The warm morning sun streamed through the window, casting soft golden hues across the dorm room. The gentle chirping of birds outside blended with the faint creaks of the wooden floor. Gale stirred from his sleep, rubbing his eyes groggily. His ears caught the sound of rhythmic grunts, and his gaze shifted to the centre of the room.

There, Rai was in the middle of an intense workout, his body glistening with sweat in the morning light. Each push-up highlighted his toned muscles and defined abs, a sight that would undoubtedly make many envious.

Gale smirked. “Good morning, man. Burning the morning oil already, huh?”

Rai let out a loud, exaggerated grunt as he flopped onto the floor like a deflated balloon. “Morning! Ugh, I did it. A thousand push-ups! My arms feel like noodles... wait, are they actually noodles now?!” He grabbed at his arms in mock panic, his eyes wide with over-the-top horror.

Gale chuckled. “You’re fine, drama queen. Still, a thousand push-ups? You trying to get revenge on the floor for something?”

Rai sat up, pretending to struggle as though gravity had increased tenfold. “Revenge? No. Redemption? Maybe. I mean, I thought I’d walk out of that fight like a hero in one of those epic ballads. Instead, I got tossed around like a rag doll.” He scratched his head and grinned sheepishly. “If not for some lucky breaks, I’d be Rai-toast right now.”

Gale nodded, his expression both amused and impressed. “Like the part where the serpent, Jörmungandr, bowed to you? Still no idea why that happened, but man, that was legendary. The stands went wild.”

Rai puffed out his chest and struck a ridiculous superhero pose, his voice dripping with fake grandeur. “Of course it bowed to me. I have... uh... ‘that thing.’ You know, the thing that makes mythical creatures respect you.” He waggled his eyebrows at Gale, who rolled his eyes.

Gale leaned back, his grin widening. “Oh, and then there’s Miss Harchell. Who saw that coming? I mean, an elf! Elves are these mystical, untouchable beings, shy and antisocial. And she just… kisses you and declares she wants to be your wife? Dude, how do you pull this stuff off?”

Rai’s face turned red as he waved his hands frantically. “Pull this stuff off? I don’t know, man! Maybe elves have bad taste? Or maybe she just mistook me for someone else? I mean, who’d want to marry a guy who’s, like, this sweaty all the time?”

Gale doubled over laughing. “Oh, you’re killing me, Rai. You’ve got this crazy life and you still act like it’s no big deal.”

Rai flung his towel dramatically over his shoulder and sighed. “Crazy? Please. You haven’t seen crazy until you’ve tried surviving an academy full of magic users with nothing but luck and charisma. Speaking of which, we’ve got classes. Let’s go before someone curses me again.”

Gale let out a dramatic sigh, flopping back onto his bed with a hand over his heart. “Only you, Rai, would brush off something that insane like it’s just another Tuesday.” He shook his head, a mix of disbelief and admiration flashing in his eyes. “I swear, man, your life is ridiculous.”

Rai opened the door, pointing at Gale with mock seriousness. “Ridiculous? Buddy, I’m just warming up.” He spun out of the room like a performer exiting stage left, nearly tripping over his own feet in the process.

Gale got up, shaking his head with a laugh, and followed him out, their banter continuing as they stepped into the lively academy halls, ready to tackle whatever the day had in store.

The massive orientation hall stretched endlessly, its grandeur still captivating Rai, whose wide-eyed wonder shone as brightly as the sunlight streaming through the hall’s intricate glasswork. His head tilted from side to side, taking in every detail like a child at a festival. Gale couldn’t help but chuckle, watching Rai’s eyes dart about.

Rai suddenly gasped. "Look at those pillars, Gale! They’re so shiny—do you think they’re made of gold? Should I ask if we can take one home? Oh! What if they give us one for free as a first-day souvenir?"

Gale sighed. "Rai, focus. You’re drawing attention again."

As they settled into their seats in the middle of the hall, Gale became increasingly aware of the murmurs buzzing around them. Whispers ebbed and flowed like an incessant tide.

* "That’s Rai, isn’t it?"

* "Hey, he’s the one who beat Mammoth!"

* "No way. He must have cheated."

* "Yeah, Mammoth probably let him win. There’s no chance someone like him could actually beat a powerhouse like that."

