The evaluation hall was packed. Students stood in colored rows — red, blue, silver, green, and brown. The difference in energy was palpable; the first four rows gleamed with mana like polished gems, while the tamers looked like the academy's forgotten stepchildren.
The examiner, a stoic knight named Sir Veldric, began reading from a crystal tablet.
"Today's performance tests will determine your preliminary ranks. Those failing to meet D-Rank standards may face expulsion."
Lyn stretched. "No pressure," he muttered.
From the brown-row students, nervous chatter rose. Most tamers barely had functioning familiars. Ira patted her tiny owl's head and whispered, "You'll be fine, Feather."
When Lyn's name was called, laughter erupted.
"The failed summoner?""Maybe his imaginary pet will show up!"
Lyn ignored them and stepped into the center of the arena. The magic circle activated beneath him.
"Summon your familiar," Veldric ordered.
For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then Lyn whispered, almost casually—
"Umbra."
His shadow stretched unnaturally long. The floor darkened, and a deep growl echoed through the chamber. From the shadow, Umbra emerged — huge, sleek, and coiling with black mist.
Gasps rippled through the hall. The air pressure dropped; even Veldric took a half-step back.
"W-what rank beast is that?" someone stammered."No record found…" the examiner's crystal flickered wildly.
Umbra's gaze passed lazily over the crowd.
"Such noise. Should I silence them?"
"Please don't," Lyn muttered quickly.
The crystal cracked. Veldric's voice trembled as he said,
"Unranked… pending evaluation. Extraordinary mana resonance. Subject to special review by the Grandmaster."
Lyn blinked. "Does that mean I pass?"Veldric sighed. "It means you've broken the scanner. Leave before you break me too."
Outside the arena, Ira ran up, wide-eyed.
"Lyn! That thing— it was beautiful… and terrifying!"
He smiled awkwardly. "Yeah. We're still working on boundaries."
As the sun dipped behind Eldara's cliffs, Lyn looked at his glowing crest — faint gold lines now threading through the brown mark.
"Hey, Umbra," he murmured."Yes, Master?""Do you think tamers can really change the world?""If the world dares to mock you again," Umbra said, baring a toothy grin, "we'll just rewrite it."