Today, the instructore for Magical combat decided to test every Classrooms' strength by making a practice match.
It was the class A-10 turns, also known as the class where Taika and Mahika are in right now.
This idea came from the student council itself.
- Flashback -
The student council room was quiet, wrapped in afternoon light filtering through tall windows.
At the center sat the president, legs crossed, fingers interlocked beneath their chin. The atmosphere was calm—but sharp. Every member present understood that silence here meant something was being weighed.
Treasurer leaned forward, tapping a finger against a report.
Treasurer: [The new student… Taika. Her mana readings are unstable.]
A vice-president adjusted their glasses.
Vice-President: [Unstable doesn't mean weak.]
Another member flipped a page.
Council Member: [She accessed four elements without formal circulation. That shouldn't be possible for a first-year.]
The room stirred.
President finally spoke.
President: [And yet she hasn't been evaluated in combat.]
Treasurer: [Which is why she's dangerous. Or… valuable.]
A soft chuckle came from one of the girls seated near the window.
Council Girl: [Or she's just lucky.]
The president's eyes narrowed slightly.
President: [Luck doesn't repeat.]
They stood up, walking toward the window that overlooked the academy grounds—students training below, unaware they were being observed.
President: [If we let her grow unchecked, she'll either break herself… or the system.]
Vice-President: [So what do you suggest?]
The president turned.
President: [We test her.]
A pause.
Treasurer: [Individually?]
President shook their head.
President: [No. That would alert her.]
They placed the report on the table.
President: [A classroom-wide practice match. Approved by an instructor. Disguised as a routine strength assessment.]
Council Member: [Class A-10?]
President: [Exactly.]
Another member smirked.
Council Girl: [If she really is special… she won't be able to hide.]
President: [And if she isn't...]
They smiled, calm and unreadable.
President: [Then the academy loses nothing.]
The gavel tapped once against the table.
President: [Inform the Magical Combat instructor. Today.]
- End of Flashback-
The decision had already been made.
And in Class A-10,
Taika had no idea she was about to be seen.
It was the third match.
Maya vs Clare.
The battle area are random.
A bell rang softly.
The ground shifted.
What once was a flat training field, turned into a half-ruined stone plaza---broken pillars, uneven floors, traces of old magic carved into the ground.
Students murmured in excitement.
Maya stepped forward, twirling her staff once before planting it on the ground.
She smiled—confident, familiar.
Across from her, Clare adjusted her gloves.
Her expression was calm. Sharp.
Her eyes scanned the terrain like she already won.
Instructor: [Begin.]
Maya moved first.
A wave of fire burst from her staff, sweeping low across the ground.
Not reckless---controlled.
Clare leaped back, snapping her fingers.
Water rose from the cracks of the stone, forming a spinning shield that hissed as fire met it.
Steam exploded into the air.
Maya clicked her tongue.
Maya: [Still using defense first, huh?]
She slammed her staff down.
Wind magic surged, pushing the steam forward like a smokescreen.
Maya vanished within it.
Clare frowned.
Clare: [Cheap trick.]
She closed her eyes.
Mana spread outward.
The ground trembled.
Stone pillars burst upward—random, jagged, fast.
But---
Maya jumped out from above.
Maya: [Found you!]
Fire wrapped around her staff, compressed, focused.
A direct strike.
Clare barely raised her arm in time.
Impact.
She slid back several meters, boots scraping stone.
The crowd gasped.
Clare smiled.
Clare: [You've improved.]
She snapped both hands forward.
Water twisted into sharp threads---whips that cracked through the air.
Maya dodged one.
The second grazed her sleeve.
Maya hissed.
Maya: [Ow--- hey! That was my favorite uniform!]
She planted her foot.
Mana flared.
Fire didn't explode.
It condensed.
A thin, piercing flame---
Clare's eyes widened.
Clare: [Wait---]
Too late.
The flame cut through her water defense and stopped inches from her chest.
