The Core Mage Academy sat at the heart of the human Civilisation.
Most students at the Academy are local born, coming from the sprawling residential sectors of the Core.
Inside the House Ignis dormitory, the night was coming to an end.
The boys and girls of the first-year living begin to awake.
"Kael, wake up. If we're late for the competition briefing, Teacher Andrew will have us doing Martial Arts practice until we have no energy left." Leo grumbled.
Kaelen opened his eyes.
Through the massive transparent ceiling of the Hive, he could see the sun.
"I've been awake for an hour, Leo," Kaelen said, sitting up.
His red fibers already active, emitting a low, steady sound that seemed to settle the air around him.
The group headed to the cafeteria, where the air filled with the nervous chatter of thousands of students from all four houses.
The competition consist of Martial Art, Magic Cards, Alchemy, Mages History.
"I heard Jax from House Ventus reached Intermediate Fiber Realm" Leo whispered, shoving a spoonful of porridge into his mouth.
"He's telling everyone his House is going to sweep the Martial Arts competitions".
"One person can only participate in one game." Mina noted, checking their roster.
"Let's finalize the pairs," Kaelen suggested. "Each of us takes one."
After a long discussion Mina decided to participate in Magic Cards fight.
Leo decided to participate in martial arts.
Sora choose Alchemy
Kaelen choose the one left which is Mages History.
"Each house sends two person for each category" Sora added, her sharp eyes scanning the room.
"Win in each duel gives one point. How can we possibly win the overall total?"
"Relax, guys," Kaelen said.
"We just need to do our part best. We have other capable peoples, and our seniors trained us very well. We can do this".
A deep, resonating chime echoed through the cafeteria.
The voice of Headmaster Vane filled the hall, broadcasted directly every where on the academy.
"Students of the First Year. The competition begins in sixty minutes. Return to your House Assembly points".
"Today, you get the chance to show what have you learn."
Everyone begin to get up from there seat.
Leo straightened his shoulders, Sora checked her alchemy notes, and Mina gripped Kaelen's hand for a brief second.
"Ready?" Mina asked.
Kaelen nodded.
Academy Stadium was packed, a massive bowl-shaped stadium built into the very surface of the Core.
Thousands of students stood together, their colorful uniforms forming a giant patchwork quilt under the sun.
Kaelen stood at the front of House Ignis, feeling the restless energy of Leo and Mina behind him.
After they entered the stadium, the rules for the four categories were finalized.
The selection process of the playing players had been brutal. Seniors, Captains, and committee members had dark circles under their eyes from weeks of deliberation.
"What happened to the seniors?" Mina whispered, noting their dark, exhausted auras.
"They want the house to win at any cost," Kaelen explained. "If we don't perform, those sweet-talking seniors might go rogue".
Mina huffed playfully, "Who would bully me? I'm the most cute and beautiful girl here".
First category was Martial Arts.
The rounds began with an explosive roar from the crowd.
In the arena, Leo stepped up for House Ignis, his orange fiber flickering with blunt, powerful energy.
He aligned his fibers along his nueral network which made his thinking and movement process very fast. Leo also has reached Intermediate Fiber Realm.
And by coincidence the first match was between him and jax.
Jax "Leo you are not my match get off the stage."
Leo "You are not the one to decide that. Let you moves do the talking."
Jax "Very well."
After this sort exchange leo and jax begin to gather there mana. There fibers begin to visible under there skin aligning along neurons more compactly and channeling the mana in there body more proficiently.
Leo after gathering enough momentum was the first to attack. He became blur and appear in front of the Jax in flash his right had clenched into fist and moving toward Jax face.
Jax who saw the move coming was already prepared. He ducked the punch and respond with his own uppercut.
Leo seeing his attack failed change his fist in to palm to stop the attack.
Jax suddenly used the momentum of his punch and give a round about kick to the Leo.
Leo become surprised and used his forearms to protect his face but jax changed direction mid way and landed the kick on stomach.
Leo was thrown flying in the ground.
Jax "Leo you are not my match admit defeat."
Leo slowly get up from ground and release more mana from his body. He spit the little blood gathered in his mouth and started laughing.
Leo "I did not know you really have such fighting power. Then it will be interesting come on show me what you have got."
Leo aura begin to rise and he disappeared again and appear in front of Jax. Jax also become surprised by leo will power but he also did not loose momentum and attacked again.
There fight become blur on the stage. Neither side not backing down. In the end refree said that there powers were equal and match was ended as tie.
Sora helped leo to get down from the stage.
Sora "Are you okay?"
Leo smiled at sora and said "I am fine. Jax is really powerful."
Sora smiled at him and said "It's alright you have done your best."
Since the martial arts competition was round robin and everyone fight with everyone once. In the end Leo and Jax both get equal points.
Next competition was Magic Card Fight. Each house has two players who will fight in the group.
Before the anounncement came, the atmosphere in the stadium shifted again.
In magic card competition each team can use 20 cards each player having 10 cards and they have to use cards in turns. A large hologram of two mechas appear and the cards are placed in the podium appear
Mina stepped onto the starting block, and for a moment, the roar of the crowd dipped into a card slot appear near the players.
This category is to see the management proficiency of students the cards are also prepared by them.
Mina with other girl from her class appear on the stage and on other side of stage other duo of students appeared.
Two virtual mechas of similar build appear between them.
Opponent team first player put her card in the slot and mana begin to rise in the mecha before it disappeard from its position to attack mina's team mecha from behind.
Mina's team mate also put a card in the slot and fabric sheet appear on mecha which protected it from the attack.
Then min put her card in the slot before the other team can put there card mecha jumped high in the air and lauched a punch at the mecha.
Other team also put a card in the slot and a fabric shield appeared to protect the mecha.
Mina team member also put a boost card in the slot and yarn wires in the mecha begin to absord more power from the core of the mecha and mana begin to release from the mecha in large amount, mina then hurriedly put her card in slot which made mecha to release a heavy punch.
This sudden combo attach made the opponent team surprised they suddenly put two defense card into the slot but it was already very late.
A breach appeared in the defense and mina put the detonation card in the slot. There mecha roared and a red large ball of mana released from the mecha mouth to destroy the opponent team mecha. The fight completed even before even all the cards are used.
Seeing mina won and her teamate won so easily her house seniors erupted in joy.
Mina noticed the growing commotion and gave a playful, confident toss of her head.
She caught Kaelen's eye in the VIP section and flashed a brilliant, knowing smile. The look of someone who knew exactly how beautiful she was and wasn't afraid to use it to charm the person she like.
Next in line was the Alchemy competition. Sora who was already obssessed with the plants easily won the competition without any problem.
Despite the mixed results in the above rounds, House Ignis remained competitive on the scoreboard.
Teacher Andrew walked over, looking impressed.
"Good job so far," he noted. "But the Mage History exam is special it will be to solve the problem yourself that occured in the past in your own way to analyse if you can do better. It will happen in hallucination pod".
Kaelen looked at the pods, his black eyes reflecting the pattern on it.
He knew that the others have done there part. Now it depend upon him.