The laughter slowly faded as the last of the students finished their demonstrations.
Elias stepped down from the podium with his head lowered, feeling the weight of thousands of eyes burning into his back. The whispers followed him like shadows.
"Mana level one…"
"Is that even possible?"
"Even farm animals have more mana than that."
A few students openly laughed.
Elias clenched his fists again, nails digging into his palms. He wanted to shout, to prove them wrong somehow but he couldn't. The magic orb had already spoken.
Mana Level: 1.
The lowest rank possible.
He quietly joined the line of students standing near the edge of the courtyard. Around him, the air buzzed with excitement. Students who had displayed powerful magic were bragging loudly.
"I froze half the fountain!"
"My lightning nearly cracked the statue!"
"I'm definitely getting into Drakaryn House."
Elias had no idea what that meant.
At the center of the courtyard, the teachers began gathering around the Headmaster again.
Headmaster Varien stood like a dark statue upon the podium, his long black robes moving gently in the wind. His sharp eyes swept across the crowd of new students.
When the murmurs quieted, he raised one hand.
Silence fell instantly.
"Now that the initial evaluation is complete," Varien said, his deep voice echoing across the massive courtyard, "you will be assigned to the Four Houses of Astryx Academy."
The enormous iron gates behind the podium slowly opened.
A ripple of awe passed through the crowd.
Four massive banners descended from the towering academy walls, each one glowing faintly with magical energy.
Elias looked up.
The first banner burned with deep crimson light. A symbol of a roaring dragon was etched across it.
"The House of Drakaryn," Varien announced. "The House of Power."
Students whispered excitedly.
"Drakaryn trains the strongest combat mages. Those who join it walk the path of battle, conquest, and domination."
The second banner shimmered silver-blue.
A majestic phoenix spread its wings across the cloth.
"The House of Solmira," Varien continued. "The House of Wisdom."
"Scholars, healers, and high mages are born from this house. Those who master ancient magic and forgotten knowledge walk this path."
The third banner descended slowly, colored deep emerald green.
Its symbol was a serpent coiled around a blade.
"The House of Virelith. The House of Shadows."
Some students looked uneasy.
"Those who join Virelith specialize in stealth magic, illusion, intelligence gathering, and… more delicate arts."
A few teachers exchanged knowing glances.
Finally, the fourth banner appeared.
It was dark blue, almost black, with a symbol of a wolf howling at a crescent moon.
"The House of Lunareth," Varien said.
"The House of Survivors."
This time the murmurs were quieter.
"Lunareth trains those who may not possess overwhelming magical talent—but who survive through strategy, endurance, and adaptability."
Elias blinked.
For the first time, he felt a tiny spark of hope.
Varien's voice hardened.
"Make no mistake. No house is weak. Every house serves the Empire."
He paused.
"But only the strongest students from each house will rise to greatness."
Behind him, several teachers rolled out four massive stone pedestals. Each pedestal held a glowing crystal matching the color of one of the banners.
A tall female instructor stepped forward.
Her silver hair flowed down her back, and her emerald robes marked her as a senior professor.
"Students will now step forward and place their hands upon the House Crystals," she explained.
"The crystal will react to your mana and determine which house best suits your abilities."
Excited whispers erupted again.
One by one, students were called.
"Arlen Korr!"
A tall boy walked forward confidently and touched the crimson crystal.
The crystal exploded with fiery light.
"Drakaryn House!"
Cheers erupted.
Another student stepped forward.
"Lysa Verin!"
She touched the silver crystal.
A brilliant phoenix-shaped flame rose into the air.
"Solmira House!"
More applause followed.
Student after student was sorted.
Powerful mages joined Drakaryn.
Brilliant scholars joined Solmira.
Students with strange, unsettling magic were quietly guided toward Virelith.
Others those with less spectacular but stable magic were assigned to Lunareth.
Elias watched silently.
His stomach twisted tighter with every passing minute.
Then
"Elias Thorn."
The name echoed across the courtyard.
Thousands of eyes turned toward him again.
Some students immediately started whispering.
"Oh, it's the mana level one guy."
"This should be funny."
Elias slowly stepped forward.
The four glowing crystals stood before him.
For a moment, he didn't move.
His mind replayed the strange voice he had heard earlier.
You are too weak.
What has happened outside?
How long has it been?
He swallowed.
Was that real?
Or had his mind simply broken under pressure?
"Place your hand on the crystal," the silver haired professor said impatiently.
Elias nodded.
He approached the first crystal the crimson Drakaryn crystal.
As soon as his fingers touched it…
Nothing happened.
The crystal didn't react.
Not even a flicker.
Snickers spread through the crowd.
He quickly moved to the second crystal.
The Solmira crystal remained dim.
The third.
Virelith.
Still nothing.
Now the laughter grew louder.
Elias felt heat rushing into his face.
Finally, he placed his hand on the last crystal.
Lunareth.
For several seconds…
Nothing.
Even the teachers looked confused.
Then
A tiny pulse of dim blue light flickered inside the crystal.
Barely visible.
The professor sighed.
"Lunareth House."
The announcement sounded almost reluctant.
A few scattered chuckles followed.
"Of course."
"Where else would he go?"
Elias stepped away from the crystals quickly.
But as he turned to leave
Something strange happened.
For a split second…
The Lunareth crystal flashed black.
No one seemed to notice.
Except one person.
High above the courtyard balcony, Headmaster Varien's eyes narrowed.
He had seen it.
And far beneath the academy…
Deep within a sealed underground chamber…
An ancient black book resting upon a stone altar slowly began to glow.