Next morning the candidates stood in loose rows on the barony's field, tokens in hand, waiting for the call.
Draven was already there, arms folded, amber eyes scanning the line. Beside him stood the mage instructor a young man with black semi-long hair tied back, brown eyes, a deep brown shirt left open at the chest, muscle showing through, beige pants, and a simple cord looped with focus stones at his wrist.
He is Kael , instructor of the mage section, here for the registration and today's test.
Kael's gaze swept the hopefuls and his gaze fell upon Silas for half a beat longer than the rest. "Form up," he said, voice even. "We'll start with aptitude. Warriors to the left with Instructor Draven. Mages to the right with me."
Kael glanced at his friend. "Draven, see any good ones among these students?"
Draven was so focused on Silas that he didn't hear him.
Kael followed his friend's gaze and saw a handsome young man in a black shirt, waiting patiently in the line for the mage section. He put a hand on Draven's shoulder. "Did you hear anything I just said?"
Draven startled. "What?"
Kael's lips curved into a tease. "This is the first time in our long friendship I've seen you this unfocused, Draven. Did you just get your heart stolen?"
"What heart stolen? What are you talking about?" Draven said immediately. "I… I was just looking at a student I want to recruit. But…"
Kael's interest sharpened. "But what?"
Draven frowned. "He rejected me."
A mysterious smile touched Kael's lips. "Interesting! Someone actually rejected your offer. Who is it?"
Draven's eyes drifted back to Silas, and Kael followed, his curiosity piqued. He wanted to know why someone hand-picked by Draven was standing in his line.
Silas stood patiently, feeling a burning gaze on his back. He knew exactly who it was. He didn't even look, just ignored the feeling of being X-rayed by eyes alone.
The exam started.
Two huge boulders of century stone were set up at the front of each section. They were indestructible; no amount of power from these mewbies could break them. Only scratches could appear on their surface. The stone also sensed elemental presence, making it the perfect tool for checking aptitude. The task for warriors was to scratch the stone. For mages, it was to demonstrate a strong affinity.
One after another, students went up and failed, their hopes crushed before they even saw the academy walls.
Then, a young master from a count's family, Karlos Render, sneered at the crowd. With a smug face, he strode to the century stone for the mage test. "Heh! You commoners shouldn't even bother. You don't deserve this. Just watch and see what pure talent looks like."
He placed his hand on the stone. A wave of heat emanated from him as the element of fire manifested in the air.
Kael announced, "Karlos Render, affinity with fire - excellent. Selected for the academy's mage section."
The nobles clapped while the commoners felt a fresh wave of shame.
But just then, Silas walked through the crowd. It was his turn. Even Kael leaned forward, his eyes alight with interest, wanting to see just what was so extraordinary about the boy who had captivated the academy's coldest prince.
Silas put his hand on the century stone.
The next moment, something horrifying happened. The boulder didn't just glow it disintegrated, turning completely to dust. The atmosphere of the entire field shifted. The sky turned black as dark clouds boiled overhead, and crackling azure lightning began to arc around Silas's body, as if the king of lightning himself had descended.
Kael's face broke into a huge, radiant smile. He knew exactly what this meant. He announced, his voice booming with excitement, "Excellent! A divine-grade affinity with the rarest lightning element! Silas, accepted to the academy's mage section with a soaring score!"
The faces of the nobles went pale. Just moments ago, they had been so arrogant, and now a commoner's talent had completely eclipsed them. They knew what a divine-grade affinity meant. Only the greatest mages in history possessed such a thing, and with the thunder element, it was a legend that came to life.
But Draven was staring at Silas with horrified, awestruck eyes. He murmured to himself, "Magic swordsman… He's a magic swordsman."
His heart hammered against his ribs. He couldn't stop looking at the handsome boy wreathed in lightning. The more he saw, the more he wanted to see. The more he wanted to know. And in reality, the more he learned, the more confused and captivated he became. He couldn't see through this person at all.
The exams for both the mage and warrior sections ended a few minutes later. The instructors announced that all selected students were to stay in the local inns for one more day; the academy would send carriages for them tomorrow morning.
The crowd began to disperse, and Silas turned to head back to his inn.
