The moment of the hour was upon us.

The chamber was abuzz with animated conversations as the candidates engaged in lively discussions, passionately debating the merits of each academy and why it was the best option. The room resonated with the chatter of eager voices, each candidate advocating for their favored academy with fervor. Amidst the constant chatter, the sound of twisting dials from the dial cards added to the commotion. Some candidates were visibly grappling with their decision, repeatedly turning their dial cards in contemplation.

The cacophony in the room made it difficult for me to focus and make a clear decision on which academy's invitation I should accept.

Nevertheless, amidst the bustling crowd, I noticed a few candidates who had already made up their minds and now stood calmly, patiently awaiting the end of the submission time. Trisha and Hendrickson were among them, and it came as no surprise since they were among the most popular candidates in the room. Their confident demeanor seemed to suggest that they had chosen wisely and were now simply waiting for the formalities to conclude.

Amidst the commotion, I noticed my fellow 1st tier candidates, Jason and Marcia, being swarmed by the other candidates. Their unique trial results had turned them into the center of attention, and everyone seemed eager to know more.

"Your mana color is so unusual. How did that happen?"

"Having two mana cores sounds incredible. How does it even work?"

"Do your mana abilities have different properties with two cores?"

"Dark energy? Does that mean you have a connection to evil?"

"Why do you seem so emotional? Is it related to having two mana cores?"

The barrage of curious questions seemed to overwhelm both Jason and Marcia. Marcia, in particular, sought refuge behind Jason, seeking some comfort and protection from the attention.

With evident frustration on his face, Jason responded, "I wish I had all the answers, but honestly, I'm just as clueless as everyone else. We're all trying to figure this out together. Can you guys please give us some space for a few minutes? We need to decide our invites in peace."

As I watched Jason and Marcia deal with the overwhelming attention, a sense of relief washed over me for not being in their shoes. However, I couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy at the spotlight they were basking in.

The only attention I got was nothing more than taunts and mockery for revealing my new abilities. It seemed like karma had caught up with me for being so boastful and showy during the trials. This experience taught me a valuable lesson – humility. I realized that I had learned it the hard way, and now I understood the importance of staying humble and grounded.

Understanding how I ended up with this unusual ability still baffled me. Ever since birth, I had been marked by my striking red hair, a color that set me apart from others. As I delved into books about mages and their anatomy, I stumbled upon fascinating information that hinted at my uniqueness. These books often pointed out how elemental attributes could influence the physical traits of young mages.

For instance, families with a long line of fire attribute mages might showcase characteristics associated with fire, like red or yellow hair, a moody temperament, and a passion for battle. Similarly, water attribute mages could have appearances and personalities reflecting the essence of water.

However, it wasn't as simple as these studies suggested. The chances of these traits manifesting were about 50-50, and many people looked and behaved differently from their attributed element. I came to realize that these studies weren't absolute, and my own experience had taught me the hard truth of it.

Similarly, the life energy or the healing element follows a similar pattern. Supposedly, those with an affinity for healing possessed certain traits like green hair, a caring and gentle nature, and a strong aversion to violence. Yet, I found myself devoid of any of these characteristics, which left me wondering why I had been chosen for the healing attribute in the first place.

And then it hit me like a bolt of lightning: "My eyes... of course, they are green," I muttered to myself, a realization dawning upon me.

Apart from my green eyes, there wasn't a single trait that aligned with the conventional understanding of the healing element. The study I had read about before seemed nothing more than a load of nonsense! It was becoming clear that these patterns and expectations were not so rigidly defined after all.

As I stared at my calloused hands, a testament to the intense training I had endured, a surge of determination washed over me. I couldn't allow all the plans and preparations I had made to go to waste. Somehow, I needed to overcome this unexpected obstacle. It felt as though the gods of mana were testing my resilience by throwing this unique ability in my path. But I wouldn't back down; I was determined to become an independent adventurer and prove my worth.

I glanced at my dial card once more, knowing that the choice I made now would shape my future as a mage. The academy I selected would hold great significance in the path I chose to walk.

In the midst of my contemplation, a phantom mage's voice cut through the room, reminding us of the time remaining. "Candidates, we are already halfway through. Seven and a half minutes remaining."

"Fantastic," I said in a dry tone.

As I pondered my options, I tried to determine the best choice for an unorthodox healer like me, who thrived on being at the forefront of battle. The fact that I had discovered the ability to heal and use tree magic was completely unexpected, leaving me with little knowledge and experience in these areas.

I looked at the invitation insignias on my dial card:

Biswaq's Radiant Sanctum

Pierre's Iron Will

Ajax's Ivory Tower

Casia's Celestia Mercy

Gunther's Sapphire Citadel

Out which Radiant Sanctum was already out of the question after the shit Biswaq pulled on me. I had some self-respect and I am not gonna just accept his invitation and pretend that nothing happened today.

