One month later—Exam Day.
The Elementalism Division gathered in the academy's largest open-air training ground. The space was lined with rune-etched pillars designed to monitor magical output, ensuring fairness and preventing accidents.
This was Nara's test.
Maintain an elemental coating for twelve hours.
It was an endurance trial, not a battle. A test of control, resilience, and mana efficiency.
Standing among the gathered students, Nara rolled her shoulders, loosening up. Twelve hours was a long time, but she wasn't worried about power—she was worried about pacing.
Professor Caelum Varian, the division head, stepped forward. His presence alone commanded respect—a seasoned Stormcaller, his robes crackled faintly with residual lightning.
"This exam is not about raw strength," he stated, his gaze sharp. "It is about sustainability. A warrior who burns bright but fades quickly is of no use. You must endure."
His eyes swept over the students.
"The moment your magic falters, your test is over."
A brief pause—
Then—
"Begin."
Ignition
A surge of mana erupted as students activated their elemental coatings.
The training ground transformed into a dazzling spectacle of fire, ice, lightning, wind, and earth.
Nara, standing tall, ignited.
A brilliant aura of fire wreathed her form, flickering in waves across her skin. Her flame wasn't wild and erratic like some of the others—it flowed smoothly, controlled, measured.
She breathed deep, feeling the steady pulse of mana in her core. This was a test of discipline, not combat.
For the first few hours, everything felt easy.
Observing from the Sidelines
Kalem stood among the spectators, arms crossed as he watched Nara and the other students. While he wasn't a participant, his analytical nature made him study the different approaches.
"Some of them are burning too much energy too fast," he noted.
Beside him, Garrick grunted. "They're acting like this is a fight. Overkill."
Kalem nodded. The real test wasn't in the first few hours—it was in the later ones.
The First Casualties
Three hours in, some students were already faltering.
A boy cloaked in flames started strong, but his aura flickered from overuse. Sweat dripped from his brow, and within minutes, his fire extinguished. He collapsed, disqualified.
Another student, covered in a thick ice armor, had a similar fate. She'd used too much material, forcing herself to sustain a massive energy drain. Her coating cracked and shattered, ending her exam.
More and more fell, unable to pace themselves.
But Nara remained steady.
The Midpoint—Six Hours In
By the time the six-hour mark hit, over half the students were gone.
Nara could feel the fatigue setting in—a dull ache in her limbs, the slow strain of constant mana flow.
Some students tried to shift strategies, dimming their coatings to conserve energy. Others struggled to stay upright.
Nara, however, had trained for this.
She adjusted her breathing. Controlled her flame. Kept it at the bare minimum required to sustain the coating.
She wasn't trying to win, she was trying to endure.
The Final Hours
At the ten-hour mark, the remaining students were pushed to their limits.
Nara's fire wavered—but never went out.
Her body screamed for rest, her mana reserves running low, but she clenched her fists.
Two more hours.
Across from her, only a handful of students remained.
Some shook, barely able to stand. Others had their eyes shut in deep focus, conserving their last bits of strength.
One student collapsed—then another.
And then—
"Time's up!"
Victory and Exhaustion
The moment the exam ended, Nara let her flames drop.
The sudden loss of heat made her shiver, but she stayed on her feet—barely.
Professor Caelum stepped forward, scanning the few remaining students.
"You pass."
The words rang in her ears.
She did it.
Nara exhaled, wiping sweat from her brow. Her entire body ached, but deep down—she felt pride.
From the sidelines, Kalem smirked. "Told you you'd last."
Nara gave him a tired grin. "Yeah. Easy."
Kalem raised a brow. "You look like you're about to fall over."
"Shut up."
Tomorrow, it would be Spell Division's turn.