As Zara gazed out toward the academy gates, a weight settled on her chest.
'Before I can even enter… I have to get my mana core tested.'
She clenched the hem of her dress, knuckles turning white.
'What if I don't pass the test?'
'In the game, my talent was the worst. I only scraped by because of my physical strength. and I passed, giving physical test...'
A quiet sigh escaped her lips as doubt crept in like a shadow.
Meanwhile, within the space, the system—currently shaped like a tiny, floating cat—was zoning out, muttering to itself.
[Ahhh, I'm going to get beaten by the boss when he finds out what I've done…]
The carriage slowed to a gentle halt in front of the academy gates, and a sharp knock on the window snapped Zara out of her spiral thoughts.
She blinked her eyes, then slid it open.
Outside stood the captain.
"Miss, from here on, you'll have to continue alone. We don't have permission to enter the academy grounds."
Zara gave a small nod. "Ah, okay, Captain. You can return—I'll go from here, don't worry."
captain nodded politely and walked away.
The moment the carriage passed through the gates and stopped in front of the Magic Globe Hall, her heart started to race.
The instant it halted, she hopped down with a soft thud, walking briskly toward the hall. For the first time since arriving, a cheerful glint sparkled in her worried eyes.
The warm glow from inside reflected on Zara's face as she stepped through the entrance. Her gaze landed immediately on two lines forming in front of a grand, crystal testing orb.
The first line was crowded—merchants' daughters and sons, dressed in decent clothes, faces drawn tight with tension.
The second line was nearly empty. Its few occupants stood tall in luxurious silks, noble family crests displayed proudly on their chest badges.
Without hesitation, Zara walked toward the noble family's line.
As she took her place behind a petite girl with jet-black hair, the girl turned and beamed cheerfully.
"Hello, Miss! I'm Mia, from House Valemir. My family's from the capital—Emberfal."
Zara returned the smile, her eyes drifting down slightly. The girl barely reached her shoulders.
But as she introduced herself, Zara felt her brow twitch involuntarily.
'Wait a second... isn't this girl…?'
Her mind raced, recalling the game.
'Isn't she the female lead's friend? The one with that absurd, broken-tier talent and saint candidate?'
The line inched forward.
Eventually, it was Mia's turn.
She stepped up to the orb with the confident poise of someone used to excellence. As she extended her hand toward it, Zara couldn't look away.
'In the game, when Mia touched the orb, it exploded in light... But what about me?'
'What the hell is my talent now after the system reward?'
She stared at the globe, anxiety coiling in her chest.
'After the system's gift, I never even checked... should be at least a low level'
As Mia's hand made contact, a blinding blue light burst forth. The orb lit up like a miniature sun, its glow washing over the room in waves of azure brilliance.
The students at both lines become stunned and gasp, seeing the shine.
Zara's eyes widened even though she knew what would happen.
The teacher overseeing the test bolted upright, her glasses askew. She grabbed them and began furiously wiping the lenses.
"Huh… a high-class ice water mage?" she muttered in disbelief. "Am I dreaming?"
She squinted at Mia. "Hey, girl—what noble house are you from?"
Mia gave a sheepish smile. "Ah, teacher, I'm from House Valemir."
At the mention of the name, the teacher's stiff shoulders relaxed.
"Oh, House Valemir…" she murmured. "Well, I suppose this result makes sense, then."
After a brief pause, she handed Mia an elegant identity card.
"This is your academy ID. You'll earn credits for completing academy missions. You can use those credits for purchases or upgrades within the campus."
She gave Mia a polite nod. "Your dorm number is written on the back. You may go."
"Next!" the teacher called.
Zara's heart thumped loudly.
'Here it is.'
She stepped forward and took a deep breath, she slowly placed her hand on the globe.
At first… nothing.
Then—suddenly—the globe glitched.
The swirling colors inside stuttered violently, as if the very magic inside was short-circuiting. Sparks crackled around her fingers. Lights of various colors start flickering, pulsing in jagged, unstable waves before abruptly dimming.
The orb steadied.
A single line appeared above it:
[Mid-Grade Talent]
The room fell silent.
The teacher gawked at the orb, stunned.
"W-What in the world…?" she whispered, pressing a hand to her chest. "It... it glitched?! That's never happened before!"
Zara didn't hear the instructor as she stared at the result, her mind whirling.
'Mid-grade? That's impossible. I was small-tier in the game… even with the system reward, it can't go to mid.
She reached out inwardly.
'System.'
[y-yes, Host!]
The tiny cat flinched in the system space, visibly sweating.
'Why is my talent mid-grade? You gave me a reward, didn't you? It was supposed to be +2 to magic talent. That shouldn't push me to mid—should it?'
the cat inside the space start pacing,
' another mistake, what is happening'