Silence.
The instructor raised a hand.
Instructor: [Match over. Winner---Maya.]
The crowd erupted.
Maya exhaled, shoulders relaxing.
Clare laughed softly, raising her hands.
Clare: [Alright, alright. I yield.]
Maya grinned and offered her hand.
Maya: [Good fight.]
Clare took it.
Clare: [Yeah… and scary.]
From the sideliher---
Taika watched quietly.
Her hands clenched.
Her chest felt tight.
Not fear.
Something else.
Excitement.
And somewhere above, from the viewing platform---
The student council president smiled.
President (thought):
So that's the level around her…
Their gaze shifted.
Straight to Taika.
Now let's see what you can do.
Next round.
Taika vs Beta.
Class A-10.
Beta, a royalty, she was the son of the previous king of this kingdom.
It.. Was a secret.
A hush fell over the training hall.
Whispers spread quickly.
"Isn't she the scholarship girl?"
"That's her?"
"She looks… normal."
Taika stepped forward slowly.
Her hands were shaking.
She swallowed.
Across from her stood Beta.
Tall. Broad shoulders.
A confident smirk carved on his face.
Beta: [Try not to cry when you lose, yeah?]
Laughter echoed.
Taika lowered her gaze.
Instructor: [Battle area--- forest terrain.]
The ground warped.
Stone vanished.
Trees rose instantly.
Roots twisted beneath their feet.
The bell rang.
Instructor: [Begin.]
Beta moved first.
He slammed his foot down.
Earth magic surged---
Jagged spikes burst from the ground toward Taika.
Taika froze.
Her breath caught.
Move.
Her body reacted before her mind did.
Wind pushed her sideways.
She barely dodged.
Her heart pounded.
Taika (mind):
I didn't plan that…
Beta laughed.
Beta: [Running already?]
He raised his hand.
Fire formed----wild, loud, unstable.
It rushed toward her like a beast.
Taika lifted her hand instinctively.
Water spilled from her palm.
Not strong.
Not elegant.
But enough.
Steam exploded.
The crowd gasped.
Beta's smile faded.
Beta: [Tch.]
He charged.
Too fast.
Taika stumbled back.
Her foot caught on a root.
She fell.
Gasps again.
Beta stood over her, fire gathering.
Beta: [It's over---]
Taika clenched her fist.
Tears blurred her vision.
Taika (mind):
Wrong way… wrong way…
She remembered the books.
The notes.
The nights.
Mana doesn't obey form.
It obeys intent.
She slammed her palm to the ground.
Mana surged---
Not one element.
Earth hardened beneath her.
Wind pushed her upward.
Fire ignited at the core.
A crude---
Unstable---
But powerful burst.
Beta was thrown back, crashing into a tree.
Silence.
Taika stood there, breathing heavily.
Her hands burned.
Her legs shook.
She looked at herself.
Taika: […Did I just… do that?]
The instructor stared.
Long pause.
Instructor: [Winner… Taika Zeit.]
The hall exploded into noise.
Shocked voices.
Disbelief.
Maya covered her mouth.
Maya (whisper):
[She did it…]
Clare narrowed her eyes.
Clare (thought):
That wasn't textbook magic.
Taika looked around.
For the first time--
No laughter.
No insults.
Just silence.
And from above---
The student council stood.
The president leaned forward slightly.
President (thought):
Using all four elements without formal casting…
A smile formed.
Now that's interesting..
Maya came to congratulate Taika.
Maya: [Sis!, I'm glad you won!, I never that kind of move!, what does it called?, tell me!, tell me!]
She said,excited.
After the class, Maya and Taika takes a lunch break on the Grand graden.
Taika looked up.
Taika: [Was that cloud a little familiar?]
Maya: [It must be just a normal cloud..]
Then someone walked in our area.
President: [Am I.... Bothering you too?]
Maya stood up immediately and bow elegantly.
