Robin woke before dawn in the stable. His back ached from sleeping on hay, but he'd endured worse.
He stretched carefully, working out the stiffness. Completed a quick routine, fifty push-ups, basic stretches, weapon forms with an imaginary blade.
[DAILY QUEST PROGRESS: 33%]
Today was the mana aptitude test. The public humiliation he'd been preparing for mentally.
Just another obstacle. Accept it. Move through it. Focus on what comes after.
He cleaned himself as best he could using water from a trough. Changed into his cleanest clothes, which weren't clean, just less dirty than the alternatives. Ate the last of his bread.
Then walked to the Academy.
The crowd was different today. Smaller. Only the 347 who'd passed yesterday's written exam. But the energy was higher, nervous anticipation mixed with confidence.
The mana aptitude test was what separated true prospects from lucky scholars. Many who'd passed the written exam would humiliated here.
Robin joined the crowd inside the Academy grounds. They were directed to an enormous courtyard.
Tiered seating surrounded a central platform where a massive crystal stood, easily six feet tall, pulsing with a faint inner light.
The Mana Testing Crystal. Robin had seen one before, in his previous life. An artifact that measured mana capacity and displayed it visually for all to see.
Public. Deliberately public. They want everyone to see who has power and who doesn't.
Instructors organized the applicants into lines. Alphabetical by surname.
"When your name is called, step forward," a stern woman announced. "Place both hands on the crystal. Hold for ten seconds. The crystal's reaction indicates your mana rank.
A-rank and above: brilliant gold. B-rank: strong blue. C-rank: steady green. D-rank: dim white. E-rank: flickering white. F-rank: barely visible."
She didn't mention F-minus. Probably assumed no one with that rank would dare apply.
The testing began. Names called alphabetically.
"Alderson, Matthew!"
A noble boy stepped forward. Placed his hands on the crystal. It flared bright blue healthy, strong. B-rank.
The crowd applauded.
"Benton, Sarah!"
C-rank. Green light, steady and respectable. More applause.
"Cromwell, Eric!"
Another B-rank. More celebration.
The pattern continued. Most nobles tested at C or B-rank. A few commoners showed D-rank respectable for their station.
One exceptional applicant hit A-rank, and the entire courtyard erupted in excitement.
Leo's turn came.
"Stark, Leo!"
Robin's brother walked forward with confident swagger. Placed his hands on the crystal.
It flared blue. Strong, healthy B-rank. Exactly what was expected of a Stark heir.
The crowd applauded. Leo's friends cheered loudly. The Duke's son, living up to his bloodline.
Leo stepped down, smiling.
More names. More tests. The crowd's energy fluctuated excitement for high ranks, polite applause for average ones, awkward silence for the rare E or F-ranks.
An E-rank commoner stepped down in shame, face burning red. An F-rank noble girl looked devastated.
This is designed to break people. To sort the strong from the weak before combat even begins.
"Stark, Robin!"
The crowd's murmur changed tone. Curious. Some had heard about the Duke's third son. The cursed child who'd somehow passed the written exam.
Robin walked forward. Kept his expression neutral. Calm. Like this was just another task.
He stood before the crystal. It was enormous up close, thrumming with power. An artifact worth more than a small town.
Robin placed both hands on its cool surface.
Immediately, the crystal reacted. But not the way it had for anyone else.
It sputtered. Like a candle in wind. A weak, pathetic white light flickered, barely visible in the bright courtyard. It pulsed erratically, struggling to maintain even that feeble glow.
Then it went dark. Completely dark.
Silence. Absolute silence for three seconds.
Then the examiner spoke, her voice carrying across the courtyard with professional detachment. "Rank F-minus. Severe Mana Core Deficiency."
The crowd exploded.
Laughter, raucous laughter. Pointing. Whispering that became shouting.
"F-minus? I didn't know that was possible!"
"How did he pass the written exam?"
"The cursed Stark! I heard about him!"
"He has no mana at all!"
Leo's smirk was triumphant. His friends laughed openly. This was entertainment. The crippled brother exposing himself publicly.
Robin stood there, hands still on the dark crystal. Let them laugh. Let them mock.
Good. Laugh now. Remember this moment tomorrow when I'm still standing and you're not.
He stepped away from the crystal. Walked back to his position in the line. Didn't rush. Didn't show shame or anger. Just moved calmly, like nothing had happened.
The laughter continued. Spread through the crowd like wildfire. Even some of the instructors looked uncomfortable, this was worse than anyone expected.
More names were called. More tests. But the energy had changed. Robin's performance or lack thereof had become the talk of the Academy.
