The first lesson of the day was Basic Arcane Theory, held in one of the smaller lecture halls near the academy's eastern wing. Rows of wooden desks lined the room, and students murmured among themselves as we waited for the instructor. Some were already showing off minor magic—tiny sparks of flame, floating droplets of water, gusts of wind curling around fingers.
I sat near the back, hands folded, watching.
I had no element. No matter how much I focused, no fire, water, wind, or lightning responded to me. The Arcane Channels in my body were open, but they refused to resonate with any element. I was an outlier in a world where elemental affinity determined one's future.
A heavyset man in a navy robe strode into the room, his presence immediately silencing the chatter. Instructor Varn, a middle-aged mage with a reputation for being strict but fair, stopped at the front and tapped his cane against the floor. A soft pulse of Arcane Energy spread through the room.
"Today's lesson," he began, "is about the difference between controlled casting and raw outbursts of magic. Arcane Channels determine how well one manipulates an element, but control comes from practice." His gaze swept over the class. "Let's begin with a simple test."
He waved a hand, and six elemental stones floated before him—red for fire, blue for water, brown for earth, white for air, yellow for lightning, and a dim gray one that represented those with no affinity.
"One by one, step forward and place your hand on the stone that calls to you. If it glows, your affinity is confirmed. If not... well, not all paths are the same."
I exhaled slowly. This was it.
One by one, students approached. Some had bright, immediate reactions—flames flickered to life, orbs of water formed, and currents of wind swirled. Others had weaker responses, their elemental glow dim.
Then it was my turn.
Whispers followed as I walked forward. I could hear them.
"That's Leon Vael... his grandfather was a war mage, right?"
"Why hasn't he shown any magic yet?"
"What if he's an arcane dud?"
Ignoring them, I placed my hand on the stones. One by one.
Fire—nothing.
Water—nothing.
Earth—nothing.
Air—nothing.
Lightning—nothing.
A few chuckles sounded behind me. My jaw tightened, but I forced myself to try the last one—the gray stone.
The room fell silent.
The stone cracked.
Not glowed—cracked. A thin fracture ran across its surface, releasing a faint, colorless light. Instructor Varn's eyes narrowed. "Interesting..." he muttered. "You're not elementless, but you're... unaligned."
Murmurs rose again. I pulled my hand back, my pulse quickening. That wasn't normal.
Varn straightened. "Leon Vael, remain after class. The rest of you, move on to the next exercise."
I returned to my seat, my mind racing. What had just happened?
After class, the other students filed out while I stayed behind. Instructor Varn watched me carefully before speaking.
"Unaligned affinities are rare. It means your Arcane Channels are active, but they don't resonate with any natural element."
I frowned. "Then what does my magic do?"
He tapped his cane, thinking. "You tell me."
I hesitated. "I... don't know."
"Then figure it out." He turned to leave but paused at the door. "You have magic, Leon. Find its purpose."
That afternoon, I sat alone in the school courtyard, staring at my hands.
I had magic. But no element.
What could I even do?
Frustrated, I grabbed a small twig and began idly carving shapes into the dirt with it. Circles, lines, patterns—just to pass the time. But then... something odd happened.
The grooves I carved stayed—sharper, brighter than normal scratches in the dirt. And when I ran my fingers over them, I felt a faint hum of energy.
I blinked.
Slowly, I dragged my finger across the ground in a deliberate shape—a simple rune I had seen in class. The moment I finished it, a soft glow pulsed through the dirt, and for a split second, the air around it vibrated.
I jerked my hand back.
Did I just... invoke magic without an element?
I swallowed, my heart pounding.
I could manipulate raw Arcane Flow through patterns and symbols—an ability completely different from elemental magic.
The morning sun bathed Eldrin Academy's courtyard in warm light, casting long shadows across the stone pathways. A soft breeze carried the scent of fresh bread from the marketplace, mixing with the distant chatter of students preparing for the day's lessons.
For once, there was no pressure—no tests, no strange revelations about my magic, no instructors watching me with curiosity. Just a simple day of lectures, practice drills, and the occasional classmate showing off their elemental prowess.
I sat under a large oak tree near the training field, absently scratching patterns into the dirt with a stick. After yesterday's discovery, I had tested my ability in secret, but nothing had exploded or caused chaos. The glowing runes still pulsed faintly when drawn, but without proper knowledge, I had no idea what they actually did.
I sighed. One step at a time.
"Leon!"
I looked up to see Rye Aldrin, one of my classmates, jogging toward me. He was a wiry kid with short brown hair and an ever-present grin, always talking about wanting to be a Wind Caster someday.
"You're not gonna sit around all day, are you?" he asked, flopping onto the grass beside me. "We've got combat practice next! Didn't you hear? Instructor Varn is bringing in real training dummies today!"
I blinked. "Training dummies?"
Rye nodded eagerly. "Yeah! Enchanted ones! They react to our magic, so it's like fighting a real opponent. This is our chance to show off!"
I hesitated. I still don't know what I can actually do in combat...
Before I could respond, another voice chimed in.
"Heh, what's the point? Leon doesn't even have an element."
I turned to see Darin Velka, a tall, smug-faced student with blond hair and an affinity for fire magic. He had been giving me looks ever since I failed the elemental test yesterday.
Rye scowled. "Shut up, Darin. Magic isn't just about elements!"
Darin smirked. "Maybe not, but it helps. What's he gonna do, draw on the ground mid-fight?"
A few kids nearby chuckled. I ignored them, dusting off my hands and standing up. "Guess we'll find out."
Darin raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You actually planning to participate?"
I gave a small shrug. "Maybe."
His smirk widened. "This'll be fun."
Rye shot me a worried glance as Darin walked off. "You sure about this, Leon?"
I wasn't. But something inside me refused to back down.
I had reincarnated into this world with a power I didn't fully understand. If I wanted to survive here, I couldn't just sit in the background forever.
I clenched my fist.
Tomorrow, I'd put my magic to the test.