The trial continued, filling the hall with a tense silence as each student waited to hear their name. Jessica called the next name, her voice clear and commanding.
"Arya Sades."
Arya took a breath, stepping forward with a focused expression. The eyes of her peers were on her as she walked into the room where Jurg awaited, his tall frame cast in shadow against the stone stele, a structure that seemed to absorb the aura of each student, pushing them to their limits.
Jurg gave her a slight nod. "When you're ready, place your hand on the stele and focus your aura. Let it flow naturally."
Arya pressed her hand against the cold, stone surface, her gaze steady. She closed her eyes and began channeling her energy, releasing a dark aura that wrapped around the stele like shadowed flames, encasing it in a deep, midnight black.
Jurg observed her closely, noting the powerful contrast between the dark aura and her calm demeanor. The seconds ticked by. Arya's breathing deepened as the time wore on, and at the three-minute mark, her grip on the stone wavered slightly.
"You're doing well, Arya," Jurg commented, watching her intently. "Just a little longer, if you can manage."
With a slight nod, Arya kept her hand in place, holding the aura steady. Finally, at three minutes and thirty seconds, she pulled her hand away, her breathing slightly heavier but her expression controlled. Unlike Isaki and Marie before her, she showed no signs of sweating; she only looked a bit tired.
Jurg raised an eyebrow approvingly. "Three minutes and thirty seconds," he noted, jotting down the time. "Good work. You may return to your row."
"Thank you," Arya replied, nodding respectfully before walking out.
The hall fell silent as she re-entered. A few students whispered in awe, surprised that Arya showed no visible signs of exhaustion, but Arya ignored them, quietly taking her place back in line.
Jessica glanced at her, impressed, and cleared her throat to regain the students' attention. "Remember, all of you, this trial is confidential. Do not discuss your results with other students outside of this room."
One by one, the students continued to take their turns. The first row, containing the most adept students, averaged around three minutes each, with one student managing to last an impressive four minutes. But as they moved on to the second and third rows, the results began to shift; most students only managed to hold their aura for about two minutes before exiting the room exhausted, some with slumped shoulders, others barely able to stand.
The murmurs grew quieter as the fourth row began their trials. The majority struggled to reach even one minute before they emerged from the room, panting and stumbling, needing to sit down to catch their breath. Sophia, Lian, and Rael were among them, resting on the floor, heads lowered and bodies sagging.
Sophia glanced at Lian, still catching her breath. "Did... did anyone warn us it would be this intense?"
Lian shook his head, wiping sweat from his brow. "I thought three years of training would have prepared us, but this... it's brutal."
Rael nodded, looking over at Arya and then Isaki. "If they're tired, what does that mean for us?" he muttered, trying to gauge how difficult the test really was.
Jessica noticed the fatigue on their faces but remained impassive, calling each name in turn. Finally, it was time for the last row: the tenth row.
Already four cadets from this row had entered and exited, each lasting about thirty seconds before stumbling out, gasping for air and collapsing onto the floor. They were too weak to even sit up, lying down where they could find space. Only one student remained.
Jessica's voice echoed in the hall as she called the next and last name. "Ray Sirio."
Isaki, Arya, Lian, and Rael exchanged glances, all curious as to how Ray would fare. Ray simply adjusted his jacket and walked forward, exuding a calm confidence that none of the others in his row had managed. His steps were quiet, measured, almost as if he were taking a casual stroll rather than heading toward an intense trial.
As he entered the room, Jurg greeted him with a slight nod. "Ray Sirio. You are the last one. Place your hand on the stele and channel your aura."
Ray nodded. "Understood."
He pressed his hand to the stone, closing his eyes and focusing. Almost immediately, a bright, white aura began to emanate from his palm, surrounding the stele in a gentle, serene glow. The light was soft, yet it filled the room, contrasting sharply against the other, darker auras that had been used by previous students.
Jurg watched closely, intrigued. "A white aura... you don't often see that." He kept his eyes on Ray, his expression thoughtful.
A full minute passed, and Ray remained calm. His breathing was even, his expression unchanging, and there was no trace of sweat on his face. Another minute passed, and still, Ray looked composed.
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After a minute and thirty seconds, however, Jurg noticed something peculiar—a faint crack beginning to form on the stele. He raised a hand abruptly.
"That's enough, Ray," Jurg commanded. "You may stop."
Ray lifted his hand without hesitation, glancing at the small crack on the stele. He didn't need an explanation; he understood instantly why Jurg had intervened. With a slight nod, he stepped back.
"Thank you, sir," he said, his voice calm, then turned and walked back out.
As he re-entered the hall, Ray walked calmly toward the tenth row, hands in his pockets, his expression as impassive as ever. The other students stared in shock, noting how untouched he looked—no sweat, no signs of fatigue, nothing that indicated he had just completed the same trial they had barely survived.
Isaki nudged Arya. "Did he... did he actually go through the trial?"
Arya nodded, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "He did. And he lasted almost two minutes."
"Without a single bead of sweat," Lian murmured in disbelief, watching Ray take his seat.
Jessica observed Ray with a newfound curiosity, her gaze lingering on him as she mentally noted his result. She thought to herself, - Interesting. There's more to him than meets the eye.
