The Grand Hall was massive, its ceiling stretching so high that enchanted stars twinkled above like a night sky. Pillars of white marble lined the sides, each inscribed with ancient runes. Rows of students filled the space, their voices a dull hum of excitement and nerves.

  I stood near the back, arms crossed, my sword resting against my shoulder. Around me, the first-years whispered amongst themselves, barely able to contain their anticipation.

  Then, without warning—

  BOOM!

  A blast of frigid air rushed through the hall, sending a sharp chill down my spine. Ice spread across the floor, tendrils of frost racing toward us. Some students gasped, stumbling backward as the cold bit into their skin. Others instinctively raised their hands, summoning weak flames to counter the creeping ice.

  But I stood still.

  I had felt colder before.

  In the blink of an eye, the ice froze mid-air, forming intricate spirals that shimmered under the enchanted light. And at the center of it all, a figure emerged.

  A man with snow-white hair and piercing blue eyes.

  His coat billowed behind him, woven with silver threads that reflected the frost around him. The air itself bent to his presence, forming tiny, swirling particles of ice that danced around his fingertips.

  I saw it.

  I saw the way his mana manifested—not just as a force, but as visible particles. Tiny fragments of blue energy clung to his body, pulsing with raw magic.

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  Every student in the hall froze, eyes wide.

  "That's…!" someone whispered.

  "The Frostblade Instructor, Sir Alden!"

  So this was our homeroom teacher.

  Alden exhaled slowly, his breath turning to mist in the chilled air. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the frozen tendrils shattered, vanishing into nothing.

  Silence hung in the hall.

  "First-years," Alden’s voice carried effortlessly, sharp as a blade, "Welcome to Elixir High."

  His gaze swept over us, cold and calculating.

  "This is not a place for the weak," he continued. "Magic is more than just power. It is an extension of yourself. Here, you will learn to wield it, refine it, and master it. If you fail, you will be left behind."

  His words sent a ripple of tension through the students.

  Then, he raised a single hand. A floating crystal appeared above his palm, glowing softly.

  "This is a mana resonance crystal," Alden explained. "It will assess your magical potential—your grade, your elemental affinity, and your dorm placement. Step forward when I call your name."

  One by one, students approached the crystal.

  Each time a student placed their hand on it, the crystal flickered with light, displaying their grade.

  "B-Rank, Fire Affinity."

  "C-Rank, Wind Affinity."

  "A-Rank, Lightning Affinity."

  Each student received their classification. Those with A or B-rank mana stood taller, pride in their eyes. Those with lower ranks shifted uncomfortably, murmuring amongst themselves.

  Then—

  "Lucian Vael."

  I stepped forward.

  Murmurs rippled through the crowd as I approached the crystal. I could already feel the stares.

  "The swordsman," someone whispered.

  "The guy who got in without magic."

  I ignored them.

  Placing my hand on the crystal, I waited.

  Seconds passed.

  The crystal didn’t change.

  Alden frowned. He waved his hand, commanding the crystal to resonate deeper. The magic flared, scanning me.

  Nothing.

  The hall was dead silent.

  No mana affinity.

  No grade.

  Nothing.

  Alden narrowed his eyes. "Strange…"

  Whispers spread like wildfire.

  "He has no mana?"

  "How did he even get in?"

  "Was it a mistake?"

  I clenched my fist.

  I had expected this. I had yet to awaken my magic. It didn’t matter that I could see the elemental particles on others. It didn’t matter that I could sense the flow of mana in the room.

  Until I could use magic myself, I was nothing in their eyes.

  Alden studied me for a long moment before finally speaking.

  "Lucian Vael," he said. "For now, you will be classified as Unranked."

  The weight of the word settled over me.

  Unranked. Not even worthy of measurement.

  More whispers. More judgmental stares.

  But I simply stepped back without a word.

  I didn’t need their approval.

  This was just the beginning.

  I would prove them wrong.

  And when I finally awakened—

  They would see who I really was.