Glow with the Flow

Ardiel had already finished both the Physical and Aptitude tests, earning remarkable praise from the instructors. Even though his performance in the Aptitude test fell slightly short of his own high expectations, he still secured a top position among those who had taken the test before him.

Now, only the Sorting Test remains. This was his final hurdle, where his mana ring or mana core would be evaluated to determine his talent grade, which would still follow the Tier system.

In this world, talent was everything. A magister with low talent could only advance so far, trapped at a certain rank unless they possessed the rare potential to break free from the limits of their natural ability.

Institutions placed immense value on talent because it predicted how far someone could go. Those with high talent were given the most attention and resources, leaving the rest to struggle in the shadows. This is where discrimination thrives, where society values your talent more than your potential, barely anyone would pay attention to a late bloomer who has achieved something years behind compared to those who have achieved the same milestone a decade earlier from them.

Ardiel wasn't least bothered by this as he himself was confident in this aspect. He knew there wasn't anything he was lacking, that's what Elder Alentor had instilled in him back when they were still training. His ability to adapt and respond in situations was remarkable.

As they entered a smaller room—far more modest than the room used for the Physical test. The room was stark, save for the two enormous transparent mana crystals that glowed faintly at the center. Windows lined the walls, and behind the glass, a few spectators observed with keen interest, their eyes sharp as they tracked Ardiel's every move. Among them were Orfen and Rodan, both watching intently.

For a moment, Ardiel's usual confidence faltered. He felt the weight of their stares, the scrutiny. It was a strange contrast to the bravado he'd shown during the earlier tests, and it made him feel... shy. But only for a moment.

"These crystals are designed to evaluate both mana circles and mana cores," Airo, the blue-haired magister in charge of the Sorting Test, explained. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, the lenses catching the light.

"The crystal will glow differently based on your talent grade," Airo continued, his voice smooth but precise. "Red indicates Tier 1, orange is Tier 2, yellow is Tier 3, emerald is Tier 4, and cyan is Tier 5. The color coding follows the principle of mana core rankings"

Ardiel nodded, stepping forward with deliberate calm. He set his expectations high, confident that he would achieve Tier 5. Slowly, almost ceremonially, he raised his left hand and placed it on the cold, hard surface of the left crystal. The coolness of the crystal sent a shiver up his arm.

As soon as his hand made contact, his mana circle activated, spinning into motion as if preparing to cast a spell. The sensation was sudden, electric—his mana, nestled in his heart, surged toward his arm, flowing out of his hand and into the crystal. The crystal's pull was relentless, draining his mana with a hunger that surprised him. He could feel his energy slipping away, faster and faster.

The crystal responded in kind. First, it glowed a deep, ominous red, then began to shift, the color swirling like molten lava. As the crystal fed on more of his mana, the glow transitioned from red to a reddish-orange, then to a bright, fiery orange. Ardiel could feel the strain, but he gritted his teeth and held on, watching as the glow moved through yellow, then a vibrant emerald, until it finally settled on cyan, the highest tier.

A collective gasp rippled through the instructors from the magister department. Excitement buzzed in the air as they realized they had another Tier 5 student. But across the room, the instructors from the auror department exchanged uneasy glances. Their department was currently experiencing a decline, having only one Tier 5 first-year student this academic year, and Ardiel's success left a bitter taste in their mouths.

As the room buzzed with anticipation, Ardiel's voice cut through the noise like a whisper carried on the wind.

"Can I also take the Sorting Test for my mana core?"

For a moment, there was silence—an almost eerie stillness.

"Ha?" Airo's confusion was evident, his usually calm demeanor faltering. The magister's brows knitted together, and he stared at Ardiel as if trying to decipher a particularly tricky riddle.

Was this some kind of joke? Ardiel had been endorsed as a magister through a special admission letter. What was he playing at?

"What do you mean?" Airo finally asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Oh, I forgot to mention—I also have a mana core," Ardiel said, his tone light and almost playful, as if he were sharing a casual observation rather than dropping a bombshell. He watched with a hint of amusement as the instructors' eyes widened, their jaws slack with shock.

