Aqua's mind spiraled back to what she had once believed was the single most humiliating moment possible in her entire life.
The Archmage Certification Ceremony.
She had been nineteen at that time—young for such a title, but already terrifyingly gifted.
The grand hall of the Arcane Citadel had been packed wall-to-wall with the continent's most revered mages: gray-bearded archmagi who had reshaped mountains, elven sorceresses older than kingdoms, battle-mages who had survived wars that ended dynasties.
They had all traveled thousands of miles—some crossing oceans of mana storms—just to watch her andjudge her.
Her own teacher stood at the front row, arms folded, expression unreadable.
And in the VIP gallery above them all: her mother, regal and expectant...and the Empress herself, her aunt watching with that cool, imperial smile that could freeze blood.
Every eye had been on her.
