The remainder of the journey quickly passed. Before Nora realized she was beset by the sight of the Imperial Academy. The Academy itself, a grandiose resting on a large hill, surrounded by a sort of hinterland. Several dozen carriages could be seen strewn around the entrance of the Academy. A crowd already gathering at a large metal gate. The town surrounding the Academy being rather small was quickly traversed. Nora and her family promptly joined the crowd.

Within a few minutes, the loud creaking of the metal gate, caused the rather large crowd to slowly migrate inwards. They entered what appeared to be an outer-courtyard with a makeshift stage set up in the middle. The stage housing several prominent figures from the Academy. Once all the parents and children had entered the courtyard a loud and powerful voice boomed,

"Welcome to the Allosian Imperial Academy!"

The old, fatigued, and rather bland appearance of the old man not failing to portray his power. In what Nora assumed as a display of power, he didn't withhold his mana and let it out freely. Immediately letting Nora feel the wild mana of a Soul Completion Realm cultivator. The old man continued as he slowly withdrew his mana.

"Here at the Allosian Imperial Academy", proudly emphasizing the Acadamy's name, "we offer two distinct courses. One for those who desire to become Knights, and one for those who have the ability to become Mages!"

One cue two of the other figures who had been patiently waiting on the stage unveiled two mysterious orbs and placed them on two separate tables at the sides of the old man.

"I, the Headmaster of the academy, Thurmond Lightcrow, I would like to personally invite all your children towards the stage."

Headmaster Thurmond calmly gesturing towards a set of stairs to the right side of the stage.

"The orb on my left is a mana crystal enchanted to sense those who can manipulate mana while the orb on my right is enchanted to sense if someone has an elemental affinity. If someone can pass the trial on my left, they will qualify for enrolling in our Knight Curriculum. If someone possesses an affinity they can enroll in our Mage Curriculum." pausing for a brief moment as if saddened, "If one fails to activate the orb on my left and cannot manipulate mana, they shall be asked to leave the premises and return home."

The children of the many families present made their way towards the stairs and formed a long line at the instruction of some academy staff. Headmaster Thurmond then gestured at the first child on the line to make their way to the first orb.

The child wore heavily worn clothing, somewhat signifying his economic situation. In high hopes, he eagerly approached the mana sensing orb. Instructed by one of the other figures on stage, he placed his hand on the orb. A very faint blue light appeared inside the orb, signifying a Low Mana Affinity. The young child turned ecstatic, he had actually managed to qualify. Next, the young child walked over to the Affinity orb and placed his hand. An extremely dim red glow flickered within the orb. Barely qualifying the child broke into tears, he was going to be able to make all those who wronged him pay!

Nora had joined the line relatively late compared to everyone else and ended up in the back half of the line. She watched well over a hundred people undertake the two tests. The majority passed the mana test while only a dozen or so passed the affinity test. Each person with a varying level of affinity, the highest reaching a High Air affinity. Earning the praise of various onlookers.

Soon enough, it had become Nora's turn. She walked up the stairs towards the first orb hesitantly she placed her hand on the orb. Instantly Nora felt the orb latch onto her Mana. In the orb, a dim blue light appeared and quickly crescendoed into a blinding bright light.

Nora instantly felt all the eyes of the parents immediately stare at her. Complete silence. Everyone had frozen. The entire mass of people became completely flabbergasted at what they were witnessing.

The Headmaster turned to Nora and with a creepy smile said, "I guess I'll have to keep a close eye on you..." as he lightly licked his lips. Nora instantly regretted everything, but with so many eyes on her, she had to soldier on. She made her way towards the Affinity orb. Instantly, she realized that not a single person who had taken the test so far ever passed more than one affinity she immediately began to formulate ideas of how to avoid drawing even more attention to herself by revealing her four affinities. In the few meters between the two orbs, Nora decided on the only plan she could think of. Immediately, she created three arrays meant to seal Elemental Qi but haphazardly switched the segment for Qi with the segment she had created for Mana. With the completion of the sealing array, she heard a *Ding* in the back of her mind but quickly dismissed it, focusing on the events unraveling.

Nora always had planned on studying how arrays worked in this world but had procrastinated her investigation due to focusing on what she at the time deemed a higher priority. Having no way to test the array, she now had to hope for everything to go well.

Nora placed her hand on the Affinity orb and closed her eyes, praying for everything to go well. After a few moments she re-opened her eyes and looked at the orb. Two colours glowed. A dim red and a flickering white. Nora immediately knew what happened. She didn't manage to completely seal the Air Affinity.

Wanting to judge the situation Nora looked over to Headmaster Thurmond his once creepy smile had turned perverse.

'Oh god, what have I done'