I Started By Summoning a Small Fire Dragon

The Royal Academy Examination Hall stretched out before me like an ancient cathedral filled with wonders. The ceiling soared with frescoes depicting legendary familiars from various eras - the Great Phoenix with wings of fire that burned the sky, the Blue Dragon that controlled the storm, and the White Unicorn whose light illuminated the darkness. All of them stared down with seemingly living eyes, watching each prospective student take the entrance exam.

In the center of the hall, hundreds of neatly carved wooden tables were arranged in perfect rows. On top of each table was a transparent crystal the size of an adult's fist, gleaming with a soft light that pulsed like a heartbeat.

Resonance Crystals. The most accurate familiar ability tester in the entire kingdom.

I sat at table number 127, right at the back of the hall. The perfect position for a student with an "unclear" background like myself. Sol sat quietly on my shoulder, but I could feel the tension through our bond. The little familiar was still shaken by the confrontation with Kaelion earlier.

Neris sat three rows in front of me, Luna curled up in her lap like a living crystal ball. The girl occasionally glanced back and gave me a nervous smile.

In the front row, of course, sat Kaelion with Aurelius whose wings had returned to normal after being treated by Magistra Elena. The arrogant young man didn't even bother to look at me, as if my presence was not worthy of his attention.

"Attention everyone."

The deep, authoritative voice silenced the entire hall. A middle-aged man with a white beard and dark purple robes walked to the podium in front. On his shoulder perched a large raven with glowing red eyes.

"I am Professor Aldric, Head of the Entrance Exam Division," he said, scanning the room with a sharp gaze. "Today, you will undergo the Familiar Resonance Test - a test that will determine whether you are worthy of being a part of the Royal Academy."

He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in.

"The test is simple. Place your familiar on the Resonance Crystal. The crystal will measure your familiar's magic level, elemental purity, and growth potential. The results will appear in the form of light and numbers. The minimum score to pass is 500."

Five hundred. The number echoed in my head. I had no idea if Sol could achieve such a score.

"However," Professor Aldric continued in a harsher tone, "there are some strict rules. First, familiars who refuse to be tested or show signs of aggression will be immediately disqualified. Second, familiars who do not react at all to the crystal - falling asleep, unconscious, or unresponsive - will also be deemed to have failed."

My heart beat faster. Sol did have a habit of sleeping at inopportune times, especially after using his powers.

"And third," Professor Aldric's eyes seemed to be staring right through me, "any damage to the Resonance Crystal in any form will result in permanent disqualification from the academy."

A few students chuckled softly. I could tell they were thinking about Sol's incident of crystallizing Aurelius' wings earlier.

"The test begins at the front row. Number 001, step forward."

A golden-haired girl with a giant butterfly familiar walked to the front. The butterfly gracefully landed on the crystal, and a soft blue light instantly illuminated the entire hall. The number "720" appeared in the air above the crystal.

"Pass," Professor Aldric said as he took notes. "Next."

One by one, the students were called forward. Most passed with scores between 500 and 800. Some familiars showed amazing abilities - one created rainbow flames, one froze a crystal until it smoked, and one even made a crystal float in the air.

Kaelion was called when the number was 015. Aurelius flew majestically up to the crystal and flapped his wings. A blinding golden light filled the hall for a moment, and the number "950" appeared in a dazzling flash.

"Excellent," Professor Aldric murmured in a tone I rarely heard - admiration. "Highest score today. Passed with distinction."

Kaelion walked back to his seat with a smug smile, shooting me a glance with disdain.

The exam continued. Neris was called as number 089. Luna gracefully jumped onto the crystal, her tail sparkling. The crystal immediately glowed with a beautiful blue-white light, and the number "680" appeared.

"Pass," Professor Aldric said. Neris let out a sigh of relief and smiled at me.

The longer I waited, the more nervous I became. Sol on my shoulder began to show signs of drowsiness - his eyes began to blink slowly and his head occasionally drooped.

"Sol, stay awake," I whispered softly.

"I'm tired," he answered in my mind in a sleepy voice. "I used up too much energy earlier."

"Hold on a little longer. After this you can sleep as much as you want."

The numbers continued to be called. 100... 110... 120...

"Number 127, Nova from the Green Forest Village."

My heart seemed to stop beating. I stood on shaky legs and walked forward. The entire hall fell silent, all eyes on me and Sol.

Whispers began to be heard:

"That's the one whose familiar attacked Aurelius..."

"Little dragon, they said... where is a dragon that small..."

"It definitely won't pass..."

I arrived in front of the podium. The Resonance Crystal glowed softly before me, waiting. Professor Aldric looked at me with a skeptical expression.

"Place your familiar on the crystal," he said.