Jessica surveyed the scene before her with a satisfied yet empathetic glance. Around her, students were sprawled on the floor or leaning heavily against walls, still catching their breath. Others were too exhausted to move, having pushed themselves to their limits in the trial.
Clearing her throat, Jessica called for their attention, her voice cutting through the low murmurs. "That will be all for today. You've done well. Go get some rest and recover. I'll see you all tomorrow morning outside the Academy. Dismissed!"
A collective sigh of relief washed over the room, and the students slowly began to gather their things, grateful for the unexpected reprieve. Isaki, Lian, Rael, Sophia, and Arya regrouped just outside the Academy doors, taking a moment to shake off the intensity of the trial.
"Well, that was intense," Rael muttered, stretching his arms with a groan. "Three years of training, and I still feel like that trial chewed me up and spit me out."
Sophia gave a tired laugh, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Same here. I was counting the seconds by the end. Arya, you were amazing in there. You didn't even look that tired!"
Arya shrugged modestly, casting a glance at Ray, who had just rejoined the group. His expression was calm and steady, and unlike the others, he didn't appear winded or drained.
"Ray," Arya asked, curiosity softening her usual cool tone, "how is it you're not even a little tired?"
Ray shrugged, a small, unreadable smile on his lips. "I'm not sure. I just did what everyone else did—placed my hand on the stele, focused my aura, and let it flow. Nothing special."
Isaki gave him an appraising look. "You don't look like someone who just went through the same trial we did."
Ray kept his tone light, his smile lingering. "Guess I'm just good at hiding it," he replied smoothly, though he held back from mentioning the small crack that had appeared in the stele during his attempt.
"Yeah, well, whatever you did, you're a mystery," Rael added, shaking his head in disbelief. The others laughed, and together, they started making their way toward the dorms, relaxed and at ease. They were just approaching the Academy gates when a voice called out from behind.
"Hey! Wait up!"
They turned to see a boy with blond hair and piercing green eyes jogging toward them, a bright, almost playful grin lighting up his face. Sophia raised her eyebrows in surprise, caught off guard by his striking appearance. His movements were confident, his presence magnetic. The boy, Zirko, didn't even spare a glance at anyone else as he stopped in front of Arya and extended his hand, his green eyes never leaving her.
"Arya, right?" he asked, his voice smooth yet firm, his gaze holding a glint of admiration. "I'm Zirko. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Arya blinked, her own red eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him. After a brief hesitation, she reached out and took his hand, shaking it with a firm grip. "Nice to meet you," she replied, her voice cool as usual.
Zirko's smile widened as if her acknowledgment was exactly what he had hoped for. "I'm really glad we finally met."
Sophia and Rael, who had been waiting for an opening to introduce themselves, seized the opportunity.
"Hey, Zirko!" Sophia chirped, offering a friendly nod. "I'm Sophia. You did really well in the trial—four whole minutes! That's impressive."
Rael joined in, nodding with a grin. "Yeah, you really set the bar high out there. I'm Rael."
But Zirko didn't even glance in their direction; his focus remained fixed on Arya, as if the others weren't even there. It was clear he'd come over with a single purpose in mind.
Arya, unaccustomed to being the center of such focused attention, looked at him with mild suspicion but maintained her composure. Zirko's intense gaze softened just a bit, and he leaned in slightly.
"I'm looking forward to spending more time with you," he said, his voice low and sincere, with a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. Then, with a casual wave, he turned and headed toward the dorms, leaving Arya and the others in silence, watching his retreating form.
After a long pause, Rael finally broke the silence, his brow furrowed. "Well… that was unexpected. He seemed a little... intense, don't you think?"
Lian chuckled, looking over at Arya with a mischievous grin. "Maybe he's got a crush on you, Arya."
Arya's expression turned icy as she shot Lian a sharp glare. Lian quickly held up his hands in surrender, grinning sheepishly. "Noted. I'll keep the jokes to myself."
Sophia laughed, nudging Arya gently. "Maybe he just really appreciates a strong opponent. You made quite the impression."
Arya shrugged, brushing off the attention, though a faint trace of curiosity lingered in her expression. "Let's just head back."
"Agreed," Sophia nodded, giving Arya a reassuring smile before turning to the others. "We'll see you all tomorrow."
As Sophia and Arya walked off together, Isaki watched them, his brow still knit in confusion. "I don't think I've ever seen someone introduce themselves that way," he murmured, glancing back at the others.
Rael crossed his arms, nodding. "Yeah, it's like the rest of us didn't even exist. What a weird guy."
Lian chuckled, shrugging. "Maybe he's just laser-focused. He sees something he likes, and he goes after it."
Meanwhile, Ray observed the entire exchange in thoughtful silence. - That guy is strong, he thought, a glint of respect flashing in his eyes. - For him to approach Arya so confidently, he must be pretty sure of his own abilities. Ray suspected Arya had noticed this, too, even if she hadn't commented on it.
The group continued toward the dormitories, chatting about the day and the events of the trial.
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Elsewhere, Jessica walked briskly down a quiet corridor, Jurg's notebook in her hands. She flipped through the pages, taking in the detailed notes he had recorded on each student's performance. She wanted to review the evaluations thoroughly before her meeting with the headmistress. Lost in thought, she approached the office, determined to discuss the next steps for the Academy's most promising students.