After Kevin's victory in the combat tournament, the academy buzzed with energy—but the excitement was now edged with tension.
Tomorrow was the Magic Affinity Test.
Unlike combat, this wasn't just about strength. This would define their future—who they were, what they could become, and what element of the world they truly resonated with.
Everyone felt it. Even the air around the academy felt different. Like the ground itself was holding its breath.
That night, even the stars seemed to watch.
The Magic Test was no ordinary examination.
It took place in a secluded chamber deep within the academy—a dome-shaped room called the Sanctum of Reflection, hidden from the outside world. At its center stood a massive, arched mirror-door.
Its surface looked like polished glass, but it rippled like water. When touched, it shimmered. When passed through… it revealed your soul's truth.
One by one, students would step forward and enter the mirror. If they were accepted, they'd walk through it and emerge on the other side, their bodies surrounded by an aura—a glow that marked their elemental alignment.
Not everyone passed. Some were rejected, thrown back with a flash of light. Some walked through but showed no aura—empty, as the masters called it.
But for the chosen, for those gifted with elemental resonance… the aura came.
And the color changed everything.
That morning, the entire academy gathered at the arena's upper terrace, which overlooked the Sanctum. New masters from across the kingdom had arrived. They stood tall in their cloaks, eyes scanning the crowd, ready to select their future apprentices.
The students sat in rows, fidgeting, whispering, some praying.
Master Lee stood at the center and raised his voice.
"Today, your path begins. What burns within you will now be seen. Your soul will speak for you."
The old mage beside him stepped forward, holding a scroll. He raised it high, then opened it with a flourish.
Before the test, Master Ragos—the Grand Spellmaster—spoke.
"Listen well. The colors are not just colors. They are manifestations of the elemental forces tied to the Septarion Shards. They are the keys to shaping this world… or destroying it."
He raised his hand, and the mirror shimmered.
Then, he began to speak of the Seven Known Elements.
The Elemental Auras:
Ignis – Crimson Red
The essence of fire.
Passion. Destruction. Rebirth.
Those who bore the aura of Ignis could summon flame with a thought, command raging infernos, and even draw power from the molten heart of the earth. Fire answered their will—burning down cities or lighting the darkest night.
Aeris – Sky Blue
The spirit of wind.
Freedom. Speed. Change.
This aura gifted its wielders the agility of a hawk and the swiftness of a storm. They could shape air currents, ride the wind, and even manipulate sound itself—turning whispers into weapons.
Aqua – Deep Ocean Blue
The flow of water.
Healing. Serenity. Adaptability.
Wielders of Aqua were calm yet powerful. They could bend rivers, freeze oceans, and heal wounds with gentle grace. In peace, they soothed. In war, they drowned.
Terra – Emerald Green
The strength of earth.
Stability. Growth. Resolve.
The earth responded to Terra-bearers like an extension of their body. Rock, metal, soil, and plant life danced to their rhythm. They were unshakable, unmovable—like mountains that chose to walk.
Lux – Radiant White or Gold
The light of truth.
Hope. Illumination. Purity.
Those chosen by Lux stood as beacons. Their magic shielded allies, exposed lies, and burned through darkness. Their hearts were forged in clarity and conviction. Rare, noble… revered by kings and priests alike.
Lunaris – Silver Violet
The moon's shadow.
Dreams. Emotion. Illusion.
Lunaris wielders were attuned to the unseen currents of the mind and spirit. They conjured illusions, slipped through dreams, and turned emotion into power. Their presence was quiet—like moonlight… but just as impossible to ignore.
It is said that Princess Selena, known as the Moon of Shinkai, bears the aura of Lunaris. Her magic flows like silver silk—graceful, mysterious, and powerful enough to still a storm with a whisper.
Then Master Ragos paused.
The wind shifted.
He lowered his voice.
"And then… there is Aetherion."
A hush fell over the students.
"Its color is black, laced with cosmic light. Not born of this world, but of the space between.
It manipulates the forbidden—time, space, soul, and fate."
Everyone held their breath.
"Only one man ever held it… Kaizen, the Devil of Shinkai.
But what he wielded… was more. He didn't hold just Aetherion. He held Aetherion Prime—a deeper, more evolved form.
A power the world feared. A power that died with him…"
He paused again.
"…or so we believed."
Some of the students stiffened. Whispers rippled through the terrace.
And then, softer, almost to himself, he muttered—
"Though… there are stories… of something greater.
Something even Aetherion bows to.
A name lost to time… one we do not speak."
The name was never said.
But a flicker of fear crossed his eyes.
Kevin sat quietly beside his friends—Rina, Mira, Kael, and Finn.
His hand clenched unconsciously.
The word Aetherion echoed in his chest. It throbbed in his blood like a memory he hadn't lived… yet somehow knew.
Kaizen.
His father.
His blood.
"Are you okay?" Mira whispered.
Kevin didn't respond. His eyes were fixed on the mirror.
The scroll glowed.
"The test begins now!" the host announced.
A loud cheer erupted—but it was half excitement, half fear.
"We will call names one by one. When called, step into the Sanctum. The mirror will judge you. The aura will choose you."
Kevin's heart pounded.
Somewhere deep inside, the air crackled.
It was time.
TO BE CONTINUED...