The gates of Awakening Apex High weren't just for show. They were massive slabs of mana-conductive alloy designed to vibrate whenever an Awakener passed through. As Haru walked between them, the metal hummed with a frantic, high-pitched frequency that most students ignored, but to him, it felt like a standing ovation.
The freshman auditorium was a sea of expensive blazers and ego. Every student here had passed the initial aptitude tests, and the air was thick with a chaotic mix of unrefined mana—smelling of ozone, burnt wood, and wet earth.
Haru found a seat toward the back, leaning back with a bored expression.
Up on the stage, a boy with meticulously styled hair and a shimmering silver cape stood behind a podium. He was the top-ranked freshman, a scion of a major Hunter Guild, and he had been speaking for twenty minutes about "responsibility" and "the burden of power."
"Does he ever stop?"
Haru glanced to his right. A girl was leaning toward him, her chin resting on her hand. She had sharp, foxlike eyes and shoulder-length dark hair with a single streak of crimson. Her name tag read Min-Ah.
"He likes the sound of his own voice," Haru replied dryly.
Min-Ah snickered, brushing a stray hair from her face. "Tell me about it. He's been acting like he's already a S-Ranker just because his father owns a few Gates. By the way, I'm Min-Ah. What's your name?"
"Haru."
"Nice to meet you, Haru." She eyed him curiously, her gaze lingering on his pale, lightning-streaked hair. "So, what's your affinity? You don't look like a physical-type. You have that 'elemental' vibe."
"Lightning," Haru said simply.
Min-Ah blinked, her eyebrows shooting up. "Lightning? Seriously?" She let out a small, sympathetic giggle. "Isn't lightning... like, the worst one? I mean, it's flashy, sure, but the mana consumption is a nightmare and the control is almost impossible. Most lightning mages burn out before they hit C-Rank."
She held up a finger, and a small, perfectly controlled sphere of orange flame danced on her fingertip.
"I have Flame affinity," she said with a playful wink. "High stability, high damage, and way easier to scale. Hehe, don't worry though. If we get put in a team, I'll make sure to cover for you."
''Cover for me?''
Haru looked at the tiny, flickering spark in her hand and then down at his own palm, where the Sovereign power was currently suppressed to its absolute minimum.
''If I released even one percent of my current, her fire would be snuffed out like a candle in a hurricane.''
"I'll keep that in mind," Haru said, his voice neutral.
Up on the stage, the top student finally stopped talking. He raised a hand, and the auditorium lights dimmed. A massive crystal pillar rose from the center of the stage, glowing with a neutral white light.
"Now," the top student announced, his voice amplified by mana. "We will begin the official Mana-Measurement Ceremony. This will determine your class placement for the rest of the year. Let's see who among you truly belongs at the Apex."
Min-Ah sat up straight, her eyes sparkling with competitive fire. "Here we go. Good luck, 'Sparky.' Try not to blow a fuse."
Haru didn't answer. He just watched the crystal.