Chapter 31 - Astral Materialization Test
The practical hall fell silent.
Students quietly took their seats around the evaluation formation.
The crystal pillars surrounding the arena emitted a soft blue glow, their light flowing through the intricate runes carved into the polished floor.
Professor Aldric stepped into the center of the formation.
He opened the register beneath his arm.
"I trust everyone is ready."
A murmur of acknowledgment answered him.
His gaze swept across the room.
"As announced last week, today's practical examination concerns Astral Materialization."
Lyra lowered her eyes.
The words stung all over again.
"You will each materialize an astral construct aligned with your primary affinity."
"Once the construct has stabilized, you will cast the assigned spell."
"The evaluation formation will assess formation, stability, and control."
"If your first attempt fails, you will be allowed one additional attempt."
Several students visibly relaxed.
Lyra didn't.
Two attempts...
Or twenty.
It wouldn't make a difference.
She couldn't complete even one.
Professor Aldric closed the register.
"We will proceed alphabetically."
The room fell silent.
The first student stepped into the evaluation formation.
Astral energy gathered around his fingertips.
A translucent construct slowly emerged.
Professor Aldric observed quietly.
"Maintain the flow."
The student steadied his breathing.
The construct stabilized.
"Proceed."
A spell shot toward one of the crystal pillars.
The pillar flashed brightly.
"Pass."
The student exhaled in relief before returning to his seat.
Another student followed.
Then another.
Some finished effortlessly.
Others needed their second attempt.
Professor Aldric offered advice after each evaluation.
"Don't force the flow."
"Your construct lost stability during the spell."
"Better control this time."
"Good improvement."
As the examination continued, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.
Students who had entered nervously began smiling after seeing their classmates succeed.
For most of them...
The practical was exactly what they had expected.
For Lyra...
Every successful construct felt like another reminder of what she couldn't do.
Beside her, Amy remained unusually quiet.
She didn't watch the students.
She stared at the polished floor instead.
Her thoughts refused to settle.
Finally...
"...Lyra."
"...Yes?"
"...Why?"
Lyra already knew what she meant.
She couldn't answer.
Amy let out a quiet breath.
"I'm your roommate."
Silence.
"I'm your best friend."
Lyra lowered her head.
"I know."
"I thought..."
Amy hesitated.
"I thought we told each other everything."
"So did I"
Amy turned toward her.
"...Then why?"
"I didn't know how."
"How?"
"How to tell you."
Amy searched Lyra's face.
"You could've trusted me."
"I wanted to."
"Then why didn't you?"
Lyra's fingers tightened around the edge of her seat.
"Because..."
Her voice almost disappeared.
"...Saying it out loud makes it real."
Amy frowned.
"I don't understand."
"I know."
Another student passed.
The crystal pillars flashed once more.
A few classmates quietly applauded.
Neither of them looked up.
Amy swallowed.
"You've been training with Erix every evening."
"...Yes."
"I kept thinking you were improving."
"I was."
Amy blinked.
"What?"
"I was improving."
She looked at her hands.
"Just..."
"...Not enough."
Amy wanted to ask more.
A hundred questions crowded her mind.
How long had Erix known?
Did the Headmaster know?
Why had Lyra hidden something so important?
How could someone with dual affinities be unable to perform the most basic practical technique?
None of it made sense.
Yet one question lingered above all the others.
"...Did you really think I'd look at you differently?"
Lyra didn't answer.
Because she didn't know.
She had been afraid to find out.
Amy looked away.
A quiet laugh escaped her lips.
Not because anything was funny.
Because she finally understood why Lyra always changed the subject whenever conversations drifted toward astral control.
"...You idiot."
Lyra blinked.
Amy shook her head.
"You carried all of this by yourself."
"...I'm sorry."
"I'm not angry."
She paused.
"...I just wish you'd trusted me."
Lyra closed her eyes.
Silence settled between them once more.
Not comfortable.
Not awkward.
Just heavy.
The register turned another page.
"...Amy Valen."
Amy looked toward the center of the formation.
It was her turn.
She slowly stood.
Before taking a step...
She looked back at Lyra.
Normally, she would have smiled.
Today...
She couldn't.
There were too many thoughts left unsaid.
She quietly walked into the evaluation formation.
Professor Aldric nodded.
"You may begin."
Amy closed her eyes.
Astral energy flowed through her pathways.
A sphere of shimmering water gathered before her.
Slowly...
It unfolded into the shape of a crystalline lotus.
Its petals glistened beneath the light of the crystal pillars.
Perfectly balanced.
