Chapter: 9 The Entrance Exam

Volume 1: The Boy Summoned by Mistake
Episode 9: The Entrance Exam
The bell rang again.
Kazuki entered the classroom.
There were too many students.
Too many eyes staring at him.
"This is going to be awkward..."
Lyra remained at the door.
—Good luck.
—Wait.
—Yes?
—Aren't you coming with me?
—I'm not a student.
—Oh.
Kazuki looked at the classroom.
—Then I'm alone.
Lyra smiled.
—You're not alone.
She pointed at his chest.
—You have that.
—That doesn't make me feel any better.
Lyra laughed softly and walked away.
Kazuki took a deep breath.
"Alright."
"New school."
"New world."
"New language."
"And probably people who want to kill me."
"What could possibly go wrong?"
—Are you Kazuki?
A female voice interrupted his thoughts.
It was Elena.
—Yes.
—The professor wants to speak with you.
—Now?
—Now.
Kazuki followed her.
They arrived at a small room.
A gray-haired man was sitting behind a desk.
—Kazuki Aoi.
—Yes.
—I am Professor Reinhard.
The man pointed to a chair.
—Sit down.
Kazuki obeyed.
—I have been informed about your situation.
—Everything?
—Enough.
Kazuki swallowed.
—Am I being expelled?
Reinhard raised an eyebrow.
—You haven't even started yet.
—Oh.
—The emperor has ordered that you be evaluated.
—Evaluated?
—We need to find out what type of magic you possess.
Kazuki sighed.
—What if I don't know?
—Then we'll find out.
Reinhard held up a transparent crystal.
—Place your hand here.
Kazuki looked at the crystal.
—That's all?
—That's all.
He placed his hand on it.
Nothing happened.
Reinhard frowned.
—Strange.
—What?
—It doesn't detect any elemental affinity.
—Is that bad?
—Not necessarily.
Reinhard took out another crystal.
—Try again.
Kazuki placed his hand on it.
Nothing.
—Looks like I'm bad at this.
—No.
Reinhard stared intently at the crystal.
—The problem is that I can't measure your energy.
—Why?
—Because it's sealed.
Kazuki remembered Astra.
—Sealed?
—Yes.
The professor took out a third crystal.
—This one is different.
He placed it in front of Kazuki.
—If there is something inside you, it will react.
Kazuki hesitated.
—Can it explode?
Reinhard looked at him seriously.
—It's possible.
Kazuki pulled his hand away.
—Then maybe not.
Elena, who was watching from the corner, let out a small laugh.
—He's scared.
Kazuki looked at her.
—It's called common sense!
Reinhard sighed.
—Do it.


Kazuki placed his hand on the crystal.
The crystal remained transparent.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Nothing.
—See? —Kazuki said.
Reinhard didn't answer.
The crystal began to vibrate.
Tzzzz...
A small violet line appeared.
Kazuki swallowed.
—Oh, no.
The line spread.
Crack.
The crystal shattered.
Reinhard jumped to his feet.
—Everyone, get back!
BOOOOOOM!!
A violet wave swept through the room.
Books went flying.
The windows shook.
Kazuki fell to the floor.
—Why is it always me?!
When the smoke cleared...
The crystal had completely disappeared.
Reinhard was pale.
Elena stared at Kazuki with wide eyes.


—That...


Reinhard picked up a fragment from the floor.


—This isn't elemental magic.


Kazuki stood up.


—Then what is it?


The professor answered:


—I don't know.


---


A short while later.


Kazuki was standing in a training courtyard.


In front of him was a huge circle drawn on the ground.


Dozens of students watched from the stands.


Kazuki looked around.
—Why are there so many people?
Elena stood beside him.
—Because everyone wants to see your test.
—Fantastic.
Leon appeared on the other side of the field.
—Are you nervous?
—A little.
Leon smiled.
—Don't worry.
He drew his sword.
—I don't plan on holding back either.
Kazuki looked at the sword.
—Wait.
—What?
—Is the test against you?
—Yes.
—No one told me that.
Leon smiled.
—Surprise.
Kazuki sighed.
—I'm going to die.
Professor Reinhard raised a hand.
—Begin!
Leon disappeared.
Kazuki's eyes widened.
—Why does everyone move so fast?!
CLANG!
Kazuki blocked the first attack.
The impact forced him backward.
Leon attacked again.
Kazuki dodged.
Another strike.
He blocked it.
Another.
He ducked.
"I need to think."
Leon was fast.
But he wasn't like Kael.
His movements had a rhythm.
Kazuki could anticipate them.
Kazuki stepped backward.
Leon smiled.
—What's wrong?
Kazuki smiled too.
—I figured you out.
Leon attacked.
Kazuki spun.
The sword passed beside his face.
Kazuki struck with his wooden sword.
CLANG!
Leon blocked it.
But he was forced backward.
The students began murmuring.
—Did he make Leon retreat?
—How?
Kazuki breathed heavily.
—You're not that fast.
Leon smiled.
—Then try to keep up.
His sword began to glow.
A stream of wind wrapped around his body.
—Oh.
Kazuki swallowed.
—That wasn't part of the plan.
Leon disappeared.
SHING!
Kazuki barely managed to raise his sword.
The impact sent him flying several meters.
He landed on his knees.
—Ugh...
Leon appeared in front of him.
—Give up.
Kazuki looked at the ground.
His hand began to emit a violet glow.
—No.
Leon frowned.
—What did you say?
Kazuki stood up.
—I said no.
The violet energy began surrounding him.
The audience fell silent.
Reinhard stood up.
—Stop the test!
Too late.
The energy exploded.
BOOOOM!!
Leon was thrown backward.
Kazuki was thrown backward as well.
Silence.
Kazuki lifted his head.
—Did we win?
Leon was lying several meters away.
He raised a thumb.
—Draw.
Kazuki smiled.
—I'll take it.
Reinhard ran toward them.
—Are you both alright?!
—I think so.
Leon slowly stood up.
He looked at Kazuki.
—Now I really want to know who you are.
Kazuki sighed.
—Believe me...
He looked at his hands.
—I want to know too.
In the stands, Elena watched silently.
But someone else was watching as well.
From a distant window, the silver-haired girl smiled.
—The first door has already opened.
And inside Kazuki's mind...
The black door made a sound.
CRACK.
A new crack appeared.