The selection test had finally wrapped up, and the massive crowd of candidates spilled into the sprawling courtyard of Syrus Academy. The air buzzed with excitement, disbelief, and a generous helping of gossip. The towering scoreboard still loomed in the sky, its glowing numbers a constant reminder of triumph for some and utter despair for others—like Lorian Eldric, who was currently slouched on a stone bench, staring at the ground as if it owed him an apology.

  “780 MP. Last place. I’m basically the academy’s mascot for failure. Maybe I should just dig a hole, crawl in, and let the earth reclaim me,” he thought, wallowing in self-pity. His stomach growled again, a loud, obnoxious rumble that echoed through the courtyard.

  He groaned, clutching his midsection. “Great. Even my body’s mocking me now.”Around him, the other students mingled, their voices a chaotic symphony of chatter. Groups formed naturally—some clustered around the top performers, others whispering about the mysterious mana pressure incident that had nearly turned the selection grounds into a panic-fueled mosh pit.

  Near the center of the courtyard, a small crowd had gathered around Arsin Nicova, the silver-haired prodigy who’d topped the selection test with a jaw-dropping 39,999 MP. His crimson eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and humility as students bombarded him with questions.“Arsin, how do you even train for that kind of mana output?” a wide-eyed boy asked, practically vibrating with awe.

  Arsin smiled politely, scratching the back of his neck. “Oh, you know, lots of meditation, a balanced diet, and… uh, not panicking when your mana beast pet tries to eat your spellbook.”The group laughed, hanging onto his every word. A girl with braided hair leaned in. “You’re so modest! I bet you could take on the entire faculty with that kind of power!”“Oh, no, no,” Arsin said, waving his hands. “I’m just here to learn, same as everyone else. Besides, I’d rather not get expelled on day one.

  ”Lorian, still sulking on his bench, overheard the exchange and rolled his eyes so hard he nearly strained a muscle. “Perfect hair, perfect manners, perfect mana. This guy’s a walking recruitment poster."If it was a story of a novel, he surely would be the main character....I hate him already.”

  On the opposite side of the courtyard, another spectacle unfolded. Yenika Lunavar, the violet-eyed princess who’d clocked in at 21,890 MP and snagged second place, stood surrounded by her own entourage. Her midnight-blue cloak fluttered dramatically in the breeze, and the students around her practically bowed as they spoke.“Princess Yenika, your performance was flawless!” a girl gushed, clasping her hands together. “Truly worthy of the Moon Princess!”Yenika’s expression remained cool, though her lips twitched slightly. “Thank you. But second place is hardly flawless.”The crowd gasped in unison, as if she’d just admitted to eating peasants for breakfast.

  A boy piped up, “Second place with that much mana? You’re still the Moon Princess in our eyes!”“Indeed,” another added. “The crescent moon shines brightest when it’s not trying to outdo the sun!”Lorian snorted from his bench, loud enough to draw a few glances. “Moon Princess? More like Ice Queen with a side of melodrama.”

  Unfortunately, his snort wasn’t as subtle as he’d hoped. Yenika’s sharp gaze snapped toward him, and the courtyard seemed to hush for a split second.“Is something funny?” she asked, her voice cutting through the noise like a blade.Lorian froze, his brain screaming ABORT MISSION.

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  “Uh… no, just, uh… allergies. Dust in the air. You know how it is.”Her eyes narrowed, but she turned back to her admirers without another word. Lorian exhaled, slumping further into his bench.

  Just when Lorian thought he could fade into obscurity, fate—or perhaps sheer bad luck—had other plans. A loud, obnoxious voice rang out from a nearby group of students.“Hey, isn’t that the guy who got last place? Lorian something? 780 MP—what a legend!”Lorian’s head snapped up, his face turning a delightful shade of tomato red.

  The speaker was a burly kid with a smirk that begged to be punched. His friends snickered, egging him on.“Yeah, how’d he even get in? Did he bribe the artifact with his dazzling personality?”Lorian shot to his feet, fists clenched. “Deep breaths, Lorian. Violence is a last resort. Humiliation is step one.”