Rai, oblivious to the words, leaned toward Gale with a goofy grin. "Hey, do you think they’re talking about my abs? Should I flex for them?" Before Gale could stop him, Rai struck an exaggerated pose, his smile brighter than the chandeliers above.

Gale facepalmed. "Rai… I’m begging you, sit still before someone writes a song about your ‘legendary abs.’"

Despite Rai’s antics, Gale couldn’t ignore the weight of the students’ words. His expression darkened as he thought about the deeply ingrained belief system that had shaped these kids. They had been raised with the mantra "Eyes are everything" drilled into their minds since they could speak. Parents pushed their children to cultivate magic, treating weak magic—and by extension, weak eyes—as a shameful curse.

It didn’t matter that these students had witnessed Rai’s duel with their own eyes. They clung stubbornly to their prejudices, their pride too fragile to accept the truth. Gale thought back to what Rai had said earlier, words that echoed louder than the murmurs. "Those with eyes emanating strong magic are truly blind."

Gale sighed, his gaze shifting to Rai, who was now attempting to balance a coin on his nose. His carefree demeanour stood in stark contrast to the gravity of Gale’s reflections. And yet, Gale couldn’t help but think: maybe, just maybe, Rai’s ordinary eyes held the vision that the rest of the world so desperately lacked.

Rai, with a sudden realization, stood up in his chair and began scanning the room exaggeratedly. His eyes darted around as if searching for something extremely important, his body leaning this way and that, his neck craning as though he were trying to spot something across the vast hall. He even stretched on tiptoe to get a better view, looking utterly ridiculous.

"What are you looking for, Rai?" Gale asked, his eyebrow raised in confusion at his friend's strange behavior.

Rai’s eyes narrowed dramatically, his finger tapping against his chin in a mock-serious manner, deep in thought. "I’m looking for that redhead… what was her damn name again?"

Before Gale could respond, a voice interrupted sharply, dripping with irritation. "Rose," it grumbled, laced with annoyance.

Rai froze mid-sentence. His eyes widened, and he slowly turned to the source of the voice. Seated right behind him, with arms crossed tightly across her chest and a scowl that could rival a thunderstorm, was none other than Rose. Her fiery red hair framed her face, and her sharp brning red eyes bore into him, practically sizzling with irritation.

Rai, caught completely off guard, stammered and fumbled awkwardly. "Ah—yeah, that's right! Rose... I... uh, didn’t know you were behind me..."

Rose’s glare only deepened, and the tension between them seemed to thicken. Rai winced but couldn’t help but grin nervously, his awkward chuckle ringing in the air. "Heh... good to see you too."

Rose, while Rai awkwardly laughed off the moment, was lost in thought, her mind drifting to the words her father had spoken to her earlier: "I am expecting a great man to join the academy this year." She couldn’t help but wonder to herself, “He can’t be it, can he?”

Her heart raced a little at the thought, but she quickly regained her composure. “Only a man as great as my father shall ever take my hand in marriage”, she reassured herself. Yet, despite her conviction, she couldn’t shake the hope that he might be the one. Deep down, a small, unspoken part of her yearned for it.

Rai, once he was done laughing off the situation, stood back up on his chair and began scanning the room comedically, looking for his next target.

"What now?" Gale asked, his voice laced with amusement.

"Well, I found my first wife," Rai said nonchalantly, "now where’s my second? That stunning elf who even stole my first kiss."

Gale laughed hysterically, barely able to contain himself. "Of course! Hahaha, only you would casually say such a sentence with no emotion whatsoever!"

Meanwhile, Rose, her cheeks flushed red, matching her brilliant hair, shouted at Rai with a hint of jealousy, "You fool! I’m telling you once more, I never agreed to marry you!" She then turned her face away, with a cute little “hmph!”

Rai, completely oblivious to her anger, replied with his usual nonchalance, "Well, that's what I love about you now. There's no point in chasing after a goal if it's so easy to attain."

Steam practically erupted from Rose’s head as her face turned beet red.

Gale, still laughing, added with a grin, "Well, well, Romeo, sit down already. Would you? Miss Harchell is no ordinary student, she’s a Dean."

Rai, reluctantly, plopped back down into his seat, shrugging his shoulders in disappointment, as if he’d just lost the prize.

