Page 361 of Axis of Fire

Stasia summoned several poisonous plants as tall as I was, carefully containing the toxic mist they released.

Now a boy with messy, vivid blue hair stood in the center of the arena.

Perched on his shoulder was an enormous scorpion with glowing blue markings that seemed almost luminescent.

The boy himself carried an air of arrogance, his bright blue eyes carefully analyzing everyone around him.

He immediately sparked mixed feelings in me.

And I was dying to find out what kind of magic he possessed.

With a wave of Eugene's hand, several targets appeared in front of him.

I held my breath, waiting for what would come next.

The boy's gaze shifted to the targets.

Then his eyes began to glow.

The scorpion stirred, slowly crawling down from his shoulder.

The mage raised a hand.

Silver lines streaked through the air, threaded with a faint blue glow.

A second later, all five targets burst into blue flames.

“Is he a fire mage?” I asked quietly.

“No.”

Kaeron's voice came from beside me.

“His magic is similar to mine.”

For the first time since the demonstrations began, he had spoken.

The unexpected comment immediately drew not only my attention, but Stasia's, Seris's, and Gianna's as well.

“In what sense?” Stasia asked.

“His magic belongs to the same category as mine.” Kaeron's voice remained calm, but his eyes never left the boy standing in the center of the arena. “Conceptual powers. We don't control a substance—we control a law or a phenomenon.”

Somehow, it felt as though there was something connecting the two of them beyond the nature of their abilities.

“Excellent.” Azriella clapped her hands together. “I'm delighted by how strong this year's recruits are.”

At her words, I bit the inside of my cheek.

Something unpleasant twisted inside me.

“Honestly, almost all of them deserve a place in the Strongest Class.”

The female voice came from somewhere behind me.

And those words instantly brought my humiliation back to life.

The implication wasn't exactly subtle.