After two long weeks of deep, dreamless sleep, Shinjō Kura finally awoke. His body felt heavy, his mind foggy, but his curiosity stronger than ever. Sitting up inside his dorm, he checked himself in the mirror, searching for any signs of side effects from his strange slumber. "Still breathing… guess that's a good start," he muttered.
The next morning, when Kura entered his classroom, every eye turned toward him. Whispers filled the air.
"He's done for…"
"He won't last the exams."
"I heard no one who disappears for two weeks ever makes it to the finals."
Before Kura could respond, the door opened, and the professor entered — flanked by two upper-rank students and a massive crystal swirling with rainbow hues. The room fell silent.
"From today," the professor announced, "your half-yearly examinations begin. The first test will be your Aptitude Test — an assessment of your elemental alignment, the very core of your power."
He paused, letting the tension settle. "There are seven elements that form the foundation of magic — Fire, Water, Earth, Life, Darkness, Time, and Space. Every individual naturally aligns with one. In rare cases, two. Very rarely, three. Anything beyond that…" He smiled faintly, "…doesn't exist — at least, not in recorded history."
Kura blinked. "Wait, wait—magic? Real magic?" he whispered to Laila Frost, sitting beside him.
Laila raised an eyebrow. "What did you think I used back then? When I protected you?"
"I thought that was… your school training or something!"
She laughed softly. "You're not wrong. But yeah — magic's real. We just don't flaunt it. Students aren't allowed to use it outside school, or even inside without supervision. The world outside doesn't know we exist. And the school board doesn't want freshers learning too much too soon — many don't even make it to this test."
Kura swallowed hard. So those rumors were true…
The first student, a tall boy, stepped forward and placed his hand on the glowing crystal. The colors shimmered — then settled into brown.
"Earth," the professor announced.
Next, a shy girl touched the crystal. It flickered between blue and white.
"Water and Wind — dual affinity."
Murmurs rippled through the class. Two elements — rare indeed.
Then, a third girl approached, confident but quiet. As her hand met the crystal, a deep black aura spread across its surface.
"Darkness," the professor said slowly.
A chill ran through the room. Students began whispering.
"Darkness? That's cursed…"
"Only those close to the devil wield it…"
The professor's sharp gaze silenced them.
More students came and went, revealing elements like Life, Water, Time, and Earth. Then finally—
"Shinjō Kura," the professor called.
Kura froze, nerves knotting his stomach. He hadn't even heard his name the first time.
"Shinjō Kura!" the professor repeated.
Kura stood and walked forward. As he placed his hand on the crystal, light exploded outward — a brilliance so blinding that everyone covered their eyes. Everyone except Kura.
Before him, he saw visions — all seven elements swirling in chaos: Fire, Water, Earth, Life, Darkness, Time, and Space. His breath caught. Then, in the center of it all, appeared a glowing eighth symbol — a book absorbing four of the elements into its pages, leaving only Fire, Earth, and Life glowing around him.
Outside, the light dimmed. To the class, it looked as if Kura had received three elements — already an incredible rarity. But Laila Frost noticed something off. The crystal had never shone that brightly for anyone with only three affinities.
The professor's face tightened slightly. "Move along, kid. You're done here."
Kura returned to his seat, heart pounding. The whispers started again. He ignored them, staring at his hand. What was that book?
After several more students finished, the professor called the final name.
"Laila Frost."
Laila approached confidently. The crystal glowed blue, then white, then deep black — Water, Ice, and Darkness.
The murmurs grew louder than ever.
"She's not human…"
"Ice and Darkness? That's unnatural…"
Laila stood calm, cold as her element, ignoring the whispers.
When the final student stepped away, the professor clapped his hands.
"That concludes the Aptitude Test. You have now discovered your elements. You'll have two days to train with your new abilities — because after that comes your Physical Examination. Be prepared…" he said with a smirk, "…to have your bones turned to dust."
Laughter and nervous groans filled the room.
Kura leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
"Two days to prepare… not much time," he whispered. "Should I ask Laila for help? If I do, should I tell her what really happened when I touched the crystal? Or should I keep it a secret? What will she think if she finds out…?"
The thought lingered in his mind as the faint hum of magic filled the air — a calm before the storm of the next trial.