章節 21: Chapter 21

The sun hung low, casting warm hues through the dormitory window as Jace received a call on his communicator. His face lit up momentarily as he answered, "Hey, Mom." Kaden, lying on his bed, glanced up briefly, sensing a different tone in Jace's voice.

"Jace, dear," his mother's voice came through, sweet but with an edge of expectation. "How's the academy? Have you made any friends? Remember, this is your chance to mingle with the elites. Don't waste it."

Jace sighed. "Mom, it's my first day. I barely know anyone yet."

"Well, you better start. Connections are important, Jace. You won't get far just by trying hard. And don't forget—this academy is filled with future leaders. Learn from them, blend in with them," she insisted.

His father's voice suddenly came through the speaker, more grounded and reassuring. "Just focus on staying safe, son. We've done our part getting you there; now it's up to you to make the best of it. Don't push yourself too hard."

Jace smiled faintly, appreciating the balance between his parents' approaches. "Thanks, Dad. I'll do my best."

"Good. We love you," his mother added before the call ended.

Jace set the communicator down and turned to Kaden, who had been watching quietly. "That was my parents," he explained, his voice a mix of pride and obligation.

"Lucky you," Kaden muttered, staring at the ceiling. "I ain't got parents. They're dead."

Jace frowned, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. "If your parents are dead... then how'd you pay the tuition fee?"

Kaden shrugged, keeping his voice neutral. "Scholarship."

"Oh," Jace replied, looking thoughtful. "Unlike me. My dad had to sell something really important to him. That's why I have to do well here. I can't let them down."

Kaden nodded but didn't say much. After a moment of silence, Jace perked up. "Since we still have some time until evening, why don't we go take that test they mentioned? Might as well get it over with."

Kaden sat up, stretching lazily. "Sure. Not like I have anything better to do."

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The testing area was a spacious dojo, its walls adorned with banners featuring the Rose Faction's emblem. Rows of students were being tested in batches of three. The process seemed straightforward enough, though the atmosphere buzzed with nervous energy.

When it was Kaden and Jace's turn, they entered the area, joined by a third person—the silver-haired girl Kaden had bumped into earlier. She was still carrying the strange gourd on her back, her expression distant.

The person in charge of the test, a middle-aged man with a commanding presence, stepped forward. "Names?"

"Jace McCall."

"Kaden Rossi."

"Lira Ainsworth."

The man nodded, his eyes scanning the trio. "The test is simple. Use everything you've got to strike the wall in front of you. Abilities are allowed. The wall has a scaling system that measures your output. Numbers range from 0 to 15, divided into lower, middle, and upper tiers. Show us what you can do."

Jace went first. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a metallic card, which vanished into thin air as he activated his ability. In an instant, his body morphed, muscles swelling and skin darkening until he resembled a massive bull. Letting out a guttural roar, he charged at the wall, slamming his horned head against it with a loud crash.

The scaling system flickered before settling on 4.

"Lower Tier One," the instructor announced, handing Jace a tag with the rank written on it. Jace reverted to human form, his face pale and dissapointed as he pocketed the tag.

Next was Kaden. He stepped forward, flexing his fists as black veins briefly pulsed on his arms. He could feel the demon blood stirring within him, but he suppressed it, deciding not to use his full strength. Instead, he made a running start and struck the wall with a single punch.

The number 2 appeared on the scale.

"Lower Tier One," the instructor repeated, handing Kaden his tag. Kaden accepted it without a word, satisfied that he hadn't drawn too much attention.

Finally, it was Lira's turn. Kaden watched her curiously, his eyes fixed on the gourd strapped to her back. She untied a rope from its side, and the lid popped open. Raising her hands, droplets of water began to float out of the gourd, hovering in the air before merging into a single mass. She directed it toward the wall, her expression calm yet focused.

"So her ability is water manipulation," Kaden thought.

But, as the water approached the wall, it transformed into blazing fire, striking the surface with incredible force.

The scale displayed 9.

"Middle Tier One," the instructor declared.

"Wow," Jace whispered, visibly impressed. But Kaden noticed a faint look of dissatisfaction on Lira's face, as if the result wasn't good enough for her.

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After leaving the testing area, Kaden and Jace made their way back to the dorms. Jace stared at his tag, his shoulders slumped. "This is bad," he muttered. "I thought I'd get at least a 6 and make Middle Tier One."

"Does it really matter?" Kaden asked indifferently. "Tier One is Tier One. What's the point of dividing it into lower, middle, and upper?"

"It matters," Jace insisted. "The academy uses these rankings to determine a student's power level. The higher your rank, the more respect you get. The lower your rank... well, the bullying gets worse."

Kaden shrugged. "Doesn't bother me."

They made a stop at the cafeteria as evening approached. The room was large and self-serve, with rows of food lined up. Neither of them held back, piling their trays high. Kaden was glad he came to this academy.

Sitting at an empty table, Kaden dug into his meal. "What's your ability, anyway?" he asked between bites.

"Transformation," Jace replied.

"That's cool." Kaden said.

"Trust me, it's the worst." Jace replied.

Jace then turned the question back on Kaden. "What about you?"

"Strength enhancement," Kaden lied smoothly.

After finishing their meal, they returned to their room.

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That night, Kaden lay in bed, wide awake. He stared at the tag in his hand, his mind racing. He hadn't used his full strength during the test, but what if he had? Would it have made a difference? Would he have ranked higher?

Curiosity gnawed at him. With a sigh, he sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "Well then," he muttered to himself, "no use lying here. Let's find out."