Chapter 11 – Trials of Admission
The next morning came earlier than Fay expected. A loud horn blared across the campus, rattling windows and making birds scatter from the trees.
Fay bolted upright in bed, hair sticking up like a wild bush. "Wh—? Fire? War? Earthquake?"
From the other bed, Ciel groaned and pulled a pillow over his head. "Wake-up call. Entrance trials. You'll get used to it."
"Entrance trials?" Fay blinked. "Wait—I thought I was a special admission. Why do I need to trial anything?"
Ciel peeked at him, one brow arched. "You think nobles will let a commoner waltz in without showing off? They'll be demanding you prove yourself. You've already been the talk of the dorms all night."
Fay rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Figures."
---
By the time they reached the training grounds, hundreds of students were already gathered. The arena stretched wide, a circle of stone inscribed with glowing runes. Tall stands surrounded it, filled with instructors, seniors, and far too many sneering nobles.
At the center stood the Headmaster, small and unimposing as always, but the mere presence of her gaze silenced the entire crowd.
"You've all been admitted," she said, "but tradition remains. The Trials exist not to exclude, but to measure. We will see your strengths, your weaknesses, and where you belong within our halls."
A noble boy stepped forward immediately, chest puffed with arrogance. His cloak glittered with family crests. "Headmaster, with all respect, why must we participate equally with… outsiders?" He shot Fay a pointed glance. "Some of us are already leagues above."
The Headmaster tilted her head slightly. "Then the Trials will show that, will they not?"
The boy flushed but bowed reluctantly.
---
The trials began with three stages:
1. Physical Test – speed, strength, endurance.
2. Magical Capacity – measuring mana through ancient crystals.
3. Combat Evaluation – duels in the arena.
Students lined up eagerly. Nobles showed off polished sword forms and precise fireballs, while commoners sweated but gave their best. Instructors recorded results with enchanted quills.
Then came Fay's turn.
---
Stage One: Physical Test
The task was simple: strike a boulder inscribed with runes, calibrated to measure force. Students before him had left scratches, cracks, or dents.
Fay stepped up, scratching his cheek. Okay, easy. Just tap it gently. Don't break anything this time.
He raised a fist… and tapped.
The boulder exploded into dust.
A heavy silence fell.
"…I tapped," Fay said weakly, coughing in the cloud of stone. "That was a tap!"
Students gaped. A noble girl squeaked. Instructors scribbled furiously. The Headmaster pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Next test," she ordered.
---
Stage Two: Magical Capacity
Students placed their hands on a crystal sphere. It glowed in proportion to their mana reserves. A faint glimmer was average; a strong blaze marked the gifted.
Fay approached cautiously. "Okay, this time, gentle. Like petting a rabbit. Gentle."
He touched the sphere.
It shattered, bursting into shards of light that rained down like stars.
The arena gasped.
"I—" Fay raised his hands defensively. "It was the rabbit touch! I swear!"
The Headmaster's sigh echoed across the grounds. "Bring the spare crystal."
---
Stage Three: Combat Evaluation
"Opponent?" an instructor asked.
Immediately, the arrogant noble boy from before stepped forward. "I'll volunteer." His smirk was sharp as a blade. "Let's see what kind of commoner receives special favors."
The crowd buzzed. Fay exhaled slowly, stepping into the circle.
The duel began.
The noble unleashed a barrage of fire spells, his control crisp and flashy. Fay dodged, stumbling clumsily, almost tripping over his own feet. It looked like a mess.
But every time the noble thought he had him cornered, Fay was suddenly behind him, or his spell fizzled mid-air, or the ground shook just enough to ruin his footing.
Finally, Fay panicked and raised his hand to block—only to accidentally unleash a wave of crimson energy. The noble was blasted across the arena, slamming into the barrier spell that barely held.
Smoke cleared. Fay blinked at his own hand. "Oops."
The crowd erupted. Some shouted in awe, others in outrage.
The Headmaster lifted her hand. Silence fell.
"Assessment complete," she said. "Fay Lorian—placed as Special Class."
---
That night in the dorms, Ciel stared at him. "You broke two artifacts, destroyed a boulder, and humiliated a noble heir."
Fay winced. "Yeah… they'll forgive me, right?"
"No," Ciel said flatly. "But I think half the school now wants to fight you, and the other half wants to be your friend."
Fay grinned nervously. "Guess I made an impression."
He lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling, excitement and unease swirling together. The Academy was bigger, louder, and more dangerous than he expected. But it was also alive with possibility.
This is only the beginning, he thought, crimson eyes glinting in the moonlight. And I'm not backing down.
End of chapter 11