Elly stepped forward, her heart pounding against her ribs. The black orb pulsed with an eerie glow as her fingers made contact with its smooth surface.
A bright "230" blazed above the sphere.
"Impossible!" The commander snatched up the orb, examining it from every angle. "This reading can't be accurate."
The elderly mage pushed through the crowd. "Let me see that." His eyes widened as he studied the glowing numbers. "The orb is functioning correctly. This girl possesses extraordinary magical power."
Whispers rippled through the gathered students. The fire and wind youths who had scored in the thirties exchanged worried glances.
"But she only showed low affinity with the crystal formation," one instructor protested. "How can her raw power be so high?"
"Two hundred and thirty units." The commander shook her head. "That's beyond anything we've seen in decades. Even the thirties these other two achieved were considered exceptional."
Students craned their necks to stare at Elly. Some backed away, creating a small circle of empty space around her.
"A water mage with that much power..." The elderly mage stroked his beard. "The possibilities are staggering."
The fire youth crossed his arms. "There must be some mistake. No one scores that high, especially not someone with low affinity."
"The orb doesn't lie." The commander held up the sphere. "We can test again if you'd like."
Elly touched the orb once more. The number "230" flared even brighter than before.
"Well." The commander set down the orb with a sharp click. "It seems we have two exceptional cases today. First the boy with unprecedented affinities, and now a girl with extraordinary raw power."
The other students who had scored ones and twos shuffled their feet, their earlier confidence deflated by the vast gulf between their abilities and what they had just witnessed.
Leo approached the orb with measured steps, his expression carefully neutral. He concentrated, attempting to suppress his power to match a second-level apprentice. His fingers brushed against the cold surface.
The numbers above the orb flickered, then blazed: "625"
The crowd fell silent. Even the elderly mage's mouth dropped open.
"Six... six hundred?" A student's voice cracked.
The commander's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Trying to hide your true power, weren't you?" He picked up the orb, turning to address the stunned audience. "A few years back, some noble families thought they could game the system. They had their children suppress their abilities during testing, hoping to secure easier positions where they could coast by."
Leo withdrew his hand, his carefully constructed plan crumbling.
"After that incident, the orbs were enhanced." The commander tapped the sphere. "Now, unless you're at least a full-fledged mage, there's no fooling these devices. They'll show your true power regardless of any attempts to mask it."
The elderly mage adjusted his robes. "Six hundred and twenty-five units... combined with high affinities... this is unprecedented."
"First the girl with two hundred thirty, and now this?" The fire youth who had scored thirty slumped against the wall. "What kind of monsters are we dealing with?"
The commander fixed Leo with a piercing stare. "Care to explain why you attempted to hide your abilities?"
"I prefer not drawing attention." Leo met her gaze steadily.
"Well, that ship has sailed." He set the orb down with a hollow sound. "These readings will be the talk of every magic academy in the region by nightfall."
Leo's jaw tightened as he watched the commander store away the testing orb. His carefully laid plans had unraveled in moments. Years of preparation, of learning to mask his abilities, rendered useless by an enhanced detection system.
"Well then." The commander clapped his hands. "You two will need special arrangements. The standard curriculum won't suffice."
The elderly mage nodded. "Indeed. Their power levels demand specialized training. The Military Academy has protocols for exceptional cases like these."
Leo's tension eased slightly. The commander's words confirmed what he had suspected - the academy wouldn't let talents like theirs slip away. The backing of such a prestigious institution provided a measure of security he counted on.
"The army will want to keep close tabs on both of you." The commander's boots clicked against the stone floor as he paced. "Talents like yours appear once in a generation, if that. We'll need to adjust your training schedules, assign specialized instructors-"
"And ensure their safety," the elderly mage added. "Power like this attracts attention - not all of it welcome."
Leo caught the hidden meaning. The academy would protect its investments. Anyone foolish enough to target students under military protection would face severe consequences.
"Report to my office tomorrow morning," the commander said. "We'll discuss your new arrangements then." He turned to address the rest of the students.
The commander gestured toward a different set of testing equipment. "Knights, form a line. We'll measure your life energy affinity first."
