The room where the instructors gathered could not have been more different from the chaos that had unfolded in the jungle.
It was a vast conference chamber built high within the academy tower, its architecture a striking blend of modern elegance and refined magical craftsmanship. Smooth white marble floors stretched across the circular hall, polished so perfectly that the golden light from the floating chandeliers reflected softly upon its surface. The walls were composed almost entirely of enormous glass panels reinforced with thin veins of shimmering mana crystal, allowing the distant skyline of the academy city to remain visible beyond them. Towering spires, floating transport platforms, and glowing magical avenues stretched far into the night outside, their lights flickering like constellations across the horizon.
At the center of the room stood a long oval table crafted from white crystal stone and lined with elegant golden trim. Thin streams of mana flowed faintly beneath its surface like veins of light, powering the hovering projection panels that floated above the tabletop.
Seated around the table were the instructors responsible for overseeing the examination.
Valerian leaned back comfortably in his chair, one leg crossed casually over the other while his cane rested loosely against his shoulder. Across from him sat Miss Elowen, her usual gentle smile still present as she quietly reviewed several sheets of paper resting before her.
Beside her, Garrick sat with his arms folded, his posture rigid and his expression unchanged as he stared at the large projection screen hovering above the center of the table.
Across from the three of them sat two additional instructors.
The first was a massive beastman whose appearance immediately commanded attention. His body was thick with heavy muscle, his broad shoulders and thick arms resembling those of a bulldog carved from stone. Short coarse fur covered parts of his neck and forearms, while two blunt tusks protruded slightly from his lower jaw. Even while sitting, the sheer size of his frame made the chair beneath him creak faintly.
Beside him sat an elf woman whose presence carried the complete opposite kind of intensity.
Her posture was straight and composed, her expression calm to the point of seeming almost indifferent as she read through the documents placed before her. Long silver-lime hair fell neatly over her shoulders, its pale strands catching the light from the floating mana lamps above the table.
All of them were watching the projection.
Above the center of the table hovered a massive display showing the aftermath of the examination site. The image of the jungle clearing flickered softly across the glass-like surface while ranking data, elimination numbers, and recorded combat logs scrolled along the edges of the display.
The silence in the room lasted only a few moments before a voice spoke.
"So… what do you all think?"
The voice came from the head of the table.
Floating quietly there was a small white sphere of light.
It hovered just above the chair reserved for the academy's highest authority, its glow soft yet steady as though the light itself carried the presence of someone watching from beyond the room.
Valerian's grin widened almost immediately.
"What's there to think?" he laughed loudly, the familiar manic excitement returning to his voice. "HHAHAHAHAHEHEHE… isn't it fascinating?"
His fingers tapped lightly against the table as his eyes gleamed with enthusiasm.
"A resonance that twists reality through emotional collapse… a student who wiped out an entire battlefield alone… hahah… this is magnificent!"
But Garrick's voice cut through the laughter like a blade.
"Is risking the student's own life and the lives of everyone around him something that sounds fascinating to you?"
His tone remained calm.
But the irritation beneath it was unmistakable.
The elf instructor finally looked up from the papers in front of her.
Her pale eyes moved briefly toward the projection screen before returning to the table as she spoke in a quiet, measured voice.
"A resonance affected by emotional intensity," she said, her expression unchanged. "The stronger the emotional surge… the stronger the manifested power."
Miss Elowen folded her hands neatly atop the documents before her and nodded slightly.
"And from what we have seen," she added gently, her soft smile never fading, "it also appears that he cannot control it properly."
Her gaze drifted briefly toward the projection of the devastated clearing.
"In other words… it is harmful not only to others but potentially to himself as well."
For the first time since entering the room, Valerian's laughter faded slightly.
He tilted his head thoughtfully, the manic excitement in his eyes dimming just enough for something sharper to appear beneath it.
"But just look at the potential," he murmured slowly.
Then his grin returned.
Wider than before.
"The kind of asset this world could gain with power like that…"
A quiet, almost childlike chuckle escaped him.
"Hihi… hihi… hihi…"
Garrick exhaled slowly through his nose.
"But we all saw the same thing," he said flatly. "He could only activate that resonance because his emotions reached a breaking point."
His eyes remained fixed on the projection screen.
"If he cannot reach that mental state, then the power never manifests."
Before anyone else could respond—
The white sphere spoke again.
"That is not actually the case."
The white sphere remained floating above the head of the table, its soft glow illuminating the documents and projection panels beneath it as the calm voice continued through the quiet conference room.
"He could use the resonance in any circumstance," the sphere explained, its tone steady and measured, "however the intensity would not reach the level you have just witnessed. Under normal conditions the resonance would manifest in subtler ways—interfering with the surrounding mana flow, weakening the activation of another individual's resonance ability, and gradually destabilizing the mana structure within a localized area."
