A Background Character’s Path to Power Chapter 269: Earn Your Way In Through Suffering

"...I want to think this through before deciding."

"That’s understandable. But if you wish to enroll normally, you will need to go through the selection process and obtain a special admission ticket. Usually, you can get them after the traditional awakening ceremonies that will be held across the world. If they think you et the criteria, then they will give you one of those tickets."

She paused, her expression becoming more serious.

"However, I should warn you, most of the candidates will be eliminated during this selection process. The academy only accepts the most exceptional individuals, and they’re quite ruthless in their screening."

I raised an eyebrow. "How ruthless."

"Let’s just say out of thousands of applicants worldwide, only about fifty to a hundred are accepted each year. And even those thousands are selected out of millions. And once the ti cos, the tokens will serve as guides to the academy itself. You’ll have to go through difficult trials, which are also part of the entrance exam, just to arrive at the academy."

"So the test will start the mont you get the token, huh?" I muttered.

This was a cliché type of admission, the classic ’earn your way in through suffering’ type, but the process will certainly be difficult.

I should’ve seen it coming.

"Can you tell what kind of trials will be given?" I decided to ask just in case she knew.

"That varies each year. Sotis it’s survival challenges, sotis combat tests, sotis puzzles that test your ntal aptitude. The academy believes that the journey to reach them should be as challenging as the education itself."

"...Do applicants die in the process?" I asked again. I just wanted to know the academy’s attitude.

"This..." Lady Nisha looked hesitant. "...Yes. There will be cases like that."

She was hiding sothing. But I decided not to probe further. I could already guess what she was hiding.

The applicants would be either watched over by the academy’s personnel, or the token might serve as a one-ti life-saving item. If it gets activated, you lose the chance to enter the academy.

Though there may be more rules and cases I might not know of.

"You don’t have one of those, right?"

"Unfortunately, no."

"Alright, I’m gonna apply the traditional way then. If I decide to enroll there." I added at the end.

"Mm. Then take this," She handed a black feather. "If you burn it, I will know you have made your decision and co to find you. But it only reveals your location to . So don’t treat it as so kind of life-saving item."

"I understand."

"Then, our conversation ends here." She muttered. The darkness surrounding us instantly dispersed, revealing the place we were in.

Surprisingly, it was the library.

"I will take my leave then. It was good talking with you." Before I could say anything, she vanished right in front of my eyes.

"...I had sothing to ask," I sighed in disappointnt.

"!"

Suddenly, she popped back into view right in front of , as if she’d never left.

"What is it?"

I stared at her with a deadpan expression. "So, were you going to ’watch’ again?"

Her calm deanor cracked slightly as she realized her mistake. She quickly shook her head, looking almost embarrassed. "I couldn’t help but hear your voice since I wasn’t that far, that’s all. It wasn’t what you think, I swear. I’m gonna take my leave for real. Watch-"

"No, please wait!" I held up a hand to stop her. "I actually did have sothing to ask."

She paused, composing herself again. "Alright, you may ask."

"Um... If it’s not trouble for you, can you help check my affinities? And... teach how to use them properly along the way?"

She tilted her head in curiosity. "Huh? Didn’t your master teach you that?"

"Well..." I explained. "We didn’t have ti to do it yet. And there are still many days before I can et him again. Figured I might as well make use of the opportunity."

She considered for a mont and nodded. "Alright, I can help with that."

With a casual flick of her fingers, darkness swallowed us both. The sensation was brief but disorienting, like being pulled through thick liquid.

When it cleared, we stood on what appeared to be a solid platform suspended in an endless void.

Strangely, it gave a chilling deja vu.

I hope the stars won’t attack this ti. Hmm, thankfully, there seems to be none.

"Is this your domain?" I asked, glancing around. The floor beneath us was smooth and dark, almost mirror-like. I didn’t know how I could see this clearly despite being surrounded by nothing but darkness. Guess it must be a special feature or sothing.

"Sothing similar, a pocket dinsion I created for fun," she smiled. "Much safer than accidentally destroying the library once when we discover what you’re capable of. Don’t you think?"

That was a fair point. I had no idea what my other affinities were or even had, or just how powerful they might be.

"So, how do we start?"

"Well, since I don’t have the traditional tools, we’re doing it the simple and crude way."

"Crude way?" That didn’t sound particularly reassuring.

"Hmm, but before we begin, can you tell what you know about them?" She crossed her arms. "And if you sensed sothing yourself."

I nodded and started talking.

"From what I understand, Aura Affinities are basically what your soul naturally resonates with. They can be tied to personality, environnt, bloodline, alignnt, and so on."

I paused, organizing my thoughts.

"There are the basic elental types like Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Lightning, Ice, Shadow, and Light. Then there are the more abstract essence-based ones like Ti, Space, Gravity, Emotion, mory, Decay, Life, and Void."

Lady Nisha nodded approvingly, gesturing for to continue.

"There are also personalized affinities that are more unique to individuals-things like Blood, Glass, Threads, Chains, Echoes, Sound, Storm, or even Ash. But they are very rare and difficult to discover."

"Hmm..."

"And, so people can develop hybrid affinities that combine two or more base elents. Like Ash mixed with Fire to create Decay for slow-burning destruction. Or Phantom being Wind plus Shadow for intangible movent and so on."

"Impressive, you’ve done your research." She praised . "And what about yourself? Have you sensed your affinity on your own yet?"