The roar of the testing grounds remained constant. Examinees across the field displayed their talents before the proctors and the crowd watching from behind the barriers. The training fields, divided into multiple zones, echoed with the clash of spells, the ring of metal, and gasps of awe.
Fiona Elvareth stood calmly at the center of her assigned zone. Even as murmurs still fluttered about her mysterious ability to command objects with spoken words, the test was not yet over. Several more mechanical dummies remained standing, and she had to defeat them all.
After her earlier command to "Shatter" brought down the first dummy with a mere pebble, the audience had questioned if it was coincidence or trickery. But as the test progressed, the dummies began to adapt. They dodged anything she threw, avoiding contact entirely.
Fiona's eyes narrowed. She raised her hand and began weaving basic and advanced spells into her command.
A faint ember appeared around the pebble in her palm.
"Magic Bomb,"
She whispered the spell, then immediately added:
"Never miss."
The previously ordinary stone became a guided explosive. The dummies, unable to anticipate such precise attacks, could no longer dodge.
One by one, fiery impacts hit their weak spots. Controlled bursts of mana-infused shrapnel tore the targets apart with pinpoint accuracy.
As the final dummy fell, silence gripped the field.
Then came the applause—a wave of claps and astonished murmurs.
"Who is she...? How can she turn pebbles into lethal weapons?"
Even Kairos Arkelis, watching from afar, felt a twinge of awe. Something about her captivated him—a pull he couldn't name.
Then, it was his turn.
Kairos stepped into the arena with quiet steps. His face calm, no sign of excitement or anxiety. His eyes glinted with fierce focus.
As the signal rang, the first dummy lunged at him.
Kairos moved like a shadow. With swift and clean thrusts from his spear, he dismantled the enemy with fluid grace. His body danced between strikes, every movement a balance of strength, timing, and efficiency.
He didn't rely on brute force—he anticipated, adapted, and overwhelmed.
Within two minutes, all ten dummies lay in ruins.
The crowd was stunned before bursting into thunderous applause.
But the test wasn't over.
A proctor stepped forward and whispered something to Kairos before turning to the main platform.
The headmaster himself had descended.
"Kairos Arkelis," he said in a calm yet commanding tone, "may I personally test your ability?"
Kairos nodded without hesitation.
They stood face to face. No spells. No full power. Just martial prowess and intent.
Their clash began swiftly.
The headmaster moved with expert precision, his strikes fast and powerful—but Kairos evaded every attack. His reflexes were sharp as lightning. His counters were clean and disciplined. It was like he saw the future.
Each motion from Kairos was born not only from talent but from a deep well of experience, as if he'd fought through countless real battles.
After a brief exchange, the two paused.
"That concludes the test," the headmaster said with a faint smile.
"Your potential is... extraordinary. I now understand what they meant by 'prodigy.' Honestly, even without this academy, your brilliance would shine. What made you come here, if I may ask?"
"I don't know," Kairos replied. "Maybe I'm just looking for something new."
"Then I hope you find what you're looking for. Good luck."
The announcement of rankings soon followed.
Kairos Arkelis — 1st Place.
Fiona Elvareth — 2nd Place.
After Kairos read the results and turned to leave, Fiona approached him with a gentle smile.
"I'm not surprised," she said. "You knew you'd pass, didn't you?"
Her voice held no sarcasm—only sincerity.
Kairos glanced at her and replied softly, "...Maybe."
He gave a slight nod and walked off.
Fiona watched his back and let out a soft chuckle.
"He's... kind of cute."
She tightened her hand into a gentle fist.
'I'll get closer to him. Definitely.'
The next day — First Day of Class
Kairos arrived early. He sat alone in the vast classroom. One by one, others entered—and just as always, they avoided sitting near him.
He was used to it. But deep down, it still felt... empty.
The door opened again.
Fiona stepped in, scanned the room, and saw him.
Without hesitation, she walked over and sat beside him.
She turned and asked softly, "Is it alright if I sit here?"
Kairos nodded slightly. He wanted to respond more... but didn't know how.
Fiona tried to spark a conversation, but Kairos replied only briefly. It wasn't rudeness—just unfamiliarity. He wasn't used to talking to anyone, much less someone like her.
Her heart wavered.
'Was I too forward? Is he uncomfortable with me already?'
At the same time, Kairos wondered:
'Is she forcing herself to sit next to me? Just so no one else has to?'
He turned to her and said quietly, "You can sit somewhere else if you'd prefer... I won't mind."
Fiona paused, startled.
'He's... worried about me?' she thought.
She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and smiled warmly.
"No, I want to sit here. I want to get to know you better."
The words weren't flirtatious. They were honest.
Kairos stared at her for a moment, then gave a small smile.
"...Thank you. It's nice to meet you."
The air around them began to soften. Others in the room noticed. They saw Kairos not as a monster, but as a boy who could smile.
Some students began approaching, cautiously.
Kairos didn't turn them away. He answered simply, but genuinely.
Fiona, watching from beside him, smiled gently.
'Yes,' she thought, 'this is the beginning of everything.'