(Fayden’s point of view)

Once the announcement was finished Kyla, Mai, and I were teleported to an empty hall. There were no signs or markers to guide us, but there was only one path we could take.

At the end of the hall we found a large rectangular waiting room. There were benches running the length of the longer walls, two tables covered with snacks, and a refrigerator stocked with plenty to drink. There were a couple doors along the back side of the room, and some monitors mounted high on the wall. One showed the current time, the other played a video on repeat.

“…en accepted to Sky Haven University. This will be the beginning of wild and amazing opportunities for each of you. Please enjoy the snacks until all exams are completed.” The woman on the video kept speaking, but I stopped listening. I was worried about Kyla.

I didn’t know what happened, but she definitely wasn’t herself during the match. “Everything okay, Ky?”

She glanced at me then back at her hands. I hadn’t noticed until now, but her hands were trembling. She folded them nearly in her lap then snapped, “I’m fine.”

She wasn’t very convincing. Mai walked past us and took a seat on the opposite end of the room. “Don’t worry about it Ky, it doesn’t matter if you’re first class or dust mage. The fact is you got in!”

“That’s easy for you to say. You took out that creep with the spirit relic and almost got Mai as well.” Ky shot back while sending a knife eyed glare at Mai.

“I’m pretty sure she let me get that close on purpose. I don’t know why she did it, but I feel like she could’ve stopped me long before she did.” I whispered.

“She’s a liar and a cheat, Fey. She probably did it so you’ll feel indebted to her, but telling you, her kindness is all false and self serving.”

“I think you might be overreacting a bit. She seems fine to me.”

“Whatever,” Ky replied with a deep exhale. “At least one of us made it to the top right off. I’ll just have to earn a rune and then challenge that frozen dwarf again. I’ll show her how a real genius gets things done.”

I understood what she meant, but knights of valor was far from the top. First class mages sit high above the rest. Knights get some perks, but are nothing more than expendable meat shields to keep the real mages safe. Still it was good to see her so determined.

“Phew! I was worried for a moment that maybe your fire went out,” I said.

“As long as you don’t give up you’ll never lose. That’s what Sven always says. Besides, I probably would have beaten her if I hadn’t let my guard down.”

“Why did you keep freezing up? You were so confident at first, I was sure you had a plan.”

“I did have a plan. From the moment the match started I planned to lay a trap for them, but the wolves ruined that, and then when the time came to fight… I don’t know how to explain but I just couldn’t.” Kyla was visibly shaken. I’d never seen her look so unsure or upset.

“Maybe you used too much magic too quickly?”

“NO! It wasn’t that. I know my limits and I wasn’t close. This was something different. Something… mental.”

“Congratulations you two!” A slim boy said, clapping half heartedly as he entered the lobby.

Mai shifted in her seat uncomfortably but didn’t acknowledge him. I assumed he was another student that passed both tests, but he entered alone.

“Don’t be so cold.” The boy smirked as he sat next to Mai and placed an arm around her. “I’ve heard whispers that our parents are talking about joining the families.” He raised his eyebrows and leaned closer to Mai.

Kyla pretended to gag then mouthed the word, “disgusting.”

Mai rolled her eyes and tried to move away from the boy, but he cornered her against a wall. “One day I’ll melt that ice in your heart and make you my queen. You just keep waiting babe.” It seemed like he was trying to act cool, but from where I was sitting he looked like an ass.

“It’s not ice that’s keeping us apart.” Mai frowned and slipped under his arm. She calmly walked over and sat beside me. Mai was close enough that her long silver hair brushed against my arm as if she was intentionally trying to give him the wrong impression about our relationship. She then proceeded to lean over and rest her head on my shoulder.

I’d expected her skin to feel cold, but it was surprisingly warm. Her soft hair brushed against my cheek and she rested a hand on top of mine in my lap. Unsure how to respond, I completely froze up. My face felt hot like fire and my posture became stiff and awkward. “Uhm… I uhm—”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Kyla said, rolling her eyes.

“This is just pathetic. You would really choose some magicless worm over me?” the boy groaned. He arrogantly flipped his hair out of his face and posed to show off his features.

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For the first time I got a good look at the boy's face. He had strong brown eyes, scruffy blonde hair that looked intentionally messy, and a great smile. His button down shirt was only partially buttoned showing off his abs and pectorals. He oozed confidence and everything he wore looked expensive. Yet, for all his good looks, he gave off the air of an uncouth brat that overestimated his value. I still wasn’t sure of his identity, but judging by his distorted self awareness, I guessed he must’ve come from one of the upper noble houses.

His attitude pissed me off, but it wasn’t my problem so I decided not to say anything. If Mai wanted to lean on me then I didn’t mind. This was the first time I’d been so close to any girl that wasn’t family or my trainer, and I figured there was no reason to push her away.

“I’d choose a literal worm over you, or a leech, or even a parasite. Being eaten from the inside out would be better than ten seconds spent with you.”

