After the announcement, Zenith remained as calm as ever, brushing off the entire situation. She simply followed Zeshia, who was bubbling with excitement, though underneath, there was an underlying tension. The written exam had been relatively easy, not difficult if you had prepared, which they both had. Now, they were heading into the next stage of the trial—the elemental aptitude test.
As they moved through the academy's grand halls, Zeshia bounced next to Zenith, her energy contagious, even though there was an undercurrent of nervousness in her words.
"Ugh, I swear, if they mess up our results... I'm going to throw a tantrum!" Zeshia exaggerated, putting her hands on her hips and glaring at the wall in front of them.
Zenith shot her a sidelong glance, her face emotionless. "Just show them what they need to see, Zeshia. Nothing more."
"I know, I know," Zeshia sighed dramatically, but it was clear her mind was racing, her usual cheerful persona flickering like a candle about to go out. She was trying to keep herself calm, but the uncertainty of the test was starting to wear on her.
The two of them were led into another large hall, even grander than the last. The air felt charged, as though the very space around them was infused with magic. Candidates from all walks of life—nobles, commoners, and everyone in between—were lined up, awaiting their turn. There was a buzz of conversation as they exchanged glances, some confident, some nervous, and others trying to appear unaffected by the test ahead.
A tall, stern-looking teacher stood by the stage, waiting for the candidates to assemble. Zenith's gaze wandered across the room, noting the different candidates—some with weak auras, others pulsing with a clear elemental signature. But there was a sense of unease that lingered. The twins had always felt like they didn't quite belong in a room like this, even though they'd spent years under Madam Binne's roof. Their connection to magic was different.
"Please step forward, candidates!" the teacher called out, breaking Zenith from her thoughts.
The line of students moved forward to the stage where they would demonstrate their elemental affinity. Zenith remained calm, while Zeshia's mind raced with dramatics, though she kept her outward composure. As they waited their turn, Zeshia leaned closer to her twin and whispered, "Do you think they'll notice we can do all the elements?"
Zenith's lips barely moved as she replied, her voice soft but steady. "We only show them what they need to see. Stick to the plan."
Zeshia gave a half-hearted nod, though her excitement was impossible to hide as she watched the first few candidates show their magic. The air seemed to thrum with the magic of fire, earth, and water. Simple, predictable displays.
But when it was their turn, Zeshia practically skipped to the stage, her expression bright and carefree. She waved at the teacher with exaggerated cheerfulness. "Alright, let's show them a little magic, shall we?"
Zenith stayed behind her twin, her face expressionless but her mind sharp.
The teacher nodded, gesturing for Zeshia to demonstrate her abilities. Zeshia grinned, a flash of mischievous energy sparking in her eyes. Without missing a beat, she raised her hands, and the air around her shifted dramatically. A gust of wind tore through the room, swirling around her, lifting her hair and sending loose papers fluttering into the air.
"Wind," Zeshia said with a grin, the air around her crackling with power.
The teacher raised an eyebrow but made no comment. Zeshia didn't seem bothered by the lack of reaction; she had been through enough tests to know how to impress with style. But she wasn't done. A dark shadow began to gather around her feet, twisting and shifting as if alive. It was as though the very darkness itself was drawn to her. A soft smile flickered across her lips.
"Darkness," she added, her voice almost a whisper..
The teacher made a note on his clipboard but said nothing, his face betraying no surprise. It seemed the elemental aptitude test was more about seeing the potential and controlling the power, not necessarily measuring the limits.
Zenith stepped forward, her movements slow and deliberate. Her focus never wavered. Unlike Zeshia, there was no dramatic flair—just the quiet confidence that came from years of mastering her abilities.
Zenith raised her hand slightly, and immediately, water rose from the floor, swirling around her fingers in an elegant dance. The room grew quieter as the students watched, mesmerized by the fluidity and grace of her control.
"Water," Zenith murmured, her voice as calm as ever.
Then, without a moment's hesitation, she shifted the water, letting it twist and spiral into intricate shapes before letting it fall back to the ground. It wasn't flashy, but it was mesmerizing in its precision.
The teacher made a note, but there was no real reaction. It wasn't until Zenith moved her hands again, and the very air around her seemed to thrum with energy, that the room felt the change. A small, dark ripple opened in the air, an almost imperceptible crack in reality itself. A faint shimmer of void energy leaked from the tear, spiraling into the air before dissipating just as quickly.
"Void," Zenith said, her voice barely a whisper. She didn't need to say much. Her control over the void was precise, but subtle. She didn't like to make a scene with it, not when they had so much to hide.
There was a silence in the room as the examiner watched, his gaze lingering on the twins. He seemed to be taking extra notes, his expression unreadable.
Zenith and Zeshia exchanged a brief glance, and for the first time, they both felt the weight of the attention in the room. The test wasn't over yet, but they'd already revealed more than they'd intended.
