The capital rose from the horizon like something unreal.
Even after days on the road, after watching the trees thin and the paths widen, nothing had prepared me for it.
Stone walls taller than any mountain I'd climbed wrapped around the city, etched with glowing runes that pulsed faintly beneath the sunlight. Towers speared the sky beyond them, white and gold, banners snapping in the wind like the city itself was alive and breathing.
Uncle Garen slowed the carriage as we joined the line at the gate.
"Well," he muttered, arms crossed. "Welcome to Crownspire."
I swallowed.
The village I grew up in barely had a dozen stone buildings. This place had more people on one street than my home had seen in a year.
As we passed through the gates, the noise hit me all at once.
Shouts. Laughter. Hooves striking stone. Mana-powered lamps hovering above streets even in daylight. Carriages rolled past without stopping, nobles inside barely glancing at the pedestrians they nearly clipped.
No one apologized.
No one waited.
Here, the world moved whether you were ready or not.
The past month replayed in my mind as we entered the city.
Mother's forced smile as she folded my clothes. Father's heavy hand on my shoulder, gripping just a second too long. Uncle Garen pretending this was no different from any other trip, while double-checking supplies like his life depended on it.
I hadn't told them anything about my system.
Not about the skill ranks. Not about Spark levels. Not about how far ahead I actually was.
And walking through Crownspire, I knew that was the right choice.
Strength drew attention.
And attention drew trouble.
We stopped near a large plaza with a massive stone fountain at its center. Water arced gracefully into the air, shimmering with faint mana.
"Stay close," Uncle Garen said. "The exam hall's not far, but this place gets… crowded."
I nodded.
That was when I heard it.
"…Spark II."
The words cut through the noise like a blade.
"I mean, it's not that surprising," a boy's voice said confidently. "C-rank Gust, Spark II at thirteen. Father says I'm ahead of schedule."
I slowed my steps slightly, eyes drifting toward the source without turning my head.
Three boys stood near the fountain, all around my age. Their clothes were clean, tailored, stitched with thread that faintly reflected mana. Nobles.
The one speaking stood at the center, posture straight, chin lifted just enough to be irritating.
His friends reacted instantly.
"Spark II already?"
"That's insane."
"No way any academy ignores you."
The boy smiled like he'd expected nothing less.
I felt something settle in my chest.
So this is the baseline here.
I'd pushed Wind Slash to Spark IV.
And suddenly, I didn't want anyone knowing that.
I tried to walk past.
"Hey."
The voice was sharp.
I stopped.
The noble boy had turned, eyes flicking over me—my boots, my cloak, the simple stitching of my clothes.
He frowned.
"…You're here for the exams?"
"Yes," I replied.
He blinked, then laughed.
"You're kidding."
One of his friends snorted. "He's serious."
The noble stepped closer, looking me up and down like I was something stuck to his shoe.
"You don't look like you even know what Spark means," he said. "Did you wander in from a farming village?"
I shrugged lightly. "Something like that."
That seemed to irritate him.
"You commoners always do that," he said. "Act calm. Act confident. Like effort makes up for talent."
I met his gaze. "Does it not?"
His smile sharpened.
"No."
He leaned closer, voice dropping.
"Talent is blood. And you either have it, or you don't."
I turned to leave.
"Wait," he said lazily. "Let's see something."
The air shifted.
If I hadn't been paying attention, I would've missed it.
Mana coiled behind me, compressing, twisting.
Gust. C-rank.
Mana Sensitivity flared.
I moved.
Wind tore through the space where I'd been standing, smashing into the fountain and sending water exploding outward.
Gasps echoed across the plaza.
"What—?"
I landed awkwardly, rolling once across the stone before pushing myself upright. My heart pounded—but my focus sharpened.
Foundational Focus Technique activated instinctively.
The world narrowed.
I lifted my hand.
Just a whisper of mana.
Just enough.
Wind answered.
The noble boy's eyes widened.
"Wait—!"
Too late.
The gust hit him square in the chest.
He flew backward, arms flailing, and vanished into the fountain with a massive splash.
"You—!" he screamed, thrashing in the water. "You filthy—do you know who my father is?!"
I looked at him calmly.
"No."
That broke something.
"My father could buy your entire village!" he shouted. "Your house! Your—"
Smack.
The sound echoed across the plaza.
Silence fell.
A tall man stood behind him, hand lowered, expression sharp and controlled.
"That," the man said coldly, "is enough."
The boy froze.
"F-Father—"
The man didn't look at him.
Instead, he turned to me and bowed his head slightly.
"My apologies," he said. "My son lacks restraint."
He pressed a pouch into my hand.
"Twenty-five gold. Consider it compensation."
I hesitated, then accepted it. "Thank you."
I turned away without another word.
Behind me, I heard another smack—and a hissed lecture.
The exam hall dwarfed even the surrounding buildings.
Wide stone steps led up to an open plaza where banners from every major magic academy fluttered in the wind.
So many.
More than a hundred.
Each representative stood on a raised platform, their presence heavy with mana and authority.
Uncle Garen let out a low whistle. "That's… a lot of eyes."
I nodded.
This was where paths diverged.
Then the king stepped forward.
The plaza fell silent.
"Look around you," the king said.
His voice wasn't loud—but it carried.
"Some of you were born into power. Some of you walked here with nothing but hope."
He paused.
"Today, that no longer matters."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"This kingdom was not built by bloodlines alone," he continued. "It was built by those who refused to stay small. Those who stood when they were told to kneel."
The air felt heavier.
"You will be tested," the king said. "Broken. Pushed beyond what you believe you can endure."
His gaze hardened.
"So give it everything."
Mana surged.
"Become the shield. The blade. The mind that shapes our future."
He raised his hand.
"Show us."
The banners flared with light.
And the exam began.