Rose, still embarrassed and conflicted about Rai’s behavior, quickly regained her composure. Though, in the back of her mind, her heart raced, and she found herself wondering, "Could he really be the one?" She tried to dismiss the thought, but a part of her couldn’t help but hope.

Gale looked over at Rai, shaking his head in amused disbelief. "Man, you're something else. Not even a second thought about it. You just keep pushing forward like nothing fazes you."

Rai shrugged, his playful smile never leaving his face. "I’m just being me, that’s all." His grin widened. "Besides, who wouldn’t want to be with someone as great as me?"

Rose caught the tail end of Rai’s remark and couldn’t suppress a small smile despite herself. She quickly covered her face, turning away again to hide the slight blush creeping up her neck.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

The room suddenly fell into a familiar silence, much like the first day during orientation. It was Frost Kromus who entered once again, his silver hair tied back, and his frost-like eyes giving a cold, piercing stare to the students.

"Hmm, very good. I would have been disappointed if I had to request silence once again."

He surveyed the room for a moment, making sure everyone was paying attention Rai being held in place by Gale to make sure he does not do anything stupid.

"Now, though, you better be on your extra best behaviour, because today the Headmaster will address you before sorting you into your respective houses."

The door swung open once more, and Pragaya emerged, his presence filling the room with a radiant light. The air seemed to shimmer around him, casting a sense of hope and wisdom over everyone. He walked toward the podium with a graceful yet commanding elegance, each step deliberate and filled with purpose. His aura was one of authority, yet there was a warmth about him that made students feel both awe and comfort.

As Pragaya surveyed the room, his eyes locked with Rai’s. In an unexpected moment of casualness, Rai raised his hand and gave Pragaya a salute — the kind you would give to an old friend. The room fell silent, and all eyes shifted to the exchange.

To everyone's shock, especially Kromus, Pragaya returned the salute with a smile, his eyes gleaming with a quiet amusement. The students were stunned, exchanging puzzled looks. Rai had just done something that no one had ever dared to do in the presence of such authority — yet here was the Headmaster himself, responding in kind.

The reaction in the room was a mix of disbelief and fascination. A few students whispered among themselves, unable to comprehend the scene they had just witnessed, while others simply stared in stunned silence. Rai, ever unbothered, took his seat, not fully realizing the gravity of the moment. Kromus stood frozen, his frosty demeanor faltering for the briefest of moments, clearly thrown off by the unexpected exchange.

Gale and Rose knocked Rai on the head in comedic fashion. "What the hell do you think you're doing, you idiot?" Rose exclaimed, her tone a mixture of disbelief and irritation. Rai rubbed his head, wincing in pain, and shrugged nonchalantly. "What? I’m just showing the old guy some respect. If it weren’t for him yesterday, Frosty Eyes would’ve stopped the fight before it even heated up."

Rose and Gale both sighed in unison, their hands covering their faces in exasperation. Gale shook his head slowly, a resigned, dry tone in his voice. "I don't know what else I was expecting from you, really."

Rai chuckling childishly "Aww c'mon guys, it's not a big deal," he says with a cool attitude.

Meanwhile, Pragaya has now made it to the podium, ready to speak. The room quiets as all eyes turn to him. Pragaya's presence radiates confidence and wisdom, commanding attention without saying a word. As he stands before the students, he takes a moment to survey the room before beginning.

"Esteemed students, and if history were to repeat itself, the next potential Elemental Magistrate, whomever that might be," he says with a knowing look, his eyes briefly landing on Rai, making sure no one else notices the subtle jab directed at him. The crowd murmurs, unsure whether to be excited or confused.

"I am deeply thrilled and filled with joy to see you all here today," Pragaya continues, his tone genuine but slightly theatrical. "I won’t bore you with a longwinded speech, do not fret," he adds with a wink, eliciting a few chuckles from the students.

"Let’s get right into the main event—the Elemental House assignments."

At this, Rai looks around in confusion, scratching his head with a puzzled expression. "The hell's that?" he asks in his usual comedic fashion, clearly not grasping the seriousness of the situation.

Gale, who is used to Rai's quirks by now, sighs with exasperation, his tone dry as ever. "The Elemental Assignment is the ceremony where your magic will be appraised using that huge crystal ball," he explains, gesturing toward the large object in the center of the room. "The stronger your magic, the more advanced your class will be. And depending on which element you have the most affinity for, you'll be placed in one of the four Elemental Houses for inter-house competitions."

