Within three days of Ayumu's arrival, the examination that was carefully tailored for her, was complete.
High-positioned teachers from the Volance School, alongside senior officers of the Magis Department, had gathered to oversee it. This was no ordinary assessment. It was one that would determine not only her capability, but her legitimacy in the eyes of the empire.
Ayumu would undergo ten tests over the course of five days.
They included history, magis education, political studies, economics, spirit management, medical examination, diplomacy and arcane theory and combat.
These fields that demanded not just knowledge, but wisdom, control, and foresight.
Ayumu arrived at a small grand hall within the Volance School.
She appeared more refined.
She wore white robes lined with delicate golden threads, each stitch catching the light subtly. Her hair was neatly kept, lightly oiled, and flowed smoothly behind her. She looked almost unreal—like a porcelain doll sculpted from white jade, carrying an ethereal presence that drew every eye in the room.
Before her stood ten examiners.
Behind her, seated in quiet authority, were the Emperor Visil, Lady Jadeite, Lord Elbus, and Kaiser.
Ayumu remained unfazed.
A small, polite smile rested on her lips as she stepped forward.
"I am Ayumu Velmiar… I am ready to be evaluated by such esteemed individuals."
Her voice was calm, clear, and carried just enough confidence to command attention.
Some of the examiners found themselves unexpectedly swayed.
Others remained skeptical.
Soon, the examinations began.
One by one, each test unfolded—and with each passing trial, the atmosphere in the hall began to shift.
To everyone's surprise, Ayumu did not merely meet expectations.
She surpassed them.
Her knowledge of the empire's history was not only precise, but deeply insightful. In political studies, she demonstrated a level of understanding far beyond her years, weaving strategy and foresight with unsettling clarity.
In arcane theory, her explanations bordered on brilliance. In diplomacy, she showed restraint, empathy, and calculated speech—qualities rare even among seasoned officials.
When it came to magis execution, she performed with effortless grace.
High-energy spells were cast without strain. Her control was immaculate.
And when she summoned her spirit—Vesta.
The hall itself seemed to tremble under its presence.
Even more shocking, she subdued the combined spirits of all ten examiners with overwhelming dominance.
Silence followed.
As expected… of a White Magis born from such a lineage.
Emperor Visil did not personally witness every moment of the five-day examination, but he was kept informed of each result.
And with every report, his pride grew.
Yet, alongside that pride, something else lingered.
A quiet unease.
He could not help but wonder—what had Ayumu gone through to attain such knowledge and such strength?
To carry all of it alone.
-----------
Some of the examinations were made public.
Students, both knights and magis, gathered to witness them. They filled the observation halls with murmurs, awe, and disbelief.
Ayumu's name began to spread.
Recognition ad respect came swiftly.
But not all were convinced and the final test remained.
Combat.
It was the one many had been waiting for.
Whispers spread among the students. Bets were made in hushed tones.
Surely… this seemingly perfect being could not excel in everything.
She looked too fragile. Too delicate. Her slender frame, her soft features—nothing about her suggested raw physical prowess.
"The final stage of your examination, Miss Ayumu," one of the examiners announced, his voice echoing across the arena, "will be combat."
A pause.
"You are to select a weapon of your choice. Your opponent will be chosen from among the top-performing students of the recent tournament. They are close to your age. This will ensure a fair match."
"I understand," Ayumu replied calmly.
The examiner nodded. "Now, who would like to volunteer—"
"I will volunteer!"
A voice rang out, sharp and confident.
The crowd parted slightly as a young man stepped forward—the victor of the recent tournament.
Maverick Cainhurst.
A necromancer. A dark magis.
His expression carried arrogance, his eyes fixed on Ayumu with clear hostility.
"I've been wanting to face you," he said with a smirk. "You may have impressed everyone with your little tricks… but I won't go easy on you, frail White Magis."
The examiner frowned immediately. "Mind your attitude, young man. You stand in the presence of the Emperor, Lords, and Ladies."
"I don't care," he snapped. "What I care about… is teaching her a lesson."
Murmurs of disapproval spread through the crowd.
Even Emperor Visil's expression darkened slightly, as if he were about to intervene—
But before he could speak, another voice cut through.
Kaiser.
"If you are so confident in your victory, young lad" he said, his gaze unwavering, "then I trust you will remain true to your words."
The boy's eyes lit up.
To be acknowledged by Kaiser, the strongest of the Black Magis, was an honour beyond measure.
Yet, he misunderstood entirely.
Where he heard encouragement… there was actually none.
Kaiser already knew how this would end.
"I will not disappoint you, Lord Kaiser!" the boy declared proudly. "I will show you the strength of the Black Magis… against this pathetic White one!" he rudely pointed to Ayumu.
