The Aetherlux Cruiser screeched to a halt in front of Mystic Academy's towering gates, its sleek obsidian frame purring as its mana core powered down with a final thrum.
Lytio didn't wait for Victor to open the door. He stepped out before the engines had fully quieted, his long black coat catching the crisp morning breeze like a scene out of a drama holo. His eyes rose to the sight before him.
Damn.
Mystic Academy was no joke.
White stone spires pierced the sky, engraved with mana-reactive circuits that pulsed faintly under the daylight. Above them, giant holographic banners shimmered with shifting insignias—symbols of Redora's greatest factions, ancient and new. The sheer scale of it all made the academy feel less like a school and more like a monument to power.
Hundreds of students crowded the plaza outside the main gates. All fresh meat like him. You could smell the cocktail of confidence, anxiety, and good cologne from ten meters away. Everyone was dressed to kill—either in high-end academy uniforms or custom family gear designed to subtly scream "I'm important."
Lytio didn't flinch. He wasn't here to impress. He was here to survive.
He scanned the crowd.
The Princess of the Human Kingdom stood to the left, wrapped in layered blue robes, a crystal-forged blade resting on her hip.
Nearby, the Elven Princess leaned against a mana pillar, silver hair cascading like moonlight over her emerald cloak. Not far from her, the twin heirs of the Scar Guild sparred casually with blunt daggers, grinning like they owned the place.
And of course, scattered throughout the crowd were members of the Eight Elite Families—identifiable by their unique aura-embedded accessories and that suffocating sense of entitlement.
A middle-aged staff member stomped over and shoved a tablet and stylus into Lytio's chest. "You're late. Fill this out."
Lytio took the device without a word, casually scrawling his name and details. When done, the tablet pinged and printed a small black stone slab, which floated to his hand.
#1005.
He let out a small breath and moved to a bench near the side of the plaza. The noise of chattering nobles faded into white noise as he leaned back and looked up at the spires.
This is it. The first step toward real power.
---
THE FIRST TEST – KNOWLEDGE
Soon, a sharp chime echoed across the courtyard.
"All examinees! Proceed to your designated halls. Group C, follow the blue trail."
Blue lights lit up beneath Lytio's feet, forming a clear glowing path toward one of the academy's secondary towers. He followed the trail in silence, brushing past others who couldn't help but throw him glances—some curious, others disdainful.
The hall they entered was massive, more like a modern tech facility than a traditional school room. Desks were sleek, black-metal slabs with embedded screens. The walls shimmered with mana-powered monitors cycling through exam instructions.
Each student sat down as thin stylus pens synced automatically with their desks. A soft chime rang out as the words "Exam Start – Knowledge Evaluation" blinked into existence.
The questions began to load.
Lytio blinked.
> Q1: Name the three primary causes of the Second Impact and its geopolitical effects on post-Mana society.
Q2: Describe the shift from Ether to Mana in terms of magical evolution and application.
Q3: Explain the foundation and current uses of Circle Theory in modern magecraft.
Q4 (Bonus): Outline the Talent Rank System and how it affects a student's path in Mystic Academy.
Lytio stared for a second.
The first few questions? Meh. He'd heard his father rant about them more times than he cared to count. He wasn't an academic, but he wasn't dumb either. He began writing, fast but precise. His handwriting was smooth, practiced. His answers weren't perfect, but they were enough to dodge looking like a total dunce.
Then came Q4, the bonus.
Lytio let his pen hover for a second.
Talent ranks, huh…
Everyone knew about them. Hell, the whole world was obsessed with them.
TALENT RANK SYSTEM – REDORA STANDARDIZED SCALE
It wasn't just a formality. It was a verdict on your life. A cosmic "you're either built different or you're background filler."
He started writing:
---
White Rank – Basically talentless. No compatibility with mana. Can't become a mage or warlock. Trash tier.
Yellow Rank – Barely above White. Struggles with mana control. Can work hard and maybe become decent.
Green Rank – Average potential. The most common rank. Teachable, but not special.
Cyan Rank – Above average. Faster mana adaptation. Has potential to reach upper-level combat roles.
Blue Rank – Rare. High compatibility with mana. Often recruited into elite programs.
Violet Rank – Exceptionally rare. Exceptional affinity and control. Often becomes elite-class mages/warlocks.
Purple Rank – Genius level. Considered prodigies. Can master elements others can't even touch.
Red Rank – Extremely rare. Usually one in ten million. Considered national treasures.
Gray Rank – ??? Unknown. Rarely ever seen. Most believe it's a myth.
---
Lytio smirked.
He didn't write that last line for the examiner. That was for himself.
Gray Rank, huh. Must be nice to be born broken.
He tapped the final submit button. The screen blinked twice before dimming.
Done.
Now all that was left was waiting for results.
---
Minutes later, a giant holographic leaderboard flickered into life above the main stage.
Names scrolled. Ranks locked in.
Lytio Tempest – Rank 3.
Top 5%.
A few heads turned.
He didn't even flinch. Just leaned back and stretched.
Not bad. For someone who didn't study at all.
A loud voice rang through the room.
"Top 500, proceed to the next stage. The rest… thanks for trying."
Harsh. Brutal. Efficient.
Just the way Mystic Academy rolled.