...
"Oh right—you're the last one."
"Come here," Professor Ares commanded, gesturing for me to step into the middle of the hall.
I made my way down the aisle, and that's when I spotted him—the game's protagonist. Black hair that fell like silk, eyes that gleamed like polished gemstones, and a face that could've belonged to a royal heir.
Wow, that protagonist charm is no joke. What was his starting rating again? B+? Maybe A-?
Well damn… I'd settle for even a C in charm at this point.
"Luke LessHeart—place your arm on the orb," Professor Ares said, nodding toward a glowing sphere that hummed with faint energy.
"So I just rest my arm on it and channel mana into it?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Got it."
I pressed my palm against the cool surface and poured my mana into it. The orb drank it up like a sponge, draining far more than I'd expected. When I pulled my arm away, the sphere burst into a bright, steady green glow.
...
"What?!"
Professor Ares's voice cracked with shock—and who could blame him? A ripple of confusion and excitement tore through the crowd.
"What is it? What'd it say?!" Students leaned forward in their seats, while the protagonist and other main cast members stared in silence, their eyes fixed on the orb.
The ranking system was simple: F glowed yellow, E pink, D orange, and C—only C—shone green. For a brand-new student to already possess C-rank mana was unheard of at the academy. But more than that—the light wasn't just bright; it was pristine. So pure that even the most esteemed high elves would struggle to match its clarity.
What is this kid? Ares wondered, his gaze shifting from the orb to Luke. He could feel it too—faint, powerful presences watching from beyond the mortal realm. The gods were paying attention.
Interesting… I suspect the blessing ceremony will need to be moved up ahead of schedule, he mused before straightening his posture and raising his voice once more.
"Luke LessHeart—C-rank mana, with 100% purity!"
Stunned silence washed over the hall, then broke into a storm of whispers.
"Is he an elf?" one student blurted out.
"But his ears aren't pointed!" another shot back.
"Maybe he cut them off?" someone joked, earning a few nervous snickers—but no one could mask their awe. 100% purity was a trait so rare among high elves that most had only heard of it in legends.
"Another one of them," a quiet murmur drifted through the crowd, carrying an undercurrent of something no one dared to name aloud.