The academy vessel continued its journey.
The distant silhouette of Aetherial Institute grew larger with every passing minute.
Ancient towers rose from the sea.
Floating platforms drifted between clouds.
Massive magical formations shimmered around the island like invisible constellations.
Even the most confident students occasionally glanced toward the horizon.
Because everyone understood.
Their lives were about to change.
Yet surprisingly—
The greatest source of entertainment aboard the vessel was not the academy.
It was Seraphina.
The silver-haired mermaid sat among a growing group of female applicants.
The atmosphere around them felt lively.
Curious.
Comfortable.
For the first time since boarding the vessel, Seraphina actually looked relaxed.
Nearby.
Dozens of male students pretended not to watch.
Unfortunately.
They were terrible actors.
Very terrible.
One noble sat backward on a bench specifically to face the group.
Another openly listened while pretending to read.
A third hid behind a crate.
The crate did not hide him.
At all.
The female students naturally noticed.
They simply ignored them.
Meanwhile—
The dark-haired girl from earlier folded her arms.
Then asked:
"So."
Seraphina looked toward her.
The girl smiled.
"What exactly are you good at?"
The question immediately attracted everyone's attention.
The other girls nodded.
Several leaned forward.
Because honestly—
Nobody knew.
They knew Seraphina was beautiful.
They knew she was a mermaid.
They knew she possessed transformation magic.
Beyond that?
Nothing.
Seraphina blinked.
Then thought carefully.
"What am I good at?"
The question genuinely puzzled her.
After several moments—
She answered.
"I can swim."
Silence.
The girls stared.
One finally laughed.
"Obviously."
Another nodded.
"You're a mermaid."
A third covered her mouth.
Trying not to laugh.
Meanwhile—
Seraphina looked confused.
The girls looked even more amused.
The blonde student shook her head.
"No."
She clarified.
"I mean abilities."
"Skills."
"Talents."
"Magic."
"Weapons."
The silver-haired mermaid thought again.
Much longer this time.
Then answered.
"I know water magic."
Reasonable.
"I can sing."
Also reasonable.
"I can fight underwater."
Still reasonable.
The girls waited.
Then waited longer.
Eventually—
The dark-haired student asked:
"That's all?"
Seraphina hesitated.
Then nodded.
"I think so."
The female applicants exchanged looks.
The same realization appeared in everyone's eyes.
She had no idea.
Absolutely no idea.
One girl whispered:
"She doesn't know her own value."
Another nodded.
"Not even a little."
Meanwhile—
Several male students nearby listened carefully.
One immediately declared:
"She is humble."
The others nodded.
The female students rolled their eyes.
Then one suddenly stood.
A fire mage.
Her crimson hair reached her shoulders.
A playful smile appeared on her face.
"I have an idea."
Everyone looked toward her.
The girl pointed toward Seraphina.
"Copy me."
The mermaid blinked.
"What?"
The fire mage grinned.
"Just watch."
A small flame appeared above her palm.
Beautiful.
Controlled.
Elegant.
The flame danced between her fingers.
Changing shapes.
Birds.
Flowers.
Animals.
Miniature dragons.
The display drew attention.
Several nearby students applauded.
The fire mage looked proud.
Then she turned toward Seraphina.
"Your turn."
The mermaid hesitated.
"I don't know fire magic."
"Try."
The fire mage smiled.
"Just try."
Seraphina slowly raised her hand.
Mana gathered.
Everyone watched.
Nothing happened.
Then—
A tiny flame appeared.
The girls blinked.
The fire mage blinked.
The male students blinked.
Because the flame looked identical.
Not similar.
Identical.
The same movement.
The same structure.
The same patterns.
Even the miniature dragon looked exactly the same.
Silence.
The fire mage stared.
Then stared harder.
"What?"
The flame vanished.
Seraphina immediately looked embarrassed.
"Was it wrong?"
The fire mage almost choked.
Wrong?
WRONG?
The girl grabbed her shoulders.
"That was perfect!"
The surrounding girls froze.
Then realization spread.
Something interesting had just happened.
