The final year was not just another step—it was a defining threshold. Every student who had made it this far had already survived years of rigorous training, sleepless nights, and relentless trials. Yet, even among them, only the most dedicated, talented, or relentless would see their journey through to the very end.
After the exams, only 100 students remained in the final year. The academy had begun with thousands, but one by one, students either dropped out, were expelled, or failed to meet the harsh expectations of their respective disciplines.
For those who remained, the final year was not about learning new things, but about mastering what they had already studied. Each division now demanded a level of expertise that went beyond mere understanding. It was no longer about participation—it was about becoming masters of their craft.
Elementalism Division: Embracing the Elemental Form
Only ten students remained in the Elementalism division.
For them, the final year's focus would be on elemental body transformation—a technique where an Elementalist would become one with their chosen element. It was the pinnacle of their craft, something that few Elementalists could achieve even after decades of practice.
The concept was simple in theory: rather than manipulating elements externally, an Elementalist would infuse their very body with their element, turning their flesh into flame, stone, wind, or even lightning.
But in practice, it was incredibly dangerous.
Those who failed in this training risked damaging their own physical form permanently, or worse, losing their humanity entirely. Fire Elementalists who pushed too far sometimes burned away their own bodies, while those attuned to water could dissolve into nothingness if they lost control.
For Nara and the other nine students, this was the ultimate test of their connection to their element. It wasn't just about wielding fire anymore—it was about becoming fire.
Spell Department: Mastery of Complex Spells
Another ten students remained in the Spell Department.
This division was entirely different from Elementalism—where Elementalists sought union with their magic, Spellcrafters sought mastery over it through intellect and precision. Their final year would focus on complex spells, with an emphasis on independent research and refinement.
For Isolde, this was an opportunity unlike any other.
After the tournament, she had accepted a sponsorship from the academy, a privilege that came with access to some of the rarest spells in the world. Spells that weren't just difficult to learn, but also forbidden to most.
Some of these spells were ancient and nearly lost to time, while others were highly classified due to their sheer destructive potential.
Unlike Elementalism, where students risked self-destruction, the danger for Spellcrafters came from losing control of their magic, miscalculating an incantation, or attempting a spell beyond their capabilities—sometimes with disastrous consequences.
It was a year of self-discipline, experimentation, and pushing the limits of what was possible with magic.
History Department: The Study of Specialization
The largest division, with thirty students, the History Department had a different challenge altogether.
For them, the final year was about choosing a specific field of historical study and becoming an expert in it. Some students focused on war history, dissecting the strategies and tactics of past battles. Others chose cultural history, tracing the evolution of societies and civilizations.
Garrick had yet to decide his specialization, but he knew that whatever he chose, it would determine his career and future standing as a historian.
Unlike the other divisions, where mastery was tested through combat or spellcraft, history students were tested through knowledge, interpretation, and presentation. A single mistake in their research could discredit their entire thesis.
It was a battle of intellect, where only the most thorough and uncompromising researchers would succeed.
Beast Study Department: The Art of Training
The Beast Study Department had dwindled to only ten students.
The challenge this year was clear: every student would have to train their beast into a hunting hound—an extension of their own will. The bond between beast and master had to be perfected, their coordination seamless.
For Jhaeros, however, this challenge was twice as difficult.
Unlike the others, who only had one beast to train, Jhaeros had two—Velka, his dire wolf, and Noir, his shadow panther.
Training one beast was already an enormous task. Training two meant he would have to divide his attention, refine his commands, and ensure both of them could function as hunting hounds without losing their individual strengths.
The final assessment would not just test whether the beasts obeyed commands, but also how efficiently they could track, hunt, and work alongside their masters in high-pressure environments.
For Jhaeros, this was a test of his bond, his leadership, and his ability to synchronize with his companions on an instinctual level.
Alchemy Division: The Art of Discovery
With twenty students remaining, the Alchemy Division had a unique final challenge:
Each student had to write a research paper on a subject of their choosing.
This was not a simple task—alchemy was a vast and complex field. Some students would focus on elixirs, others on transmutation, and a few on philosophical alchemy, exploring the relationship between magic and science.
For Lyra, this was an exciting challenge. She had always preferred research over combat, and this was her chance to leave a mark in the field of alchemy.
But it was also a test of creativity and innovation. The academy didn't just want summarized knowledge—they expected original research, discoveries that could push alchemy forward.
It wasn't just about passing. It was about contributing something new to the world.
Material Division: The Choice of Creation
The final division, with twenty students remaining, offered a choice—something rare in the academy's rigid system.
Students could either:
Train in the basic principles of synthetic material synthesis, refining their ability to craft new and advanced materials. Write a research paper, much like the Alchemy Division, but focused on materials science and engineering.
For Kalem, this was a strategic decision. His experience in materials and engineering had already given him a solid foundation, but now he had to decide:
Did he want to hone his practical skills, developing new forms of durable, lightweight, or enhanced materials?
Or did he want to contribute to the field academically, pushing the limits of what was theoretically possible?
Both paths had their merits. One would make him a better craftsman. The other would make him a scholar of materials science.
Either way, the decision would shape his future beyond the academy.
As the final year loomed over them, every student knew the stakes had never been higher.
This was the last hurdle, the point where they either proved their mastery or fell short of becoming true experts.
There were no second chances. No easy paths.
Only those who pushed themselves beyond their limits would graduate as true masters of their craft.