No one spoke for a few seconds.
Everyone was still looking at the broken target.
Arin slowly lowered his hand. His heart was beating fast.
"I… I didn't mean to do that," he said quietly.
The instructor walked closer to the broken target. He touched it and looked at the cracks.
This was not normal damage.
He turned and looked at Arin again.
"What kind of magic was that?" he asked.
Arin shook his head.
"I don't know…"
The other students started whispering again, but this time it was different.
"He broke it with one hit."
"That didn't look like fire or wind."
"Was that even magic?"
Some students looked scared. Others looked serious.
The arrogant boy from before stepped forward.
"Tch. That was just luck," he said.
"Do it again if you can."
Arin looked at his hand.
He tried to feel that strange power again.
But nothing came.
"I… can't," he said.
The boy smirked.
"I knew it. Just a useless trick."
Some students laughed again, but not as loudly as before.
The instructors were not laughing.
They were watching Arin carefully.
"That's enough," one of them said.
"The test is over."
Soon, all the students were told to stand in a line.
Names were being written down.
Results would be announced soon.
Arin stood quietly at the end of the line.
He could feel people looking at him.
Not with laughter this time…
But with curiosity.
And a little fear.
After some time, a teacher came forward with a list.
"Students who passed the entrance test, step forward when your name is called."
One by one, names were called.
Strong students walked forward proudly.
Then—
"Arin."
For a moment, he didn't move.
He thought he heard it wrong.
"Arin," the teacher repeated.
Slowly, he stepped forward.
Some students looked shocked.
"He passed?"
"How?"
Arin himself didn't understand.
But before he could think more, he felt something strange.
It was that same cold feeling again.
Very light…
but still there.
Far away, on the top of a building, a man was watching everything.
His eyes were fixed on Arin.
"A power without magic…" he said slowly.
"This could become a problem."