"Three months after enrollment, the academy holds The Freshman Trials to evaluate everyone's combat prowess. Those who fail are unceremoniously expelled. Pierce, you’re telling me you didn't know?"

  Xavier and the others stared at Pierce with bewildered expressions. Pierce cleared his throat, feeling a flush of embarrassment. In his predecessor’s memories, the Trials were a non-entity—a person who believed they’d never cross the mist had no reason to worry about the hurdles reserved for the elite.

  "The Trials..." Pierce murmured, his tone turning somber. The Spire Academy was infamous for its brutal standards. This wasn't just a test; it was a cull designed to weed out the "trash."

  "So, what do you say, Pierce? Will you join us?" Xavier asked with a welcoming smile. "If it’s not your scene, you’re free to walk away whenever you like."

  Pierce was genuinely tempted. While he didn't need a study group—Omniscience was the only mentor he required—the access to intelligence-sharing was invaluable. Many in this circle were "Legacy Students" from mage families. Joining them meant he’d never be blindsided by academy politics again.

  "Count me in," Pierce said.

  "Welcome to the fold!" Xavier offered his hand, and Pierce shook it firmly.

  "We call ourselves The Astra Society," a girl named Gwen chimed in enthusiastically. "An 'Astra' is a celestial beast from the outer planes. They start small, but they grow to be god-slayers. We wanted a name that represented our untapped potential."

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  Suddenly, another girl, Jane, stepped forward. "Pierce, I heard you aced the Introductory Biology exam. That course is a nightmare for me. Could I hire you for some peer tutoring? I’ll pay two gold pieces an hour."

  Pierce's heart leaped. It was like a gift from the gods. "Absolutely."

  Seeing him agree, three others immediately jumped on the opportunity. Knowledge wasn't just power; it was cold, hard cash. Before the group even left the plaza, Pierce had collected 16 gold pieces in upfront payments. His financial hurdle for the Verdant Radiance spell had vanished in minutes.

  "To The Glimmer Bistro! Let’s toast to our newest member!" Xavier announced.

  ...

  Thirty minutes later, inside a private booth at the Bistro.

  "Cheers!"

  Crystal glasses clinked, followed by bursts of laughter. Pierce took a sip of the Verdant Nectar, feeling a refreshing clarity wash over his mind. One gold piece per glass, he thought. Expensive, but you can definitely taste the mana.

  The conversation eventually drifted toward the class rankings.

  "If we’re talking about real monsters, it’s Silas, Gale, and Ignis," said Marcus, a boy who usually followed Xavier’s lead. "I heard those three have already broken through to Rank 2."

  A heavy silence fell over the table.

  "They’ve been pampered with spirit-nurturing tonics since they were kids," Xavier remarked with a hint of bitterness. "And they all consumed Seeds of Awakening the moment they turned sixteen. While we were struggling to visualize our first runes, they were already sprinting toward the finish line."

  "Don't let it get to you," Xavier added quickly, trying to lift the mood. "Past records show that as long as you hit Rank 2 before the Trials, you’re safe. We still have two months. We can make it!"

  The laughter resumed, but Pierce remained stoic. Unlike the others, who viewed those prodigies with a mix of awe and inferiority, Pierce didn't feel they were out of reach.

  With the Omniscient Eye at his disposal, surpassing them wasn't a dream—it was an inevitability. It was simply a matter of time.