The courtyard filled slowly.
Students arrived in groups and alone, some walking with quiet confidence, others glancing around with the uncertain expressions of people who had never been to Lightstar Academy before. The uniform was everywhere now—black button-up shirts, red and black ties, red coats, white gloves. The boys wore white pants and black shoes; the girls wore black pleated skirts, white stockings, and black shoes. A few wore casual clothing, but most had already changed into the academy's dress code.
Klen stood with Lyra, Marna, Rosalie, and Hil near the edge of the courtyard. They had found a spot with a good view of the main building, where a raised platform had been prepared. An instructor stood there already, a middle-aged man with sharp features and a calm, authoritative presence. He was watching the crowd gather, his hands clasped behind his back.
More students arrived. The courtyard gradually grew fuller, the quiet murmur of conversation rising and falling like a tide. Klen estimated there were at least a hundred applicants present—perhaps more. They came from different backgrounds, different kingdoms, different walks of life. Some wore the fine clothing of nobles; others wore simpler garments that spoke of common origins.
"It's quite a crowd," Marna observed.
"Lightstar accepts students from across the continent," Hil said. "This is likely only a fraction of the total applicants."
Lyra watched the gathering students with bright eyes. "I wonder what they're all like. What kind of people come here?"
"All kinds," Rosalie said quietly. "The talented. The ambitious. The curious. And those who simply have nowhere else to go."
Klen glanced at her.
She smiled.
"I have read a great deal about this place. But reading and seeing are different things."
Before anyone could respond, the instructor on the platform raised his hand.
The courtyard fell silent.
"Good afternoon," the instructor said. His voice carried easily across the space, clear and measured. "I am Instructor Aldren. I will be overseeing your application process."
He paused, letting his gaze move across the gathered applicants.
"Welcome to Lightstar Academy."
---
"Instructor Aldren," Marna murmured. "He seems..."
"Official," Lyra finished.
Klen said nothing. He simply watched.
Instructor Aldren began to speak.
"Before we proceed, I will explain what Lightstar Academy is, why it exists, and what we expect from you. Some of you may already know this. Others may not. Either way, listen carefully, because this information is important."
He clasped his hands behind his back.
"Magic, as a developed field of study, is relatively young. Only about a century has passed since the first organized attempts to understand and teach magic as a discipline. Before that, knowledge of magic was scattered, fragmented, often lost entirely. Those who wielded it did so through instinct, tradition, or sheer luck. There was no system. No structure. No way to pass knowledge reliably from one generation to the next."
He paused.
"That changed when the first magical academies were founded. Lightstar Academy was among them. We were established to bring order to chaos—to create a place where magic could be studied, understood, and taught safely. A place where the next generation could learn not just how to use magic, but why it works, how it should be used, and what responsibilities come with that knowledge."
His voice remained calm, but there was weight behind his words.
"Lightstar Academy exists to produce capable, responsible magic users. We do not seek power for its own sake. We do not train weapons. We train people—people who can think, adapt, and make decisions that will shape the future. That is our purpose."
He let the words settle.
"Now," he continued, "let me explain the rules and expectations."
---
"The rules are simple."
Instructor Aldren raised a hand and began counting off on his fingers.
"First—students are expected to attend all classes and examinations. Absence without valid reason will not be tolerated."
"Second—students must maintain proper conduct at all times. This includes respecting instructors, fellow students, and academy property. Fighting outside of designated training areas is prohibited. Disorderly behavior will result in disciplinary action."
"Third—students are not permitted to leave academy grounds without authorization. The academy is your home for the duration of your education. You will remain here."
"Fourth—the use of magic outside of supervised environments is strictly regulated. You will learn more about this in your classes. For now, understand that unauthorized magic use will have consequences."
"Fifth—students are expected to maintain their physical and mental health. The academy provides resources for this. Do not neglect yourselves."
He lowered his hand.
"These rules exist for your safety and the safety of those around you. Follow them, and you will have a productive, rewarding experience here. Break them, and you will face the consequences."
---
"Now," Instructor Aldren said, "we come to the main subject—the entrance examination."
He paused.
"The entrance examination is not a single test. It consists of several phases, each designed to evaluate different aspects of your suitability for admission to Lightstar Academy. You will complete all phases before a final decision is made regarding your acceptance."
He raised a hand and began to list them.
"The first phase is the background check. The academy will examine your identity, your origin, your background, and any relevant history. This is to ensure that we know who you are and where you come from. It is not intended to be intrusive—simply necessary."
"The second phase is the eligibility check. The academy will confirm whether you meet the basic requirements for admission. These requirements include age, prior education, and general readiness for the academy's curriculum."
"The third phase consists of physical and mental checks. Your physical condition and mental state will be examined. This is not about combat strength. Lightstar does not care how well you can fight—not at this stage. We care about whether you are healthy enough, stable enough, and prepared enough to handle the demands of magical education."
"The fourth phase is mana exposure compatibility. This is a critical part of the examination. Studying magic requires the ability to tolerate and interact with mana safely. We will test how your body and mind respond to mana exposure. Some of you will find this uncomfortable. That is expected. What matters is how you react and whether your body is capable of adapting."
"The fifth phase is practical skills. Your practical abilities will be tested. Combat is one part of this—but it is not the only useful skill. Depending on your background and training, other practical abilities may also be evaluated. Lightstar values competence in many forms."
"The sixth and final phase is the interview. You will meet with an instructor who will ask you questions about yourself, your goals, your reasons for applying to Lightstar Academy. This is your opportunity to speak for yourself. It is also our opportunity to assess whether you are a good fit for this institution."
