The training grounds of Valoria Magic Academy were bathed in the bright, almost harsh light of late morning. The sun was high in the sky, casting short shadows across the open space surrounded by tall stone walls engraved with glowing runes.

It was around eleven, close to noon, and the day's warmth had settled in, making the new Apprentice Wizards of House Drakar shift nervously in their crimson robes.

In front of the gathered Apprentices stood a group of twelve senior students in their fourth and final year. They wore expressions of smug superiority, clearly enjoying their role as the ones in charge.

The seniors stood like a line of sentinels, blocking the way to the deeper mysteries of the academy, their crimson-trimmed robes fluttering in the light breeze.

One of the seniors, a chubby boy with a loud voice, stepped forward and clapped his hands sharply. "Alright, everyone! Line up! Quickly!" he barked, his tone filled with impatience.

He waved his arms in big, exaggerated motions, clearly savoring the chance to command the newcomers.

Kaelen and Jarin, arriving at the edge of the training grounds, exchanged amused glances. They were about to find a spot in line when they heard a familiar voice call out.

"Hey! Over here!"

They turned to see Liora waving enthusiastically with a broad smile. She stood slightly off the side, waving her arms as if afraid they might miss her amidst the crowd of nervous new students.

"Come on!" she urged, her eyes bright with excitement.

Kaelen and Jarin quickly made their way over, slipping between the gathered Apprentices to join her. Liora's playful expression quickly shifted to a mock pout as they reached her.

"I can't believe you two got to be roommates," she said, her tone teasing as she crossed her arms. "I'm stuck sharing a room with someone from one of the Great Families. She's so uptight and proper that I feel like I'm being judged every time I breathe."

Jarin chuckled and nudged Kaelen's shoulder. "See? We got the better deal," he said with a grin, and Liora shot him a playful glare.

"Just don't forget about me, alright?" Liora said, rolling her eyes but clearly relieved to have them by her side.

Kaelen smiled, glad that they could all stand together. It felt like a small comfort amidst the chaos of their new world. They fell into line with the other Apprentice Wizards, standing side by side as the Year 4 seniors continued to bark orders.

Kaelen glanced around the training grounds, a crease forming between his brows. "What's going on?" he asked, lowering his voice so only Jarin and Liora could hear. "I thought the announcement said something about our first lesson. But... where are the teachers?"

Jarin looked equally confused, his eyes scanning the crowd. "Yeah, I don't see any instructors too...and who are those people? Acting like they own the place."

Liora chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, trust me," she said, her voice full of dry amusement. We're about to get the first lesson—at least, according to them."

"What do you mean?" Kaelen asked, leaning in with curiosity.

"The first lesson these seniors want to teach us," Liora said, rolling her eyes, "is about respecting them. They want to ensure we know our place—at the bottom."

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Kaelen and Jarin exchanged glances, their confusion only growing. "Wait, how do you know these are seniors?" Jarin asked, eyebrows furrowing. "They don't look that different from the rest of us."

Liora grinned, clearly enjoying their confusion. "I've got a little trick," she said, tapping her temple playfully. "I learned a spell that lets me sense how strong someone is—so long as they aren't too much stronger than me."

Kaelen's eyes widened with interest. "Really? You can see their power levels?"

"Sort of," Liora replied with a nod. "It's not exact, but it gives me a sense of how advanced someone is. At our rank as Apprentice Wizards, there are ten levels. Each level is based on how many spells you've mastered and their difficulty."

Jarin's expression was skeptical, but he listened closely. "So, how do you know what level someone's at?"

"It's pretty simple," Liora explained. "A Level 1 Apprentice Wizard needs to master at least ten Level 1 spells to be considered the strongest in their level. Once they've done that, they're ready to try and learn a Level 2 spell. The same rule applies as you go up in levels—the more advanced you are, the more spells you need to know to move forward."

Kaelen thought about it, and the explanation was beginning to make sense. "So if someone's a Level 3, it means they've already learned a bunch of Level 1 and Level 2 spells?"

"Exactly," Liora said, smiling as she saw him understanding. "It's a way to measure how much experience someone has. Those seniors in front of us? They're mostly around Level 8 or 9."

Kaelen was still trying to understand when Liora added, "My spell lets me see how many Level 1 to Level 10 spells they know. It's like a display of data that appears in my eyes next to them. That's how I knew they were most likely seniors in Year 4."

Jarin gave a low whistle. "Level 8 or 9... That's a long way from where we are."

Kaelen's eyes widened with fascination as he processed what Liora had just said. "You've got to teach me that spell," he said, his voice filled with excitement. "I want to sense the levels like you can."

Liora gave him an amused smile. "Not a problem," she said, her tone warm. "Once we get some free time, I'll show you how it works. It's not too difficult once you get the hang of it."

But before Kaelen could respond, Jarin cut in with a teasing grin. "Hey, don't you think we should start with something more... basic? We don't even know how to light a candle with magic yet."

Liora's eyes widened briefly, clearly caught off guard, but she quickly recovered. Her tone softened, sympathy seeping into her words. "So you both don't know any basic spells yet?" she asked gently. "You must have only discovered your magic during the affinity test."

Kaelen and Jarin exchanged glances, nodding slightly. It was true—they were newcomers in every sense of the word.

Liora gave them an encouraging smile. "Well, if you're both here, your potential is high. Don't worry about starting from scratch. I'll help you catch up," she offered. "I can teach you the basics, and soon enough, you'll be casting spells like everyone else."

Kaelen felt a wave of gratitude, and Jarin looked visibly relieved. "Thanks, Liora," Kaelen said earnestly. "I'd really appreciate that."

"Yeah, it means a lot," Jarin added, his voice sincere.

Just as they started to feel more at ease, a shadow fell over them. A tall, thin senior with a sharp, angular face approached, his eyes narrowing in disdain and arrogance. Without warning, he raised his voice and barked, "What do you think you're doing, standing around chatting like this?"

The shout was so abrupt that it drew the attention of the other Apprentices, and Kaelen felt a jolt of surprise at the senior's aggressive tone. Liora's expression tightened, and Jarin's face hardened. The senior's eyes darted between them, clearly enjoying the attention his outburst had attracted.

"This isn't a social gathering," the senior sneered, his voice loud and harsh. "You think you can stand around making friends while the rest of us take this seriously? Pathetic." His tone was dripping with disdain, and he seemed to revel in how the crowd's eyes shifted toward them.

Kaelen bristled at the insult, his earlier excitement dampened by the senior's antagonistic attitude. It was clear the older student was trying to assert his dominance, using the volume of his voice and his arrogant posture to command authority.

But to Kaelen, it felt more like a desperate attempt to prove something—to show strength he might not actually possess.

Liora's jaw tightened, but she didn't respond immediately; her eyes locked onto the senior's with a calm, steady gaze.