The projection screen flickered faintly as the recorded scenes of the jungle battlefield continued looping before them.
"Of course," the sphere added, "such usage would still demand a price from the user. But the cost would remain within a range that he could reasonably endure."
The room remained quiet for a moment.
Then the beastman instructor, who had remained silent until now, finally leaned forward in his chair. His massive frame shifted heavily against the polished seat as his thick arms folded across his chest, his sharp eyes fixed on the projection where Damon's rampage continued replaying.
"Hm."
His deep voice rumbled through the room like distant thunder.
"So tha's why his physique looks so damn tough," he muttered thoughtfully, his accent thick and heavily rolled. "Boy's body's almost comparable ta some of the stronger beastmen we train."
A grin slowly spread across his broad face as he raised both of his enormous fists and smashed them together with a loud crack, the sound echoing slightly through the chamber.
"It's a pity he wasn't able ta reach the core breach I was guardin'," he said with obvious excitement burning in his eyes. "Would've loved ta see how long he lasted in a real fight."
Across the table, Garrick's patience finally snapped.
His hand lifted abruptly before slamming the stack of papers in front of him back onto the table with a sharp sound that cut through the conversation.
"Just look at his records," he said sharply, irritation clearly visible now as he pushed the documents forward across the table. "We can already see the effects of that resonance influencing him even when it's not actively manifested."
He tapped one of the files with his finger.
"Extra aggression."
Another page flipped.
"Heightened anger."
Another.
"Violence."
His voice hardened as he leaned slightly forward.
"Every emotional response he experiences is amplified to dangerous levels."
The projection screen above the table displayed several past recordings of Damon's behavior during training sessions and simulated exercises, each one highlighting the same pattern of escalating intensity.
Garrick exhaled slowly.
"I agree that he has the potential to become a powerful asset," he admitted reluctantly. "But only if he can control that resonance."
His eyes lifted toward the projection showing Damon's blackened eyes and fractured body in the jungle clearing.
"And right now…"
His voice lowered.
"…it's the resonance that's controlling him."
The room fell silent.
Even Valerian stopped laughing.
The white sphere drifted slightly in the air above the head of the table before speaking again.
"So what do you suggest, Instructor Garrick?"
Garrick closed his eyes briefly and took a long breath before answering.
"I suggest expelling him from the academy."
Several instructors looked up at him immediately.
Garrick continued calmly.
"It would be beneficial not only for the academy…"
His gaze shifted toward the projection of Damon.
"…but for the student himself."
The white sphere remained motionless for a moment before replying.
"You are the professors responsible for teaching the first-year students."
Its voice echoed softly through the room.
"The decision belongs to you."
Garrick straightened slightly in his chair before speaking again.
"Those who agree," he said firmly, "please voice your opinion."
Valerian didn't even wait.
"I disagree!"
At the exact same moment, the beastman instructor slammed his fist against the table with a grin.
"I disagree!"
Across from them, the elf instructor lifted her gaze calmly.
"I agree."
Three sets of eyes turned toward the final instructor.
Miss Elowen sat quietly with her hands folded neatly atop the documents in front of her.
Garrick looked at her seriously.
"You understand how dangerous this is.", as miss Elowen gave a small nod.
"I agree.."
***
Night had settled quietly over the academy.
Beyond the tall glass windows of the dormitory tower, the city shimmered beneath a blanket of distant lights, the floating avenues and luminous towers casting soft reflections against the dark sky. A cool breeze slipped through the open window of the room, stirring the white curtains so that they fluttered gently in the quiet night air.
Inside the dimly lit room, Damon lay on his bed.
The exhaustion of the day still clung to his body, though the wounds he had suffered during the exam had already faded, thanks to doctors of the academy . His white hair rested loosely across the pillow as he stared silently at the glowing interface projected from the Manacron resting on his wrist.
The ranking board hovered above his arm, its pale blue light illuminating the otherwise dark room.
1 — Damon Valecrest — 5070 Points
2 — Khaira Emberhorn — 1850 Points
3 — Aelrion Sylvaris — 1830 Points
4 — Serena Valmont — 1570 Points
5 — Lucian Aetherwind — 1550 Points
For a moment, Damon simply looked at the list without expression.
The Manacron suddenly vibrated softly against his wrist.
A small notification window appeared above the ranking board.
New Message Received
Damon's eyes shifted toward it.
The sender's name appeared in elegant lettering.
Adrielle Storme
Below it, a single short line followed.
"Meet me tomorrow in my office."
The projection dimmed slightly as the message remained floating in the quiet room, the soft night breeze continuing to stir the curtains beside the open window.