Maya was going to be late—again—and it was all Elena's fault.

For weeks, Maya had seized every chance to practice for this pivotal moment.

The coveted title of Harvester wasn't just about representing her generation — it was a pinnacle achievement, one that brought both reverence and remarkable privileges to those who earned it. It was a mystical title befitting a witch on a destined path to become a pillar of society.

Naturally, Maya desired it.

"Greedy for power, aren't we?" Leo teased.

Leo could testify to all of Maya's dedicated efforts firsthand. Based on what he'd seen, he believed she had an excellent chance of success.

"You've got this in the can," he said, giving her a thumbs-up.

The Harvest was an unusual ritual that absorbed ambient energy and shared it with everyone while granting tremendous power to its medium. As a Prima who wielded four elements, Maya's power was naturally divided among them. The prospect of receiving such a significant boon to even one element filled her with hopeful anticipation.

Yet despite her careful preparation, Maya found herself running late to the trials. Since she was accompanying Elena, there was no helping it—her companion would stop to admire even a peculiarly shaped bird poop rather than focus on arriving on time for what should have been their priority.

'How is she so childish?'

Maya let out an exasperated sigh and grabbed Elena's collar as she cackled, dragging her toward the temple ground testing facility.

As they entered, a dozen selected students were already waiting inside. The interior featured a minimalist design with pristine white furniture. Hidden lights cast reflections across the white walls, ceiling, and floor—a stark contrast to the building's old-era exterior.

"Of course, we are the last to arrive. We'll be at the end of the list," Maya grumbled, visibly upset. Both knew that their tardiness was Elena's fault.

"The only time being late matters is when they're handing out free stuff," Elena drawled with a lazy smirk, letting herself sink into the plush waiting room chair.

A staff member added them to the queue. As a small apology, Elena allowed Maya to go before her.

Leo rolled his eyes at her generosity.

Because Maya was a natural worrier, she always preferred to get things done quickly, before she had the chance to overthink. Since she had nothing to do but anxiously wait her turn, Maya decided to collect intel.

As candidates entered the testing chamber one by one, Maya eagerly questioned each person who completed the evaluation. Leo began following them inside, providing Maya with live commentary on their progress.

"Oh, no, she slipped and fell," Leo said about a girl who exited the testing chamber, soaking wet and almost in tears.

Maya bit her nails, relating to the situation and fearing something similar could happen to her.

A staff member emerged from the testing chamber with a weary expression. "Ladies," they announced firmly, "we need to speed up the process. Each candidate will now have no more than ten minutes."

A ripple of anxiety spread through the waiting candidates. Being halfway through the evaluations already, those still awaiting their turn exchanged worried glances, wondering if they could compress their carefully rehearsed routines into such a tight window.

Now the time limit pressed Maya even more. Not only did she have to outperform the other candidates, but she had to do it in half the time. The pressure was clearly affecting everyone—the girl who went just before her had pleaded for another attempt, only to be firmly dismissed by the staff.

Finally, Maya's name was called, and she entered the evaluation room.

The dark chamber stood in stark contrast to the bright waiting area—its walls were made of dark stone that seemed to swallow all light. The atmosphere reminded her of her Appraisal Ritual, with the dim lighting barely penetrating the light-absorbing surfaces.

All the focus was on the one being evaluated and the only one sufficiently illuminated.

Near the entrance, a small alcove served as a place to leave one's shoes before proceeding barefoot. The entire floor shimmered with a pristine pool of water, ankle-deep and mirror-smooth, stretching from wall to wall. Only two areas remained dry: the entrance where Maya stood, and a raised podium at the far end where the judges waited in silence.

Maya carefully stepped into the pool.

The water was cool, seeping between her toes. She inhaled slowly, trying to ignore the way the silence pressed in from the black stone walls. The judges said nothing—only motioned for her to begin. She couldn't see their faces, but she felt their eyes like heat on her skin.

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'Don't slip,' she mentally commanded herself, then began.

She started with the basics, performing the simplest first move that all Water mages were taught. Foundation was important. Then her moves exploded into an intricate flowing sequence—the beautiful dance they had demonstrated to their supervisors during the final trimester exams, but now infused with deeper intention.

Her muscles remembered every position, every transition, as she wove between the classical forms with diligently practiced proficiency.

While others rushed or hesitated through their sequences, Maya's performance had a natural rhythm, each movement flowing seamlessly into the next like water coursing through a stream. As she finished the final stance, satisfaction bloomed in her chest at having executed the routine flawlessly.

