The hero's welcome was a ritual across the Gyro empire, where aspiring mages of all noble classes and social statuses were treated like the heroes they would be trained to become.
We are the protectors of humanity after all.
However, a few people saw it differently. They called it the final sendoff. Students start accepting tasks and going over the walls as early as one month after admission. While it was uncommon to have casualties on the first task, it happened occasionally.
The roads in Emberfield were made of brick, and they were thrice as wide as the roads in Blackwood Thicket, yet it was packed to the brim with citizens, cheering loudly as we had just won a great war. I could see other children of noble birth flanked by their knights while they waved at the people.
Nobles were allowed to come with one personal guard. This made bringing someone like Edward along less weird.
Roses were thrown at our feet, exciting the peasants amongst us. King Emberfall led us through the crowd and toward the magic academy, which was somewhere about 40 kilometers away from the city gates.
According to William, this was the first test. Mages are considered awakened because the awakening does not only strengthen the core but also the body.
Cultivation covered the body and soul, not just the soul.
Once someone enters the mortal realm, they automatically become superhuman. While extremely skilled humans in certain aspects can win against them, the average person wouldn't be able to compete. However, as they grow stronger, the gap widens, and at the peak of the mortal realm, no human can stand you in physical capabilities.
Only awakened people could endure this seven-hour journey. I can't speak for others, but for me, it wasn't special. I was already at the second stage of the mortal realm plus I didn't easily feel fatigued or in pain like normal.
Our knights were offered horses, which they hardly accepted while we continued the journey, and people cheered. Unsurprisingly, after seven hours, every one of us was still standing.
A bit tired but still standing.
King Emberfall finally stopped a hundred meters away from the towering walls of the academy which was the same as the city walls.
The battalion lines behind him shifted to the sides, creating a path leading to the king for the first time. The hellcat turned as its master tugged the reins.
"MAGUS ONLY!" His voice boomed like thunder but he was brief. I expected a jovial-looking man to be talkative, but he seemed much more reserved and direct.
Buzz!
The air trembled as the towering walls slid up, and King Emberfall rode in, and we followed behind. As soon as we walked past the wall it slammed shut behind us with a loud bang that made everyone look back with uncomfortable frowns.
"No human has stepped foot into this place… Well, no human has stepped foot and survived." King Emberfall's voice caught everyone's attention. However, this time, there was a lady beside him.
{Give a select few unique abilities and they will segregate themselves from their kind and declare themselves greater creatures.}
I ignored Lin's rants and focused on the lady. King Emberfall looked like he was in his forties and this lady looked like she was in her late thirties but very identical to the king.
She was dressed in a red cloak with orange embroidery on the collar and sleeves.
Like King Emberfall her hair cascaded down her neck, shaping like a lion-mane. There was this spark of madness in her eyes similar to what could be seen in King Emberfall.
This was his sister, even a monkey can see that much!
"This is Freya Emberfall, Headmistress and Arch Magus of the academy." King Emberfall was introduced.
I noticed everyone giving the lady a small bow so I mimicked their actions and watched her smile sweetly. She was quite pretty for her age.
She had a thin face with a smooth jawline but thick eyebrows. If one could overlook the dark circles and untrimmed eyebrows, I would boldly say she was a peerless beauty.
I watched her flick her wrist and a familiar crystal ball appeared in her hand with a burst of flame.
"I'm sure we are all exhausted from the long walk so I won't waste your time." She said and left the sphere hanging in mid-air before taking a step back alongside her brother, the king.
The crystal reminded me of the one William used to check my affinity. I guess it made sense that this was part of the test.
"As you all know, the empire is generous but only to the strong. Here you will be given everything you need to become a future powerhouse, as long as you are deserving." King Emberfall began and his hellcat growled at the students to secure their attention. "Nurture the strong. Abandon the weak, this is how humanity has survived this long.
Silence!
His words were met with silence. I didn't even know how to respond to such a 'heartwarming' speech.
"The academy runs a rank-based system where cultivation materials and other perks will be handed out based on a student's ranking. But don't worry, these ranks are not permanent. It changes over time through a series of missions, tests, and exams." Freya quickly took over. "So step forward, state your name, and inject your mana into the orb."
Only now did the murmurs start resonating as people seemed reluctant to go. They probably wanted to see what other students were capable of and judge themselves even before they could be judged by King Emberfall and Freya Emberfall.
"Lame. " I shrugged and took a step forward. However, someone beat me to it.
He didn't come from the crowd. Instead, he was led, flanked by two cloaked figures. The boy looked my age, but just like King Emberfall and Freya, he had amber hair with a fiery glow in his eyes.
He wore an orange jacket with a black turtleneck shirt, black trousers, and boots. He has a nose and ear piercing with a confident grin that would make unsuspecting readers think he's the main character.
"Holy shit, they are turning this magic thing into a family business!"
