Chapter 22 (mana assessment)

Note: tier = circle

Professor Leo with his arms crossed behind his back, standing on the platform, addressing the prospective students. "Note, you'll undergo two trials. First is the mana examination. Secondly, mental strength evaluation. Those who pass these two trials will get to join the academy, and don't forget these are just the basics. Six months later, you will all face the qualification examination. Students who fail will have admission revoked, while those that successfully pass will be promoted to the senior section, which is the advance class. Further information will be passed across during your class activities. That's all for now."

"Now I will examine each of you one by one to access your mana and tier level." He paused and pulled out the list containing their names. "Luthor Victoria." A young lady with long white hair, height 5.2 feet, and skin as white as snow. Climbed the stage. He walked towards the crystal tablet and placed her hands upon it. The crystal tablet glowed, showing an icy blue with an undertone of glacial white, while 3 stars illuminated beside it. "Frozen Aura, tier three. Qualified," Professor Leo declared, turning to the other side of the stage. "Please move over there." He pointed at the area opposite the other students.

Roars erupted from the crowd. "As expected of the only daughter of the Luthor clan." "There is rumour about her swordsmanship too."

 "Next on the list is Dominic Griffin; please come on stage." A young man with deep blue hair and a body physique similar to Mark strided onto the stage. He walked towards the crystal tablet, placing his hand on it. The crystal tablet glowed an aquamarine blue with streaks of translucent silver and three stars illuminated beside it. "Crystal Aura, tier three. Qualified." He walked towards Mark, his shoulder raised with pride, and stepped down the stage.

"Leif Hunter." Professor Leo announced. A young man with sparkling sliver short hair, height 5.5 feet, climbed the stage as others did and placed his hand on the crystal tablet. A pale grey with wisps of silvery mist illuminated on the crystal tablet, with 3 stars shining brightly beside it. "Vapour Aura, tier three. Qualified." He stepped down the stage. 

Meanwhile, in the sea of students, Drake watched Griffin's action towards Mark and turned to Mark. "Why did he act that way towards you?" Drake curiously asked. "Hum, about that. Both our clans are rivals since we both use fists. He came here to brag about his achievement. "Mark replied. They both turned their attention back at the examiner.

"Victor Freya, please come up to check your mana status." Professor Leo instructed. A young lady with pale blue hair, height 5.0 feet, hesitantly walked onto the stage. She placed her hand upon the crystal tablet and glowed with soft aqua with a highlight of a luminous pearl and three stars illuminated beside it. "Healing water, Aura, Tier 3. Qualified. You can step down, please." The examiner instructed, She stepped down from the stage as instructed.

Back to Drake and Mark. "But I think all healer mages use magic. Why aura?" Drake enquired, his eyebrows furrowed as he locked eyes with Mark. "That's how it's always been in the Victor family. They awakened like other knights, but they all became healer mages. They also have a rival, and one of their members is here. Her name is..." He trailed off, his words synchronised along with the instructor's voice.

"Sebastian Harper." Drake turned back to the instructor and watched as a confident young lady with long blue hair with two white hair stripes along her side hair bounced on the stage towards the crystal tablet. As she made contact, a vibrant combalt blue with a white crashing streak reflected, with 3 stars illuminated its side. "Protective healing water mana. Tier 3. Qualified." She leaped from the stage, a prideful grin on her face.

 "Next on the list is Ronan Smith." The instructor announced. A young boy with a height of 5.3 feet, his face furrowed, lips tightened, and eyes narrowed, climbed the stage. He moved directly to the crystal tablet and placed his hand on it. Instantly, slant cracks appeared all over the crystal tablet, radiating sinister vibes. Everywhere became silent as everyone gazed fixed at the unexplained scene.

A man in his sixties, with white long hair and beards around his chin, watching from a blind spot one of the faculty of the academy, also found himself surprised by the sight. But the most shocking part is that 3 stars lit up at the side of the crystal tablet. Ronan turned to the stunned instructor. "Please, will you call out the results?" He said. arrogance dripped out of his mouth. "Oh yeah. Mana, unknown. Tier 3. Qualified." Professor Leo announced. Ronan strided confidently towards Drake's position, smirking at him.

This sent chills down Drake's spine and left him with an unease feeling. "Why did he appear in my sight and smirk?" Drake murmured. "He's a narcissist who loves to seek attention. You became his target since you came here, after grabbing all the spotlight. You don't need to take it seriously. He's widely known for that." Mark tried to brush off the incident from Drake's mind when he heard a call.

"Mark fist." The instructor shouted. Mark turned to Drake. "I'm leaving for the text." And left. He walked towards the crystal tablet. Placed his hand. A deep sea green with a ripped glowing teal illuminated from the crystal, and beside it, 3 stars appeared. "Torrential Aura. Tier 3. Qualified." The examiner declared. Mark walked down the platform. 

Several students were called, one after the other; some passed or barely passed while others failed. "Fifth to the last on the list. Alexander Drake."Drake, like the others, moved towards the crystal tablet. He placed his hands on it. A sky blue,illuminated with soft white highlights, emanated from the crystal, revealing three stars beside the crystal tablet.

The cracks around the crystal tablet instantly mended, emitting subtly dominant vibes, which only the instructor noticed,but the colour was strange, making everyone puzzled as to what aura or mana it is. Loud roar erupted from the crowds. "What kind of mana or aura is that?" "It may be a sign of low mana affinity for water." Despite the uncertainty, everyone present agreed on one thing. The colour signified "healer mana' since it repaired the crystal tablet.