Rai nodded slowly, but his confused expression never left his face. He scratched his head, his fingers fumbling as if trying to hold onto a slippery concept. His eyes darted around, clearly struggling to grasp the full significance of the event. "What do you mean, the element you have most affinity for?" he asked, his voice filled with innocent curiosity, as if he were asking about a completely unrelated subject.

Gale, sensing Rai's confusion, let out a small sigh. He tried to keep his tone calm but serious. "It means that unless you're from one of the 4 great clans and are a direct descendant, you’ll likely have more than one elemental affinity. The strongest of these elements will be the one you’re most attuned to." Gale’s eyes glinted with a rare sense of purpose as he spoke, but the uncertainty in his voice gave away how much he wasn’t sure himself.

Rai, still struggling to connect the dots, let out a low hum and scratched his chin dramatically, as if trying to solve an unsolvable puzzle. "Huh..." he muttered, his gaze wandering to the floor, still processing. Before he could respond, Gale seemed to pause, his brow furrowing as a thought struck him.

"Although," Gale continued, his tone shifting from casual to genuinely confused, "Wouldn't that mean that sub-clans with multiple elemental affinities could be stronger than the 4 great clans themselves?" His question hung in the air like a heavy mist. Both he and Rai fell into deep, thoughtful poses, eyes narrowed as they both pondered the implications. It was almost as if the entire room had quieted down around them, giving the two of them a moment to wrestle with the weight of their realizations.

Rose, her tone a mix of disappointment and pride, leaned forward, her gaze piercing Rai and Gale. "Well, I guess I have no choice but to educate you two fools. Listen closely now, because I will not repeat myself," she said firmly, the pride in her voice palpable. Rai and Gale both turned their full attention to Rose. Rai, still a bit distracted by the presence of the girl in front of him, stared at her with wide eyes, a little too obvious in his admiration. Rose, maintaining a cool composure, met his gaze without flinching, though a faint sigh escaped her lips.

Rai grinned sheepishly as he realized he'd been caught staring. "Oh, sorry, I was just thinking about how pretty you are," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Rose rolled her eyes but didn't let it throw her off as she continued. "Those descended from the four great clans are the most powerful because they control the purest form of the elements," she started, her voice filled with authority, though Rai's words left a slight pink flush on her cheeks. "For example, fire users aren’t limited to just creating and manipulating fire. With enough practice, they can also control magma or lava, which is a mixture of both fire and earth." She nodded toward Gale to reinforce her point.

Gale, who had already heard this a thousand times, leaned back and muttered under his breath, "So basically, fire guys get to play with lava and think they’re the best thing since sliced bread." His dry humor almost made Rose crack a smile.

Rose, keeping her composure, continued. "On the other hand, those from the sub-clans, while they may have affinities with multiple elements, can only control the single combination they are born with. For instance, Mammoth’s lightning is a blend of both wind and water elements. However, he can only control lightning, he can’t command wind, water or storm magic, which is another combination of wind and water, or any other combination between wind and water."

Rai, ever the curious one, blinked a few times, his expression growing even more puzzled. "Wait, you’re telling me fire guys can make lava?" he asked, scratching his head. "What next, earth guys can make trees grow cuz they are part of the earth?"

Rose didn’t miss a beat. "Yes, pretty much."

Gale couldn’t help but laugh at Rai’s expression, shaking his head. "You're something else, you know that?"

Rose smirked at Gale’s remark but didn’t let it derail her explanation. "But those who have the pure elements, either water or wind since these two are the elements that make up lightning, can learn to control even Mammoth’s lightning or create storm magic with enough training although that is a very tall order even for the most skilled Magian.

Her tone shifted as she spoke about her father. “it is such a tall task that even My father, apart from his pure fire magic, can only control three other combinations: light, magma, and steam cloud magic." The pride in her voice was undeniable as she spoke, though there was a subtle glimmer of something softer in her eyes as she glanced back at Rai. Was she hoping for more recognition? It was hard to tell.

Rai, brimming with animated frustration, nearly jumps out of his chair. "You're telling me he can control four types of magic? Geez, man, gimme a break, would you?" he exclaims before slumping back with a dramatic sigh. "How am I gonna beat that, take his place, and marry you?"