"Thank you, candidates," the teacher finally said, breaking the silence. "You may return to your seats."
As the twins walked off the stage, Zeshia turned to her sister with a grin. "Well, that was fun."
Zenith nodded, her mind already moving to the next test. "Let's hope we didn't give them too much to think about."
As the candidates were ushered out of the hall, the air crackled with tension. The third and final test awaited them—a battle test in the academy's massive auditorium. It was an open space with high, vaulted ceilings, and rows of seats lining the walls, designed to accommodate large-scale demonstrations and combat. For most, it was the most anticipated part of the trials, but for the twins, it was just another hurdle they had to cross.
Zeshia, as always, was practically bouncing with excitement. Her energy was palpable, and Zenith couldn't help but glance at her, the usual calm demeanor still present on her face but tempered with a rare fondness for her twin.
"I can't wait! Do you think we'll get to fight together?" Zeshia asked, practically radiating with enthusiasm as they walked toward the auditorium.
Zenith gave her a soft smile, the rare expression almost out of place on her normally stoic face. "No, Zeshia," she replied, her voice calm and measured. "Don't kill anyone this time."
Zeshia looked at her dramatically, eyes widening in mock offense. "But it's so much fun!" she whined, as if she didn't hear the warning at all.
Zenith raised an eyebrow and kept her pace steady. "Remember Madam Binne's advice. Don't cause a scene."
Zeshia groaned but couldn't hold back a grin. "Fine, I'll be the gracious fighter," she said, rolling her eyes, though her excitement didn't dim.
As the twins continued down the hallway toward the auditorium, Zeshia, as usual, couldn't resist taking one too many steps backward while talking animatedly. Unfortunately, she didn't see the noble boy standing behind her, and they collided with a resounding thud.
The boy stumbled, falling flat on his backside with a surprised yelp. His clothes, clearly expensive and well-tailored, ruffled, and he looked up at Zeshia, his face flushed with irritation. He was no commoner—his noble airs were obvious even from his posture and the haughty look in his eyes.
Before Zenith could even take a step forward, the boy scrambled to his feet, his voice sharp as he glared at Zeshia. "Watch where you're going, commoner!" he snapped, brushing off his clothes in distaste.
Zeshia, unfazed and never one to let a slight go unanswered, tilted her head and shot him a wide, sweet smile that had a very dangerous edge to it. "Well, maybe if you weren't standing there like a complete idiot, I wouldn't have bumped into you," she retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Zenith's eyes narrowed, sensing the situation escalating quickly. She stepped forward, her voice calm and measured as she placed a hand lightly on Zeshia's shoulder. "I'm sorry. She didn't mean to—"
But the boy cut her off, his voice dripping with condescension. "I don't need your apologies. Watch your place, commoners."
Zeshia's smile faded, replaced by something far darker. Her eyes sparkled with barely contained rage, and her lips parted as if she was about to unleash a torrent of insults that would put the boy in his place. Zenith could feel the tension rising between them, her sister's temper flaring.
Zenith whispered, her voice low but firm, "Zeshia. Hold it in."
Zeshia's hands clenched into fists, her breath coming in quick bursts, clearly struggling to hold back the fury that simmered in her. "No," she hissed, the words barely audible but brimming with venom. "This little prince needs to be put in his place. Who does he think he is?"
Zenith, knowing how volatile Zeshia could be when pushed too far, placed her hands on her twin's shoulders, giving her a gentle but insistent push away from the noble. "Zeshia, please. We don't need this right now."
Zeshia bit her lip in frustration, her gaze still fixed on the noble boy, but she reluctantly allowed herself to be pulled away. She took one last glance at the boy, her voice laced with mock sweetness as she spoke over her shoulder. "Next time, don't stand in people's way," she spat, before turning away with Zenith at her side.
The noble opened his mouth to respond, but Zenith ignored him, guiding Zeshia quickly down the hall and away from the confrontation. Her sister was still seething with anger, but Zenith wasn't about to let things escalate further.
Once they were out of earshot, Zenith spoke quietly, her voice calm as always. "You did well to hold back."
Zeshia, still fuming but trying to hide it, shot her a side glance. "Well, I wasn't going to let him get away with being such a jerk," she muttered, though the fire in her eyes had dimmed somewhat.
Zenith only gave her a rare, understanding look and continued walking, her mind already shifting back to the upcoming battle. There was no time to dwell on nobles and their egos. They had their own path to follow, and the arena was calling.
The twins finally reached the entrance to the grand auditorium, where the battle test would take place. The noise from the gathered candidates grew louder, and the excitement in the air was palpable. Zeshia's energy seemed to return as she straightened her posture, a dangerous gleam still present in her eyes, but this time she was focused. Zenith could tell her twin was ready for the fight.
And they would both need to be. The real test was just beginning.