"EH!?" The collective exclamation echoed through the room, bouncing off the walls as the realization sank in.

"You better not be joking, boy," growled a bearded man who exudes authority, his voice a deep rumble that vibrated through the room. His eyes narrowed, dark and piercing, as he fixed Ardiel with a stare that could cut through steel. As one of the top figures in the auror department, he did not take kindly to such unexpected revelations, it came to him like an insult.

"I'm not joking," Ardiel replied, his voice steady and confident. Without missing a beat, he placed his other hand on the right crystal, the smooth surface cool under his palm, while keeping the first on the left.

This time, he consciously directed the mana from his core to his right hand, letting it flow into the crystal like a steady river. The crystal absorbed the energy eagerly, and Ardiel could feel the draining sensation intensify as both crystals pulled at his reserves. He didn't care. In fact, he welcomed it. He wanted to leave an impression, something they would remember.

He pushed his mana circle and core to their limits, driving the mana out faster. The crystal for his mana core glowed from red to cyan at an even quicker pace than the first, but it didn't stop there.

Both crystals deepened in hue, the colors darkening until they hovered on the edge between cyan and blue, a shade so intense it seemed almost unreal.

The instructors, who had been frozen in disbelief, suddenly came to life. They couldn't stay in the spectating room any longer. One by one, they stormed into the testing room, their faces etched with a mixture of shock, awe, and something close to fear. They looked at Ardiel as if he were some rare, dangerous creature—something powerful and unpredictable.

Ardiel's strength began to wane, his knees trembling as the last of his mana was drained from him. His vision blurred, and he stumbled, his legs buckling. Airo, quick on his feet, lunged forward and caught him.

"Holy mother of magic! It's true!" one of the magister instructors gasped, his voice trembling with excitement as he examined both crystals. His hands shook as he gestured for the others to come closer.

"Ardiel Dragonheart, is it?" a petite woman with short brown hair and almond-shaped eyes stepped forward, her gaze intense and sparkling with curiosity. She moved with a kind of controlled energy, like a cat stalking its prey. "Are you related to Eileen?"

"Are you Yuran's brother?" a middle-aged man with a powerful build demanded, his voice rough as he shoved the woman aside, too eager to wait his turn.

"Dear instructors, please, have some dignity and compose yourselves," an authoritative voice cut through the commotion like a knife, bringing the chaos to an abrupt halt.

The white-haired, bearded man who spoke didn't need to raise his voice to command attention. His presence alone was enough. Clad in a white cloak trimmed with blue lines, he radiated authority. It was Orfen, the Warden who had greeted Ardiel earlier.

"You're quite the cunning boy. Would you like to say something, Student Ardiel?" he asked, his lips curling into a smile that was more knowing than kind. Even his eyes, usually hard and unreadable, softened into a warm arc.

Ardiel, still slightly winded, managed a smile of his own. "I forgot to mention that I have both a mana circle and a mana core," he began, his tone light, almost apologetic. "But I didn't think it was necessary to clarify earlier since no one asked. I figured Instructor Rodan would have known after the Physical test." He turned his gaze to Rodan, who had been silently observing the entire exchange with a calm, inscrutable expression.

"You knew, didn't you?" the petite woman demanded, her voice sharp as she rounded on Rodan, her hands clenched into fists.

Rodan shrugged, his lips curling into a mischievous grin. "I knew," he admitted, his voice rich with amusement. "But I thought it would be interesting to see your reactions. So I lured you all here. It's lunch break anyway, and—tadah! I got what I wanted." He laughed, a deep, hearty sound that filled the room.

"So, does this mean I pass the test?" Ardiel asked, cutting through the laughter with his directness.

"Pass? You nearly gave us all a heart attack! You might as well skip to the Second Year!" the petite woman exclaimed, her voice a mix of exasperation and a bit of annoyance.

"Give us some time to discuss your test results. Everyone, please exit the room. The test instructors and I still have things to do," Airo instructed, shooing away the other instructors from the Admission process before calling on Rodan, Orfen, and the other instructor who had administered the Aptitude test.

Ardiel was then assisted back to the lobby of the Admission building, where he patiently waited for his results while restoring his drained mana.