{Cut them some slack. King Emberfall's daughter was killed by her grandfather when he realized she possessed the death magic nearly a decade back. It's only natural for him to be protective with the only offspring he has left} Lin explained.
But I wasn't buying it. If all the important positions are filled by family members, what about those mages with no financial backing?
This explained why the Adventures Guild was popular in this empire. Mages who felt the system was unfair joined guilds and charged breathtaking prices for tax. That's the only way they can benefit from this messy system.
I watched the prince approach the crystal orb with supportive gleams in the eyes of King Emberfall and Freya. He placed his hand on the orb and a fierce pillar of fire erupted from it, spiraling into the air like a geyser.
"Leo Emberfall!" The boy said his name with passion, as if he was some hero of justice, making his debut.
Leo had no other element, but his affinity for fire magic was so strong that the pillar of fire nearly touched the heavens, leaving me startled.
His affinity for fire was just as powerful as my affinity for dark elements…
{People like this are called anomalies. They are rare but extremely powerful. Unfortunately, no matter how powerful an anomaly is, his power can never compare to the forbidden elements. They are unique but nothing special in the presence of your death magic} Lin argued and I nodded in agreement.
I was just surprised by the sight and not intimidated by it.
"Hahahahaha! As expected of my son!" King Emberfall laughed heartily while Freya summoned a parchment and a pen with a flick of her hands and began writing.
"Leo Emberfall. Talent—S-rated."
I smirked disdainfully and watched the boy walk behind the two and stand with his hands shoved deep into his pockets while his sides were flanked by two hooded figures.
"I'll shatter that confidence." I took bold strides forward, drawing everyone's attention.
Students instinctively created a path; however, as I stepped out of the crowd, two figures stepped out with me, and we all froze and exchanged glances.
By my right was a boy in rags, covered in dirt and bruises. His hair was overgrown and disheveled and his nails were cracked like his lips.
I could see his eyes underneath his hair but I could tell there was something off about this boy. It felt like I was in the presence of a beast and not a human.
To the left was a green-haired girl who was in braids. Her skin was unusually pale, and her eyes, lips, and nails were raven black. Her black robe isn't messy, but they were made of low-quality material.
She wasn't from a prominent family but she didn't look abandoned like the boy by the right.
"Excuse me," I said calmly and walked past them with my head held up.
My confidence seemed to have attracted King Emberfall's expression who watched my every move. As I approached the crystal orb, I fell on a knee and lowered my head.
"Derek Blackwood, from House Blackwood," I said and waited for a response.
"The adopted son and heir of the Blackwood family." Freya was the first to speak and I could hear a thing of surprise in her voice.
It seemed that the tragedy of the Blackwood family was public.
"Ahh, you are the boy he found on the streets. I heard you are talented and even helped take down a fox spirit a month ago." King Emberfall finally spoke up; he sounded intrigued.
I raised my head and nodded.
"I merely assisted my Lord in battle. I wasn't of much help." I tried to act modest but one cocky bastard standing behind his father just had to open his damn mouth.
"Of course, you can't help much. You are not a true nobility, so your talent must be limited." Leo spoke from the back.
My heart tightened but It didn't reflect on my face. I said nothing and rose to my feet. I'm going to shut this fool up but not with words—but with my power!
Pa!
I grabbed the sphere and poured in my magic causing everyone's shadow to thicken and spread so wide it covered the entire testing ground in darkness. But I was not done.
Fierce fire erupted from the crystal orb, burning with fierce intensity while the wind current turned fierce, circling my lone figure. My eyes revealed a threatening green glow as I looked forward to meeting Leo's shocked gaze.
"I did not assist much because I focused on learning. And I can assure you, my peasant blood doesn't hinder my talent in any way."
Buzz!
Chattering, everyone began talking amongst themselves. King Emberfall had a mixture of shock and confusion, as did Freya Emberfall—it seems they never expected this much from peasants, too.
Leo's thoughts were not just his own; it was a family thing.
"Triple elements with one being a secondary element with the affinity of an anomaly. Even his affinity for the other two is strong!." She gasped. "SS. He has SS-rated talent!"
{Fools his talent level is God level, not SS. By the time you realize it will be too late.} Lin chuckled, he was enjoying the chaos my test had caused.
My anomaly status was not limited to shadow magic but blood magic and all other forms of dark magic. I am the God of death, Lord of darkness. These people can't compare.
I pulled my hand off the orb, and my shadow shrank back to normal, and the glow in my eyes dimmed. I thought I was the only one waiting for an opportunity to wipe the cocky smile off Leo's face, but it seemed I was wrong.
We all received two more shocks, the first came from the boy whose name was Klein.
He was the third anomaly with a strong affinity for blood magic.
Finally, the girl called Lucy. I don't know why she had a name similar to my sister's but I soon forgot about that when she took the orb and revealed herself to be the fourth anomaly—Plant magic.