  He marched over, forcing a grin that was more grimace than smile.“Excuse me, but I think you’ve got it wrong,” he said, voice tight. “I earned my spot. Mana’s not everything—I’ve got skills you couldn’t dream of.”The burly kid laughed. “Skills? Like what? Tripping over your own feet?”Before Lorian could retort with something clever—or, more likely, something disastrously stupid—Arsin stepped in, his calm presence diffusing the tension like a bucket of water on a campfire.

  “Now, now,” Arsin said, smiling warmly. “Everyone here passed the selection test. That’s no small feat. Lorian’s got potential—I’m sure of it.”Lorian blinked, caught off guard. “Is he… defending me? Or pitying me? Either way, I’m not sure I like it.”The burly kid scoffed but backed off under Arsin’s polite-but-firm gaze. “Whatever, Nicova. You’re too nice for your own good.”Arsin turned to Lorian, his expression genuine. “Don’t mind them. They’re just excited about the results.

  ”Lorian muttered, “Yeah, excited to rub my face in the dirt.”Arsin chuckled. “You’ll get your chance to shine in the next tests. I’m looking forward to seeing what you can do.”“Great, now I’ve got Mr. Perfect cheering me on. No pressure.” Lorian forced a nod. “Thanks. I guess.”Determined to escape the spotlight, Lorian decided to slink away.

  He turned on his heel—only to crash directly into someone. His arms flailed, and he barely caught himself from face-planting. The courtyard gasped as one collective entity.He looked up, and his heart sank into his boots. Yenika Lunavar stood before him, her cloak slightly askew, her violet eyes blazing with irritation.“Watch where you’re going,” she snapped, brushing off her sleeve as if he’d contaminated it.

  “I-I’m so sorry!” Lorian stammered, bowing awkwardly. “Total accident, I swear!”The onlookers whispered furiously. “Did he just touch the Moon Princess?” “He’s dead. So dead.”Yenika straightened, her glare icy enough to freeze lava. “Be more careful. Next time, I won’t be so lenient.”“Yes, ma’am—er, Princess—er, Your Highness!” Lorian babbled, backing away.

  “Why does this keep happening to me?!”Arsin, who’d witnessed the whole debacle, approached with a barely-suppressed grin. “Well, that was… eventful. You okay, Lorian?”Lorian groaned, rubbing his face. “Define ‘okay.’ I just turned the princess into my personal enemy.”“She’s not that bad,” Arsin said, clapping him on the shoulder. “She’s just… particular.”“Particular like a dragon’s particular about its hoard,” Lorian muttered.As if the universe hadn’t had enough fun, a sudden commotion erupted nearby. A girl shrieked as a tiny dragon familiar—scales glinting green—darted through the crowd, leaving chaos in its wake. It zipped past Yenika (who sidestepped with regal grace), dodged Arsin (who just smiled), and made a beeline for Lorian.“Oh, come on!” Lorian yelped, diving out of the way. The dragon crashed into his bench instead, toppling it with a dramatic CRASH.

  The owner, a flustered girl with glasses, ran over. “I’m so sorry! He’s not usually this wild!”Lorian picked himself up, brushing dirt off his pants. “Yeah, well, he’s got great taste in targets.”The crowd erupted in laughter, and even Yenika’s lips twitched—though she quickly masked it with a cough. Arsin helped right the bench, still chuckling. “You’ve got a knack for attracting attention, Lorian.”“More like a curse,” Lorian grumbled.A loud bell rang, cutting through the chatter. An announcer’s voice boomed: “All candidates, proceed to the examination hall for the written test!”Lorian sighed, joining the stream of students. Arsin fell into step beside him. “Good luck in there. I’m sure you’ll do great.”“Yeah, unless the test involves not tripping over princesses,” Lorian said dryly.Arsin laughed. “You’ll figure it out.”As they walked, Lorian caught Yenika glancing at him again, her expression unreadable. “What’s her deal? Does she know something? Or does she just enjoy watching me squirm?”With his pride bruised, his bench toppled, and his dignity in tatters, Lorian steeled himself for the next challenge. “Next test, I’m crushing it. No more last place. No more chaos. Just pure, unadulterated victory.”His stomach growled again.“…After I find more of that fried mana beast meat.”