Rose's face involuntarily lights up with a proud yet flustered smile. She quickly masks it, responding in a smug tone, "Right? Isn’t he great? You have no chance of being as amazing as him." Her voice is confident, but a hint of teasing lingers.

Rai, now back up on his chair, meets her eyes. "You're right. I’ll never be as great as him." His serious tone catches Rose off guard. A faint sense of disappointment starts to creep into her expression, but before it takes hold, Rai flashes his signature bright smile, one so radiant it feels like it could light up the entire hall. "Because I'm not here to be as great as him. I’m here to be a hundred times better than he ever dreamed of being."

Rose is left momentarily stunned, her confident façade cracking. She tries to compose herself, but her mind lingers on Rai’s words. No one had ever spoken to her like this before. Everyone else tiptoed carefully, measuring their words out of respect—or fear—of her father’s position as the Elemental Magistrate. But Rai? His bold determination completely ignored those societal norms. To him, her father’s title wasn’t a barrier; it was just another goal to surpass.

A flicker of admiration grows within Rose, though she quickly brushes it aside. She couldn’t be falling for someone like Rai... could she? Her stubborn pride wouldn’t allow her to admit it—not yet, anyway. Still, she shifts ever so slightly in her seat, the tiniest movement signalling the first crack in her armour.

As the trio animatedly discussed, Pragaya's speech seemed to drift into the background for Rai. Suddenly, Rai noticed students moving towards the front, and his laughter froze mid-sentence. Blinking, he whispered, “Wait... did I miss something important?”

Pragaya's commanding voice echoed across the hall:

"Alright then, students! Without further ado, let's get to the best part of the day. I would like you all to gather around the Crystal Ball. As Professor Kromus calls your name, step forward to be appraised and sorted into one of the four Elemental Houses, as well as into your class level—ranging from Level 1 to Level 5."

Excitement surged like a tidal wave through the hall. The students eagerly clustered around the towering Crystal Ball, its shimmering surface radiating a magical brilliance. Swirling patterns of vibrant colors danced hypnotically across its surface, pulsing as though alive. Whispers of excitement filled the air as students speculated about their elemental affinities and levels.

Rai's eyes widened in awe, though a faint hint of cluelessness betrayed his inner thoughts. Gale noticed immediately and nudged him forward with a sigh. “Come on, Rai. Don’t just stand there like you’ve never seen magic before.”

Rai tilted his head, scratching the back of it with his usual sheepish grin. “So… uh… what if the Crystal Ball says I don’t belong in any house? Do they have, like, a closet or something for outcasts?”

Gale stifled a laugh while trying to maintain his composure. “Come on Rai, no time to feel sorry now”.

Rose, walking slightly ahead of them, couldn’t resist turning around, her fiery red hair catching the light as she cast an exasperated glare. “Try not to embarrass yourself, Rai. And for heaven’s sake, stop acting like a clueless fool. This moment will determine the path of your future!”

But as her gaze lingered on Rai, her expression softened. Her thoughts betrayed her usual composure: Even if I have no idea how someone like him got here... he might just surprise us all. Flustered by her own musings, she quickly turned away, her face tinged with a hint of pink.

Ahead of the students, Professor Kromus stepped forward. His frost-like eyes swept over the gathered crowd, immediately silencing every whisper and movement. The students collectively shivered under the weight of his commanding presence, a chill permeating the room as though the temperature had dropped.

“Names will be called in order,” Kromus began, his voice cold and precise. “Step forward when summoned.”

The hall held its breath. All eyes were on the Crystal Ball, which pulsed faintly in anticipation. For the students, this was the moment they had been waiting for—the moment they would discover their destinies.

Rai, meanwhile, leaned toward Gale, his curiosity unabated. “You think it’ll say something cool for me? Like… ‘Congratulations! You’ve unlocked the House of Awesomeness!’”

Gale gave a long, resigned sigh. “Sure, Rai. And while we’re dreaming, maybe it’ll say you’re the long-lost prince of a magical kingdom.”

The light-hearted banter added levity to the room, but for everyone else, the ceremony was sacred. For Rose, it was a chance to watch Rai further prove his worth—or lack thereof. For Rai, it was just another step in his whimsical quest to conquer the world.

This was where the tale would truly start to unfold.