That left me with four remaining options to consider.

Iron Will Academy certainly had its allure with its reputation for immense wealth and abundant resources. It was no secret that the students there were driven by ambition, seeking to amass wealth and political power. It was a place where cunning and shrewdness were highly prized, making it the perfect environment for those aspiring to become influential leaders in the future.

But for me, the world of politics and power struggles held little appeal. I craved the thrill of battle, the rush of adrenaline that came from facing formidable opponents head-on. The idea of hiding in the shadows and scheming for personal gain didn't resonate with my adventurous spirit.

Indeed, Ivory Tower had its own unique appeal, especially in terms of its inclusive approach, welcoming students regardless of their social class. This resonated with me, given my background as a former demon Overlord, where power and strength were the primary factors that garnered respect. In that sense, I could easily find camaraderie among the students of Ivory Tower, where strength and prowess were highly esteemed.

However, the concerns surrounding the academy couldn't be ignored. The flood of students had strained their resources, making it challenging for them to adequately provide for everyone. This shortage of resources could hinder my progress and development as a mage, preventing me from reaching my full potential.

Moreover, the lack of healer instructors was a glaring issue. Being predominantly battle-focused, the academy seemed to prioritize training in offensive combat arts over healing. As an aspiring independent healer, it would be best that I master my abilities and for that, I might need the best of the best instructors. Relying solely on self-study might not be sufficient to master the intricacies of healing and tree magic and would only slow down my plans even further.

To unlock the full potential of my abilities, joining Celestia's Mercy seemed like the perfect choice. Their reputation for producing exceptional mages with remarkable healing skills is renowned worldwide. Graduates from this academy are constantly sought after by prominent guilds, making it an enticing opportunity.

Moreover, Celestia's Mercy is known for nurturing talented botanokinesis mages, those who possess the power to manipulate plants and trees. Learning from such skilled individuals would undoubtedly elevate my abilities.

However, there are some rumors surrounding the academy that give me pause. It is said that the headmaster strongly disapproves of violence, which means that combat arts might not be part of their syllabus. Additionally, the students are known to be non-combative, and some even harbor a dislike for fighting. The majority of the attendees are reportedly girls.

I can't imagine myself fitting in at Celestia's Mercy. As someone who loves battles and thrives in the excitement of combat, the thought of being in an environment focused on non-violence and healing seems suffocating. The instructors might be kind and knowledgeable, but the prospect of being surrounded by students who dislike fighting is intimidating.

I fear that I might clash with others, leading to conflicts and potentially getting into fights with their students. That would undoubtedly lead to serious consequences, possibly even getting expelled from the academy.

On the other hand, Sapphire Citadel appeared to be the most well-balanced academy among all the options.

It was known as the backbone of the imperial army, consisting of disciplined and principled individuals who were devoted to upholding law and order. Unlike Celestia's Mercy, Sapphire Citadel trained mages not only for combat but also for non-combative purposes. Their focus was on equipping mages with a variety of abilities that could enhance their chances of victory. From trap-setting to mind reading and detection magic, they sought out any mages who could be useful in maintaining law and order.

Graduates from Sapphire Citadel were known to become formidable mages with strong leadership skills. Many of them went on to establish their own guilds and ventured to different countries, spreading the influence of the kingdom throughout the world. Their commitment to the kingdom's cause made them a force to be reckoned with.

Considering all the options, Sapphire Citadel seemed to be the most attractive choice. However, there was a significant obstacle I had to face - each academy would require me to adhere to the traditional role of a healer. My aspiration was to create my own unique fighting style, but I doubted any of these academies would grant me the freedom to do so. The ideal scenario for them would be for me to play the role of a traditional healer and support their mages in battles. Breaking away from these norms and establishing a new method seemed like a daunting task.

I realized that to develop my own revolutionary healer fighting style, I first needed to master my abilities. It felt like the academy that could provide me the liberty to fight and learn mana arts on my own terms would be the most suitable for my ambitions.

As much as I admired the discipline and integrity of Sapphire Citadel, I knew they wouldn't allow me to explore and create my unique path. Now, I find myself in a predicament, torn between my desire for freedom and innovation, and the structured environment that Sapphire Citadel represents.

I found myself stuck in a frustrating dilemma, my gaze fixed on the dial card as I tried to make a decision. Suddenly, Hendrickson, wearing a smug expression, appeared beside me, offering his help.

"Seems like you're struggling to decide. Let me assist you," he said.

I furrowed my brows, annoyed. "Stop distracting me; I'm running out of time."

Ignoring my irritation, Hendrickson placed his hand on my shoulder, adopting a serious tone. "Considering your talent as a healer, you should really think about joining Celestia’s Mercy."

