The morning sun bled pale gold over the courtyard, where the orphans had gathered in uneven rows. Their clothes were ragged, patched and frayed, but their eyes gleamed with anticipation. Today was the day they would discover what kind of magic ran in their veins.
The man stood before them, arms folded across his chest, his voice carrying steady and warm.
"Strength comes in many forms," he said. "We'll test your bodies first, then your mana. Don't be afraid—what you carry inside is yours alone. No one can take it from you."
A ripple of excitement passed through the group. Some whispered of fire, others of lightning. Even the smallest children clenched their fists, ready to prove themselves.
They began with drills. Running across the courtyard, their bare feet pounding dirt. Push-ups and stance work followed, each child trembling, sweating, some stumbling, others refusing to yield. Igron, face flushed red, grinned as he tried to outpace the older ones, only to collapse dramatically into the dust. The younger kids laughed, and for a fleeting moment, the courtyard felt like a home.
Kairo moved among them like shadow given form. His movements were precise, efficient—no wasted step, no faltering breath. The man's eyes lingered on him, unreadable, then shifted away.
When the drills were finished, the man brought out a heavy cloth bundle. From it, he lifted a polished sphere of faintly glowing crystal—the Mana Orb. The children hushed, their curiosity sharpened to a blade's edge.
"One by one," he said, setting the orb on its stand. "Touch it. The orb will reveal your affinity—fire, water, wind, earth, or one rarer still."
The first boy stepped forward, trembling as he pressed his palm to the orb. Light bloomed within—orange flame swirling. The boy cried out in delight, jumping back as the others cheered.
One after another they came. Water rippled blue, wind shimmered pale, earth throbbed green. Some glowed faintly, some blazed bright. Each child left with their face glowing in pride, as if they had been marked by destiny itself.
When Igron's turn came, the orb shone so brightly the others had to shield their eyes. Sparks of gold crackled across its surface. He pulled back, grinning ear to ear. "Told you I'd be strong!"
Then Kairo stepped forward. The courtyard seemed to still, as though the air itself waited. He placed his hand against the glass.
The orb flickered. For a moment, nothing. Then, a violent surge. The light convulsed, black and crimson threads writhing like veins across its surface. A sharp crack echoed through the air as fractures raced across the glass. The children gasped, some stumbling back. But just as suddenly, the chaos dimmed. The orb steadied, glowing with a deep, alien light that no one could name.
The man's jaw tightened, but his tone remained level. "...Next."
When all had finished, he stepped forward again. "Now that you know your affinities, call to your mana. Even a spark will show your path."
The children obeyed eagerly. The boy of flame raised his hand, a tiny ember dancing to life. Another shaped a bubble of water from thin air. Laughter, awe, and determination filled the yard.
Then it happened.
A girl at the back screamed. Her body convulsed as she collapsed, black veins searing across her neck and arms. Her eyes rolled back, froth on her lips. Panic tore through the children.
Another boy tried to summon light—and dropped, choking, the same blackness crawling over his skin. Then another, and another. The courtyard filled with cries of pain as several children fell, writhing.
The rest froze in terror.
The man rushed forward, kneeling by the fallen, his hands steady as he pressed them down, whispering words none could hear. Then he rose, turning to the others with a calmness that seemed carved from stone.
"Do not be afraid," he said. "Weeks ago, the Black Eye came upon the world. It keeps us safe from the monsters that would devour us. These… side effects are temporary. No one is in danger."
The children looked to him, searching his eyes for truth. His voice carried the weight of authority, and slowly, the panic eased. Yet unease lingered like smoke.