formed geometric spells—
precise strikes.
Taika dodged--
not gracefully.
Not cleanly.
But she adapted.
Earth rose where she stepped.
Wind corrected her balance.
Rigel paused.
Rigel (thought):
She's rewriting spells mid-cast…
Taika slammed her palm forward.
Fire sparked--
Water cooled it--
Wind pushed--
Earth anchored.
A raw elemental blast.
Rigel crossed his arms, blocking...
but slid back.
The bell rang.
Instructor hesitated.
Instructor: […Winner...Taika Zeit.]
The crowd erupted.
Maya covered her mouth.
Vega Lyrae
Vs
Capella Aurigae
Light flooded the field.
Vega raised her hand—
the arena blinded instantly.
Capella groaned but stood firm.
Enhancement magic surged.
His body endured.
He pushed forward...
slowly----
relentlessly.
But Vega snapped her fingers.
The light condensed.
A focused beam---
Capella fell to one knee.
Instructor: [Winner.....Vega Lyrae.]
Grey Sirius
Vs
Cygnus
The arena darkened.
Grey smiled confidently.
Grey: [Brightness beats shields.]
Power erupted.
Blinding.
Overwhelming.
But Cygnus didn't move.
A constellation formed---
layered barriers overlapping endlessly.
Grey's power cracked---
then scattered.
Cygnus stepped forward once.
Grey collapsed.
Instructor: [Winner....Cygnus.]
The first round ended.
Five names remained.
And above them---
The academy watched.
The magic screen shimmered again.
Five names remained, glowing softly.
They were the ones who advanced to the second round.
The field grew quiet.
The instructor stepped forward, voice firm.
Instructor: [The five student winners will advance to the second round.]
A pause.
Instructor: [However....]
All eyes lifted.
Instructor: [One of you will not face another student.]
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Instructor: [That student will face a different challenge.]
The barriers around the field shifted.
Runes ignited along the walls.
Instructor: [A solo trial.]
Instructor: [Observed by the entire academy.]
From the balcony above, the student council leaned forward.
Sky Tudor's gaze sharpened.
Sky (mind):
This is where potential becomes truth.
The fountain at the center of the academy shimmered faintly in the distance.
The tablet of heroes remained silent....
Waiting.
The screen flickered.
One slot separated itself from the others.
Empty.
Soon...
a name would fill it.
And everyone would see
what kind of student Galdur Academy had just discovered.
It was break time. Everyone was ready for the aciend round.
Taika and Maya having a snack together under the tree like they do everyday.
Maya: [Hey, uhh, congratulations to us!, but.... What will you do if you're the chosen solo challenger?]
Taika froze.
She replied.
Taika: [I just have to face it....I'll prove to them that I can become a--]
Taika words was cut off when he suddenly saw the president approaching.
Sky: [Ehem.... Am I bothering?]
Maya replied.
Maya: [No~]
She said teasingly.
Sky looked at Taika.
Sky: [congratulations, Ms. Taika, be ready... You'll be chosen as the solo challenger.... Sorry if I spoiled you but it's for your awareness]
Taika's breath hitched.
The words settled slowly..
heavy.
Final.
Maya's smile faded.
Maya: […Huh?]
Taika stood up instinctively, almost knocking over her snack.
Taika: [M-Me?]
Sky nodded calmly.
Sky: [Yes.]
Sky: [Your performance stands out too much to ignore.]
He folded his arms behind his back.
Sky: [This challenge is not meant to punish you.]
Sky: [It is meant to reveal you.]
Taika clenched her fists.
Taika: [What kind of challenge…?]
Sky's eyes softened---just a little.
Sky: [A mana integrity trial.]
Sky: [You will be placed alone inside a sealed field.]
Sky: [The academy will test how your body, mind, and magic respond under pressure.]
Maya stepped forward.
Maya: [That sounds dangerous.]
Sky: [It is.]
Silence fell.
Sky looked back at Taika.
Sky: [But I wouldn't choose you if I believed you couldn't survive it.]
Taika swallowed.
Her heart pounded.
Taika: […I understand.]
Sky inclined his head.
Sky: [Good.]
Sky: [Prepare yourself. The second round begins shortly.]
He turned to leave, then paused.
Sky: [One more thing.]
Taika looked up.
Sky: [Trust your way.]
Then he walked away, his coat fluttering slightly in the wind.
Maya grabbed Taika's sleeve.
Maya: [Sis… are you okay?]
Taika stared at her trembling hands..
then slowly closed them.
Taika: […I think.]
She looked toward the field.
Taika (mind):
I won't run.
Not this time.