Waking up from his cozy bed, Rowan rubbed his tired eyelids, letting out a small yawn.

  He had stayed up late for the past three days, pouring over books and notes to improve his chances for the upcoming placement exam. Despite the exhaustion, he felt confident.

  ‘Is this how geniuses feel when they learn?’ he thought, a small smirk forming on his lips.

  Having a second body and mind was proving to be an invaluable asset. By dividing his focus between the two, he could memorize and process information at more than twice the speed. Moreover, apart from the presence of mana, this world was strikingly similar to Earth. His knowledge from back home allowed him to fill in many of the gaps with ease, giving him an edge over his peers.

  Stretching lazily, he made his way out of the room and headed to the dining room for breakfast.

  There, his parents were already seated, finishing their meals. Their nervous energy was palpable, and they peppered him with questions about the exam as soon as he sat down.

  “Are you ready, Rowan? Do you feel confident?” his mother asked, her voice a mix of worry and excitement.

  “Do you think you’ll aim for a top-tier school?” his father added, barely touching his food as he focused entirely on him.

  Rowan could only answer helplessly, trying his best to imitate the behavior of the previous Rowan. It was clear his parents were more anxious about the exam than he was.

  After finishing breakfast, Rowan grabbed his bag and hopped into the family’s mana-powered car. The sleek vehicle hummed softly as it started up, emitting barely any noise. It reminded him of Earth’s electric cars, though this one seemed far more efficient and advanced.

  Seeing this kind of technology firsthand made Rowan marvel at the versatility of mana. Mana was often called the “basic particle” in this world—a particle that, with the right techniques, could be transformed into anything. By tweaking its properties to mimic electricity, they had achieved similar effects while avoiding many of the drawbacks Earth’s electric systems faced, such as energy loss and storage limitations.

  As the car glided through the city streets, Rowan turned his gaze to the window, taking in the sights.

  The city was a blend of the familiar and the fantastical. The roads had intricate symbols carved into their surfaces, glowing faintly with mana. These symbols not only enhanced the roads’ durability but also acted as wireless chargers for vehicles like the one he was in. Streetlights along the sidewalks featured holographic displays, projecting vivid advertisements for magical items, enchanted services, and upcoming tournaments.

  But the most impressive sight was the colossal floating arena dominating the city skyline. Suspended mid-air. Massive runic engravings lined its base, pulsing with a steady blue light that kept it afloat. Towering spires extended from its sides, each tipped with glowing orbs that seemed to stabilize the structure.

  The arena itself was twice the size of Earth’s largest stadium, with a sleek, futuristic design that seemed both ancient and cutting-edge. The outer walls shimmered like polished obsidian, reflecting the city below, while occasional bursts of light crackled around it, giving it an almost ethereal aura. From Rowan’s memories, Rowan knew this was the Grand Arena, the heart of the city’s magical competitions and public spectacles.

  Shifting his focus back to the present, he looked out the window with the curiosity of a tourist, soaking in every detail. Soon, the car pulled up in front of his school.

  Stepping out, his father accompanied him to the main gate. Around them, other children Rowan’s age walked with their parents, their faces a mix of determination and nervousness.

  The atmosphere was heavy. Parents wore serious expressions, their hopes pinned on this exam that could set their children on a path to a brighter future. The children, though young, were mature enough to understand the gravity of the situation. The somber mood felt almost tangible, hanging in the air like a quiet storm.

  Patting him gently on the back, his father leaned closer and murmured, “I believe in you.”

  Rowan nodded slightly, drawing a deep breath before walking through the gate. He made his way to his classroom, his steps steady despite the tense atmosphere.

  Just as he reached his seat, a voice called out. “Rowan!”

  Turning, Rowan saw a boy about his age rushing toward him, his short and slightly chubby frame almost tripping over his own feet. His bright red hair bounced wildly as he ran, and his freckled face lit up with excitement. It was Alex, a lively and boisterous friend of the previous Rowan.

  The two had met when they first started school, seated together in their very first class. Alex’s loud and exuberant personality had made it impossible for Rowan to avoid him. From day one, Alex had claimed him as a friend, chatting non-stop about everything from magic to snacks, leaving Rowan with no choice but to deal with him every day.

  “Hey, man!” Alex grinned, stopping just short of running into him. “How are you feeling? Nervous? Excited? Both?” Without waiting for a reply, he flopped into the chair beside Rowan.

  “I’m fine,” Rowan replied, trying to mimic Rowan’s casual tone. “What about you?”

  “Me?” Alex leaned back, waving his hand dramatically. “Please, I’ve got this in the bag! You’re looking at the future greatest fire mage of the Infinite Sky Federation!” He puffed out his chest and thrust his hand forward as if conjuring a flame, his face a picture of exaggerated determination.

