The hall was silent.
Too silent.
Rows of students stood in formation, their attention fixed on the platform ahead. At its center stood a towering crystal—clear, radiant, pulsing faintly with energy.
Arthur Frederick watched it without expression.
So this is how they measure strength…
"In Alora," the instructor began, his voice firm and authoritative, "power is not guessed. It is measured."
He gestured toward the crystal.
"This is a System Conduit. It evaluates your mana, affinity, and potential. Your rank will determine your standing within the academy… and beyond."
A pause.
"Remember this well—your rank defines your future."
A faint murmur spread across the hall.
Nobles straightened.
Confident.
Expectant.
Arthur remained still.
Rank defines your future…
A meaningless statement.
At least to him.
"Step forward one by one."
The first student approached.
A tall noble with an air of confidence placed his hand on the crystal.
Light erupted.
Blue.
Bright.
Stable.
"B-Rank. Water Affinity."
Nods of approval followed.
Not bad.
Respectable.
One after another, students stepped forward.
C-Rank.
B-Rank.
Occasionally… A-Rank.
Each result was met with whispers, judgment, admiration.
Arthur observed quietly.
Patterns formed.
Consistency.
Control.
Predictability.
The System categorizes them perfectly.
Then—
"Arthur Frederick."
Silence.
Complete silence.
All eyes turned.
He stepped forward.
Calm.
Unbothered.
The crystal stood before him, humming faintly.
Waiting.
Arthur stared at it for a moment.
Let's see…
He placed his hand on the surface.
Nothing happened.
A second passed.
Then another.
A faint flicker.
The crystal trembled.
"…What?" someone whispered.
The light that emerged wasn't stable.
It shifted.
Blue.
Red.
Black.
Then—
It cracked.
A sharp sound echoed through the hall.
The crystal pulsed violently, as if rejecting what it was trying to read. Symbols flickered wildly across its surface, forming and breaking apart faster than the eye could follow.
Arthur didn't move.
It can't process me.
Then—
Everything stopped.
The light vanished.
The crystal dimmed.
And the result appeared.
"ERROR."
Silence.
No whispers.
No movement.
Just confusion.
Shock.
"That's… impossible," the instructor muttered.
Arthur slowly removed his hand.
Behind him, the nobles stared.
Not with arrogance this time.
But uncertainty.
Fear.
"What is he…?" someone whispered.
Arthur turned away from the crystal.
Unbothered.
Unchanged.
A rank…?
A faint smile touched his lips.
Cold.
Amused.
"They can keep it."
High above, beyond the reach of the academy…
Something shifted.
Interest.
Recognition.
The System had failed to define him.
And that alone…
Made him dangerous.