A sudden clap shattered the chamber's silence, causing Maya to startle. It took her a moment to realize it was Leo showing his enthusiasm from the sidelines. The judges, maintaining their stoic demeanour, merely offered a curt acknowledgement of her participation before gesturing for her dismissal.

The moment she exited the chamber, Maya was ambushed by other candidates, eager to hear about her performance. Simultaneously, Elena—the last candidate—was called in. Maya didn't get a chance to wish her luck from all the commotion, but judging from her bored expression as she passed by, she didn't care for it.

The atmosphere among the candidates was surprisingly supportive, almost sisterly, with none of the cutthroat rivalry one might expect. Maya's chest tightened with a twinge of guilt, knowing she had outperformed them all—including Lauren, a promising candidate who might have matched her skill if not for the sudden time constraints.

Before the group could even allow Maya to move further, the door swung open and Elena exited with an air of nonchalance. Maya froze mid-conversation, her questioning gaze following her friend.

'Had Elena forgotten something? No—'

Maya quickly dismissed the thought, knowing the strict protocols. Once you left, there was no going back inside, regardless of the circumstances.

"That was fast," Maya said, unsure if she should comfort Elena for messing it up despite already expecting it to happen.

Yet, part of Maya felt relief. Elena was her biggest concern. She was the only one Maya was certain could top her if she desired to do so.

"You managed to piss them off in that short of a time? Must be some kind of a record," Lauren commented.

The girls in the waiting room leaned in, eager for new gossip. Before Elena could say anything, a staff member opened the door to the testing room, silencing the room in anticipation.

"Evaluations are done," they announced, focusing on their clipboard rather than making eye contact. "After careful consideration, it is decided that the title of Harvester will go to Miss Petrova. Thank you for participating."

The room sank into shock.

"That was fast. They didn't even take the time to discuss it. Did Elena threaten them, or something?"

"That wasn't even enough time to take your shoes off! There's no way she performed all the steps."

The room erupted into chaos as whispers turned to outraged protests, voices rising in heated objection. The evaluator, maintaining remarkable composure, firmly declared the decision was final before ordering everyone to vacate the premises. Only Elena was permitted to remain behind, summoned to discuss the details of her new role.

Maya walked outside in a daze.

The coveted title felt like it had slipped through Maya's fingers in an instant. Everything happened so quickly that Leo didn't even have time to peek inside the evaluation room, still busy congratulating Maya on her flawless performance.

Maya had gravely miscalculated.

Though her friend typically showed little interest in magic—preferring the physical discipline of combat training—her potential was undeniable. Maya had foolishly assumed Elena would step aside, understanding how desperately Maya wanted it.

What puzzled Maya most was that this went against Elena's supposed principles. She usually dismissed and criticized the ritualistic aspects of magic and the ties it had with religion, yet she won the right to be the main participant in a sacred mage ritual?

When Elena confidently exited the evaluation room, Maya had expected her to be dismissed for causing trouble. Yet somehow, Elena wasn't surprised when her name was called as the next Harvester.

Was this just another way for Elena to prove she could excel without trying? Was it simply to piss off all the other girls who worked hard for it, including Maya?

Elena emerged shortly after, and they walked back to their dorm in silence. Though Maya tried to hide it, her dejection was plain to see. She wanted to feel happy for her friend, but couldn't.

"H-how exactly…?" Maya didn't know how to begin asking, though curiosity was tormenting her.

Elena smirked. "Told you being last has its advantages."

"You didn't perform the moves they taught us?"

"You mean the ones everyone did like well-trained puppies?" Elena raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't you tire of watching the same party tricks over and over again?"

Maya closed her eyes, letting out a slow breath as reality settled in her chest like a heavy stone. She had been fooling herself all along. The countless hours of practice, the meticulous attention to form, all of it paled in comparison to Elena's raw talent.

Even among the first-years, her command over water magic stood leagues above the rest. Maya could picture it now: Elena probably walking in there and, with casual grace, demonstrating something that left the judges speechless.

The thought made Maya's throat tighten.

But what truly twisted the knife was knowing that Elena would likely treat this sacred position with the same flippant attitude she showed everything else. All that power—power that Maya could have used when it really mattered—would sit idle in Elena's hands like a forgotten toy.

Maya's fingers curled into fists at her sides. She should have known better, should have swallowed her pride and simply asked Elena to step aside. Expecting her friend to intuit her feelings and withdraw out of consideration had been nothing but wishful thinking.

And maybe that was what stung most—Elena didn't take the title from her. Maya had thoughtlessly handed it over.

'Should the fate of the world really sit in the hands of someone like me?'

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