“Ouch!” I said without meaning to. When the boy’s irate glare turned on me, I immediately regretted speaking.

“I ignored your insignificant presence at first, but maybe it’s time you learn your place!” The boy growled and charged towards me, knocking chairs and tables aside.

Just then another group of people walked in. Leading them was a woman I assumed to be a staff member of the university. She wore a tight fitting suit and carried a clipboard. Her flaming red hair was tied into a messy bun atop her head with a few loose strands dangling to either side of her face. Her Green eyes seemed to peer right into my soul, but I knew that was impossible. She took a pair of glasses out from a pocket and slid them up the ridge of her freckled nose then motioned for the five others behind her to take a seat.

“Congratulations to all of you. Especially you Ms. Masson,” she said to a nervous and fidgety girl. “Your match was quite the spectacle and certainly nothing like we’ve ever seen before.”

The girl the administrator was addressing seemed surprised and even more uncomfortable when her name was called out.

“Are the entrance exams already done?” the arrogant boy asked.

“Ah, Fin Emerson right?” the lady asked but continued without waiting for a reply. “Your match was awfully unique as well. Somehow you managed to injure everyone else participating despite all of our safeguards.”

“Thanks for the compliment,” Fin said with a puffed up chest as he released my collar.

“Oh geez, please don’t encourage him!” Mai moaned.

“It wasn’t a compliment,” the administrator said flatly. “Usually attacking your teammate is an automatic disqualification, but since it appeared to be an accident we let it slide. Don’t expect such lenience again.”

Watching Fin deflate like a balloon was immensely more satisfying than it should’ve been, and judging by the laughter I guessed everyone else enjoyed it as well.

“From this day forth your actions will reflect on the university; so you’ll be expected to conduct yourself accordingly or face disciplinary action. Are there any questions about what this means?” The administrator spoke sternly and made eye contact with each of us starting with Fin who quickly nodded then looked away.

Everyone nodded to show they understood and she continued again.

“The last placement test has indeed concluded. With the exception of the students injured by Mr. Fin, the people in this room are all those who have passed. The rest should be joining us soon. I suggest all of you take some time to get to know anyone you don’t already know as you will all need to depend on each other if you hope to survive through graduation. Are there any questions?”

We all looked around at each other, but no one asked anything.

“Well then—” Just as the woman was about to continue, another group of four entered the room through one of the back doors.

Three of them had matching white outfits with the school’s logo printed on them. The stubby man leading the group wore an all black outfit with the words Med Bay one written in white across his chest. He was scruffy and not at all what I pictured when I thought of a medic. His face seemed fixed into a permanent scowl and he walked like he was brooding over some unknown grievance. When the red haired lady smiled at him, he just grunted and stood beside her. The three students, seeming somewhat unsure of themselves, filled some of the remaining open seats.

None of the injured students had a visible injury, but seeing them caused me to recall being injured during my match. After being teleported back to the arena all of my injuries were gone. My clothes weren’t ripped and there were no blood stains anywhere. My best guess was that the exam took place in some form of virtual reality, but that left me wondering what kind of injury Fin could’ve inflicted on the other participants of his match.

The administrative woman cleared her throat. “This is Mr. Rotborn. I expect some of you will spend many nights in his care so try not to get on his bad side.” She seemed serious, but it was incredibly difficult not to think of it as a joke when looking at the grumpy little man next to her.

“Does he even have a good side?” Fin satirically remarked. To which Rotborn’s nostril flared as he made a low rumbling noise like a beast’s growl.

“Oh, and before I forget, I’m Valencia Nordblum. Those of you in first class will be seeing more of me, while the rest of you will likely not.”

“So you instruct the First Class?” a sheepish looking boy asked.

“No of course not! However, when you turn in missions you’ll do so to my office as I oversee most administrative matters in this school.”

“Then what about the knights? Won’t they be seeing you as well?” he added.

“Knights turn in missions to their commanders, who then turn them in to the administrative office. I doubt anyone here will reach the rank of commander anytime soon.” Valencia replied. After checking her watch Valencia added, “Now then, it’s time for dust mages to collect uniforms and report to their dorms. The rest of you come with me to receive your uniform and collect your first mission.”

“Wait, I thought you said we’d have time to get to know each other!” Ms.Masson shouted.

Valencia seemed stunned for a moment, but quickly replied, “Dear, if you haven’t already identified kin among this group, then I’m afraid no amount of time would be sufficient for you to find allies.” She smiled politely and turned towards a door. “Come now students. Let’s go.”

I felt bad leaving Ky, but at least I didn’t have to leave her with Fin. The other students didn’t seem too bad. Still, I could see the jealousy in her eyes as I walked away with the First class and knight students.

If one of us had to stay behind, it should’ve been me. I was almost ready to quit without even trying when our opponents were announced. If not for Kyla’s confidence I would have backed down. Unfortunately there was nothing I could do now and no way I could switch places with her.