"Why should I do that?" I asked, feeling skeptical.

Hendrickson's expression remained composed as he explained,

"I know you might have hoped for a cooler ability like mine, but now you're a healer. Your destiny is set, so joining Celestia’s Mercy and learning from the best is the logical choice."

I couldn't help but feel annoyed by his nonchalant remark about his ability to be cool.

I brushed off his hand from my shoulder, dismissing his advice. "Your advice is useless. Celestia’s Mercy doesn't even offer battle arts in their syllabus. Why should I even consider going there?"

Leaning in, Hendrickson whispered with a mischievous grin, "By the way, did you know that almost 80% of students at Celestia’s Mercy are girls? And they are known for their gentle and angelic souls, not to mention their beauty. You could easily find yourself a girlfriend there."

His suggestive tone made me uncomfortable, and I realized I shouldn't expect any valuable information from him.

Suddenly something about Celestia’s Mercy struck me as odd to me.

“Hold on, if they don't teach battle arts, how do their students join battle guilds? I've read about healer mages from Celestia’s Mercy being associated with renowned battle guilds. That doesn't make sense without battle arts training," I questioned, intrigued.

Hendrickson appeared momentarily confused before responding, "Battle guilds recruiting students? Who would want those cowards? I think you misheard something."

Trisha chimed in, "Please refrain from spreading misinformation if you're not well-informed."

Hendrickson retorted sarcastically, "Of course, enlighten us, oh enlightened one."

Trisha, undeterred by his sarcasm, explained, "Celestia's Mercy operates differently from other royal academies. The founder of the academy was granted special permission by the king due to their strong aversion to violence. As a result, the academy removed the battle art subject from its syllabus."

Curious, I asked, "But then, how do the students manage to join battle guilds without learning basic battle arts?"

Trisha clarified, "While the academy doesn't teach battle arts directly, it doesn't restrict students from learning them through external means. If a student wishes to use their abilities for combat, they must learn battle arts on their own. Celestia’s Mercy focuses on teaching everything else, except violence. Once a student masters basic battle arts, they can take a voluntary battle exam to achieve a passing grade. With this grade, they become eligible to join a battle guild."

"Self-study? Voluntary battle exam? Interesting!" I nodded with a smile, absorbing the information.

Trisha chimed in, sharing her insights, "Celestia’s Mercy is quite a unique academy. The voluntary battle exam was introduced relatively recently, after pressure from other academies. They wanted to recruit their students into various battle guilds. If you want to focus on combat, Sapphire Citadel or Iron Will might be better choices for you."

Hendrickson, in his usual manner, muttered, "I'd pick Celestia’s Mercy and get yourself a girlfriend or two. If I were you, I'd just retire and enjoy a laid-back life."

Standing up, I placed my hands on their shoulders, "Alright, it's time for me to make my decision. Thank you both for your input, but now it's time for you to leave," I said, gently pushing them away.

Hendrickson couldn't help but ask curiously, "So, what academy did you decide on?"

“Not telling you,” I responded, keeping my choice to myself.

Trisha, offering a parting remark, said, "Our paths may cross again, perhaps on the battlefield," before walking away.

Finally, a sense of peace settled upon me.

“The submission time is almost over, one minute remaining before we collect your dial cards,” the phantom mage announced.

Taking a deep breath, I rolled my dial card, committing to my decision.

I had chosen Celestia’s Mercy as my academy, and I was determined to embrace the path it offered.

"Time's up! Collecting your dial cards now," announced the phantom mage, his voice echoing through the chamber.

With a sense of urgency, the phantom mages began collecting the dial cards in an orderly fashion. The candidates displayed a mix of emotions – excitement, uncertainty, and in some cases, reluctance to part with their cards. It was evident that the decision they made would certainly be shaping their future.

Choosing Celestia's Mercy was a surprising decision for me. However, the allure of having the freedom to learn battle arts on my own terms was too enticing to ignore. It meant I could explore and develop my abilities in a way that suited my style of combat, and that prospect excited me more than any other offer from the academies.

Of course, I was well aware that my approach might not sit well with some of the leaders at Celestia's Mercy. Misusing their rules for my own benefit might ruffle a few feathers, but I was determined to find my own path as an independent healer and combatant. If I could prove my worth, maybe they would come to accept my unorthodox methods. After all, the best way to stand out was to be unique.

After the dial cards were submitted, the phantom mage instructed us to head back home and await the official invitations from our respective academies. Using the curved golden spear, the phantom mage created a dimensional portal to send us back to our parents.

In an orderly fashion, we candidates formed a queue and entered the portal one by one. As I stepped inside, I felt a brief sense of disorientation, but it quickly passed as I exited the portal. We found ourselves outside the ceremony hall, and it was already nighttime.

