highlands shrouded in mist. The first trial had ended, and whispers of the branch boy's cleverness had begun to circulate among the heirs. Kian tightened the sash of his white-and-teal robe, eyes fixed on the sprawling arena below — a massive chamber carved into the mountain, its ceiling lost in shadow, walls etched with luminous glyphs pulsing faintly with elemental aura.
"Today," Lord Alden's voice echoed through the high archway, silver eyes gleaming, "you face the Trial of Resonance. Your aura must flow in harmony with your body, your mind, and your opponent. The chamber will test your reflex, your perception, and your strength. Fail, and you leave with your weaknesses exposed."
The heirs shifted, each sensing the tension and potential danger in the arena.
Lucien stepped forward first, aura compressing around him like a steel vise. His gray eyes glinted with calculated fire. "This time, I intend to finish first," he muttered, a low, confident hum in his throat.
Selina flicked her auburn hair, aura streaming like ribbons of rose and white. "We'll see who truly masters their body," she replied, a sharp edge of pride in her tone.
Ronan cracked his knuckles, deep orange aura flaring. "Just give me someone worth smashing."
Cira, serene and composed, let her cyan threads drift lazily around her hands, as if already reading the arena's invisible currents.
Varen bounced on the balls of his feet, violet sparks dancing erratically. "I'll show them all!" he shouted, though his aura betrayed nervous energy.
Aren's bronze-gold aura settled heavily around him, steady, immovable. He offered a curt nod to Kian, acknowledging the boy's presence, if not yet his potential.
Kian inhaled, feeling the pulse of the chamber beneath his feet. Teal-blue aura flowed naturally, wrapping around him like water — adaptive, observant, waiting for the first move.
---
The arena shifted with an almost sentient awareness. Platforms of stone rose and fell, suspended by invisible aura currents. Geysers of elemental energy erupted from the floor, reacting to the aura of those who stepped too carelessly. Constructs of glowing stone and shadowed forms appeared, each reacting to the heir's aura style.
"Begin," Lord Alden intoned.
Lucien and Selina were first to move. Lucien advanced like a commander, aura compressing to shield himself from hazards, while Selina danced across platforms, her movements precise, slicing constructs with blinding bursts of speed.
Ronan surged forward, fists glowing with orange energy, smashing stone constructs, but triggering a series of flame geysers that forced him to retreat.
Cira's cyan threads wove through the arena, redirecting enemy strikes and controlling hazards from a distance, moving with a calm, almost imperceptible grace.
Varen darted unpredictably, violet aura flashing and leaving faint afterimages. A platform collapsed beneath him, forcing a quick, desperate recovery.
Aren moved methodically, crushing constructs with heavy, calculated strikes while keeping the arena's rhythm in mind, ensuring minimal wasted movement.
Kian observed quietly. He let his teal aura flow, matching the rhythm of the platforms and hazards, avoiding unnecessary exposure. He noticed a pattern in the constructs' movements a slight delay when reacting to aura density. Using this, he adjusted his steps and leaped lightly, turning potential traps into stepping stones.
---
The first duel began Kian vs Selina, a test of speed and precision. Selina lunged, her aura streaking like a crimson wind. Kian sidestepped, aura wrapping his arm, amplifying a subtle parry that deflected Selina's attack without striking. She spun, surprised by the boy's fluid control, and adjusted immediately.
"Not bad," Selina hissed, voice sharp, eyes narrowing. Her dagger flicked toward him again, but Kian anticipated, using her momentum against her, landing a light tap that disrupted her balance — more a demonstration of control than harm.
From the side, Lucien observed, impressed despite himself. Kian's adaptive aura style was unlike any branch heir he had studied; it flowed and shifted, countering without aggression, always reading, always predicting.
---
Next, Kian faced Ronan, whose explosive orange aura flared with sheer strength. Ronan lunged, swinging fists with devastating force. Kian dodged fluidly, aura shimmering along his limbs like liquid steel, redirecting some of Ronan's momentum. A misstep on Ronan's part triggered a stone trap, and Kian pivoted, subtly guiding him out of harm's way not out of kindness, but strategy.
The other heirs watched. Murmurs spread: "That boy… he thinks ten steps ahead."
Even Aren, stoic as ever, gave a silent nod, recognizing Kian's potential — the same recognition Lucien had felt but would never openly admit.
---
The arena itself grew more dangerous. Platforms shifted faster, elemental geysers erupted randomly, and aura-sensitive constructs reacted violently to mistakes. Kian flowed with the chamber, each step measured, each breath synchronized. His teal aura pulsed, adaptive and calm, while others struggled with the chaos.
Varen's erratic violet aura triggered a collapsing floor section, nearly sending him plummeting. Selina leapt to save him, but Kian, already analyzing the fall, extended a teal-blue aura thread, stabilizing Varen's landing subtly — unnoticed by most but felt by the boy as a jolt of clarity.
The constructs finally dwindled. The chamber settled, leaving the heirs panting, sweat and aura mingling in the charged air. Kian stood calmly, aura still faintly glowing, breathing evenly. He had survived — not by brute force, not by speed, but by adaptation, observation, and timing.
---
Lord Alden observed from above, silver eyes sharp. Tiren, beside him, recorded aura patterns, muttering quietly.
"Interesting," Tiren said. "Lucien showed brilliance in raw power. Aren executed precision with strength. Selina dazzled in speed. But Kian… Kian's efficiency is unmatched. He does not overpower, he outmaneuvers."
Alden's gaze lingered on Kian, expression unreadable.
"Yes. The boy has the spark of a Savoy… and the curse may be watching him already. Keep him in sight. He will grow faster than we anticipate and faster than others will accept."
---
That night, Kian moved to the courtyard, determined to hone his aura mastery further. His movements were fluid, limbs tracing arcs in the cold air as teal light shimmered around him.
A sudden shift in the air caught his attention a ripple in aura perception he hadn't sensed before. Before he could react, a shadow lunged from the darkness, aura flaring with controlled precision.
The assailant moved with lightning speed, striking at Kian with techniques eerily similar to his own. He dodged, parried, and countered as best he could, but the attacker's mastery was overwhelming.
Despite his best efforts, he could not gain the upper hand — until a small opening appeared. With precise timing, he managed to land a clean strike, pushing the attacker back. The shadow stumbled, then paused.
A soft, amused laugh echoed through the courtyard.
"Not bad," the figure said, stepping into the moonlight. "You have talent, Kian. But you're not ready… yet."
Kian's eyes widened. Standing before him was a woman in her mid-thirties, clad in sleek combat robes that shimmered faintly with her aura. Her silver eyes glinted with intelligence and amusement, and a teal-and-sapphire aura flowed around her, echoing his own style.
"Who… who are you?" Kian asked, breathless but alert.
The woman bowed slightly, a graceful yet commanding movement.
"I am Asia Savoy, sister to your patriarch, and a grandmaster of body-and-aura combat," she said. Her smile widened. "I've been watching you, Kian. Your style… it reminds me of myself at your age. Keep training, child. One day, you may be worthy of more than just survival in these trials."
Before Kian could respond, she disappeared into the shadows, leaving only the faint shimmer of her aura behind.
Kian touched his chest, feeling the lingering pulse of her attack and the echo of her acknowledgment. His teal-blue aura flared softly, determination blazing brighter than before.
"So… someone else in the family fights like me," he whispered. "If she's watching… then maybe… I'm on the right path."
Outside, high in the shadowed tower, a ripple of darkness brushed the walls. The curse stirred, sensing the spark between Kian and Asia, and preparing to challenge him even further.