A new morning began at the Higher Academy of Magical Arts, and students were heading to the large lecture hall, where a theoretical exam on "Interlocking Energy and Its Sources" was being held. The hall was filled with the usual din: notebooks being opened, whispers circulating, and anxious sighs from students who hadn't reviewed anything.
In the front row, Nava sat alone, writing something in a small leather booklet, as he always did. His face was free of tension, his gaze calm, as if this place meant nothing to him, or as if it were much bigger than him.
Professor Haldron entered, a man in his late fifties, known for his sternness and frequent talk about the "glory days of pure energies."
Haldron (in a booming voice):
I won't take much of your time. The exam consists of twenty questions, the time is forty minutes, and no magical analysis tools are allowed.
Then he looked toward Nava, paused, and said in a mysterious tone:
Haldron:
And please don't finish the test in five minutes this time, Mr. Nava. Give us a chance to pretend we're teaching you something.
Muffled laughter erupted from the back seats, but Nava didn't answer. He just smiled, barely perceptible, and then said:
Nava (quietly):
I'll try to slow down my writing... out of respect for time, not for the questions.
The test began, and silence fell, but Celetia watched him from afar. He didn't open the paper immediately, but kept staring at the ceiling, as if the questions would write themselves. After two minutes, he wrote his answers in sequence, without hesitation or review, then handed the paper over and sat quietly waiting.
Celeletia (whispering to herself):
He's doing it again, she said, laughing.
After class, everyone went out into the backyard. There, some professors were monitoring the daily energy rating results. The magic screen showed the students' numbers and frequencies.
When Nava's name appeared, the scene froze.
"Nava Kurumi — Frequency: Unmeasurable — Classification: X"
Assistant Professor (worried):
Impossible... We used the God-Level Meter!
Another Professor:
The machine doesn't make mistakes, but he transcends the definition of energy. It's as if he isn't composed of energy, but of a concept in itself.
Haldron approached them and whispered:
Haldron:
Leave him... The Director himself told me that this boy isn't for measurement, but for observation.
In the corner of the courtyard, Celetia was walking beside him.
Celeletia:
Why don't you hide your energy? I mean... doesn't it bother you that everyone talks about you like you're a monster? Nava:
I don't show anything. What they see isn't my energy, but a shadow of what I don't think about.
Celeletia:
Are you saying that what they feel is... just an echo?
Nava:
A weak echo, though it's close to the truth. If you want my opinion... people are more afraid of the unclassifiable than the powerful.
She considered his words for a moment, then said:
Celetia (jokingly):
Well, "Immeasurable Best Friend," we'll be late for code-breaking class, a class I rarely excel in.
Nava (raises an eyebrow):
You said rarely? Does that mean you excelled once?
Celetia:
Well, I didn't say I succeeded.
He laughed lightly, then walked beside her, saying:
Nava:
You know... sometimes I feel like if I left you alone, you'd bring about a major disaster at least every other day.
Celetia (proudly):
And that's what makes me special, isn't it?
Nava:
It's what makes me watch you nonstop. And maybe a little special.