MTLNOVEL Chapter 6: A Different Kind of Power
"Stand still," Sir Marcus grumbled as he checked the magic-canceling bracelets for the third time. The silver bands pressed uncomfortably against Sarah's chaos marks, though they didn't completely suppress them - nothing could, as Ravenna's memories informed her. Still, they limited her magic enough to satisfy security protocols.
"The bracelets are secure," Mage Petra said from Sarah's other side, her tone clipped and professional. "We should head to the ceremony now if we want to find an inconspicuous position."
Sarah resisted the urge to point out that nothing about their little group would be inconspicuous. Sir Marcus stood well over six feet tall in his ceremonial armor, and Mage Petra's formal robes bore the distinctive red trim of a combat specialist. Combined with Sarah's visible chaos marks and the glowing bracelets, they were bound to draw attention.
The Great Hall was already filling with nervous first-years when they arrived. Sarah felt a ripple of whispers as they took their position near one of the crystal columns. Most of the students were trying not to stare at her chaos marks, while others openly gawked at her guards.
Archmage Winters stepped onto the crystal dais, her presence immediately commanding silence. Her voice filled the hall without magical amplification - a subtle display of power that Sarah recognized from Ravenna's memories.
"Welcome to the Crystalline Academy of Magical Arts," Winters began. "For centuries, these halls have shaped the finest mages in the realm. Our crystal spires are not mere architecture - they are a testament to what magic can achieve when tempered by knowledge and discipline."
She paused, her gaze sweeping the hall. "You stand here today because you have potential. But potential alone is not enough. Magic demands respect. It demands understanding. Those who seek power without wisdom often find themselves facing... unexpected consequences."
Sarah felt Winters' eyes briefly meet hers before continuing. "Here, you will learn not just to use magic, but to truly understand it. Every spell, every theory, every principle has been refined through generations of study. This is not a place for shortcuts or reckless experimentation."
"You will be ranked according to your magical potential and current abilities - F through A, and in rare cases, S. These ranks will determine your curriculum and peers. Remember, your initial rank is not your destiny. Through dedication and study, you may advance. Now, let us begin the evaluation."
One by one, students approached the Crystalline Mirror. Sarah watched as it assessed each student's magical core, assigning mostly D and C ranks, with a few Bs and occasional As.
Then Elena Brighthaven stepped forward. Sarah knew from the book that Elena was special, but seeing her in person was different. The girl radiated confidence, but not arrogance - more like someone who knew exactly who she was.
The mirror's surface rippled like liquid starlight, glowing brighter than it had for any previous student. "S RANK," it declared, causing a shocked murmur through the hall. Sarah noticed Winters nodding slightly, as if confirming something she'd already known.
Elena tried not to fidget as whispers erupted around her. S rank? She hadn't expected that. As she moved to join the handful of other S-ranked students, her attention was drawn to the strange group at the back of the hall.
The girl with the silvery marks caught her eye immediately. She was older than the first-years, maybe seventeen or eighteen, and despite being flanked by guards, she carried herself with remarkable composure. The marks on her skin seemed to flow like water, even partially obscured by strange silver bracelets.
"That's Ravenna Blackthorn," one of the other S-rank students whispered - a tall boy named Jin. "They say she awakened chaos magic. She's technically a prisoner, but Archmage Winters is making her study traditional theory too."
Elena watched as Ravenna observed the ceremony with an oddly knowing expression, as if she'd seen it all before. There was something fascinating about her - not just the chaos marks or the guards, but the way she seemed to be simultaneously part of the ceremony and separate from it.
The ranking continued, but then something unexpected happened. Archmage Winters raised her hand for silence. "There is one more evaluation to perform." She nodded to Ravenna's guards. "Bring her forward."
The whispers intensified as Sir Marcus and Mage Petra escorted Ravenna to the mirror. Students pressed back, creating a wide berth around them. Even with the magic-canceling bracelets, the air seemed to shimmer around her.
"Is this safe?" someone whispered.
"Why are they evaluating a prisoner?"
Ravenna stood before the mirror with perfect poise, her chaos marks swirling visibly beneath her skin. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the mirror's surface began to ripple violently, its usual starlight glow taking on an otherworldly quality. The crystal surface swirled with patterns that matched Ravenna's marks, as if the chaos magic was overwhelming its evaluation magic.
The mirror's voice, when it came, sounded different - distorted, almost harmonizing with itself: "UNPREDICTABLE. POWER BEYOND CONVENTIONAL MEASUREMENT. S RANK CONTAINMENT REQUIRED."
The hall erupted in shocked gasps and fearful murmurs. Elena saw Winters watching Ravenna intently, while the guards tightened their grip on their weapons. But Ravenna herself remained perfectly calm, as if she'd expected exactly this response.
As she was led back to her position, Elena noticed something others seemed to miss. The chaos marks weren't moving randomly - they followed precise patterns, like a complex magical equation written in living silver. Maybe that was what truly set Ravenna apart - not just her unusual power, but the mind that had learned to understand it.
Sarah suppressed a smile as she was escorted back to her position. She'd seen Elena watching, noting details others missed. The original story had never mentioned this evaluation scene - probably because Ravenna had been locked away in the original version. Already, the story was changing in fascinating ways.
"Stop looking so pleased," Mage Petra muttered. "This isn't a performance."
"Of course not," Sarah replied smoothly. "I'm simply participating in traditional theory evaluation, as instructed."
But her mind was racing. Being classified as needing "S rank containment" meant she would be kept near the other S rank students - including Elena. The story was shifting, creating new possibilities. She just had to be patient and let them unfold.
The magic-canceling bracelets clinked softly as she stood watching the remaining evaluations. Constraints, as both Sarah and Ravenna knew, could sometimes become opportunities - if you were clever enough to see the patterns.