Chapter 2 – "Beginning of Story" Part 2
The nobles were busy chatting in the center of the hall, forming small circles like they owned the air itself. I slipped to the corner with a plate, hoping to eat quietly before the ceremony began.
Networking is important… but let’s be honest. None of them want to talk to me anyway.
I took a bite.
Wow. Even the appetizers taste expensive.
Suddenly the large doors opened.
Every student froze.
Chairs scraped.
Voices vanished.
Everyone stood and bowed.
“Greetings to Headmaster Lady Velmira Lunacrest!”
“Greetings to Vice Headmaster Arcturus Luneward!”
I lifted my head discreetly. Velmira Lunacrest walked like flowing moonlight—calm, soft, yet terrifying in presence. Beside her, Vice Headmaster Arcturus Luneward stood tall in his crisp uniform, a man with the aura of a seasoned battle knight.
Professors followed them, some with ancient gazes, others looking young enough to still be students.
Then—
A wave of pressure rolled across the hall like a silent storm.
Gasps echoed.
Some students staggered.
Others clenched their teeth.
But for me… nothing.
Huh? That’s it?
I blinked. This was supposed to be pressure?
Vice Headmaster Arcturus scanned the room. Those who were still standing, unfazed, caught his eye. He gave a small approving smile before the pressure disappeared like a dream.
Headmaster Velmira cleared her throat softly.
“Welcome to Moonveil Arcane Institute. You are the new generation of our Empire. I will not repeat how this ceremony is conducted, but for the sake of our first-year students—Vice Headmaster, if you will.”
Arcturus stepped forward and began explaining the crystal tester, the mana colors, the brightness system, the rules, the selection of ancient books…
He spoke for hours. I almost died standing.
Finally, the long explanation ended.
The ceremony began with the calling of names.
One by one, students touched the floating crystal.
Some colors shone brightly.
Some barely flickered.
Then—
“Ophelia Arden Vin Nosterio, Second Princess of the Empire.”
A soft wind blew across the hall as she stepped forward. Nobles straightened their backs instantly.
She placed her hand on the crystal.
—FLASH!
A brilliant golden radiance burst out like the rising sun.
Some students shielded their eyes.
“As expected! Light element! The Princess truly has strong mana!”
Someone beside me exclaimed.
I turned to the boy. “I understand your enthusiasm but—where did you even get sunglasses? Give me one! It’s too bright!”
The boy blinked. Then he laughed and handed me a pair.
I put them on.
What the… this is actually comfortable.
He wore a golden brooch—noble. But he was casually eating food from my plate like we’d been friends for years.
Does he not realize I’m a commoner? …Should I tell him? No. He’s too happy eating.
He looked my age, same height, with slightly long hair of a faint lavender color. In our kingdom, only black hair like mine was rare.
Then he nudged me.
“It’s my turn.”
Headmaster Velmira called his name loudly.
“Alber Vin Asterion.”
He walked confidently to the crystal and placed his hand on it.
FWOOOSH—
A vivid green glow burst forth, swirling like a storm.
“Wind element. High rank.”
Students murmured.
Alber turned and waved at me with a wide grin.
Seriously… does he still not realize I’m a commoner?
I stared at him.
This guy… was weird.
But kind of interesting.
After Alber’s turn, two more students went up.
Then—
“Nox Moon.”
My name echoed through the hall.
I stepped forward. Alber grinned at me like we had been friends for ten years.
Seriously… how is he this excited? Are we best friends already?
I moved to the center, bowed to Headmaster Velmira and Vice Headmaster Arcturus.
Arcturus nodded.
“Please place your hand on the crystal.”
I placed my palm on the surface.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three—
Nothing.
No glow. No color. No reaction.
Whispers rippled through the hall.
Then—
A pitch-black shade bled into the crystal like ink spreading through water.
…Huh?
SHAAAA—!
The entire hall plunged into darkness.
A suffocating cold spread through the room as if the night sky itself swallowed everything whole. Students gasped. Some screamed. Nobles grabbed each other.
And then—
CRACK!
The darkness vanished.
Light returned.
The crystal shattered into pieces, falling like fragments of obsidian rain.
“….”
Silence.
Headmaster Velmira stood up immediately.
Vice Headmaster Arcturus’s hand was already on the hilt of his weapon, eyes sharp as he scanned the hall.
“Are you all alright?” Arcturus asked loudly. His voice held genuine concern.
I pulled my hand back slowly.
…Did I do that? Seriously?
I stared at the broken crystal and muttered without thinking—
“Do I… need to pay for that?”
I meant to think it.
But I said it out loud.
Headmaster Velmira blinked—
Then laughed softly behind her hand.
Arcturus snorted, unable to hold it in.
“Miss Velmira,” he said, shaking his head, “where did you even find a special admission like this?”
Velmira smiled, her gaze still on me.
“Of course I found something good. I refuse to lose to those duchies picking their own special admissions.”
They laughed together quietly, but no one else could hear them due to the stage barrier.
Behind me, nobles were already whispering.
“What was that?”
“Why did the hall turn black?”
“Did he break it because he has no mana?”
“No, that was definitely mana… but wrong.”
I kept my eyes forward, acting like I didn’t hear a single thing.
Arcturus approached me, voice calm.
“Don’t worry. This is not your fault. Sometimes crystals overload and break. It happens.”
(…Not like this, though.) His eyes said.
He continued, “You won’t need to pay. However, your book selection will be handled later. Come to the Headmaster’s office after the ceremony.”
Behind him, Headmaster Velmira was already kneeling and gathering the shards of the broken crystal, examining them with interest.
I bowed and moved back to the student area.
Arcturus followed Velmira quietly.
He leaned and whispered, “I didn’t expect shadow element. And that strong…”
Velmira nodded, eyes still bright.
“This year will be interesting, Arcturus. Truly interesting. Even I didn’t expect him to break a crystal I personally crafted.”
Meanwhile, Alber appeared behind me and slapped my back lightly.
“Hey, hey! Don’t look so gloomy!”
He grinned. “You made the ceremony pause! That’s cool!”
“…Why are you acting friendly again?”
“Because you’re interesting,” he said simply—and proceeded to steal food from my plate again.
Due to the broken crystal, the ceremony halted for a few minutes as professors scrambled to replace the artifact.
