Rank A

Xyra Eldarion hadn't recognized me.

I couldn't believe my luck. After the banquet incident an event I was certain had burned itself into her icy soul I'd fully expected her to glare daggers at me or make a snide comment about "revenge" the moment she saw me. But she didn't even spare me a second glance.

Maybe she forgot! I thought, feeling an absurd amount of relief. Or maybe… maybe she's too busy being her amazing, arrogant self to care about me anymore!

I stole a glance at her from across the classroom, my heart doing a weird little flip when her sharp blue eyes scanned the room with practiced disinterest.

She was breathtaking. Her posture was perfect, her expression cold and commanding, and that slight smirk on her lips practically screamed confidence. I loved every bit of it, and it took everything in me not to grin like an idiot.

Focus, Ren, I told myself. Keep your distance. No fangirling. You've already embarrassed yourself enough for a lifetime.

I turned my attention to the other students. Most of the desks had filled by now, a motley assortment of students chatting quietly or sizing each other up.

Next to me was a girl who couldn't stop fidgeting, her slender fingers drumming rhythmically against the desk.

She was a vampire, no doubt about it her pale skin almost glowed, her long black hair shimmered like polished obsidian, and her crimson eyes were sharp and unsettling.

She wore the skirt version of the uniform, but it hung crookedly, as though she'd thrown it on in a hurry.

What really made her stand out, though, was her attitude. She was humming softly under her breath, her lips curved in a sly grin as though she was privy to some private joke.

Occasionally, she glanced at the students around her with a look of detached amusement, her fangs peeking through when she smiled.

"You're staring," she said suddenly, turning her sharp gaze on me.

I blinked. "Oh. Uh, sorry."

"Don't apologize," she said with a shrug, leaning back in her chair. "I'm used to it. Vampires, you know. Everyone's curious."

Before I could reply, I noticed some of the other girls whispering and glancing at me. It didn't take long to figure out why. Their eyes kept darting to my pants.

I straightened in my seat, crossing one leg over the other. Yeah, I'm wearing pants. So what?

The whispers didn't bother me. If anything, they made me sit a little taller. The pants were practical, comfortable, and absolutely the right choice.

The teacher cleared her throat, silencing the chatter as she stepped to the front of the room. Her presence was commanding, her golden eyes scanning the class with the intensity of a hawk.

"Welcome to Lunaris Academy," she began, her voice smooth but firm.

"You are here because you have been deemed worthy of honing your magical abilities and learning to harness your potential. This year will not be easy. You will be challenged academically, physically, and magically. But for those of you who persevere, the rewards will be great."

Her gaze lingered on each student as though she were assessing their worth right then and there. I swallowed hard when her eyes met mine, but she moved on without a word.

"I am Professor Serathis," she continued, "and I will be your instructor for Magical Fundamentals. This year, we will cover everything from spell control to magical theory. By the end of this course, you should have a strong grasp of your abilities and how to apply them in the real world."

She waved her hand, and a glowing crystal appeared on the desk in front of her, floating a few inches above its surface. "But first, we must assess your current magical level."

The room filled with murmurs of curiosity and excitement.

"This crystal will gauge the strength of your magic," Professor Serathis explained. "All you have to do is channel your power into it. The crystal will display your rank, ranging from E, the weakest, to X, the strongest."

To demonstrate, she placed her hand on the crystal. A faint glow emanated from it before a clear "B" appeared in shimmering gold.

The class buzzed with awe.

"That is my current rank," she said. "For reference, most beginners fall within ranks E to C. Anything higher is… unusual."

The crystal dimmed, and she gestured to the first student. "Let us begin. Step forward, state your name, and channel your magic into the crystal."

The first student, a nervous-looking boy with salamander horns, approached. His fire magic flared briefly, and the crystal displayed an "E."

One by one, the students took their turns. A wolf-eared girl managed to summon a small gust of wind, earning another "E."

A half-slime boy with translucent skin used water magic, but his result was the same. Each attempt revealed a variety of magical affinities earth, wind, water, even light but none exceeded rank E.

Finally, it was Xyra Eldarion's turn.

The room seemed to hold its breath as she approached the crystal, her every movement exuding confidence. She placed her hand on it, and a brilliant glow of icy blue magic filled the room.

"D," the crystal displayed.

Xyra's smirk grew. "As expected," she said, her tone dripping with pride. "I am the strongest here, after all. It is only natural for a princess."

I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing at her sheer pettiness. Even with a rank of D, she managed to act as though she were already at the top.

Finally, Professor Serathis called my name.

My heart pounded as I stepped forward, every eye in the room fixed on me. I wasn't sure how much power to use too little and I'd look weak, too much and I'd stand out in all the wrong ways.

Taking a deep breath, I placed my hand on the crystal and let my red flames flicker to life. The heat was familiar, comforting, and I channeled it carefully, trying to find the right balance.

The crystal glowed brightly, shifting through shades of orange and red before stopping on "A."

The room fell silent.

Professor Serathis's expression faltered for the first time, a flicker of discomfort crossing her features. "Ren," she said slowly, "please wait here for a moment. I need to speak with the principal."

I blinked, my hand still hovering over the crystal. "Uh… okay?"

As she left the room, I couldn't help but notice the way Xyra's icy gaze lingered on me. For the first time, I wondered if keeping my head down was going to be as easy as I'd hoped.