Two days later, Adonis found himself among hundreds of first-year students gathered in the Grand Hall of Trials. The vaulted ceiling echoed with anticipation. Before them stood a raised platform of polished marble, crowned with twenty silver-rimmed seats, each marked with a glowing jewel—ruby, sapphire, tourmaline—set into the armrests.
A hush fell as a woman stepped onto the platform. She is an Instructor, her golden hair pulled back in a severe braid and emerald eyes sharp as flint, addressed the assembly.
"Good morning," she intoned. "I am your test invigilator, Instructor Leena. Today's exam will determine both your class placement—Weed, Bud, or Bloom—and your ranking among peers."
She swept her gaze across the students. "Before you are twenty seats on the Illusion Platform—a King-class artifact. One by one, you will sit, place your hands on the glowing stones, and enter a dream world. There, you will confront endless battles against foes of increasing strength, under pressures comparable to those faced by King-class mages. When you fall, the illusion expels you. Your kill count, speed, and adaptability will all factor in. We'll also consider your talent, potential, element, and age."
"Assemble in line. Approach when summoned. Good luck."
Adonis watched as the first group of twenty students ascended the marble steps. Each took a seat, closed their eyes, and was enveloped in the platform's light. Within moments, the hall fell silent except for a low hum.
"If it's only illusion," Adonis thought, "a week's worth of battle should pass in mere minutes here."
The fallen students returned swiftly—some pale and shaken, others triumphant, tallying their kills on digital screens. Their rankings printed out before them, they moved aside to wait for the next group.
Adonis fought the urge to step forward. The Illusion Platform called to every mage's curiosity—the chance to test one's limits in a controlled environment so intense it rivaled real war.
He glanced at the glimmering seats. Each jewel pulsed like a heartbeat, promising challenge and reward.
"Illusion magic is fascinating," he admitted under his breath. "I wish I could learn it too."
But his chosen path lay elsewhere—School of Space Magic—and his moment would come soon.
For now, he slotted himself into the queue, heart steady, mind focused. When his time arrived, he would have to face the test, he was wondering how the battle take place.
He was told by Vale that the ranking in this test will decide which class he will be placed into, either, weed, buds or blooms. He also told him that the result will be let everyone to see, honestly he don't want to drag attention, but he feared placed in lower class.
Today only freshers rankings will be conducted, later the ranking would be divided according to their mana core levels, while test will be conducted monthly after new years settled down.
"I wonder if teachers can view the performance of students within the illusion" Adonis thought as he still overthinking about his abilities. But he remembered Evan Cloud words about talents and decided to give it his all and show his best performance in the test.