Lucien watched as the mana release once again shook the surrounding area, causing various reactions from the gathered students. Some felt their hair stand on end, while others reflexively lowered their heads—including himself. However, a few remained upright, completely unaffected by the pressure that had been unleashed.
Lucien's gaze swept across the hundreds of students gathered in the square, and he quickly realized that only about ten or so showed no signs of fear or strain.
"So this is the difference between those with talent and those without..." he muttered quietly.
Lucien knew himself very well. He was aware that he was not someone born with natural talent. Aldric had often reminded him of this. However, precisely because of this awareness, Lucien was able to adapt to various conditions faster than others. Like now—within seconds of experiencing the mana pressure, he had already freed himself from its influence.
After all, one's abilities were not measured solely by talent or mana capacity.
On the other hand, Vulcan observed the students' reactions with a sharp gaze. Seeing the majority of them bow before his mana release, he felt satisfied. However, his attention soon shifted to the handful of individuals who remained unaffected. He quickly began marking them in his mind.
"Darius Valefor, Son of Earl Valefor."
"Elara Moonveil, granddaughter of the Moonveil hermit residing in the Eastern Empire."
"Kael Draven… No official identity before entering the academy."
He continued memorizing these names, ensuring he would not forget their faces. In total, eleven students had managed to resist the effects of his mana pressure—more than the previous year.
However, something still bothered him. Vulcan knew that the adopted son of Grandmaster Aldric Valtor was also among this year's new students. Considering Aldric's reputation, the boy could not simply be ignored. Yet, when he looked over the list of talented students he had marked, he did not find the name he was searching for.
His gaze swept over the bowed students, searching for the boy's presence. Until finally, his eyes landed on a shorter boy compared to those around him—he had almost overlooked him due to his unremarkable height.
Lucien slowly lifted his face, and at that moment, their eyes met.
"Why is he looking at me like that?" Lucien thought, feeling slightly unsettled by Vulcan's gaze.
However, within seconds, Vulcan looked away as if he had lost interest. The way he diverted his attention made Lucien sense a hint of disappointment in the man's expression.
To Vulcan, there was nothing special about the boy. He was just like most other students—lowering his head when faced with the mana release. Although he had recovered faster than some, he was not the fastest. There was nothing particularly outstanding about him.
"Hard to believe that someone like Aldric Valtor would take in an adopted son without any exceptional qualities," Vulcan thought.
Without dwelling on it further, he returned his focus to his primary task and continued his speech.
"Today marks the beginning of your journey at Sanctum," his voice echoed across the square. "And as I mentioned yesterday, only those who truly possess the capability will survive here."
Several students swallowed nervously, feeling the tension rise.
Vulcan lowered his hand before continuing, "Your first test will be hunting Lesser Spirits on the second floor of the Abyssal Labyrinth."
Upon hearing that name, some students who knew of the Abyssal Labyrinth's reputation felt a cold chill run down their spines.
The Abyssal Labyrinth was a vast and immeasurable underground chasm. So far, Abyssal Adventurers had only managed to reach the seventieth floor, classified as a Black Zone—a place teeming with creatures nearly impossible for ordinary humans to face.
Floors one through ten were called the Green Zone, meaning they had a lower danger level compared to the deeper floors. However, the Green Zone status did not mean the place was truly safe. The Abyssal Labyrinth was still the Abyssal Labyrinth, and for those who did not understand how to fight Spirits, it could quickly turn into hell.
Lucien stroked his chin, thinking to himself. "They're really throwing us straight into the field... This is a different approach from last year."
He refocused his attention on Vulcan.
"To ensure this test is conducted fairly, you will be divided into teams of three. Each team will be supervised by an instructor," Vulcan explained.
A student raised their hand. "How will the teams be decided?"
"The teams have already been predetermined," Vulcan replied. "You will not be able to choose for yourselves. Individual performance will still be assessed, but teamwork will also be a key factor in this exam."
Lucien let out a quiet sigh. "That means I'll have to work with others..." he muttered inwardly.
For the past five years, he had grown accustomed to solitude. Not because he was incapable of interacting, but simply because he wasn't interested. Living on one of Aldric's properties in Eilendarr, he had few opportunities to connect with others, even if he had wanted to.
"Your main objective is to hunt Lesser Spirits," Vulcan continued. "Each Lesser Spirit Core you obtain will be worth points. The stronger the Spirit you defeat, the higher the value you will earn."
"At the end of the exam, rankings will be determined based on the total points accumulated by each student. However, keep in mind that acquiring Spirit Cores is not the only way to earn points. There are three main factors that will determine your score: the quantity and quality of the Spirit Cores obtained, team performance, and individual evaluation."
"Those who achieve the highest ranks will receive special privileges within the academy." He gave a faint smirk. "Meanwhile, those at the bottom… will soon realize just how harsh life at Sanctum can be."
At those words, the atmosphere among the students shifted. Some immediately began whispering to each other, discussing strategies and possible preparations.
For students who already had combat experience, this challenge wasn't too intimidating. However, the highly competitive nature of the exam made many of them more cautious and determined to perform at their best.
For some, securing first place was the ultimate goal. But for others, the real challenge was simply ensuring they didn't end up at the very bottom.
