"Well... Arlen, do you know why I’m asking you to stay with me?"

"Yes. It’s about my element..."

"Exactly. Follow me..."

Cornelius stood up, circling his desk with a determined stride. Arlen followed close behind, leaving the comforting warmth of the office as they descended deeper into the academy’s halls.

Their footsteps echoed against the cold stone as they reached a massive door engraved with ancient symbols. Cornelius pushed it open, revealing a circular chamber bathed in dim light.

The room was striking in its mystical simplicity. Three tall windows pierced the walls, each facing a cardinal direction, letting the last golden rays of sunset spill inside. At the very center, a massive magic circle was traced on the polished stone floor with shimmering blue powder. The interwoven runes seemed to thrum faintly under the light.

Arlen’s eyes caught on a strange vertical groove carved into the wall, nearly six meters wide, climbing all the way up to the vaulted ceiling fourteen meters high. Along its length, neat numbers had been engraved—like a colossal measuring scale.

"At Elyrian’s request, I will be retesting your abilities and potential," Cornelius declared.

He gestured precisely to the center of the circle. "Step inside, please."

Arlen stepped forward cautiously. The blue powder flared brighter under his feet as if reacting to his presence.

"When will I cast this spell, you’ll gain a vision of your mana," Cornelius explained, his hands already positioned for the incantation. "It’s not a fixed limit—it can grow with training. You’ll see how far your magic can project. Your vision will be tinted blue; that’s perfectly normal. Don’t worry if you can’t see beyond arm’s length."

"Are you ready?"

"Yes, I’m ready."

The headmaster began his incantation. Ancient words spilled from his lips like a haunting chant:

[Aperio oculos ad contemplandum profunditatem et amplitudinem]

The spell struck Arlen like a wave of pure energy. The world around him shifted instantly. Everything was drenched in a strange bluish hue, as if he were peering through a colored veil.

"Can you still hear me?" Cornelius’s voice echoed, slightly distorted.

"Yes," Arlen replied, awestruck by this strange new perception.

"Good. Now, look around and tell me how far you can see without moving."

Arlen turned his head slowly, exploring this magical sight. The carved stone walls glowed with uncanny clarity, each etched detail shining faintly with inner light.

"I can see all the way to the wall," he said simply.

"To the wall?" Cornelius repeated, a note of surprise in his tone.

That’s rare… a non-initiate seeing that far, he thought, frowning with intrigue.

"Now look up. How high can you read on the scale?"

Arlen tilted his head back toward the vaulted ceiling. The groove and its engraved numbers were perfectly clear, every mark etched in his mind.

"I... I see everything," he whispered.

"Everything?!" Cornelius exclaimed, unable to hide his shock.

He stepped closer, his face caught between skepticism and barely contained excitement. "There’s no point in lying, Arlen. This test is for your benefit—we need accurate results."

"But I’m not lying!" Arlen protested. "I see everything—even the city behind you!"

Cornelius turned sharply to the window, squinting toward the horizon.

"But the city is over forty kilometers away," he muttered in disbelief.

This boy... he’s a prodigy. And yet—I still can’t find his limit.

"Arlen, do you see a kind of opaque blue veil in the distance? A boundary to your vision?"

The boy strained his eyes, scanning the horizon. Tense silence filled the chamber.

"No," he finally answered. "I don’t."

Gods... Cornelius felt a bead of cold sweat run down his temple.

"All right, thank you. Step out of the circle now."

As Arlen stepped away, the blue tint vanished instantly, and the world returned to normal hues.

"Now, sit in this chair," Cornelius said, pointing to a plain-looking seat off to the side.

Once Arlen was settled, the headmaster continued, his tone less assured than before. "This next spell will allow you to see inside your mind—and me as well. Don’t worry, I can’t interfere, I can only observe your element."

He paused, studying Arlen closely. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," Arlen answered firmly.

[Visio animae]

Silver light wrapped around them. Arlen felt his consciousness fold inward, diving deep into the core of his being.

"Hmm," Cornelius murmured, his voice echoing faintly.

"Arlen?"

"Yes?"

"What do you see?"

"A deep violet... solid, with black at the edges. And you’re standing beside me."

"Thank you, Arlen. That matches what I see... I’ll end the spell."

They surfaced from the vision. Cornelius hurried back to his desk, scribbling frantically into his notes, hands trembling.

"Thank you, Arlen," he said without looking up. "Come to my office tomorrow morning before classes. For now, I’ll have a teacher guide you around the academy. You still have much to learn."

He finally raised his eyes, masking unease with a professional smile. "Master Aldwin will take care of you."

A dark-haired man appeared in the doorway, as if waiting for that cue. He bowed slightly before turning to Arlen.

