Aralyn's POV
I wasn't sure what I was expecting when we walked into the so-called practical hall, but I definitely didn't expect it to be this massive. The walls were glowing, and in the center of the stone floor was a glowing circle etched into the ground.
Apparently, that circle was where all the magic was meant to happen.
I stood at the back, trying to make myself as invisible as possible as Professor Ilven, her face unreadable as usual, stood at the front of the room with a clipboard in her hands. One by one, she began calling out the names of students to step into the circle and "show themselves."
I still wasn't sure what that meant exactly. Was it like a talent show? Was someone going to juggle fireballs?
"Thyra," the professor called, and a tall girl with deep violet hair walked forward.
I crossed my arms over my chest, leaning against the wall as I watched Thyra step into the glowing circle. She didn't hesitate. Her eyes shut tightly, and a hush fell over the room. A faint shimmer lit up around her body, and then, just like that, she began to float.
My mouth parted in shock, but no one else looked nearly as impressed. Thyra stayed suspended for maybe five or six seconds before she dropped back down, landing awkwardly on her feet.
Professor Ilven gave her a pointed look. "You're still overthinking it. You must learn to let go of your thoughts. Intention without overanalysis, Thyra."
Thyra mumbled something I couldn't hear and walked back to where she was standing prior, her shoulders stiff.
The next few names were called, and I watched as more students took their turn. A boy with green eyes and dreads managed to conjure fire from his fingertips but only held it for a few seconds before it sputtered out.
A girl with scales on her cheeks summoned a small gust of wind that lifted her skirt awkwardly before she flushed and scurried away.
Some were praised, but to be honest, most were not.
Professor Ilven was brutal with her critiques, but she wasn't cruel. She spoke with a sort of disappointment, like someone who knew her students were capable of more but just hadn't figured out how to reach for it yet.
Then came the name I was waiting for.
"Elyra."
Elyra looked nervous. Her hand trembled slightly as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her pointed ear, but she squared her shoulders and walked into the circle.
I held my breath.
The room stilled. Professor Ilven raised a brow like she was curious to see what Elyra would do. Even Penna, who had spent most of the morning being snarky, leaned forward.
Elyra closed her eyes, and in that moment, her entire body began to glow faintly, like the moon itself had wrapped around her. The glow started from her skin, looking steady and giving off a certain warmth, and then slowly, it grew brighter. Her feet lifted off the ground, her arms rising like she was weightless, but that wasn't the part that made the room fall completely silent.
All around her, tiny white blossoms began to appear. They floated in the air like dandelion seeds, spinning slowly, and each one glowing faintly.
I heard someone gasp, and even Professor Ilven smiled a little. When Elyra finally floated back down, the blossoms scattered and vanished. She opened her eyes slowly, looking like she wasn't even sure what had just happened.
Professor Ilven nodded once. "Better."
That was all she said, but Elyra's face lit up with pride, and I clapped quietly under my breath.
Then it hit me.
My name hadn't been called yet, and after what felt like hours of waiting and watching other students step forward to show off their magic, the moment I had been dreading finally arrived.
"Aralyn?" Professor Ilven's voice rang across the room.
My stomach dropped. My name echoed in my ears like a sentence being passed, and I could feel the heat rush to my cheeks as I slowly stood up. I barely heard Elyra whisper a gentle, "Good luck," behind me. I managed a nod, though it felt stiff and robotic.
I walked into the center of the circle, feeling like I was stepping into an execution ground. Every eye was on me, and I didn't even need to look up to know it. The intensity of their stares was suffocating me in the worst way possible, and I tried to stand tall, but my legs felt like jelly, and my hands were ice-cold.
When I finally lifted my gaze to meet Professor Ilven's, I was startled to find her staring at me with a look I couldn't quite place. The look was not exactly surprise, and not quite suspicion, but something… unreadable.
The silence remained, and my heart pounded like it was trying to break free of my chest. I didn't know what was expected of me. Was I supposed to chant something? Make some kind of gesture? Burst into flame?
Professor Ilven's eyes narrowed slightly. "We don't have all day."
I flinched, and my throat felt dry as sandpaper. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. I forced myself to swallow and try again.
"I… I'm new here," I began, my voice barely louder than a whisper. "I don't really know what I'm supposed to do. I mean, I'm still trying to figure out if I even have any magical abilities."
A few students snickered. One even let out a low, mocking laugh, but my hands remained clenched at my sides.
Professor Ilven's frown deepened. "Shadowvale Academy does not admit students who do not possess abilities, Miss Aralyn. If you are here, you are not ordinary. You may not know what you are yet, but rest assured, the Academy does not make mistakes."
The room was quiet again, but it was the kind of quiet that was filled with judgment. My ears burned, and I looked down at my shoes for a second before lifting my eyes to meet hers again.
"I just… I haven't figured out what I am," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I don't know where I belong or what I can do. I didn't grow up around magic. I didn't even know this kind of world existed until a few days ago."
Something in her expression shifted slightly at that. Maybe she saw how scared I was. Maybe she recognized the look of someone completely out of their depth.
Professor Ilven sighed softly. "Step back, Aralyn."
Relief washed over me so hard my knees almost gave out. I nodded quickly and turned to walk back to where I was. As I did, I caught a few more whispering, with some mocking me, while others seemed curious. A couple of students also seemed genuinely confused.
I didn't dare look at Penna's face. When I slid back to my position, Elyra reached out and squeezed my arm gently. "You did fine," she whispered.
"I did nothing," I muttered.
"That's still better than setting something on fire accidentally," she said with a wry smile.
I let out a tiny, breathy laugh, though my heart still felt like a rock lodged in my chest.
The rest of the practicals continued. More students took the circle. Some performed with ease; others struggled. I tried to focus on them, but my mind kept drifting. What if Professor Ilven was wrong? What if I really didn't belong here? What if someone had made a mistake? Or worse… what if I was just a fluke?
A few more students went, and then finally, Professor Ilven clapped her hands sharply. "That concludes today's session. You're all dismissed."
Everyone began to chatter and shuffle out of the room, but I stayed still for a few more seconds, collecting myself.
Elyra stayed beside me. "She'll figure you out," she said.
"What if there's nothing to figure out?" I asked quietly.
She tilted her head, her golden curls catching the light. "Then Shadowvale wouldn't have opened its gates to you. Trust me, this place doesn't just let anyone in."
Penna walked past us without saying a word, her expression unreadable, and maybe she wasn't the enemy I'd assumed… but she certainly wasn't my biggest fan. That much I could tell.