He lowered his hand.
"You will complete all phases. There will be no exceptions."
---
"Some of you may be nervous," Instructor Aldren said. "That is natural. But understand this—the examination is not designed to fail you. It is designed to determine whether Lightstar Academy is the right place for you. If you are here, it is because someone believed you had potential. Now it is your turn to prove them right."
He paused.
"The application ceremony will officially begin shortly. You will be assigned to examination groups and given further instructions at that time."
He raised his hand.
"But first—a small celebration."
---
The sky above the academy erupted.
Fireworks burst across the air in showers of color—red and gold and silver and blue, exploding against the pale afternoon sky like blossoms opening in fast motion. The sound was sharp but distant, a series of soft booms that rolled across the courtyard.
The applicants looked up.
Some gasped. Others smiled. A few simply stared, their expressions caught somewhere between wonder and disbelief.
"It's beautiful," Lyra breathed.
Klen watched the display in silence. He had seen fireworks before—during festivals and celebrations in the Morin estate—but there was something different about this. It felt like a beginning. A marker of something important.
Marna laughed softly.
"I did not expect that."
"It is a tradition," Rosalie said. "The application ceremony always begins with a display. It is meant to symbolize the start of something new."
Hil nodded.
"A fitting gesture."
The fireworks continued for several moments, filling the sky with color. Then, slowly, they faded, leaving only the soft blue of the afternoon sky behind.
Instructor Aldren lowered his hand.
"The application ceremony is now officially underway. Please wait for further instructions."
He stepped down from the platform and disappeared into the main building.
---
The courtyard erupted into conversation.
Applicants turned to one another, exchanging excited words, nervous laughter, quiet speculation. The tension that had hung over the gathering had eased, replaced by a sense of shared experience.
Klen turned to the others.
"Well," he said. "That was..."
"Informative," Lyra finished.
"Intimidating," Marna added.
"Necessary," Hil said.
Rosalie smiled.
"It was all of those things. But it was also quite clear. The academy knows what it wants."
Klen nodded slowly.
He thought about the phases. Background check. Eligibility. Physical and mental checks. Mana exposure. Practical skills. Interview. Each one felt like a step further into something unknown.
"I wonder what the mana exposure phase will be like," Lyra said. "I have never been tested for that before."
"Neither have I," Marna admitted. "I do not even know what to expect."
"Nor do I," Klen said.
Rosalie tilted her head.
"I have read about it. It is supposed to be uncomfortable, but not dangerous. The academy would not risk harming applicants."
"That is reassuring," Marna said dryly.
Hil smiled slightly.
"I suspect it will be fine. We have all come this far. A little discomfort should not stop us."
Klen appreciated the sentiment.
---
They stood together for a while, watching the crowd.
Nearby, a small group of applicants had gathered—three young men and a young woman. They were talking quietly among themselves, their voices low but not entirely private.
"—heard the practical phase is the hardest," one of them was saying. He was tall, with short brown hair and a confident posture. "They test everything. Combat, reflexes, problem-solving. If you're not prepared, you'll fail."
"I heard the interview is worse," the young woman replied. She had dark hair tied back in a practical style and sharp eyes that missed nothing. "They ask questions you can't prepare for. Personal questions. They want to know who you really are."
"That sounds terrifying," the third young man said. He was shorter than the others, with a round face and a nervous expression. "I barely know who I am."
The tall one laughed.
"Then you're doomed."
"Don't listen to him," the young woman said. "He's just trying to scare you."
"It's working."
Klen listened without meaning to. The conversation was familiar—the same anxieties, the same uncertainties that he himself felt. It was strangely comforting to know that others were experiencing the same things.
Marna noticed him listening.
"Should we introduce ourselves?" she asked quietly.
Klen hesitated.
"Perhaps later. For now, let them be."
Marna nodded.
---
Another group caught Klen's attention.
Two young women stood apart from the crowd, speaking in hushed tones. One had long silver hair that caught the light, her expression calm and composed. The other had shorter dark hair and a more animated demeanor, gesturing as she spoke.
"—can't believe we're finally here," the dark-haired one was saying. "After everything, we actually made it."
"Don't celebrate yet," the silver-haired one replied. "We haven't passed the examination."
"We will. We've worked too hard not to."
"That's not how it works."
"It should be."
The silver-haired one sighed.
The dark-haired one grinned.
Klen looked away.
---
"They seem interesting," Lyra said softly.
"Everyone here seems interesting," Marna replied. "That's the point."
Rosalie smiled.
"It is a gathering of people with ambition. That is always interesting."
Hil nodded.
"And potentially exhausting."
Marna laughed.
"I like you, Hil."
"I am merely being honest."
---
The group fell into comfortable silence.
Klen looked around the courtyard one more time. So many faces. So many stories. All of them here for the same reason—to learn, to grow, to become something more than they were.
He thought of the journey that had brought him here. The suffering. The fear. The moments of despair. And yet, somehow, he had made it. He was here. Lyra was here. Marna was here. And new friends had joined them along the way.
Whatever came next—
He would face it.
Not alone.
---
"We should do our best," Klen said quietly.
The others turned to him.
Lyra smiled.
"We will."
Marna nodded firmly.
"We've come too far to fail now."
Rosalie's mismatched eyes met his.
"I am curious to see what awaits us."
Hil inclined his head.
"Then let us not waste any more time."
Klen took a breath.
"Let's go."
They walked toward the main building together, joining the flow of applicants heading inside. The courtyard emptied slowly, the sounds of conversation fading as students disappeared through the large double doors.
The application ceremony had begun.
And their new lives were waiting.