"Come with me, young man."

Arlen followed, glancing back once more. Cornelius was already buried in his notes, face pale with strain. Alone, the headmaster collapsed into his chair, shaken to the core.

"What kind of monster have I let into this school..." he whispered.

The truth was far worse than Arlen knew. During the shared vision, Cornelius had seen nothing—only endless void. Absolute blackness so deep it made him dizzy.

"I still don’t know his element," he sighed, massaging his temples.

But then his expression hardened. "I’ll have to call an emergency meeting."

He pressed his palm to a crystal, sending out an urgent pulse of magic. His voice rang through the minds of every present teacher: "All elemental masters—my office, five minutes!"

Five minutes later

Eight masters arrived, breathless from their haste, crowding into Cornelius’s office with expressions of worry and curiosity.

"I called you here to discuss a student: Arlen, Class Eight," Cornelius began. "His potential is limitless—but he has no defined element."

A ripple of murmurs swept the group. Cornelius raised his hand for silence.

"I searched his mind and found nothing. Absolute emptiness. Yet he saw violet and black. I felt a barrier resisting me..."

Master Pyra, head of Fire, narrowed her eyes.

"Arlen? The same boy we admitted with no element?"

"The very same," Cornelius confirmed. "I tested him further at Elyrian’s request."

"Violet and black aren’t Fire," Pyra said firmly.

"Nor Water," added Thalion. "Ours manifests in silver or blue, never violet."

"Air is pure white," said Aurelia.

"Earth is brown, green, sometimes ochre," said Gareth slowly, arms crossed. "Violet has no connection to Earth."

"I have no violet in my element either," Omida agreed.

The remaining masters shook their heads. None matched Arlen’s vision.

A heavy silence fell. Each teacher seemed lost in thought, sifting through scraps of old lore.

Finally, Cornelius broke it.

"We don’t have all the masters here. Some are away on missions. But—"

"I might know what his element is," Pyra cut in.

All eyes turned to her.

"Could it be... the Element of—"

Meanwhile, in the dormitory halls

Master Aldwin walked at an even pace, his robes brushing the stone floor. Arlen followed, still unsettled by what had just happened.

"All right," Aldwin began without preamble, "let me explain how this school works."

They stopped at a wide window overlooking the courtyard, where students trained under fading light.

"You’ll be staying in a four-person dormitory, single-gender," Aldwin explained kindly. "Don’t worry—first-years are usually friendly with each other."

Arlen nodded, though unease lingered on his face.

"Afraid you won’t fit in?" Aldwin asked gently.

"A little... I’m not sure I even belong here."

"You do. Cornelius doesn’t accept students by chance." Aldwin rested a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Now—classes. The mornings are for theory. Wondering what the point is?"

"A bit, yes..."

"It’s the foundation. Principles, history, interactions between elements. Even without an affinity, the knowledge will help you. Some students think they don’t need it because they can cast a few flashy spells—but they’re wrong."

"And the afternoons?" Arlen asked, watching fire and water clash in the courtyard below.

"Physical training first, then practical magic." Aldwin smiled. "Physical strength balances the mind. As for practice... we’ll see what you can do."

Arlen lowered his eyes. "And if I can’t do anything?"

"If you’re here, it’s because you have something special. It may not show like it does for others, but it’s there."

They continued walking, passing portraits of past headmasters.

"Clubs meet in the evenings," Aldwin went on. "Optional, but highly recommended. They’re a great way to make friends and find what you enjoy."

"As for rules, no lateness is tolerated. But at first, we’ll excuse it if you get lost—this place is a maze!"

"And exams?"

"Two per year: midterm and final. Manageable, if you keep up." He paused by a grand portrait. "The course lasts five years, but with one unusual feature..."

"What is it?"

"After year three, there’s a mandatory seven-year break. Some serve as assistants in institutions, others travel for study. Everyone submits a detailed report afterward." He winked. "But don’t worry about that yet—you’ve got time."

At last, they stopped before a carved oak door marked with the number 8.

Aldwin’s tone grew serious, though still warm. "Arlen, one piece of advice. This school has wonderful students—but some can be... difficult. Especially toward those who seem different."

"You mean, like me?"

"Different doesn’t mean lesser. But some may see your lack of affinity as weakness. Don’t let them get to you."

Arlen nodded, gratitude softening his features.

"Thank you, Master Aldwin. You’re... very kind."

The teacher smiled. "It’s my duty. Come to me anytime if you need help."

With that, he departed, leaving Arlen alone before the heavy oak door. Hand hovering at the handle, he braced himself to meet his new roommates—ready to step into the next chapter of his life.