The crowd stirred again, tension rising.
But the examination continued.
"You may now choose your weapon," the examiner said, "and a magical item to accompany you."
Ayumu stepped forward quietly.
Her expression remained unchanged while choosing the items that is presented on the table.
But within her golden eyes, something had begun to sharpen at a particular item.
The boy chose a sword—long, sharp, and unforgiving. A weapon meant not just to defeat, but to cut down his opponent without hesitation.
For his magical item, he produced a worn leather pouch that contains bag of bones. A necromancer's tool.
The moment it was revealed, a quiet unease spread through the crowd. Everyone present understood what it meant—within it lay the remains used to conjure undead soldiers.
What a formidable and terrifying opponent.
Visil felt his chest tighten.
Every instinct in him—not as an emperor, but as a brother—urged him to stop the evaluation entirely.
But before he could act, a familiar presence filled the air.
Ayumu had summoned Vesta at its quiet insistence, the ancient spirit's whisper brushing against her thoughts with a simple desire that it wished to witness the match.
The great phoenix descended in a graceful arc, its radiant feathers catching the light before perching itself upon the emperor's armrest.
"Do not worry, young Emperor," Vesta said calmly. "This will not take long."
Visil swallowed, unconvinced—but he said nothing.
Ayumu stepped forward.
Her choices drew immediate confusion.
In one hand, she held a simple wooden pole—no longer than three-quarters her height. Plain. Unadorned.
In the other, a small vial filled with grey powder.
That was all.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"That's it?"
"She can't be serious…"
"Against Maverick?"
Bets had already begun forming among the students.
Most were placed firmly in favour of Maverick.
"Your bird won't be there to protect you now," Maverick sneered, his grin sharp with malice.
Ayumu did not respond. Her expression remained calm, her posture relaxed, as though his words had never reached her.
"Both parties ready?" the examiner called out.
They stood facing each other at a distance.
Maverick, brimming with arrogance and dark energy.
Ayumu, serene and composed, her light robes swaying gently.
"Begin!"
Maverick moved first.
With practiced ease, he hurled the bag of bones onto the ground before him, muttering a low incantation.
The pouch writhed.
Bones spilled out—scattering, twitching, then snapping into place.
A thick haze of purple-black smoke seeped between them, binding them together.
Three skeletons rose.
Hollow eyes burned with unnatural light as they let out a chilling rattle and charged toward Ayumu.
Maverick laughed, confident in his control.
But then—he stopped.
Ayumu was gone.
Maverick's eyes widened.
"What—?"
He turned sharply, searching—
Crash.
A clean, precise strike.
Ayumu had already appeared beside one of the skeletons. Her wooden pole came down with exact force at its spine.
The magic collapsed instantly.
One of the skeleton crumbled into lifeless pieces.
"Wha—what?!"
Maverick staggered back slightly.
Before he could react further, the remaining skeletons lunged forward to attack Ayumu and again, she vanished from sight—only to reappear behind them.
Two swift strikes.
Both landed at the spinal core.
The moment of impact disrupted the flow of magic entirely.
The skeletons froze—then fell apart.
Silenced.
Maverick's confidence shattered.
For a brief second, disbelief overtook him. Then came rage.
His face twisted, humiliation burning through him as he gripped his sword tightly.
Without hesitation, Maverick charged.
"If I cut you down myself, let's see how calm you stay!"
The crowd held its breath.
Ayumu did not move.
She simply watched him approach.
Then—
She raised her left hand.
Gently.
She uncorked the vial and blew a small amount of grey powder into her palm.
The dust caught the air… shimmering faintly in the light as it drifted forward.
Straight toward Maverick who did not stop to notice.
Then—his body froze. His eyes widened.
And without warning—
Maverick collapsed.
His sword slipped from his hand, striking the ground with a dull clink.
Silence.
Complete and absolute.
The match was over.
"What… just happened?"
Whispers spread rapidly across the arena.
No one understood.
It had ended too quickly.
Too cleanly.
"See?" Vesta said lightly from beside the emperor.
Visil could only swallow.
He hadn't even seen it properly.
Everything had happened too fast.
His gaze remained fixed on Ayumu, standing calmly at the center of the arena.
Just what… had she done?
And more importantly—
What kind of strength had she truly gained… all on her own?
The teachers hurried forward, lifting the boy carefully—only to pause in confusion.
A loud, unmistakable snore escaped him. He was… asleep.
Not unconscious. Not injured.
Just asleep.
They exchanged glances, then turned toward Ayumu, silently asking for an explanation.
"Sleeping powder," Ayumu said gently. "When activated by my magic, its effects are amplified tenfold."
She offered a small, reassuring smile.
"He is unharmed."
A wave of relief passed through the examiners, though their astonishment remained.