Red cape mages were scattered around the campus, keeping a close eye on us kids. Despite the late hour, the premises of the ceremony hall were well-lit by dim street lanterns placed all around.

As I looked around, I noticed a gathering of curious parents standing outside the ceremony hall's fence. Excited cries filled the air as kids spotted their parents.

"Mummy! I'm here!"

"Dad! I got an invitation."

"Mother! Father! I missed you."

"I'm hungry! Mom!"

The heartfelt reunions and joyous exclamations echoed through the night as families came together after the nerve-wracking event of the ascension trials had finally ended.

The red cape mages once again instructed us to form an orderly queue to exit the campus. As I looked around for Jason and Marcia to bid them farewell, I couldn't seem to find them anywhere amidst the crowd.

Just as I was searching, a familiar voice called out, "Benji! Over here!"

I turned to see my mom standing by the fence, with Dad standing beside her, both looking relieved and happy to see me. I waved back at them.

"Are you okay, son? Have you eaten?" My worried mother asked.

"I'm fine, Mom. Don't worry," I reassured her.

After a few minutes of waiting, I finally exited the building premises and joined my parents. It was surprising to see them here since they were staying in the Manager Bervice's Mansion within the inner district.

"Why are you both outside here? Weren’t you staying in the Bervice mansion?" I inquired.

Mom and Dad exchanged glances, and she replied with a solemn smile, "It's nothing. We didn't know there would be important guests, so we decided to leave the inner district. And we decided to pick you up directly from the ceremony hall ourselves."

“So you guys are standing outside, all this time?” I asked.

“That’s right! Not a big deal.” replied my parents simultaneously.

I sensed that there was more to it, but I didn't press further. The Bervice mansion staff must have asked my parents to leave after I failed to get an invitation to the Bloodfire Academy. Otherwise, why would be they standing in the outer district with all our luggage like this?

I made a mental note to remember this insult and seek retribution in the future.

Afterward, we made the decision to stay at a local inn in the outer district. I couldn't shake off the lingering anger I felt towards the Bervice family and their mansion workers, who swiftly evicted my parents once it became apparent that I hadn't received an invitation.

So that all the golden tickets were worth it. Guess they are no different from those asshole nobles.

My mother must have noticed my frown, as she gently placed a hand on my shoulder and said, "Hey, I forgot to mention something earlier. Even though they asked us to leave the mansion, they still allowed us to participate in the blessing ritual held in the garden. It was an incredible sight! The majestic flame phoenix soared in the sky, and its divine flames descended upon the mansion's garden. Luckily, there was an altar lantern there, and we were fortunate enough to receive some of those blessed divine flames."

My father chimed in,

“Yes, they were kind enough to let us participate in the blessing ritual.”

"Is that so?" I muttered not to forgive them.

My mother's eyes suddenly sparkled with excitement as she continued,

"The phoenix’s divine flames possess incredible healing properties. Not only did they take away my backache and old scars, but they also worked their magic on my mana core. It's been years since I could use my mana in any significant way, and now I feel rejuvenated and ready to explode!"

Her words left me astounded, and I couldn't hide my excitement as I broke into a wide grin. "Your mana core? What do you mean?" I asked, pretending not to know about her magical abilities.

Her face lit up with pride, and she stood with one hand on her hip, displaying a newfound confidence. With her other hand, she flicked her fingers, and a small burning flame ignited on her fingertips, resembling a tiny candlelight.

To my surprise, she seemed unharmed by the flame dancing on her fingertips, further proving her skill as a mage.

I marveled at her display and said, "That's incredible, Mom! I had no idea you were a mage all this time.”

"Haha, I guess it's time to share a little secret. Back in the day, I was quite the renowned fire elemental mage," my mother confessed with a hint of nostalgia in her voice. As she gazed at the small candle flame dancing on her fingertips, a tinge of disappointment flashed across her expression. "Though my mana core has healed somewhat, I can't quite summon the same power I once had in my prime."

I guess not even the blessing ritual can fix all issues.

“Well, we heard that you were chosen as an exemplary candidate. So tell us all about your new abilities!” my dad chimed in, patting my head affectionately.

“Oh, I almost forgot! So, which academy did you get invited to, Benji!” asked my mother, her grip on my shoulders tightening with excitement.

A strange, uncomfortable smile crept onto my face as I hesitated to reveal my choice,

“About that... I am actually joining Celestia’s Mercy.”

“That's great!” said Dad as his face lit up with pride and continued to pat my head.

“Wait! Isn’t that academy known for healing abilities, mainly for girls?” my all-knowing mother inquired with a raised eyebrow.

“Hehe!” I chuckled nervously, “Exactly.”

They were later even more shocked than me when they found out about my new profound abilities.