Lucien himself didn't think too much about rankings. Over the past five years, he had trained under Aldric's guidance—from physical training to combat strategies and fundamental knowledge. However, he had never faced a Spirit in battle before. The only experience he had was his encounter with that mysterious entity five years ago.
He wasn't too ambitious about becoming the best. However, if the opportunity presented itself, he wouldn't turn it down.
At that moment, a large banner unfurled in the air, positioned right in front of the towering white spire at the center of the academy complex.
On it, the list of names and group assignments was displayed.
Lucien immediately shifted his gaze toward it.
—Ember Sprouts Group—
Victor Runevele
Lucien Ashthorn
Elara Moonveil
Supervisor: Garrick Fendrel
Lucien didn't personally know his two teammates. However, he had some information about one of them. The Runevele family name sounded familiar—nobility, though he couldn't recall any further details. As for the other name, he had no clue whatsoever.
Soon, his star paper gradually turned purple.
Around him, the other students' star papers also began changing colors, each displaying different hues. This color shift served a specific purpose—to help students identify their teammates. Those with matching star paper colors were in the same group.
Lucien immediately started scanning his surroundings, searching for others with the same color. It didn't take long before he spotted the first one.
A young man, around fifteen years old, with brown hair and rare golden eyes. His expression radiated immense confidence, almost bordering on arrogance. Like Lucien, he was also scanning the area carefully. His gaze shifted as if evaluating something—searching for something more valuable.
Then, his eyes stopped.
Lucien followed the direction of his gaze and found another figure.
A girl around fourteen years old whose presence was strikingly prominent. Many students surrounded her, as if she were the center of attention or even a celebrity. Her silver hair shimmered beautifully, her skin was slightly pale, and her eyes were a deep blue, resembling the surface of a lake. For a moment, something about her appearance reminded Lucien of someone—Aldric Valtor.
"She…" Lucien paused, recalling the events from earlier. When Vulcan released his mana, he had observed the reactions of the other students. This girl was one of the few who remained completely unaffected.
Elara, too, gazed at her teammates with a neutral expression, assessing them just as Lucien was evaluating her.
"She must be one of the strongest contenders for first place in this exam," Lucien muttered quietly.
As he observed his teammates, Lucien noticed that several other students were watching them—more specifically, watching Elara and Victor. Their expressions were filled with curiosity.
"So, she's quite well-known here…" Lucien thought. "I suppose my life has been too isolated compared to theirs." He let out a short sigh.
On the other hand, Elara, who had been directly observing Lucien, immediately caught this small gesture. She frowned, feeling slightly irritated.
"What was that?" she thought. "Is he underestimating me?"
For Elara, such a reaction was highly unusual. Throughout her life, she had always been the center of attention, treated with respect or admiration. No one had ever responded to her with a sigh, as if expressing disappointment.
"Is he doubting me?" she thought, growing annoyed.
Before long, all the students began gathering according to their assigned groups.
On the other side of the training ground, the Ember Sprouts group finally came together—Lucien, Victor, and Elara stood near each other. Right beside them stood a middle-aged man dressed in blacksmith-style attire, his arms crossed over his chest. His expression looked lazy and disinterested, as if he would rather be anywhere else.
Lucien recognized the man.
"Garrick Fendrel," he thought. "The warden of the Red Garden dormitory."
The fact that this man was their supervisor felt like an odd coincidence to Lucien.
Amidst the slightly tense atmosphere, Victor suddenly spoke.
"How about we introduce ourselves?" he suggested, his tone polite and well-practiced.
The first thing he did was turn toward Elara, giving her special attention before speaking.
"My name is Victor Runevele," he stated calmly yet with a commanding presence. "I am the youngest son of Earl Runevele, who manages Runevele Bank in Eilendarr."
Lucien raised an eyebrow, finally recalling where he had heard that name before. Over the past five years, he had lived in Eilendarr, so it wasn't surprising that the Runevele name—especially in banking—sounded familiar.
He gave a small nod, indicating that he now understood the connection.
However, to Elara, this information didn't seem particularly interesting. She maintained her neutral expression and responded politely, "Elara Moonveil. I'm from the East."
That brief statement was enough to further confirm Lucien's suspicions.
"So that's why she looks somewhat similar to Aldric…" he thought.
Indeed, he had always heard that Aldric Valtor was originally from the East.
Victor nodded and smiled courteously. "A pleasure to meet you, Lady Moonveil." He gave a slight bow as a gesture of respect.
After the two finished speaking, their attention turned to Lucien. Both Elara and Victor looked at him, waiting for his introduction.
However, there was a distinct difference in their gazes—not out of genuine interest, but more as a formality.
Lucien observed their expressions one by one before letting out a quiet sigh and speaking.
"As stated on the banner earlier," he said simply, "My name is Lucien Ashthorn."
No additional details. No prestigious family name to boast about. No achievements to flaunt.
Just a name and nothing more.
Elara unconsciously clenched her teeth.
"Again… He sighed after looking at me?" she thought in irritation.
Among all the people she had ever met, not a single one had reacted to her like this.
Although her face remained calm, deep down, she felt deeply unsettled.