"Kai, it's time for breakfast, I made your favorite.”

Huh? Did I just wake up? What was I doing a moment ago? I follow Emdos’s voice into the kitchen where a bowl rests on the table, automatically assuming it would be soup. It feels like something has happened like this before, but I don't remember. While ignoring the feeling of déjà vu, I rush over with a smile on my face and then peer into the bowl. My smile quickly dissolves into a frown, realizing what this is.

"Now eat it, Kai. I'll make it easy for you," Emdos says and takes the bowl with the spoon in hand. He moves in on me, closer and closer. Out of instinct, I want to run away, but I can't move. Somehow, my limbs are tied to the wall. Emdos cackles with the most twisted grin on his face. He continues, "It's time for your punishment Kai."

"Nooooo!" I scream, forcing my eyes to shut tightly. I keep them closed for several seconds. Emdos stops laughing. There’s no noise around me, and my arms are free. When did that happen? I very slowly inch an eye open to see if Emdos is still there. Neither he nor the spoon is there.

I sigh and open my eyes normally. I’m lying down with the ceiling straight ahead. Looks like it was all just a dream. Where am I? I sit up and look around.

An old man is standing in front of me, leaning backward. He is wearing a red robe with black vertical stripes on it. His gray hair is tied up in a knot and holds something in his right hand.

On my left, there is a large crowd of kids like me. They are seated on seven different elevations with about twenty seats per row. Not every place is filled, but there must be over a hundred kids. At the ends of each row, stone steps lead up to closed doors on top.

I'm sitting on what appears to be dirt and grass several feet above the floor. On my right, there is writing on a blackboard. As my eyes continue to wander around the room, I realize everyone is staring at me, so I crack a nervous smile.

"It looks like you are finally awake. The guards have updated me on what happened. I have cast some Healing magic on you, so you should feel fine now, but you should take it easy. But since you were late, I will have to give you a punishment," the old man informs.

"Punishment…?" I ask hesitantly. Then, I remember everything. Of the soup and the awful smell and taste of it. Even though I already threw it up, I still feel something coming. By instinct, I open my mouth and face the ground. Without warning, more of my breakfast spill out onto the floor.

Not as much comes out this time as on the street. I fought the impulse to throw up before, so that’s why this is happening now. Now, I’ll let it all out. I don’t fight the urges at all. One gag after the other until nothing seems to come out.

"Gross…" several people mutter in the room. I wipe my mouth with the sleeve of my shirt and face the old man. I say, "Um…sorry, I wasn't feeling good."

I smile and laugh a little to ease the tension.

"If you are still not feeling well, the punishment can wait,” he says.

"Um, I'm fine,” I say, despite still feeling a bit sick. Emdos’s punishments prepared for me for this, but it doesn’t make it any easier. They send shivers down my body just thinking about the past. I want to get it over with, so I don’t have to dread over it. “I'll take my punishment now. Ar-are you gonna make me eat carrots?"

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There is a brief silence, but then laughter explodes from the half room. What are they laughing about? That I’ll take the punishment now rather than later? None of them know how terrifying Emdos’s punishments are. I turn my head to the crowd with raised eyebrows and exclaim, “Carrots, they’re scary!”

The entire room bursts out laughing this time. Even the old man joins them. My face grows increasingly hot, which makes me uncomfortable.

"Haha, you are a funny one, are you not? I am not going to feed you carrots, but I am going to have you wear this on your head," the old man says. He holds a bowl-shaped object in front of me. I grasp it firmly with both hands.

"What's it do?" I ask. My lips quiver. It’s going to slowly crush my head, isn’t it?

"This is a magic item that measures your Mana capacity potential. You see, there are three grades of Mana. Scrap Mana is the lowest quality of Mana, Rich Mana is the highest quality, and Unrefined Mana is in the middle. This will allow me to see your potential in each type. S is the highest, and E is the lowest. It does not hurt, and you will not feel anything. Everyone else has received their results in private, and you would be the only one left who needs to measure his Mana capacity potential. As for your punishment, I will reveal your results to everyone."

“No,” I mutter. I cover my mouth with my hands afterward. I didn’t mean to say that out loud.

“Come on now. It is not that bad,” he says.

He says this thing measures Mana capacity potential. If that’s the case, I can’t let him put that thing on me. I recalled my conversation with Emdos yesterday. Everyone will find out about my Mana, and no one will want to be my friend as a result. I need an excuse.

I stare at the magic item in my hands and ask, "How do I know this won't hurt me? I'm kinda scared."

"Haha, it cannot be helped. Would someone volunteer to retake the test?"

"I will!" a girl in the front row exclaims, stands up, and then walks toward me. She is shorter than me with long, straight, brown hair down to her waist. She’s cute.

It feels like nothing else matters when I make eye contact with her bright, blue eyes. They make my heart flutter, and it’s like she can see right through me. I look away.

She stops moving in front of me, and my eyes find their way back on her. She’s staring right at me. What does she want? Is she interested in me too? I smile slightly and gulp.

“Wh-what do you…” I mutter, finding that I can’t speak properly. What’s wrong with me?

"Can you give me that?" she asks and points her finger toward the magic item in my hand. I forgot that I'm still grabbing onto it.

"Ah. Here you go,” I say and give her the item.

"Thank you," she responds. Those two words make me feel nice inside. She puts on the device and walks to the old man, stopping inches away from him. She asks, "Teacher, is it ready yet?"

Oh, the old man is the teacher! That should’ve been obvious.

"Let me see… Oh my, yes, I remember you now. Your name is Luna, right?" the old man asks.

Her name is Luna… I smile.

"Yeah!" she exclaims.

"Luna, your Scrap Mana rank is S, your Unrefined Mana rank is B, and your Rich Mana rank is A."

I purse my lips and take a quick breath. Isn’t that a remarkable result? This means I’ll be her only friend! As I begin to grin, the entire room roars.

"Wow, that's amazing!"

"Awesome!"

Everyone is cheering for Luna, which doesn’t make any sense. I thought they would be jealous and hate her. So, the opposite must be true instead. I ask, “Teacher, are her results that…poor?”

"No, on the contrary, they are quite impressive! Over the history of this Academy, only 5% have tested S for Scrap Mana, 25% have tested B or better for Unrefined Mana, and less than 1% have tested A or better in Rich Mana. These percentages are not mutually exclusive. A few other students this year had quite some impressive results as well. Ahh… Do not worry. Most people fail to get anywhere near Luna's results, so do not be disheartened. Now it is your turn."

This is perfect! I’ll show the entire room my greatness, and I’ll be friends with everyone! Most importantly, I’ll be able to impress Luna and be her friend, too! I declare, “Alright! My name’s Kai, remember it!”

Luna hands me the magic item with a smile and says, “Good luck, Kai.”

I take the magic item from her and put it on my head. I reply, "Thanks, Luna. Don't feel too bad when I have better results."

"Um, okay,” she says and goes back to her seat.

I cross my arms and puff my chest out while maintaining my smug smile. The teacher walks over to examine the device.

He hasn’t said anything yet. But then again, he’s never seen a prodigy like me. It’s only taking a long time because he’s having trouble finding the right words to announce the result. Just tell everyone already!

“Hmm…” the teacher interjects. “This cannot be correct.”

"Emdos said I'm special, so I must have some great results, right? Now tell everyone my results," I say while holding my current position.

The teacher lets out a long drawn out sigh before finally informing, "All of your ranks are grade E."

I stop smiling and relax my facial expressions. All of my ranks are grade E, the lowest rank? I must’ve misheard it. I interject, “What?”