"Wait! Wait a minute, please."
Silas's heart started drumming against his ribs again. He knew he was gay, he'd known it back on Earth, and it hadn't changed here. And this man, this male god, was continuously seducing him with a handsome face and a body that seemed carved from stone.
Still, he composed himself and turned. It was Draven. "Yes, Instructor Draven? Do you want to say something to me?"
Draven gulped. His eyes unconsciously flickered to the open buttons of Silas's shirt, to the smooth, pale skin underneath. He swallowed again. What is happening to me? Why am I looking at a student three or four years younger than me like this?
He managed to speak. "Yes! I want to talk to you about..."
"What are you two talking about behind my back?" another voice cut in. Kael appeared behind Draven, a playful glint in his eyes. "And Draven, don't even think about stealing my junior, or else…"
Draven sneered. "Who wants to steal your junior? I just wanted to..."
Kael cut him off again, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "Are you trying to flirt with my junior?"
Silas's face went beet red. Draven's ears burned with embarrassment. "What! What flirting? I just wanted to talk to him," he stammered.
Kael walked over to Silas, placing both hands on his shoulders and looking him in the eye. "But I also wanted to talk to him. He's the only ace student I selected this time."
Silas, caught between the two instructors, nodded politely. "It's okay, Instructor Kael. I can hear you both."
Kael waved a dismissive hand. "You don't need to be so formal. You can call me by my name, Kael. And him, too. You can call him Draven."
"Don't decide things for me," Draven shot back. "I have a mouth, too."
Kael's grin widened. "Then save it for other activities."
Draven stumbled, nearly falling right there in front of Silas.
Kael looked at Silas. "You don't have any plans for the evening, right?"
Silas shook his head.
"Then join me for dinner tonight," Kael said. He glanced over at Draven, a smirk playing on his lips. "You can join too, if you want."
Draven gritted his teeth. "Who would leave a bunny alone in a wolf's den?"
"And who's asking?" Kael shot back. "A hyena?"
Silas's brow furrowed in confusion. Who's the bunny? Me? He glanced down at his own frame, trying to figure out which part of him looked like a bunny.
Kael was waiting for an answer. Silas sighed. "Okay, Kael. I'll join." He'd already decided to accept them as friends. Even though they were instructors, they treated him like a peer, and he found he didn't mind it.
A wave of quiet relief washed over Draven. He knew his friend had done this for him, giving him a chance to figure out the strange, unfamiliar feelings Silas stirred in him. He'd always thought he was straight. But after meeting Silas last night, something inside him had shifted, as if he'd finally met someone he truly wanted to be with. And that person was a guy.
Silas risked a fleeting glance at Draven before schooling his expression and pointedly ignoring him, though his heart was still pounding and he could feel the heat in his ears.
With the plan set, they went their separate ways. Kael and Draven returned to the other instructors to manage the paperwork for the selected students. Silas went back to his room at the inn, shut the door, and let out a long breath. He was alone now.
He focused his mind and a translucent blue screen shimmered into existence before his eyes.
[ Silas Valerius
**Profession:** Author (Unique)
Level:1
Strength:** 64
Stamina:** 49
Agility:** 35
Mana:** 52
Intelligence:** 100
Special Power:
1. Analysis: Can see through anything in the world by concentrating for a fraction of a second from an author's perspective.
Registered Techniques:
1. Valerius Swordsmanship (4 forms) 2. Lightning Magic Circle 3. Space Magic Circle 4. 9 Blades of Destruction + 9 Blades of Life (all forms learned from analyzing Draven) ]
"System," Silas asked quietly, his eyes on the glowing blue words. "How can I reach level 2?"
[Ding!
To reach Level 2, Host must acquire 1000 experience points. Experience points are gained through combat.]
It made sense now. He had used his powers, practiced, and analyzed, but he had never actually fought anyone to gain experience points. He sighed, the new understanding settling in. With hours to kill before dinner, he closed the interface and slept.
As evening fell, Silas made his way to Kael's tent for the promised dinner. He found both instructors inside, a hearty meal already laid out on a small table, the air warm and smelling of roasted meat and spices.