"Did you see? It went completely dark!"
"F-minus! That's actually worse than having no core at all!"
"Why is he even here? This is embarrassing!"
Robin tuned it out. Focused inward. Reviewed his preparations for tomorrow's combat trial.
The Scrabbler. Fast, insectoid creature. Known for erratic movements. Weak point behind the armored head a nerve cluster not in any textbook.
I've killed similar creatures. This will be controlled, weakened. Easy prey.
The testing concluded. Final tallies were announced.
"Results will be posted this evening," the stern woman announced. "Those who achieve D-rank or higher automatically advance to the combat trial. Those with E or F-ranks must petition for special consideration, demonstrating exceptional skill in other areas."
More whispers. Everyone knew who would need special consideration.
The crowd dispersed. Robin was surrounded by stares. Some pitying. Most contemptuous. A few curious wondering how someone with no mana had passed the written exam.
Leo intercepted him outside the courtyard. His friends formed a loose semicircle, blocking Robin's path.
"F-minus," Leo said, his voice loud enough for others to hear. "I knew you were pathetic, but this is a new low. Even for you."
Robin met his brother's eyes. Said nothing.
"You should quit now," Leo continued. "Save yourself the embarrassment of the combat trial. Everyone knows you can't fight. You got lucky once against me. That's all."
"Lucky," Robin repeated quietly.
"Yes. Lucky." Leo stepped closer. "But luck runs out. And tomorrow, when you face a real beast? You're going to get hurt. Badly. Maybe even killed."
Robin's expression didn't change. "Maybe."
The calm acceptance seemed to unsettle Leo. He'd wanted anger. Shame. Fear. Instead, he got nothing.
"Whatever," Leo finally said. "It's your funeral. Don't come crying to me when you fail."
He pushed past Robin, his friends following. Their laughter echoed down the corridor.
Robin continued walking. Found a quiet spot in a public garden near the Academy. Sat on a bench.
Pulled up his status screen:
┏━━━━━━━[ Host Profile ]━━━━━━━┓
│ Name: Robin Stark
│ Level: 6
│ EXP: 255/600
│
│ Core Attributes:
│ STR Strength 10
│ AGI Agility 8
│ END Endurance 8
│ DEX Dexterity 9
│
│ HP: 68/68
│ Stamina: 50/50
│ Mana: 38/110 (F-)
│
│ Mana Seal: 72% Integrity
┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛
The system confirmed what the crystal had shown. F-minus. Pathetic by any warrior standard.
But Robin's stats told a different story. Ten strength. Eight agility. Eight endurance. Nine dexterity.
I'm physically stronger than most D-rank applicants. Faster than many C-ranks. More skilled than nearly everyone.
They just don't know it yet.
Evening came. Robin returned to the Academy gates where results were posted.
The boards were simpler this time.
MANA APTITUDE RESULTS
AUTOMATIC ADVANCEMENT: 312 applicants (D-rank and above)
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION: 35 applicants (E and F-ranks)
Robin found his name in the special consideration list.
STARK, ROBIN - F- RANK - PETITION APPROVED FOR COMBAT TRIAL
His written exam score had saved him. Forty-seven out of fifty was exceptional enough to warrant giving him a chance at the combat trial.
They're curious. Want to see if the brain matches the body. If there's any physical skill to offset the mana deficiency.
Around the boards, the 35 in special consideration looked nervous. Most were commoners with E-ranks. A few nobles with F-ranks who'd probably bribed their way to the combat trial.
And Robin. The only F-minus. The absolute bottom.
Perfect position. Nowhere to go but up.*
Robin left the Academy. Returned to his stable. Paid his last copper for one more night.
Tomorrow was everything. The combat trial. Where he'd prove that mana wasn't everything. That skill and experience could overcome raw power.
He lay in the hay, but sleep didn't come immediately. His mind ran through scenarios.
The Scrabbler will be fast. Erratic. But predictable if you understand the pattern. It favors its right claw.
Always lunges before striking. Exposes the nerve cluster for a split second during the attack.
One precise strike. That's all I need. Clean and efficient
Show them I'm competent. Not a master, that would raise questions. Just skilled enough to be worth training.
Robin finally slept.
Tomorrow, the cursed child with F-minus mana would step into an arena.
And everyone who'd laughed would start to understand.
Mana wasn't everything.
Sometimes, a sharp blade and a sharper mind were enough.
Phase two complete. Humiliation accepted.
Now for phase three.
Time to remind them why the Academy tests three things, not just one.
Time to show them what a cursed child can do.
Robin smiled in the darkness.
Tomorrow was going to be interesting.
Very interesting indeed.