Lucas took the card back without saying anything, his eyes lingering on it briefly before slipping it away. Without wasting another moment, he began walking toward the direction indicated, his mind still spinning from the events of the last few hours.
The open grounds of the academy were alive with murmurs and whispers. A crowd of cadets moved about, introducing themselves, exchanging rumors, and pointing out the so-called "higher house" students with awe and admiration. Every face seemed to carry determination, ambition, or curiosity, all converging toward the same goal: the entrance test.
A group of cadets pointed toward a figure, their voices barely containing excitement.
"Look over there! It's Celia Windmere."
"I heard Windmere's performs good in the academy," another cadet said, eyes gleaming.
Celia herself had yellow hair that shone in the sunlight and emerald eyes that sparkled with confidence. Her posture radiated energy and enthusiasm.
"I'll try to live up to that name," she said softly to herself, a hint of determination in her voice.
'Huh… is that so? I guess I have to see for myself,' Lucas thought, narrowing his eyes. He raised his senses slightly. "Mana Perception!"
[Analyzing – Celia Windmere]
[Strength – 30]
[Mana – 60]
[Magic – Wind]
[Age – 14]
'Not bad… she's strong,' he mused, nodding slightly.
A few cadets nearby now pointed toward another figure. "Over there! It's Nova! Nova Frostvale!"
"Oh, wait—is that a Frostvale? Just like the rumors… he looks pretty handsome! I wish I could be friends with him," whispered a female cadet, her eyes wide with admiration.
Nova had blue hair and golden eyes, a confident smile, and a physique that showed he trained seriously. Friendly and approachable, he waved at other cadets as they passed.
'Perception!' Lucas activated, eyes narrowing slightly.
[Analyzing – Nova Frostvale]
[Strength – 38]
[Mana – 74]
[Magic – Water]
[Age – 14]
'Not bad… he's solid.' Lucas smiled faintly.
Then the crowd fell silent as they turned toward a single figure. Whispers ran through the cadets like a wave of awe and disbelief.
"Gosh… she's stunning."
"Is that… Sylvia Silvercrest?"
"Silvercrest? That house? She must be ridiculously strong."
"She's competing this year? I really want to be in her class!"
Sylvia's presence was impossible to ignore. Her bright red hair glimmered in the light, her pearl-colored eyes were sharp, and her gaze was cold, distant, completely unbothered by the murmurs around her. Her posture was perfect, her aura commanding, radiating a quiet, almost dangerous power.
'Perception!' Lucas activated instantly, eyes widening as the stats revealed themselves.
[Analyzing – Sylvia Silvercrest]
[Strength – 61]
[Mana – 100]
[Magic – Lightning]
[Age – 14]
'What!? Strength sixty-one? Mana over a hundred? She's… insane,' Lucas whispered under his breath. 'Most likely top tier. No wonder everyone's reacting like that.'
Lost in processing the numbers, Lucas didn't notice the sudden push from his shoulder. He stumbled and fell hard to the ground.
"Ugh—what gives!?" he shouted, quickly looking up at the two cadets beside him.
The male cadet smirked cruelly, a glint of malice in his eyes.
"Ah… Mr. Lucas Ironhart," he said mockingly. "We knew you were weak, but I didn't realize you were this pathetic. Honestly… now it all makes sense why your own family tossed you out."
Lucas's eyes narrowed, anger flaring. "What do you mean? Why suddenly talk about 'family disowned' and pushing someone down? Just what do you want?"
The female cadet beside him leaned slightly forward, a venomous smile curling on her lips.
"Well, it's simple," she said coldly. "Why waste your time… and ours? You'll never make it here. I mean, do you even know how to cast a basic spell? Let alone fight or survive? You're already a joke before you even begin. Do yourself a favor—give up now before you humiliate yourself completely."
Lucas's jaw clenched as their words drew attention from the surrounding cadets. Murmurs spread instantly.
"Hey, isn't that the Ironhart? I heard he was born without any skills unlike other Ironharts."
"Yeah… the one who got disowned for being worthless? he's making a joke of himself by entering magic academy here."
Gritting his teeth, Lucas pushed himself up, fists tight. "You… just wait."
Before the confrontation could escalate further, a commanding voice cut through the chatter, silencing everyone instantly.
"Welcome to Sylvas Magic Academy, cadets."
All eyes turned toward the stage. A figure stood tall, dressed in a black hat and matching robes that marked her as the headmaster. Her golden eyes scanned the crowd, sharp and authoritative, while her white hair shimmered against the sunlight.
"I see everyone has gathered," she said, voice echoing clearly across the grounds. "Let me introduce myself. I am Beatrice Gray, headmaster of Sylvas Academy and instructor for the entrance test. This exam will take place in the academy forest, where you will encounter mana creatures and must survive for at least five days from a whole week. Your performance and survival will determine the points you earn and your ranking among cadets."
A cadet raised his voice hesitantly. "How exactly will the points be counted? How do we know how well we're performing?"
Beatrice set her hat firmly, her gaze sweeping the cadets. "That, you must discover for yourselves." She gestured toward the looming entrance of the forest. "The gates will open shortly. Once you enter, your test begins. Figure out the rest on your own."
The male cadet from before sneered at Lucas. "Well, looks like it's about to start. Honestly… why should I waste my time talking to a failure like you? I'm going in."
The female cadet added with a cruel smile, "Good luck not dying, Ironhart."
Lucas's hand clenched into a fist, the anger and determination coiling tightly inside him.
'No matter what… I'm going to survive this.'
Beatrice's voice rang out again, clear and commanding.
"Cadets, line up at the forest gates. The exam begins in three… two… one…"
Lucas's eyes fixed on the dark treeline ahead, mind steeling itself. 'If I fail… it won't just be embarrassment. I'll prove to myself that I'm worth more than what everyone thinks.. No matter what I'll win this.'
"Entrance Exam starts now!" Beatrice declared.