In the competition hall, a stone pillar stood. At the center of said pillar was affixed an orb and at the top of it, burnt wood and ashes.
It was a Pshi-gate measurement tool called the Akilla, Pillar of Pshi.
This was the main focus for the first event in the competition, Pshi-gate Development.
"Hey, Pres, so what's the plan again here?" Louise asked her Habiki.
"There is no plan; this is merely getting the measure of the competition. After all, it relies on our Pshi gate development and that's not suddenly going to change, yes?" she replied.
"Correct. And also given it's a measure of our Pshi-gate development ratios + the prodigy bonus, our best bet of ranking high in this event relies heavily on the president." Jhun said, fixing his lenses once more.
"If she can better the likes of Ishan and Vincent, there's a high chance we clinch 2nd place. Of course, the ideal would be to beat Hana's score," he continued.
Then the examiner for the event walked to the pillar, holding a booklet.
"The rules are as follows for this event," he started explaining how the event would work.
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Pshi gate development refers to our mastery of the spirits governing our magical essence. A higher mastery equates to greater magical ability. Throughout our history, we've deciphered that there exist 10 gates we can attain, with the final gate only unlockable by the King of Spirits.
This event will measure your mastery of Pshi, and here are this year's score allocations.
Pshi gate 5 - 10 points
Pshi gate 6 - 17 points
Pshi gate 7 lower tier - 24 points
Pshi gate 7 upper tier - 35 points
Pshi gate 8 lower tier - 50 points
Pshi gate 8 upper tier - 80 points
Pshi gate 9 - 150 points.
Pshi gate 10 - 1000 points.
Naturally, you are not qualified to be a sage potential if your gate is lower than 5.
When you approach the Akilla's orb, expose it to your magical essence. The fire that lits up in the pillar wood represents your gate.
To keep things interesting, the prodigies will go last for each team, and we shall go in this order: Listeria team -> West Allura Team -> East Allura team -> Sorusha Team and the reverse is true for the prodigies.
Your overall team score shall determine your ranking, with the prodigy bonus being x4 of the prodigy's score.
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The examiner gave a pause to let the rules sink in.
"(A prodigy's score is super important to tip the scales. So much one Pshi gate tier above can make a significant difference in the overall standings.)" Habiki clenched her fist in anticipation.
"(I know the plan is 2nd place until the combat party event, but if we can win them all, that's what I shall be gunning for)"
Hana noticed Habiki's resolve and smiled. So did her friend Marill.
"It seems your rival is eager to get started, Hana. Will you rise to the challenge?" Marill asked.
"Rise to the challenge, you say. Where I'm standing, she is still a few tiers below the precipice upon which I gaze," Hana said, returning to her diary.
Marill chuckled and turned her attention back to the examiner.
"Alright, since no questions came up, let us begin. Listeria team, you're up."
Habiki turned to her team and nodded. "Let's do this. Louise, you open up. Maya, Jhun, Bisky follow."
Louise jumped forward, "ALRIGHT! LET'S DO THIS!!"
She ran up cheerfully to the stone pillar, amusing an already excited crowd.
"Alright, Akilla, give me your best shot!" she said, placing her hand on the orb and focusing.
After a short while of magical circulation, the pillar's wood caught on fire, a bluish flame.
"Blue flame is Pshi gate - 6, Listeria +17 points," the examiner recorded.
The crowd cheered as Louise proudly returned to her team, and so did the other participating teams.
"Hehee, my hard work paid off, I have escaped gate 5 permanently," she said, giggling.
"Good job, Louise, proud of you," Maya said, rubbing her hair before making her way to the pillar.
"(I've come this far, Naki, just a short while longer)." She placed her hand on the orb.
Maya's essence revealed a violet flame.
The crowd was amazed, she looked so lean, they didn't expect her to pack a pshi gate 7 punch, albeit lower tier.
"Maya takes Listeria to 41 points with a Pshi-gate 7 lower tier display!" the examiner announced and recorded.
The members of the other teams discussed among each other, the potential of Maya. Pshi gate 7 was no small feat.
Then Maya returned to her team, and Habiki nodded to commend her efforts.
"You made the breakthrough, Maya, good," she commented.
"All thanks to your mentorship, Habi," she smiled and turned to Jhun.
"Humph!" he fixed his lens and approached the pillar.
Jhun grits his teeth in frustration, having learned that his Pshi gate was the same as Maya's.
"(darn it...failed to make the breakthrough huh...)"
The crowd cheered even louder, 2 members of Listeria's team had violet displays. That's already tilting the favorites scale in their favor.
The teams were wary.
"Whoa whoa Hana, have Listeria become so strong already? If I recall majority of them were Pshi gate 5s the last time we competed!" Rosh asked his prodigy.
"Who can say, perhaps they started taking their lessons seriously after the humiliating defeat they suffered against us." she replied, still oozing confidence.
Then it was time for Bisky to approach Akilla.
As she reached the pillar, her mind recalled a message she received from Naki.
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They were atop the roof once again. Naki was gazing down at the academy with her.
"I have a question, Bisky. Apart from me, do any others know of your true Pshi gate development?"
"Nope. Well...Habiki is more or less the only one who knows anything about my Pshi gate, and as far as she's concerned, I'm still Pshi gate 6."
"So she's unaware of the progress you've made, added to your vermilion ring enhancements?"
"Yup. Why? Is my gate so important for the event?"
"Believe it or not, it could make all the difference. During the first event, I want you to do this"
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Her recollection ended there as she placed her hand on the orb.
"(Ah teach, your mind is a treasure. This plan should be fun.)"
The crowd cheered softly to the display she put up. It was a bluish flame, same as Louise.
The other party members, particularly from Hana's team were amused by Bisky's weak display.
"(So...you still haven't made the breakthrough, Bi)" thought Habiki as she watched Bisky returning back to the team.
Maya ran up to her to comfort, "No-not bad Bisky. Don't feel down, Habi will surely win us 2nd place," she said cheerily.
"Hey, why is everyone making it seem like a bad thing! I was also gate 6 remember!!" Louise complained.
"Hahaha, but that's the difference, Louise. It is expected of ya. From me...tsk tsk, not so much" Bisky didn't let it get to her. It was all part of her plan after all.
"(Good, this is exactly the reception I was hoping to get. With this, my true abilities remain hidden, preserved for the deciding event.)" She smiled.
Then the examiner announced Listeria's team's final score.
"With Bisky's display, Listeria moves up to 82 points, up next - West Allura."
Hana closed her diary and turned to her teammates.
"Alright, ladies first, boys. You can go play in your little corner until it's time," she addressed Rosh and Primah.
"Aw, no fun! oh well! it is what it is. Good luck, Marill, Angel," Rosh loudly said.
The girls nodded, and then Angel pushed her hair back and stepped up to kick things off for West Allura.
Angel displayed gate 7 - lower tier, right off the bat. Marill followed with the same.
The crowd was in awe. The favorite banner was already swaying back to the one team everyone expects greatness from.
Hana smiled proudly as Rosh and Primah matched the girls; they all scored 24 points, taking West Allura's tally up to 96 points, placing them comfortably first.
This got the rest of the competition on very high alert, as all members of West Allura were top tier, and that is without their prodigy chipping in.
Vincent, Ishan, and Habiki, from the looks on their faces, were well aware their work was cut out if they were to win a favorable standing for their teams.