  Rowan raised an eyebrow, holding back a smirk. “A fire mage, huh?”

  “Of course!” Alex nodded vigorously. “Imagine this! Flames roaring everywhere, burning up my enemies while I stand there like a total badass!” He jumped up from his seat, spreading his arms wide as if reenacting an epic battle scene. “Boom! Pow! The crowd goes wild! ‘It’s Alex, the Flame Master!’ they’ll shout!”

  Other kids turned to glance at the spectacle, some rolling their eyes while others chuckled quietly.

  “Right, right,” Rowan said dryly, fighting to keep a straight face. “And what happens if you don’t pass?”

  Alex froze mid-pose, his exaggerated confidence faltering for a second before he grinned again. “Then I guess I’ll just have to be the best magma mage instead,” he quipped, sitting back down with a laugh. “But that’s not going to happen. Fire magic is the only way!”

  Rowan chuckled softly, shaking his head. Alex’s energy was infectious, cutting through the otherwise heavy mood of the classroom.

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  “Good luck with that,” Rowan said with a small smile as he turned back to his desk.

  Not long after, their teacher entered the classroom, carrying a stack of papers. She was a kind-looking woman who had been with them since their very first day of school. The moment she stepped in, the class fell silent, the weight of the upcoming exam settling over everyone.

  Walking to her desk, she placed the papers down with a soft smile. “Good morning, everyone,” she said warmly. “I know most of you are already familiar with how today’s exam will work, but let me go over it one more time.”

  She glanced around the room, making sure she had everyone’s attention before continuing.

  “This exam is divided into two parts. The first part is theoretical. You’ll answer a set of questions on topics we’ve covered in class, including math, science, history, and language. You’ll have two hours to complete it. If you finish early, you can rest before the second part.”

  She paused for a moment, her gaze sweeping across the room. “The second part is focused on magic and rune knowledge. You’ll answer questions related to magical theory and draw several runes based on the instructions provided. Understood?”

  “Understood!” the class answered in unison, their voices filled with a mix of nerves and determination.

  Nodding in approval, she began distributing the exam papers, walking between the rows of desks. “Remember, no cheating,” she reminded them, her tone still light but firm. “Everything you do is being monitored by the authorities, so don’t try any funny business.”

  As she approached Rowan, she handed him a paper with a gentle smile. “Good luck, Rowan,” she said softly.

  Rowan nodded, his mind already shifting into focus as he took the paper. Grabbing his pencil, he scanned the first page. The questions covered familiar topics he had studied thoroughly over the past three days.

  ‘Alright, let’s do this,’ he thought, taking a deep breath before starting.

  The room fell into complete silence, broken only by the soft scratching of pencils on paper. Rowan worked steadily, his dual mind allowing him to tackle the exam with ease. One part of him drew from Rowan’s memories to recall lessons and notes, while the other processed and answered the questions quickly and accurately.

  Math was straightforward, the calculations were almost second nature thanks to his Earth education. Science questions tested basic principles, many of which were universal. History required a bit more focus, but his recent review sessions helped him piece together the answers. Language questions, meanwhile, felt a little more difficult, since despite inherently knowing the language, he lacked detailed knowledge of its inner workings.

  Occasionally, he glanced around the room. Some classmates were scribbling furiously, their brows furrowed in concentration, while others stared at their papers with blank expressions, clearly struggling.

  A faint whisper from a nearby desk caught his attention. Turning slightly, he spotted Alex, his short and slightly chubby friend, hunched over his paper. His freckled face was scrunched in concentration as he muttered under his breath.

  “C’mon, c’mon… I know this one…” Alex whispered, his red hair practically glowing under the classroom lights. He gnawed on the end of his pencil, clearly at a loss.

  Rowan held back a smirk and returned to his paper.

  After about an hour, Rowan finished the theoretical section. He double-checked his answers quickly before setting his pencil down and leaning back in his chair. Glancing around, he noticed that some students were still hard at work, while others seemed close to giving up entirely.

  The teacher walked quietly between the rows, observing the students. Catching Rowan’s eye, she gave him an approving nod, her smile reassuring.

  Taking advantage of the extra time, Rowan closed his eyes briefly, letting his thoughts settle. His focus drifted momentarily to his other self, who was busy playing with his crazy mother, but he quickly refocused on the present.

  A soft chime echoed through the room, signaling the end of the first exam. The teacher clapped her hands lightly to draw everyone’s attention.

  “Alright, pencils down! Everyone did great,” the teacher said, her voice calm and encouraging. “Take a ten-minute break before we move on to the second part of the exam.”

