The ranked students of Wilton Academy were still gathered around, their eyes fixed on the ongoing Magical Drone Challenge. The objective seed simple at first glance: strike a small, fast-moving, magically enhanced orb, roughly the size of a ping-pong ball, as it flew through the air using only magic.
But the reality of the task was far from easy.
They had already seen quite a number of students attempt it, many of whom failed despite their best efforts. A few had succeeded, but even then, it had taken them a significant amount of ti and required the use of a wide range of spells. In most cases, it wasn’t a single student casting either, it often took a group effort.
Very few, if any, had managed to bring it down with just a few well-placed spells. It was because of this level of difficulty that the military personnel present had taken such an interest in the demonstration.
Now, however, the focus shifted. From the side of the platform, a new student was approaching, drawing attention from both Wilton Academy and the other institutions present.
"Hey, those uniforms, they’re from BIMM Academy, right?" Chiba asked, squinting at the group.
"Yeah," Yolden confird with a nod. "That’s the Brilliant Institute of Magic Mages. And the guy stepping up now is Lee Roy. He’s already made quite a na for himself."
He lowered his voice slightly. "His family runs a mid-sized guild with a long-standing reputation. They’ve been around for generations and are one of the main sponsors of BIMM Academy. So people say, if it weren’t for those connections, Lee would’ve easily ended up in the Central Academy."
"Sure," Moze chid in. "But getting into the Central Academy and being one of the top students there are two completely different things."
Lee Roy stood tall and confident as he took his place on the platform. He had a striking appearance, handso and composed. His presence alone was enough to stir whispers from the female students not just from BIMM, but also from the Central Academy.
The magical orb reset itself on the platform. With a gentle hum, it lifted into the air, beginning its unpredictable flight pattern.
Without hesitation, Lee made his move. He extended his arm and unleashed a wide-area wind spell, blasting a strong current forward.
Students observed the ball resist the gust, adjusting its flight as though it were responding with intelligence. A mont later, Lee lifted a single finger and fired a fast-moving fireball that rocketed forward like a bullet.
The crowd leaned forward, only to watch the orb twist out of the way at the last second.
Just like before, the ball began to move in a more erratic fashion, dodging and weaving at higher speeds.
Lee’s jaw clenched. It looked like the failed attempt had annoyed him. Still using only his index finger, he started firing a series of rapid-fire spells, fireballs blasting through the air like missiles.
Each shot missed.
"I expected more from a student from another academy," Yolden said with a frown. "He’s struggling."
"Maybe the guy just sucks," soone muttered.
While Lee’s spells were undeniably faster and more refined than those before him, the orb responded by growing even more reactive. It darted unpredictably, adapting to each new spell.
It almost seed like the stronger the magic, the harder the orb pushed back.
Eventually, Lee’s frustration got the better of him. With all eyes on him and the pressure rising, he shifted his position on the platform, turning his back to the crowd.
Raising his right hand, he summoned a massive gust of wind that forced the drone backward until it slamd into the rear wall of the stage. At the sa ti, he raised his left hand and released a powerful stream of fire from his palm.
The blaze surged across the platform, intense and blinding. When it finally faded, the scorched drone dropped to the ground, defeated.
Lee Roy had succeeded. He’d completed the challenge faster than most, and he had certainly displayed powerful magic.
Even the military staff nodded in approval.
"If that’s what it takes to take out just one of those things," one officer remarked, "then they’d definitely be useful in battle, especially if deployed in groups."
"We’d need to see the developnt cost first," another said. "That orb took a beating and still held up for a while."
"I noticed sothing else, it’s marked with the seal of Idore. Could the Central Academy be working with the Noble Guild on these things?"
"Wouldn’t be surprising. The Grand Magus of both groups have been aligned for years."
As Lee stepped off the stage, his academy peers gathered around to congratulate him. But their praise felt forced, uncertain. They had watched him struggle more than they expected.
"That thing was trickier than it looked, huh?" one student asked.
Lee nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah. I thought I could destabilize its flight magic with wind, then hit it quickly with a fire spell. But the thing pushed through with its own magic and recovered almost instantly. It’s way faster than I anticipated."
"Well, anyone else want to try?" one of the BIMM students called out.
There was a mont of silence. No one from BIMM stepped forward. After watching Lee’s performance, no one was confident enough to take their shot.
But just then, a lone figure approached the stage.
"Hey... wait a second. Isn’t that student from Wilton Academy?"
Climbing onto the platform was Moze.
He had been curious from the start, but after seeing Lee Roy’s performance, his curiosity had turned into determination.
"Wilton Academy," a student murmured. "Sure, they’re one of the top schools, but do they even have any standout students?"
"I haven’t heard any nas from there worth rembering," another said dismissively. "They’re not going to cause us any trouble. The only real competition is the Central Academy."
"Should we just leave?" one student yawned.
"No," Lee Roy said firmly. He hadn’t taken his eyes off the stage.
"I want to see how a top student from Wilton Academy does. Let’s stay and watch."
****
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