Dawn broke over Astralis Academy, painting the spires with a pale violet light. The previous evening's registration complete, the candidates gathered in the central plaza. Today would mark the first official trial of the entrance selection. The air vibrated faintly with resonance, thick with anticipation and unspoken tension.
Nox adjusted his satchel, eyes scanning the translucent dome that enclosed the Spirit Trial chamber. Inside floated hundreds of minor spirits — fox-like wisps, feathered birds with crystal plumage, and tiny serpentine forms that shimmered like liquid silver. Each spirit had its own pulse, temperament, and resonance signature, waiting to test the candidates' attunement.
Raven, stretching his arms, muttered, "So… first test. Spirits. Let's see which ones bend the fastest."
Nox's gaze swept the chamber carefully, noting patterns in movement and subtle resonance trails. "Observation first. Coercion later," he murmured. Eldran's voice echoed faintly through the talisman at his belt: Intent shapes power. Control is stronger than force alone.
Before stepping into the dome, the candidates were summoned to a raised platform in the plaza. A Master clad in rune-etched robes addressed them, voice clear and commanding:
"Welcome, candidates. The Spirit Compatibility Trial is not merely a test of power. It is the first measure of your resonance aptitude — your ability to perceive, attune, and harmonize with other sentient entities. This trial determines whether you can command subtle forces without overwhelming them, whether you can lead without force alone, and whether your intent aligns with precision and control."
The Master gestured toward the dome. "Inside, hundreds of minor spirits await. They are not hostile, but they will not comply to raw strength alone. Each spirit emits a resonance signature unique to its form and temperament. You will be scored on three core criteria: synchronization, control, and efficiency."
A faint hum radiated through the plaza as holographic glyphs flickered into the air. "Synchronization measures how effectively you align the spirits' resonance with your own. Control measures your ability to maintain influence without disrupting their natural patterns. Efficiency measures the minimal energy used relative to the number of spirits attuned. Candidates who achieve high marks in all three criteria demonstrate true resonance aptitude."
The Master paused, allowing the information to settle. "Only those who meet the qualification threshold will advance to the next trial. Partial success may allow continuation with lower ranking, but failure to meet the minimum standards will disqualify you."
Nox absorbed every word, noting how the trial favored precision and calculation over brute strength, yet could still be influenced by overwhelming intent if executed judiciously.
A bell tolled, signaling the start of the trial.
Candidates stepped forward, some rushing to dominate spirits with force, others coaxing them with careful resonance manipulation. The chamber responded immediately — spirits either aligned with the candidate's aura or dispersed in flickers of light, marking failure.
Raven surged forward, raw intent manifesting as pulses that forced a cluster of fox-wisps into submission. They quivered but followed him obediently, their glow unstable. "See? Power works!" he shouted.
Nox moved with quiet precision. He extended a hand toward a small serpentine spirit, synchronizing subtly with its pulse. Rather than forcing it, he mirrored its movements, letting their resonance align. The spirit stilled and coiled around his arm willingly, a faint glow indicating perfect attunement.
The chamber hummed with quiet anticipation as the candidates moved forward. Hundreds of minor spirits floated in chaotic patterns, each a delicate test of resonance and intent. The Masters' eyes glimmered faintly, recording every nuance.
Selene Aurelion stepped gracefully into the center of the chamber. Her hands moved in precise arcs, fingers tracing invisible runes in the air. The spirits around her responded immediately, forming a synchronized pattern as if choreographed. Each fox-wisp, each feathered bird, aligned perfectly with her aura, glowing steadily without deviation. Watching her, other candidates muttered in awe. "She makes it look like dancing… like it's effortless." The precision was nearly flawless, her control absolute, leaving no room for error.
Taren Voss, in contrast, erupted with raw energy the moment he stepped forward. Sparks flared along his arms, and spirits were blasted into alignment with sheer force. Several fox-wisps followed him unwillingly at first, resisting the surge of intent, trembling under the pressure. Some spirits slipped from his control, flickering out of harmony before he regained dominance. Whispered voices echoed: "He's powerful, but… reckless." His raw strength impressed, yet the inconsistencies revealed the limits of force without finesse.
Lyra Fen approached with a delicate smile, carrying an air of mischief. Instead of relying on direct control, she used illusions to redirect and guide her spirits, projecting subtle visual cues that shaped their behavior. Birds circled gracefully, foxes weaved through imaginary barriers, and serpentine spirits followed paths that existed only in perception. Candidates whispered, astonished, "She's not strong, but she's… clever. Dangerous in ways we can't see." Her ingenuity allowed her to succeed where pure force might fail, demonstrating a mastery of strategy and perception.
Kael Draven moved almost instinctively, his connection with a fox-like spirit remarkable in its fluidity. He didn't need overt gestures; the spirit mirrored his thoughts, reacting as if they shared a single mind. The fluid synchronization drew murmurs: "He's… like he's born for this. Effortless coordination, instinctive control." Unlike Taren's overt strength or Selene's precise choreography, Kael's bond was primal, subtle, and breathtaking in its simplicity.
The Cloaked Youth barely moved a muscle, yet the spirits gravitated toward him unpredictably, as if guided by an unseen hand. He emitted no obvious aura, made no commanding gestures, yet the spirits aligned perfectly, flowing around him with an almost sentient awareness. Students whispered nervously, "Who… is that? How is he doing that?" Even the Masters exchanged faint glances; the candidate's unpredictable control hinted at a rare, perhaps innate, resonance aptitude.