Chapter 10: Unmeasured Power
As Mickey stepped into the grand marble circle etched with glowing runes, an odd silence spread across the testing grounds. Dozens of students sat watching in curiosity and awe. The sky above Mecatopia's most prestigious academy shimmered faintly as if the air itself sensed the arrival of something unusual.
Mickey took a deep breath. This was it—his first time casting magic in front of others. Alright, let's see what this power really feels like, he thought. He focused his energy and whispered, "Summoner's Aura... awaken."
In an instant, a swirl of raw mana burst from his body. First, the golden-blue light enveloped the testing circle, then surged outward, spreading like wildfire. The wind howled unnaturally as glowing sigils spun around him. The entire school courtyard began to tremble. The tiles beneath his feet cracked. Windows in the surrounding towers started to rattle, and the air grew thick with pressure.
"What is this!?" a student cried, shielding their face.
"This mana density... it's monstrous!" a staff member shouted, stumbling back.
"Make him stop! Right now!" another instructor barked, gripping a warding staff.
Mickey stood in the center of the chaos, completely confused. His expression turned from confidence to worry as he watched the reactions around him. "Huh? I'm just getting started…"
"Stop, Mickey! STOP casting!" one of the senior examiners yelled, his voice barely cutting through the magical storm.
Startled, Mickey blinked and quickly cut off his flow of mana. The glow disappeared. The shaking stopped. The sky slowly returned to its calm hue. Silence.
Then…
BOOM.
A delayed blast echoed out from the shockwave of his aura finally collapsing. Dust flew. A statue crumbled nearby. Several students stared wide-eyed. Even the instructors stood frozen.
"…Sir?" Mickey called out carefully, looking toward the stunned examiner.
The man wiped sweat from his brow. "You… you didn't even finish casting?"
"No, I was just halfway," Mickey said innocently, scratching his cheek. "Was that… bad?"
The examiner took a step back and muttered something under his breath. "Didn't even finish and nearly destroyed the school…"
The head instructor walked forward and placed a firm hand on Mickey's shoulder. "Mickey, son of Ken, your magic capacity is… beyond anything we've seen. You've passed the magic test."
Mickey tilted his head. "So… what class do I go to?"
The staff exchanged glances, clearly unsure. One of them finally replied, "There's no way you're going to the ordinary class. Or even the advanced one…"
The head instructor nodded. "Mickey, you've qualified for the Elite Classroom. Only the top-ranked and most talented students train there—those chosen by fate and power itself."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. A few students glanced at Mickey with awe. Others with envy.
"Elite…?" Mickey murmured, then grinned. "Sounds cool."
"Now," the examiner continued, still trying to regain composure, "move on to your next test—combat and summoning. Just… please, try to control your magic this time."
Mickey nodded. "Alright, I'll try my best not to break anything… again."
With that, he walked away from the testing circle, unaware that dozens of eyes—both friendly and hostile—were now watching his every step.
The legend of the boy who wielded the Crest of Eternia… had just begun.