A crystal dome replaced the black orb, its surface etched with intricate runes. Students shuffled forward one by one, placing their palms against the cool surface.
Most readings fell within expected ranges - low to medium affinity. A few standouts achieved high affinity ratings, drawing appreciative nods from the instructors.
"Next, raw power testing." The commander unveiled a silver cylinder. "Remember, these numbers represent your current potential, not your limit."
A tall youth with broad shoulders stepped up. The cylinder hummed, projecting "Knight - Level 1" in glowing script.
Gasps erupted from the crowd. The youth's chest swelled with pride.
"Seventeen years old and already at knight level." The elderly mage marked his scroll. "Most impressive, Marcus."
Other notable results followed. Three students registered as high-level apprentice knights - rare achievements for their age group.
"Sixth circle apprentice knight."
"Seventh circle apprentice knight."
"Fifth circle apprentice knight."
The commander reviewed the results. "An exceptional group this year. One full knight and three high-level apprentices." He rolled up his scroll with a sharp snap. "The rest of you showed solid potential as well. Don't be discouraged by these outliers."
Marcus, the seventeen-year-old knight, crossed his arms and surveyed the other students with barely concealed superiority. His earlier anxiety about the mage prodigies forgotten now that he had his own achievement to boast about.
The elderly mage finished recording the final results. "Both knights and mages have shown remarkable talent today. This may be our strongest incoming class in decades."
The commander raised his hand, silencing the excited chatter. "Those who scored below second circle apprentice knight, step forward."
About thirty students shuffled to the front, heads bowed, shoulders slumped.
"Don't look so defeated." The commander pulled out a different device - a crystal cube shot through with veins of red. "Raw power and affinity aren't everything. Let's test your combat aptitude."
One by one, the students placed their hands on the cube. Most readings came back unremarkable, but a few caused the cube to pulse with bright crimson light.
"You." The commander pointed to a short boy with calloused hands. "The cube shows exceptional reaction time and spatial awareness. Perfect for close combat training."
A girl with fierce eyes stepped up next. The cube blazed even brighter.
"Natural fighter's instinct." The commander made a note. "Your body moves before your mind needs to think. That's rare."
Three more students showed similar promise. The cube identified their hidden talents - precision, adaptability, raw physical strength.
"Five of you." The commander nodded with satisfaction. "Combat ability isn't just about energy manipulation."
The identified students straightened their backs, pride returning to their faces.
"You'll receive specialized martial training alongside regular classes." The commander stored away the cube. "Don't let anyone tell you that you're less valuable because you scored low on the other tests. The army needs skilled fighters as much as it needs mages and knights."
The commander raised his voice to address the assembled students. "Congratulations to all who passed. You represent the finest young talents in the empire. Your journey begins here."
He gestured toward a row of tables where academy officials sat with stacks of documents. "Form lines to register your names and receive your dormitory assignments."
The elderly mage cleared his throat. "Take a moment to bid farewell to your families. Training at the Military Academy is intensive - visits will be limited to three days each season."
Parents emerged from the waiting area, some with tears in their eyes, others beaming with pride. The sound of emotional goodbyes filled the chamber.
"Five years." A mother clutched her son's shoulders. "My boy's going to be a knight."
Marcus stood apart from the crowd, no family in sight. His fingers traced the knight certification scroll he'd received.
Leo watched Elly embrace her father, their blonde hair mingling as they held each other tight. Her brothers stood nearby, chest puffed out, telling anyone who would listen about their sisters' extraordinary test results.
"Remember what we discussed." The commander's voice cut through the chatter. "Those with special assignments report to my office at dawn tomorrow. The rest of you will begin standard orientation."
Students lined up at the registration tables, signing their names with trembling hands. Each received a thick packet containing academy regulations, class schedules, and maps of the grounds.
Parents lingered until the last possible moment, stealing final hugs and whispering last-minute advice. The guards at the entrance began ushering families toward the exit.
"Time to go," one official announced. "Students, follow your assigned prefects to the dormitories."
The sound of boots on stone echoed through the chamber as the new cadets formed ranks, ready to begin their journey as Military Academy trainees.