As Kael stepped into the glowing room, a bored-looking woman in a uniform waved him over.
"Alright, go and stand on the platform," she said, not looking up from her clipboard.
Kael walked toward the rune-inscribed circle in the center of the room. As he stepped into it, light shimmered around his feet, then rose like a curtain of glowing mist. The platform pulsed once, then again becoming brighter with each beat. The air buzzed softly.
The woman finally looked up.
"Huh…? Wait…"
A second attendant leaned in. "That can't be right. Run it again."
The monitor refreshed. Bright green and gold lines shifted, numbers climbing rapidly.
"Mana Rank: Master. Mana Potential: SS."
Silence.
The woman nearly dropped her clipboard. "What?"
"Is this a mistake?" one of the staff whispered. "He's... how old?"
"Sixteen," said the first attendant slowly. "That's... above prodigy level. Even most nobles don't awaken that high this early."
Kael stood still, watching them through the glass.
The woman composed herself and hit the intercom. "Uhm… Kael Vernier? Please head through the door to your left to test your combat rating."
He nodded and turned toward the door.
"I didn't release all my mana," he muttered to himself. "Hopefully that's good enough."
---
Combat Evaluation Room B
The door slid shut behind him.
The room beyond was wide, white, and strange. Glowing blue runes circled the walls like orbiting satellites. The floor looked like polished stone from the future glasslike, but humming with energy.
Kael stepped forward, eyes scanning the walls.
No one here?
Then...
SMACK!
"AGH—hey! What the—?!"
A sharp slap stung his face. He recoiled, spinning around.
Standing before him was a girlwell, technically a woman shorter than him, with pink hair tied into two long pigtails, red eyes, and a smug grin. She wore a tank top, jeans, and worn-out sneakers. Her arms were lean and wiry, and she had the confidence of someone who picked fights for fun.
She tilted her head at him. "The association finally brings in a good-looking guy for once. Took them long enough."
Kael blinked, still holding his face. "Wait, what? Are you gonna be the one doing the testing?"
"Yup," she said, popping the 'p.'
"…You don't even look my age."
"Trust me," she said, flashing a toothy grin. "I'm older than you."
"Yeah, sure," Kael mumbled under his breath.
"What was that?" she said.
"Nothing, kid." Kael said while smiling.
"Oh really? Look who's talking."
Without warning, she launched forward and grabbed him by the hair, yanking hard.
"HEY—OW—GET OFF ME YOU LITTLE BITCH!"
She cackled while pulling. "Take that, brat!"
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! THIS IS AN EXAM!"
A chaotic few minutes passed him flailing, her wrestling his hair like it was a sport. Eventually…
---
Kael was kneeling in front of her, arms hanging, hair a mess.
"…I'm sorry. Okay? Chill."
She smirked. "Good. Good little handsome boy."
Kael stared at the floor.
How the hell did I end up in this shit?
The girl clapped her hands. "Alright! Enough fun. Time for your battle test."
Kael got up slowly, fixing his hair.
She pointed behind him. "Weapons. Choose."
Kael turned and saw a rack of weapons floating midair. He reached for a sleek, black-handled sword, light but sharp.
She, on the other hand, grabbed a massive greatsword, longer than her entire body, and flung it over her shoulder like it was weightless.
Kael stared. "How the hell are you carrying that?"
She snapped, "Shut up."
Then she gestured around. "This room? It's a Time Vault. We can fight as long as we want in here. Outside, only a minute will pass."
Kael nodded slowly. "Alright…"
She pointed her blade at him, grinning. "Time to give you an ass-whooping."
Kael blinked.
"…That was kinda cringe."