The gates of Aetherion Magic Academy were much larger up close.

  Kael stood in front of them with several dozen other students, all waiting to be processed by academy staff. The iron gates rose nearly three stories high, engraved with intricate patterns of magical runes that shimmered faintly in the morning sunlight.

  Beyond the gates stood the academy itself.

  Tall white towers stretched toward the sky, connected by bridges and courtyards.

  Students in academy uniforms moved between buildings, some floating small objects through the air with magic while others practiced spell circles in the open training fields.

  Kael stared.

  “…Yeah,” he muttered quietly. “Definitely should’ve stayed at the forge.”

  A few nearby students glanced at him but quickly looked away.

  Most of them carried polished staffs, ornate books, or equipment that clearly marked them as well-trained mages.

  Kael had only a travel bag and a slightly used sword.

  And the single spell in his head.

  Eventually a tall instructor wearing dark academy robes stepped forward.

  “Welcome to Aetherion Magic Academy,” he announced. “You will now undergo your entrance examinations.”

  The instructor gestured toward the courtyard behind him.

  “These exams will determine your placement within the academy.”

  Several students straightened with excitement.

  Others looked nervous.

  Kael raised his hand slightly.

  The instructor sighed.

  “Yes?”

  Kael hesitated.

  “Hypothetically… if someone does extremely badly, how quickly could they leave?”

  Several students nearby snorted.

  The instructor gave him a long look.

  “Very funny.”

  “Worth a try.”

  The Testing Hall

  The first test took place inside a large stone chamber lined with glowing runic circles.

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  Students stepped forward one at a time, activating their spells within the circle while instructors recorded the results.

  Each activation caused the runes to flare with light as they measured magical output and spell structure.

  One student stepped forward confidently.

  “Fire Lance!”

  A spear of flame shot across the testing chamber, striking a reinforced stone wall.

  The instructors nodded.

  “Four elemental spells detected. Good control.”

  Another student demonstrated wind magic.

  Then another revealed ice magic.

  Several even showed combinations of spells.

  The instructors seemed pleased.

  Kael’s stomach sank further with each demonstration.

  “Next,” the instructor called.

  Kael looked up.

  “…Oh no.”

  He stepped into the circle.

  The runes flickered softly beneath his feet.

  An instructor glanced at the tablet in his hands.

  “Name.”

  “Kael Arden.”

  The instructor nodded.

  “Demonstrate your spells.”

  Kael cleared his throat.

  “Spell.”

  The instructor blinked.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Spell,” Kael corrected. “Singular.”

  A few nearby students laughed.

  The instructor rubbed his forehead.

  “…Proceed.”

  Kael raised his hand.

  The familiar magical pattern formed in his mind.

  Echo.

  He focused.

  A pulse of magic expanded outward from his hand like a brief ripple in the air.

  It passed across the chamber and faded.

  Silence followed.

  One instructor stared at the reading crystal.

  “…Spell count: one.”

  A few students in the room began whispering.

  “Did he say one?”

  “That’s not possible.”

  Another instructor leaned closer to the crystal.

  “Aether capacity: Average.”

  He frowned.

  “But only one active spell formula detected.”

  The first instructor looked at Kael.

  “That spell was… Echo?”

  Kael nodded.

  “Correct.”

  “What does it do?”

  Kael thought about it.

  “…Mostly annoys people.”

  Several students laughed openly now.

  The instructor sighed and wrote something down.

  “Very well.”

  He gestured toward the exit.

  “Next student.”

  Kael stepped out of the circle.

  As he walked past the other examinees, he heard the whispers spreading.

  “One spell…”

  “How did he even get an invitation?”

  “Maybe they made a mistake.”

  Kael scratched the back of his head.

  “Honestly,” he muttered to himself, “that’s still a possibility.”

  The Lightning Mage

  The next student stepped forward.

  Unlike most of the others, the room grew noticeably quieter when she entered the circle.

  She had long silver-blonde hair tied behind her back and sharp green eyes that carried an unmistakable confidence. She was well built, clearly showing years of rigerous training.

  Her academy registration tag read:

  Lyra Valencrest

  Several instructors straightened immediately.

  “Valencrest,” one murmured.

  Kael blinked.

  “…That sounds expensive.”

  Lyra raised one hand calmly.

  Electric sparks danced around her fingertips.

  “Lightning Spear.”

  A bolt of lightning shot across the chamber with a deafening crack, striking the reinforced wall and leaving a blackened scorch mark.

  The instructors’ crystals glowed brightly.

  “Five spells detected.”

  “Excellent control.”

  Students around the room whispered with admiration.

  Lyra stepped out of the circle as if the result had been completely expected.

  Her gaze drifted across the room.

  Then stopped.

  On Kael.

  She looked at him for a moment.

  Then glanced at the instructor’s notes in his hand.

  “…One spell?” she said flatly.

  Kael raised a hand slightly.

  “That would be me.”

  She stared at him.

  “…How did you pass the preliminary exam?”

  Kael shrugged.

  “I’m still trying to figure that out.”

  Several students laughed again.

  Lyra crossed her arms.

  “You’re attending the most prestigious magic academy in the kingdom.”

  She gestured toward the testing circle.

  “And you only have one spell?”

  “Technically yes.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  Kael nodded thoughtfully.

  “Agreed.”

  That seemed to catch her off guard.

  “You agree?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Lyra stared at him like she was trying to determine if he was serious.

  “…You’re strange.”

  Kael smiled slightly and scratched the back of his head.

  “I’ve been told.”