Perfectly stable.
Several students couldn't help but admire it.
Professor Aldric gave an approving nod.
"Excellent."
Amy cast the assigned spell.
The lotus remained intact.
The nearest crystal pillar shone brilliantly.
Then the others followed.
"Excellent control."
A few students applauded softly.
Amy bowed politely.
Normally...
She would have returned with a proud smile.
Today, she simply walked back to her seat.
She sat beside Lyra without a word.
Her perfect evaluation felt strangely meaningless.
Professor Aldric turned another page.
His voice echoed through the silent hall.
"...Lyra Ashbourne."
Everything stopped.
Lyra slowly lifted her head.
Her heartbeat pounded against her chest.
Her name.
It was finally her turn.
Lyra slowly stood.
For a moment...
Her legs refused to move.
Then she forced herself forward.
Each step toward the evaluation formation felt heavier than the last.
The whispers faded behind her.
The crystal pillars stood silently around the arena, their blue light reflecting across the polished floor.
She stopped at the center.
Professor Aldric looked up from the register.
"Lyra Ashbourne."
She bowed lightly.
"Begin."
...
Her breathing slowed.
Control.
Flow.
Shape.
Just as Erix had taught her.
Astral energy gathered within her pathways.
She guided it carefully.
Steadily.
A faint shimmer appeared before her fingertips.
For the briefest instant-
Hope.
The outline trembled.
Then-
It collapsed.
The scattered particles vanished into the air.
Silence.
Professor Aldric remained composed.
"Again."
Lyra nodded.
"...Yes, Professor."
She closed her eyes once more.
Don't force it.
Guide it.
She remembered Erix's voice.
Let it flow naturally.
Astral energy moved once again.
The familiar resistance greeted her.
The invisible wall.
Still there.
Still refusing to move.
She pushed a little harder.
Nothing.
She adjusted the flow.
Nothing.
A faint outline flickered.
It lasted less than a heartbeat before shattering completely.
The arena fell silent once again.
Not even the crystal pillars reacted.
Lyra slowly lowered her hand.
Her fingers trembled.
Professor Aldric watched her for several moments.
"You still have one attempt remaining."
...
Lyra looked at the empty space before her.
One more attempt.
It wouldn't change anything.
But she couldn't simply refuse.
She raised her hand again.
One final time.
Astral energy gathered.
Control.
Flow.
Shape.
The same invisible wall greeted her.
She couldn't move past it.
No matter how carefully she guided the flow...
No matter how calmly she breathed...
Nothing formed.
The astral energy dispersed before it could take shape.
Silence filled the hall.
No whispers.
No movement.
Only the quiet hum of the evaluation formation.
Professor Aldric finally closed the register.
"...That will be enough."
Lyra lowered her hand.
"...Yes, Professor."
He studied her expression.
There was no frustration.
No panic.
Only resignation.
As though she had expected this outcome long before she entered the arena.
"You were unable to complete Astral Materialization."
"...Yes."
Professor Aldric frowned slightly.
His voice remained calm.
"Have you experienced difficulty with the technique recently?"
Lyra hesitated.
"...No."
"No?"
She slowly shook her head.
"It's not recent."
Professor Aldric waited.
The entire hall seemed to hold its breath.
"...For how long?"
Lyra lowered her gaze.
Her voice was barely audible.
"...Since my previous academy"
Confusion crossed Professor Aldric's face.
"I'm sorry?"
She swallowed.
Then repeated herself.
"I haven't been able to perform Astral Materialization even before I joined."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Professor Aldric stared at her.
For the first time since the examination had begun...
His composure faltered.
"...You mean..."
He searched for the right words.
"...You have been unable to materialize an astral construct for over a year?"
Lyra closed her eyes.
"...Yes."
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Every student in the hall stared at her.
Unable to believe what they had just heard.
Professor Aldric remained silent for several long moments.
Then he slowly closed the register.
"...Return to your seat."
"...Yes, Professor."
Lyra bowed quietly.
She turned.
And walked back.
Every step felt heavier than the one before.
She could feel dozens of eyes following her.
But she didn't look at any of them.
She simply returned to her seat.
The silence remained.
No one knew what to say.
Professor Aldric looked down at the register in his hands.
Then back at Lyra.
The question lingered in his mind.
How had a First-year valmere student reached this point... without anyone informing me?
He drew a slow breath.
"...We will take a short recess."
The words sounded distant to Lyra.
She heard them.
But they barely registered.
Her secret...
The one she had hidden for so long...
Was no longer hers alone.