Very interesting.
Nearby—
The male students immediately abandoned their attempts to act cool.
Everyone turned their attention toward the scene.
The entertainment value increased dramatically.
Then another girl stepped forward.
A sword user.
Without hesitation—
She drew her practice blade.
A few elegant movements followed.
Simple.
Clean.
Precise.
The sword danced beautifully.
Nothing extraordinary.
Yet clearly the result of years of practice.
When she finished.
She looked toward Seraphina.
"Can you copy this?"
The mermaid hesitated.
Then accepted the practice sword.
The blanket remained wrapped around her body.
She stood slowly.
The sea breeze moved her silver hair.
Then—
She repeated the movements.
Exactly.
Every step.
Every swing.
Every transition.
Perfect.
Not approximately.
Perfect.
The sword girl froze.
The female applicants froze.
The male applicants froze.
Even several sailors turned around.
One sailor blinked repeatedly.
"What?"
The sword girl looked horrified.
"That took me six years to learn."
Seraphina lowered the sword.
Again looking embarrassed.
"Was it wrong?"
The sword girl nearly collapsed.
Inside his mind—
Seiren suddenly stopped laughing.
Far away within Scarder Lake.
The Guardian narrowed her eyes.
"Kel."
"What?"
"The fish is abnormal."
"Mermaid."
"The mermaid is abnormal."
Kel finally glanced away from his book.
Briefly.
Toward the gathering.
Toward Seraphina.
Toward the stunned students.
Then back toward his book.
Yet his eyes had sharpened.
Because Seiren wasn't wrong.
Something was unusual.
Meanwhile—
The tests continued.
A wind mage stepped forward.
Then an earth mage.
Then a water mage.
Then an archer.
Then another swordswoman.
Each demonstrated something.
Each asked Seraphina to imitate it.
And each time—
She succeeded.
Not perfectly.
Beyond perfectly.
Because somehow.
She also corrected small mistakes.
The students gradually stopped speaking.
Then stopped breathing.
Then stopped functioning.
A crowd formed.
An actual crowd.
The entire deck gradually gathered.
The captain arrived.
Several sailors arrived.
Even crew members came.
Everyone watched.
Everyone stared.
Everyone looked increasingly horrified.
The final demonstration came from an aura user.
A young warrior.
He demonstrated a simple aura circulation method.
Not difficult.
Yet impossible to learn instantly.
Or so everyone believed.
Then Seraphina copied it.
First try.
Without error.
Without hesitation.
Silence fell.
Absolute silence.
The ocean waves rolled softly.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Then one female student whispered:
"...Monster."
Another immediately nodded.
"Genius."
A third corrected.
"No."
Her eyes remained fixed upon Seraphina.
"This is talent."
A pause.
"Pure talent."
The captain slowly rubbed his forehead.
He had seen talented people.
Many.
Geniuses.
Prodigies.
Nobles.
Academy graduates.
Veterans.
None looked like this.
Meanwhile—
Seraphina herself looked confused.
Very confused.
Because everyone kept reacting strangely.
Eventually—
She asked the obvious question.
"Did I do something wrong?"
The entire deck collectively died.
Several students physically sat down.
The emotional damage spread equally among men and women.
Then the dark-haired girl finally sighed.
Long.
Very long.
Then pointed toward Aetherial Institute.
The massive island now clearly visible upon the horizon.
Its towers reaching into the heavens.
Its magical formations illuminating the sky.
Then she looked directly at Seraphina.
And spoke with absolute certainty.
"You."
Pause.
"Are definitely applying."
The surrounding girls immediately nodded.
The boys nodded.
The sailors nodded.
Even the captain nodded.
Nobody disagreed.
Meanwhile—
Far away.
Kel finally closed his book.
Inside his mind.
Seiren laughed.
"Congratulations."
"What?"
"You accidentally delivered another monster to the academy."
Kel looked toward the silver-haired mermaid surrounded by stunned students.
Then toward the approaching island.
Then silently sighed.
Because somehow.
He had the feeling.
Aetherial Institute was about to become much more chaotic than it already was.