  Students began standing and stretching, the tension in the room easing slightly. Alex turned to Rowan with an exaggerated look of relief, flopping into the seat next to him.

  “It’s finally over! How did you finish so quickly?!”

  Rowan shrugged, too lazy to answer.

  “Hey, what did you put for the final math question?!” Alex asked, scratching his cheek. “I couldn’t even start it, so I just guessed.”

  “Hmm, I think the answer was A,” Rowan replied after a brief pause.

  Alex groaned and slumped onto his desk dramatically. “Why does math even exist?” he muttered, shaking his head in defeat.

  Before Rowan could reply, another student nearby mentioned the magic test, and Alex’s mood flipped in an instant. His eyes lit up with excitement, his despair over math evaporating completely.

  “Right!” he exclaimed, standing up suddenly. “You’re all about to see my talent shine in the magic test!” He raised his arms theatrically as if casting an imaginary spell.

  Several students glanced over, some chuckling at his antics while others rolled their eyes.

  Rowan smirked faintly.

  Before the conversation could continue, the teacher clapped her hands to gather everyone’s attention. “Alright, everyone! Back to your seats. It’s time for the magic and rune knowledge test.”

  The students hurried back to their desks, the earlier chatter fading into silence. The teacher began distributing the new set of papers, her calm and measured steps adding to the atmosphere of anticipation.

  Rowan grabbed his pencil once again, his focus sharpening as he read through the new exam paper. Unlike the theoretical test, which had been entirely multiple-choice, this one was a mix of multiple-choice and open-ended questions, with the format depending on the question.

  It took him about thirty minutes to finish the magic knowledge portion of the exam. Satisfied with his answers, he flipped to the next section: rune studies.

  This was the most challenging and important part of the test. While he had focused heavily on rune studies during his preparation, most of his understanding came from the previous Rowan’s memories. Three days wasn’t enough to master three years’ worth of material, but by expanding on what Rowan had already learned, he felt confident in his ability to handle this section.

  ‘Draw the basic Mana Gathering Rune.’

  ‘Alright, I know this one,’ Rowan thought, recalling the structure of the rune in his mind. It was a simple yet elegant design, combining several overlapping geometrical shapes. The central focus was a hexagon with a circle inside, surrounded by three outward-pointing triangles that acted as mana anchors. The outer edges were lined with short, evenly spaced lines to stabilize the flow of energy.

  Picking up his pencil, Rowan began sketching the rune carefully. His hand moved steadily as he drew each line and curve, ensuring every detail was precise. The proportions needed to be exact, as even a slight error could render the rune useless or unstable.

  ‘The lines must be smooth, and the angles sharp,’ Rowan reminded himself as he carefully completed the central hexagon. Next, he drew the internal circle, shading it lightly to signify its role as the mana reservoir. With steady precision, he added the three outward-facing triangles, each connecting seamlessly to the edges of the hexagon. Finally, he sketched the stabilizing lines along the rune’s perimeter, checking every detail twice before moving on to the next section.

  This time, he decided to use all the time available, ensuring every answer was triple-checked until he felt confident in his work. He wasn’t taking any chances.

  In what felt like the blink of an eye, the bell rang, signaling the end of the exam. Around the room, groans of despair erupted from students who hadn’t finished in time.

  ‘Damn, they really push 8-year-olds hard in this world,’ Rowan thought as he collected his papers. Back on Earth, kids this age were just learning their multiplication tables and spending their afternoons playing in parks. Here, they were expected to study for hours and solve questions that would stump middle schoolers back home.

  Standing up, Rowan noticed Alex slumped over his desk, staring at his paper with exaggerated defeat. Walking over, he patted his friend on the shoulder.

  “Hey, maybe you didn’t do as badly as you think,” Rowan said with a small smile.

  “Hmph! You’re right!” Alex exclaimed, perking up instantly. “Just because I couldn’t figure out the last question doesn’t mean the rest are wrong!” His mood shifted in an instant, and he jumped to his feet, grinning ear to ear. “I bet I aced the magic part! I’ll get into the best schools, no doubt about it.”

  Rowan shook his head slightly, amused at Alex’s sudden burst of confidence. “Sure you will,” he muttered under his breath, leaving the classroom while Alex launched into a monologue about his future achievements.

  Outside, the schoolyard was bustling with activity. Parents crowded near the gates, chatting among themselves while waiting for their children. Rowan scanned the crowd, spotting his parents standing off to the side, waving at him. Around them, other parents were eagerly asking their kids about the exam, their expressions ranging from anxious to hopeful.

  Rowan walked toward his parents, ready to face their inevitable barrage of questions about how the test went.