The Academy stood like a monument to power.
Tall white spires pierced the sky, etched with glowing runes that pulsed faintly like a heartbeat. Hundreds of children gathered at its gates, their voices blending into a chaotic hum of excitement, fear, and arrogance.
Aiden stood among them.
Quiet. Observing.
"…So this is it," he thought.
"This institution trains the elite of this world," the Primordial voice echoed. "Be mindful."
"I know."
His gaze swept across the crowd.
Some were nervous, clutching their robes. Others radiated confidence—clearly nobles or children of experienced mages. A few even released faint traces of magic, intentionally showing off.
Aiden suppressed a sigh.
"Amateurs."
"Hey."
A voice cut through his thoughts.
Aiden turned.
A boy stood a few feet away, arms crossed, chin tilted upward in clear arrogance. He had sharp features, neatly styled dark hair, and wore clothing just a little too expensive for someone trying to look casual.
"You're new here too, right?" the boy said.
Aiden nodded. "Yeah."
The boy's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked Aiden up and down.
Not at his clothes.
At his face.
Aiden knew that look.
"…Problem?" Aiden asked.
The boy clicked his tongue. "No."
Pause.
"…Just don't get in my way."
Aiden blinked.
"I wasn't planning to?"
"Good."
The boy turned—but not before muttering under his breath:
"…pretty boy."
Aiden stared after him.
"…What?"
The Primordial voice hummed faintly.
"He perceives you as a threat."
"I literally haven't done anything."
"Your appearance alone alters social dynamics."
Aiden resisted the urge to groan.
"…You're telling me I'm being hated for my face?"
"Yes."
"…Great."
—
"ALL PARTICIPANTS—LINE UP!"
A booming voice echoed across the courtyard.
At the front stood a tall man in dark robes, his presence alone silencing the crowd. Magic coiled subtly around him, controlled but immense.
"Welcome to the Academy Trials," he continued. "You will be tested in three areas: magical output, control, and adaptability."
Aiden's eyes flickered slightly.
"Output… that's the annoying one."
"You must restrain yourself," the voice warned.
"I know."
One by one, candidates stepped forward.
A large crystal sphere sat at the center of the courtyard.
"Place your hand on the orb and release your magic," the examiner instructed.
The first few students went.
A faint glow.
A brighter one.
Then—
"Impressive."
A boy caused the crystal to shine a deep blue, earning murmurs of approval.
Aiden watched carefully.
"Baseline established," he thought.
"Correct."
Finally—
"Next."
Aiden stepped forward.
The moment he did, he felt it.
Eyes.
Dozens of them.
Some curious.
Some impressed.
Some… something else.
A group of girls nearby whispered to each other.
"Who is he?"
"He's kinda—"
"Focus," Aiden told himself.
He placed his hand on the crystal.
"Minimum output," he thought.
"Define minimum."
"…Just above average."
He released a tiny fraction of his magic.
The crystal lit up.
Bright.
But not too bright.
A steady, respectable glow.
The examiner nodded. "Above average. Good."
Aiden stepped back.
Perfect.
Not weak.
Not strong.
Forgettable.
—
"Next test—control."
Targets appeared across the field—small floating discs moving unpredictably.
"Hit as many as you can in ten seconds."
Students stepped up.
Some missed entirely.
Others hit a few.
A particularly skilled girl hit eight, earning applause.
Then—
"Next."
Aiden stepped forward again.
He raised his hand.
Paused.
"…Okay, don't overdo it."
"Your definition of 'overdoing it' is flawed."
"Not helping."
The signal sounded.
Aiden moved.
Ten seconds.
He flicked his fingers—
And hit three targets.
Missed two intentionally.
Then stopped.
The examiner nodded again. "Decent control."
Aiden stepped back.
Inside, he was already calculating.
"I slowed my perception by a factor of twenty," he thought. "That was painful."
"You are limiting yourself excessively."
"That's the point."
—
Final test.
"Adaptability."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
The ground shifted.
Then—
Creatures emerged.
Constructs of magic—wolf-like beasts formed from swirling energy.
"You will face one construct," the examiner announced. "Defeat it by any means."
Aiden watched as others struggled.
Some barely won.
Some lost.
Some panicked.
Then—
"Next."
Aiden stepped forward.
The construct formed in front of him, growling softly.
He stared at it.
"…Alright."
The creature lunged.
Time slowed.
Aiden stepped slightly to the side.
Raised his hand.
"…Tap."
A tiny pulse of energy.
The construct froze—
Then shattered instantly.
Silence.
The examiner blinked.
"…Efficient."
Aiden nodded politely and stepped back.
"…I might've overdone that one."
"Yes."
"…Oops."
—
The trials ended.
Groups formed.
Names were called.
Ranks assigned.
Aiden listened carefully.
"…Mid-tier."
He exhaled softly.
Perfect.
Not at the top.
Not at the bottom.
Invisible.
Just how he wanted it.
"…You are now Academy students," the examiner ঘোষণাd.
Murmurs of excitement spread.
And then—
"Hey."
Aiden turned.
It was the boy from earlier.
Up close, his expression was even more annoyed.
"…What?" Aiden asked.
The boy scoffed. "Don't act dumb."
"I'm not acting."
"You think you're slick, huh?"
Aiden blinked. "I genuinely have no idea what you're talking about."
The boy stepped closer.
Up close, his eyes burned with irritation.
"Everyone's looking at you."
Aiden glanced around.
…They were.
"…That's not really my fault."
"That's exactly the problem!"
Aiden paused.
"…What?"
The boy jabbed a finger toward him.
"You show up, act all calm, don't even try—and still get attention?!"
Aiden frowned slightly.
"I literally tried to avoid attention."
"Yeah, well, you failed."
Aiden opened his mouth—
Then stopped.
"…Okay, fair."
The boy scoffed again.
"…Name's Kael."
Aiden tilted his head. "That didn't sound like an introduction."
"It's not," Kael snapped. "It's so you know who's going to surpass you."
Aiden stared at him for a moment.
Then—
"…Alright."
Kael turned sharply and walked away.
Aiden watched him go.
"…He hates me."
"Yes."
"…I didn't do anything."
"Your existence is sufficient."
Aiden sighed.
"…This is going to be a long year."