Amaya Green's gaze bore into Kai Dawnsworn, sharp and unwavering. Seeing the faint, mischievous smile on his face, her mind involuntarily drifted back three years to the Academy Entry Talent Inspection.
He had been only twelve then, standing before the gathered masters of Greenhold Academy. While the other children trembled with nerves and stammered in their evaluations, Kai Dawnsworn's smile had remained natural, proud, unshaken—completely unbothered by the weight of scrutiny.
That inspection had confirmed his exceptional talent, the caliber of his perception of Mana unparalleled among his peers. The verdict had been clear: he was a natural at martial arts.
Now, three years later, nothing had changed in his perception, nor had his plane advanced. He was still the same casual, lazy youth, often absent from class. Yet, the spark in his golden eyes—the clarity and brightness—remained undimmed.