I lifted Sol from my shoulder and carried him over to the crystal. The little familiar looked very sleepy, his eyes almost completely closed.

"Sol, please," I whispered very quietly. "Stay awake."

Sol tried to open his eyes wide, but I could see his fighting the sleep. he sat on the crystal, his body swaying slightly.

Seconds passed. The crystal gave off no light.

A small laugh began to sound from the front row. I saw Kaelion smile in satisfaction.

"The familiar is not reacting," Professor Aldric said in a flat tone. "Five more seconds and—"

Sol's eyes began to close. His head slumped forward.

"Sol!" I whispered in panic.

Too late. Sol had fallen asleep on the crystal, his body limp like a rag doll.

Laughter erupted from all corners of the hall. Some students even clapped their hands in mockery.

"Familiar falling asleep on a test," Professor Aldric said, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, but this means—"

CRACK!

A loud crack cut through his words. Everyone fell silent.

The Resonance Crystal beneath Sol began to crack. Small cracks spread out from where Sol's body touched its surface, like a rapidly growing spider web.

"What's happening?" someone whispered.

Sol was still fast asleep, unaware of what was happening beneath him. But the crystal continued to crack, the cracking sound filling the silence of the hall.

Professor Aldric stepped forward with a worried expression. "Get away from the crystal. Now!"

Before I could move, the cracks in the crystal suddenly flashed with a golden light. Not the usual soft light, but a blinding, terrifying light.

"Everyone back!" Professor Aldric shouted. "The crystal is going to—"

BOOM!

The Resonance Crystal exploded.

The explosion was not like any ordinary explosion. There was no smoke or fire. There was only a wave of golden light that swept across the hall, forcing everyone to close their eyes and retreat.

When the light faded, I saw Sol still sitting quietly where the crystal had been. The little familiar was still fast asleep, but now its body was glowing with a faint golden aura.

Around him, crystal dust was scattered on the floor. Not just any dust - but dust that sparkled like tiny stars.

The entire hall was completely silent. No one dared to make a sound.

Sol blinked and yawned, finally waking up from his sleep. He glanced around in confusion, then flew back to my shoulder as if nothing had happened.

"Was I sleeping?" he asked in my mind innocently. "Is the exam over?"

Professor Aldric stared at the crystal dust on the floor with a pale face. The raven on his shoulder let out a hoarse sound that sounded like a warning.

"This..." he stuttered. "This has never happened before. The Resonance Crystal is a high-class artifact. It can't just shatter without a reason."

He stared at me with narrowed eyes, as if trying to solve a puzzle.

"Your familiar... what exactly did he do?"

"Nothing," I answered honestly. "Sol was just sleeping."

"Sleeping can't possibly cause a crystal to explode," Professor Aldric said as he knelt down and picked up a handful of crystal dust. "Unless..."

He paused, his face growing pale.

"Unless what?" I asked worriedly.

Professor Aldric stood up slowly, his eyes never leaving Sol who was now sitting quietly on my shoulder.

"Unless your familiar has a power level far beyond the crystal's ability to measure," he said in a low voice that sounded like a whisper. "The Resonance Crystal is designed to measure power up to level 2000. If something exceeds that limit..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but I could guess what he was thinking.

A tense silence filled the hall. All eyes were on Sol who looked so ordinary and innocent, not at all like a creature who had just destroyed a rare artifact.

Kaelion stood up from his seat with a look of disbelief. "That's impossible," he said loudly.

"Something must be wrong. That little thing couldn't possibly—"

"Silence." Professor Aldric's voice echoed with an authority that silenced everyone immediately.

He stared at me for a long moment, then at Sol, then at the crystal dust on the floor.

"Nova of the Green Forest Village," he finally said in a strange voice - a mixture of awe, worry, and something deeper. "Welcome to the Royal Academy."

"But... the exam?" I asked, confused.

"Your exam is over," he replied with a faint smile. "In a way that... has never happened before in the history of this academy."

He turned to face the entire hall.

"Today's exam is over. All those who have not been tested will be rescheduled. You may return to your rooms."

The students began to leave with confused faces and whispers full of speculation. But none of them dared to approach or look directly at me.

Kaelion passed by me with a dark face. He paused for a moment and whispered, "This isn't over yet, country boy."

Once the hall was empty, only me, Professor Aldric, and Neris were left waiting in the corner.

"Professor," I said carefully. "What is the meaning of all this?"

Professor Aldric shook his head slowly as he continued to stare at the crystal dust.

"I don't know, Nova," he replied in a tired voice. "But one thing is for sure - your familiar is no ordinary creature. And after today..."

He looked at me with worry in his eyes.

"After today, the entire academy will be talking about you two."