The Flux hung over the hills like a whispering veil as Nova Lyris walked up the long path leading to Arclight Institute. Dawn had barely claimed the sky; sunlight and drifting Flux‑particles blended into a soft, dreamlike glow. It felt as if the world itself was breathing.
Nova clutched her bag tightly. Her fingers trembled, though she wasn't sure whether it was nerves or the faint resonance she'd felt since yesterday — a tingling deep in her palm, as if something inside her was trying to wake up.
Maybe I'm imagining it, she thought. Maybe it's nothing.
Ahead of her, Arclight Institute rose from the hilltop: white‑stone towers connected by bridges that seemed to float. Large windows shimmered with reflected Flux‑light. And above everything stood the Central Eye — the tallest tower, where circle evaluations were held. Where every student was judged on their resonance.
Nova swallowed. Today, she would stand there too.
She was fifteen. Far too old to be discovering her Flux‑sensitivity, according to most people. Students usually awakened around age ten. Some even earlier. But Nova? Nothing. Until yesterday, when a tiny spark of light flickered in her hand — and vanished just as quickly.
It had been enough to get her accepted. But not enough to be taken seriously.
She reached the courtyard in front of the main entrance. Students gathered in groups, laughing, chatting, practicing small magic tricks. A boy made a glowing orb dance above his palm. A girl from Emberfall flicked a flame from her fingertips. Two Stoneveil students practiced slow, controlled strikes that made the air tremble.
Nova felt herself shrinking.
"New student?" a voice said beside her.
She turned to see a boy with dark hair and a wide, friendly smile. He wore the gray colors of Stoneveil.
"Uh… yeah," Nova said. "I'm Nova."
"Kael," he replied. "Welcome to the chaos. You look a little… overwhelmed."
Nova laughed awkwardly. "Is it that obvious?"
"You look like you're about to run away."
Before she could answer, a sharp tone echoed across the courtyard. A crystal pillar in the center lit up.
"New students, please proceed to the Flux scanner for your initial circle assessment."
Nova's stomach twisted.
Kael nudged her shoulder. "Don't worry. Everyone starts somewhere."
But that was the problem. Nova didn't know where she was starting. Or if she belonged here at all.
She walked toward the scanner — a large crystal arch pulsing softly. A robed instructor stood beside it.
"Hand in the resonance zone," he said without looking up.
Nova extended her hand. Her heart pounded. What if nothing happened? What if she didn't get a circle at all?
The crystal glowed. A thin line traced around her hand, as if reading her energy.
A moment of silence.
Then:
"Open Circle confirmed."
The words cut deeper than she expected.
Behind her, someone snickered. "Open Circle? At her age?" "That's gonna be a short career."
Nova's cheeks burned. She wanted to turn around, say something, anything — but her voice wouldn't come.
The instructor glanced at her, expressionless. "Next."
She stepped aside, her hand still tingling. The armband she received — a thin, incomplete ring — felt like a stamp of failure.
Kael appeared beside her. His expression wasn't mocking, but concerned. "Hey… it's okay. An Open Circle doesn't mean you don't have potential."
Nova stared at the armband. "It means I can't do anything."
"Or that you're just getting started," Kael said. "And sometimes… those are the most interesting students."
Before Nova could respond, she felt it again — that sharp tingling in her palm. Stronger this time. As if something inside her was pushing upward.
She looked down at her hand.
A spark of light flickered.
Just for a moment.
Bright. Too bright.
And then — as if startled — it vanished.
Nova quickly closed her hand. No one seemed to notice.
But deep inside, she knew: this wasn't normal.
Something was wrong with her resonance.
Or maybe… something was extraordinary.