The next morning felt colder.
Not because of the weather.
Because everything was about to be decided.
---
The academy grounds were already crowded when Kael arrived.
Students gathered in front of a massive display board positioned at the center of the plaza. The structure towered above them, its surface blank for now, faint lines of energy running across it like veins waiting to activate.
Voices filled the air.
"I didn't sleep at all—"
"If I don't make it—"
"I'm definitely top fifty—"
Confidence. Nerves. Excitement.
Kael walked through it without reacting.
His steps were steady. Quiet.
---
> The theory worked.
---
That was all he knew.
Everything else—
uncertain.
---
The board flickered.
Silence spread quickly.
Then—
Names began to appear.
---
At the very top:
1 — Auren Valcrest
No surprise.
A ripple moved through the crowd.
"Of course it's him."
"That was obvious."
---
2 — Seris Kaelthorn
A shift in tone.
Respect.
"She was incredible in the casting test—"
---
3 — Draxen Volmir
Energy surged again.
"He crushed the combat rounds—"
---
Kael's eyes moved down.
---
5 — Lyra Solenne
A few whispers.
Recognition.
---
10 — Caelan Strade
No reaction.
Not from the crowd.
Not from the boy standing a short distance away, who didn't even look at the board for long before turning away.
---
Kael kept scanning.
Names blurred past.
Dozens.
---
23 — Elias Veyron
A slight pause.
Not from Kael.
But from those nearby.
"That guy… he's precise."
"Not flashy, but really clean."
---
Then more names.
Faster now.
Less important to most.
---
"40… 57… 83…"
---
100 — Lioren Thace
A casual voice:
"Barely made top hundred."
---
More.
---
200 — Marek Dain
"That's close…"
---
The crowd thinned slightly toward the bottom of the board.
Fewer people cared now.
Fewer were watching closely.
---
Kael didn't stop.
---
He reached the final section.
---
A small gap.
Just enough space left.
---
Then—
---
203 — Kael Virex
---
He stopped.
---
For a moment, nothing else existed.
No voices.
No movement.
Just that number.
---
203.
---
Barely.
---
Behind him, someone spoke.
"203rd?"
Another voice followed.
"How did he even pass?"
---
A pause.
Then—
"He got full marks on theory."
---
That changed the tone.
Not respect.
Something else.
---
"Wait… seriously?"
"And nothing else?"
"That's… useless."
---
A short laugh.
"Smart, but can't do anything."
---
Kael didn't turn.
Didn't react.
---
> Barely enough.
---
The words settled quietly.
---
At the very bottom of the list:
205 — Tovin Krell
---
"That's the last one."
"They didn't even fill all the spots…"
---
Only 205.
Out of 1000.
---
Kael stepped back from the board.
The noise returned around him, louder now—relief, disappointment, excitement, frustration.
Some celebrated.
Some stood in silence.
Some left immediately.
---
"You passed with only theory?"
The voice came from his side.
Calm.
Measured.
---
Kael glanced slightly.
A boy stood there, posture relaxed, expression neutral. His gaze wasn't mocking. Just… observant.
---
Elias Veyron.
---
23rd.
---
Kael didn't answer.
---
Elias studied him for a second longer.
Then:
"That shouldn't be enough."
---
Not an insult.
A statement.
---
Kael looked forward again.
---
"I know."
---
A brief silence passed between them.
Then Elias turned away, already losing interest.
---
Kael remained where he was.
The board still glowing faintly behind him.
The academy rising ahead.
---
Yesterday, it had felt distant.
Untouchable.
---
Now—
he was inside its reach.
---
But nothing else had changed.
---
> Understanding got me in.
A pause.
---
> But it didn't change anything else.
---
He looked up at the towering structure.
The platforms.
The energy lines.
The precision in everything.
---
This wasn't a place that rewarded potential.
Or effort.
---
Only results.
---
His gaze steadied.
---
"I made it in," he said quietly.
A breath.
---
"…now I have to survive it."