Kyle blinked, a little thrown off by the sudden voice behind him.Turning around, he found himself facing a girl with striking blue eyes—so vivid it was almost unnatural.
She wore the academy's uniform, but unlike most others he had seen today, her posture was relaxed, casual even, as if the endless shelves of the Runemark Archives were her second home.
"Well, isn't it little Mr. Curious," she said, grinning. "Back again? Missed me already?"
Kyle raised an eyebrow. "Missed you? I'm pretty sure we've never met," he said sarcastically.
She laughed lightly, the sound carrying a mischievous lilt. "Maybe not officially. But you did sneak into the Hall of Winds yesterday and thought no one noticed. Not very subtle, you know."
Kyle frowned, feeling a small ripple of embarrassment, but he pushed it aside. "I didn't sneak, just walked in late—two different situations."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night," she teased, folding her arms. "Name's Mirai. House Noctis."She offered a hand, casual and open.
I already know, but I'd be a creep if I let that slip.
"Kyle," he replied, shaking it. "No house yet. Fresh meat if you may," he quipped.
Mirai gave a mock gasp. "And here I thought you were a third year like me." She held her cheeks in mock surprise.
"A wild, unsorted freshman, roaming the halls." She leaned in slightly, voice dropping into a playful whisper. "And clearly not a normal one, either."
Kyle narrowed his eyes slightly. "What makes you say that?"
Mirai motioned all around them and, in particular, the books he was standing in front of. They were heavy tomes—histories of obscure magical lineages, the development of archaic magic, theories on magic evolution.
"Most first-years are busy gawking at flashy spellbooks, and applicants rarely ever come here," she said. "You? You're digging into the deep archives like you're hunting for buried treasure. That's not normal, even here. So what you looking for? Want me to help?"
Kyle shrugged, masking his surprise."I'm just... curious. But now that you've offered, I need information on the third year who made the Flame of Intent turn gold."
Mirai frowned, her face becoming serious and cold. "Curiosity killed the cat, you know. But," she tapped her chin thoughtfully, "maybe it made a mage too. But I suggest you stay clear of that guy. His name is Luwen Wick."
"What do you mean stay—"
Before Kyle could respond, a loud bell tolled from the central tower—the signal for all first-year candidates to gather.
"That's your cue," Mirai said brightly. "Come on, wild freshman. Time to see if you survive the culling."
The Hall of Winds buzzed with energy as students filled the tiered seats.Kyle and Mirai found themselves near the center, where other first-years nervously fidgeted or whispered to one another.
On the central platform, Caelum, the energetic magister from the previous night, stood with a scroll in hand. Behind him, a set of shimmering runes floated midair—a projection spell.
"Candidates," Caelum's voice boomed across the amphitheatre, "your performance across examinations has been reviewed. If you are called, step forward to receive your designation."
Kyle leaned back slightly, hands tucked into his pockets. He wasn't nervous—not exactly—but there was a hum of anticipation in his chest.
One by one, names were called.Ranks were announced.
First Rank.Second Rank.Occasionally, a coveted Third Rank.More often, lower.
Finally, Kyle heard it:
"Kyle. Second Rank."
The amphitheatre fell into a brief, stunned silence. Heads turned.Several students whispered behind their hands.
Isn't that the guy who failed the practical?How the hell did he pass?Second Rank? No way.
Orin, standing at the far end of the seats, simply grinned and gave Kyle a thumbs-up, looking utterly unsurprised.
Kyle allowed himself a small smirk as he stepped forward and received a thin metal band—the mark of his ranking—before returning to his seat.
Mirai leaned over, grinning. "You're full of surprises, aren't ya."
"I try, but why are you here again?" Kyle murmured back.
"Wanted to see if my new friend would get in or not, maybe give a shoulder to cry on, who knows." She responded with a sly grin, nudging him with her elbow.
Sigh. I didn't ask for friends, yet here I am making them regardless, Kyle thought in a half-defeated tone as he smiled ever so slightly.
It feels nice to have some positive people around, I guess.
With rankings distributed, the next stage began.
Mirai, satisfied with the outcome, decided to leave and look on from the stands so as not to annoy the magister anymore, despite him not voicing it out.
Now above the newly appointed first years, the shimmering glyph of the Overseer Eye returned, vast and imposing against the sky.
"This year," Caelum continued, "houses will be assigned based not only on performance, but on the Overseer's observations throughout the examinations. Every action, every choice, every intention—you were seen."
Kyle's mind flickered to a chilling thought.Every action? From when it was cast...?Does that mean it saw everything, even outside the trials?
The idea of an all-seeing magical surveillance left a sour taste in his mouth, but also... a deep sense of curiosity.The Overseer spell. How exactly did it work? How much could it really perceive? And could it be manipulated?
As students were called, the Overseer's Eye flared briefly above each, the sigil that once hid on their palms flaring and slowly vanishing, illuminating them before assigning them to their respective Houses.
House Vermillion.House Noctis.House Aurora.House Boreal.
When Kyle's name was called again, the Eye pulsed with a brief flicker of purple light—darker than most.
"Candidate Kyle," Caelum announced, "assigned to House Noctis."
Kyle felt the weight of a dozen stares. Although he couldn't really tell why—it wasn't like he was the only one assigned to it.House Noctis—from what he had gathered—was known for its secrecy and unnatural interest in knowledge buried deep and forgotten.
For such a name, it's almost cliché, but then again, it would be weirder if they were sunshine and rainbows with a name like Noctis.
Mirai gave him a sideways glance from the stands, clearly amused. "Noctis, huh? Why am I not surprised. I guess I have a new junior," she said as she walked out of the hall.
Kyle, preoccupied by Orin's chatter, didn't notice Mirai's exit.
"I'm in House Boreal. It sounds so cool! I heard they are the most relaxed of the houses," Orin chirped. "We're practically mages already. Also, try not to get lost in the dark." He made a show of trying to be all dark and gloomy.
"I seriously question why I stick so close to you when you're this embarrassing," Kyle laughed.
When the final name was called and the last flicker of the Overseer Eye dimmed, Caelum rolled up the scroll with a satisfied nod.
"From over two hundred applicants," he declared, "one hundred have succeeded. The rest..." he shrugged, a little too cheerfully, "will find other paths to walk."
There was a ripple of cheers, sighs of relief, and a few quiet tears.Kyle remained quiet, thoughtful.
Half had failed.And yet somehow, he had made it through.Even with everything stacked against him.
I won't waste the opportunity, especially since I'm here now, he thought, clenching his fists briefly before relaxing.
Orin grinned. "Magic academia, here we come."
They turned together with all the other students, leaving the Hall of Winds behind, stepping into the sprawling future that awaited them.