The Elemental system

The final trial had ended, and the air was thick with anticipation. Axton stood among the other candidates, his heart racing as he processed the whirlwind of events. The gray-eyed leader's words echoed in his mind: "Tomorrow, we will announce those who have been chosen." He had made it this far, but there was still a sense of uncertainty lingering in his chest. Did he have what it took? Was his mind, his strategy, enough to push him over the line?

The other candidates seemed to be in the same state of unease. Gavin Cross, still standing tall with an air of self-assurance, was talking to a few of the other students from his village, no doubt trying to position himself as the victor. Axton could see it in the way the earth mage carried himself—he was confident that his raw power would carry him through. But Axton didn't have that certainty. He didn't know why he was here, why he had been chosen, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more at play than just the trials.

Elias, on the other hand, seemed to be much more relaxed. His usual optimistic demeanor hadn't wavered, even in the face of the unknown. He gave Axton a friendly nudge.

"You did great, man," Elias said with a grin. "You really pulled us through back there with your observation. I didn't even see the illusion until you pointed it out."

Axton managed a tight smile, though his nerves were still on edge. "I'm not sure I did enough to stand out. Everyone else has way more power than me."

Elias chuckled. "Power isn't everything, Axton. It's how you use it that matters. You've got something that they don't, and I'm sure the academy will see it."

Despite Elias's encouraging words, Axton's thoughts kept returning to the same question: Why me?

The next morning came faster than Axton expected, and with it, a sense of unease. The candidates gathered in the village square once more, the bright sun casting long shadows over the crowd. The academy representatives were standing before them, their expressions unreadable as always. The gray-eyed leader stepped forward, his presence commanding silence.

"Last night, we deliberated," he said, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the crowd. "The selection process was rigorous, and we have chosen those who have proven themselves to be worthy."

Axton's stomach twisted. He couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment—the possibility that all of this could end right now.

The leader raised his hand, and for the next few minutes, he called out the names of the chosen candidates. Gavin Cross, Elias Thorn, and others from their group made the list, and they stepped forward, some with broad smiles, others with quiet relief. Axton's nerves only grew with each name that wasn't his.

Finally, the gray-eyed leader's gaze met his, and he called out, "Axton Backwoods."

The words hit Axton like a bolt of lightning. For a moment, he was frozen in place. His name had been called. He had actually made it. His heart pounded in his chest as he stepped forward, trying to hide the rush of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.

The gray-eyed leader's expression remained neutral as he acknowledged Axton's presence. "Your potential has been noted, Axton Backwoods. Welcome to the academy."

The words felt surreal. Axton stood there for a moment, almost unable to process what had just happened. He had been chosen. Against all odds, against his own doubts, he had been selected.

The other candidates, those who hadn't been chosen, began to disperse, their faces a mix of disappointment and resignation. Axton caught sight of Gavin for a brief moment. The earth mage's expression had darkened, but there was no time to dwell on that now.

The gray-eyed leader nodded to Axton and the others who had been selected. "You will leave for the academy at dawn. Prepare yourselves, for your journey is just beginning."

Axton glanced at Elias, who gave him a thumbs-up, his smile wide. "See? I told you," Elias said with a grin.

As the crowd began to scatter, Axton was left standing there, still processing the reality of what had just happened. His heart still raced, but now it was a mix of excitement and apprehension. What awaited him at the academy? What was the academy truly looking for in him?

As he made his way back to his quarters to prepare for the journey ahead, Axton couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to all of this—something he didn't yet understand. But for now, all he could do was take the next step, just as he had in the trials.

The journey was far from over.