It was the school's formal greeting etiquette.
Taika did the same. Not accurate.
President responded with the same bow.
President: [Hi, by the way, welcome to our academy.]
Taika: [It's a pleasure to meet you, p-president....]
President: [Mm. So, I heard you're improving...you see, the student council,we've been observing your progress seen your first day. We would like to encourage you to join us..]
Maya: [H-Her?!, But why?~]
She was disappointed. She's assuming.
President:[So, what do you think?]
Taika: [Me?, why me?]
Taika froze.
The words echoed in her head.
Join the student council.
Taika lowered her eyes.
Her fingers tightened around her lunch box.
Taika: [I… I don't think I'm qualified for something like that.]
The president smiled.
Not mocking.
Not gentle either.
President: [Qualification is not power.]
He looked directly at her.
President: [It's direction.]
Maya glanced between them, uneasy.
Maya: [B-But the student council is for the elites, right? Royals, nobles, top scorers—]
President: [Exactly.]
He turned his gaze back to Taika.
President: [And yet, you reached all four elements without formal structure.]
President: [You don't follow magic.]
President: [Magic follows you.]
Taika's heart skipped.
Taika (mind):
That's… not true.
President: [We are not asking you to decide now.]
He reached into his coat and placed a thin, silver card on the table.
The emblem of the council shimmered faintly.
President: [Think of it as an invitation to be… tested.]
Maya clenched her fists.
Maya: […Tested?]
President: [Observation. Evaluation. Pressure.]
He straightened.
President: [If you accept, your academy life will change.]
President: [If you refuse, nothing will.]
Taika stared at the card.
Her reflection looked back at her---
Small.
Shaking.
Yet…
She remembered the old man's words.
Climb to the top.
Taika slowly lifted her head.
Taika: [If I accept… will it affect my studies?]
The president chuckled softly.
President: [On the contrary.]
President: [It will define them.]
Silence settled between them.
The wind rustled the grass.
The clouds drifted slowly above...
That same shape again.
Taika reached for the card.
Not fully.
Just enough to touch it.
Taika: […I'll think about it.]
The president nodded, satisfied.
President: [Good.]
He turned away.
President: [Galdur Academy favors those who hesitate...]
President: [...but move forward anyway.]
He walked off, his presence fading into the garden's noise.
Maya finally exhaled.
Maya: [Sis… that was the student council president.]
Taika looked at the silver card in her hand.
Taika: [I know.]
Her grip tightened.
Taika (mind):
This academy…
It's watching me.
Maya nodded.
Maya: [Sky Tudor.]
Maya: [Third-year. Top of the rankings for two years straight.]
Maya: [People say he mastered advanced spell control before entering the academy.]
Taika lowered her gaze again.
Taika: [Sky… huh…]
The name felt light.
Too light for the weight he carried.
Taika: [Let me think about the invitation… I hope they can wait.]
Maya smiled softly and sat beside her.
Maya: [They will.]
Maya: [People like him don't rush geniuses.]
Taika let out a small breath.
The silver card glimmered faintly in her palm.
Taika (mind):
Student council… tests… pressure…
She looked at the sky above the Grand Garden.
The clouds slowly shifted.
That familiar shape disappeared.
Taika closed her hand around the card.
Taika (mind):
Just a little more time…
Let me grow first.
Sky walked down the stone path, his footsteps calm and steady.
The noise of the academy slowly swallowed the garden behind him.
He stopped for a moment.
Sky (mind):
[…I'm seeing myself through her.]
He glanced at his hand.
The same hand that once shook.
I started just like her.
No name.
No backing.
Only pressure and expectation.
Sky exhaled quietly.
A faint smile crossed his face.
Sky (mind):
[I'm trusting her.]
[She can become a top student.]
He resumed walking.
Above him, the clouds drifted....
unaware that another genius had just taken her first step.
There's less than 1 year left before the student council election begins.