Arthur placed his palm on the crystal orb.
Nothing happened. The crystal remained perfectly clear, unchanged.
The instructor sighed and shook his head. "Blank affinity."
The reaction was immediate.
Some students looked at him with mild pity, while others snickered.
One noble in particular, a young man with yellow talent and lightning affinity, smirked and turned to his friend.
"I don’t know what black represented in the talent assessment, but since an elder showed up, it must have been something important," he sneered. "Heh… still, a blank affinity? Really, that’s exactly what a commoner should have." He was jealous that a commoner was found to have White talent and something as rare as light magic affinity, while he only has Yellow talent. So he tried to take out his frustration by belittling Arthur.
His companion, another noble with slicked-back blond hair, chuckled. "A possibly high-level talent wasted on someone with no affinity. What a joke."
The laughter spread among a few others, mostly nobles who saw Arthur’s result as a disappointment. In their minds, talent meant nothing without a powerful affinity to match.
Arthur, however, remained unfazed. He simply turned and walked back to his spot beside Finn, ignoring the sneers entirely.
Finn crossed his arms and scoffed at the nobles. "Tch. Bunch of morons," he muttered. Then, nudging Arthur, he said, "You good?"
Arthur smirked. "Why wouldn’t I be?"
Finn grinned giving a thumbs up. He had seen Arthur’s power during the ambush of the crimson wolves, he thought Arthur was a martial artist and he just wanted to learn magic to increase the moves in his arsenal.
The affinity tests continued, but the excitement had already peaked. The crowd remained energized from the shocking results of the White Talent of the two participants, while Arthur’s blank affinity became a topic of mild amusement for the more arrogant noble-borns.
Elias and Saria, however, remained thoughtful.
A blank affinity, yet a Black-Level Talent?
They had never seen such a contradiction before.
Elias shook his head and sighed. ‘What a pity, if only he had an affinity.’
Then the affinity test came to a conclusion.
…
The sun had already set, and the magic lamps lit up casting a warm orange glow over the academy grounds as the selected students were handed their dormitory keys. The air was buzzing with murmurs and chatter, some excited, some nervous. The assistant assigned to Arthur and a group of seven more students, a tall young woman with sharp features and a strict demeanor, led them toward their accommodations.
Arthur, Finn, and a handful of others followed her through the winding stone pathways of Velcrest Academy. The dormitories were located near the far end of the academy, close to the expansive training fields. As they walked, the towering spires of the main academy building slowly disappeared behind them, replaced by lush green courtyards and cobbled walkways illuminated by enchanted lanterns.
Finally, they arrived at their assigned dormitory. It was a sturdy, three-story stone building with a medieval yet refined design. The exterior was a combination of grey bricks and dark wood, giving it a traditional yet elegant look. Large windows with iron reinforcements dotted the facade, allowing ample light into the interior. A small staircase led up to the main entrance, a heavy wooden door adorned with intricate carvings of magical symbols. Above the entrance, a stone plaque bore the inscription: "Dormitory C-7".
The assistant turned to the group and spoke in a clipped, professional tone.
“This will be your residence during your time at Velcrest Academy. Basic amenities are provided, but anything beyond that is your own responsibility. The academy does not tolerate negligence, so maintain cleanliness and discipline.”
She then continued. “Tomorrow morning at seven sharp, all first-year students are required to gather at the training field. Do not be late. Additionally, your academy fees must be settled by tomorrow. Failing to do so will result in expulsion.”
With that, she gave them one final glance before turning on her heel and walking away.
Finn let out a low whistle as he studied the building. “Not bad. Definitely better than what I expected.”
A few other students murmured in agreement before making their way inside. The interior was spacious but simple, designed with practicality in mind. The ground floor featured a common area with wooden tables and chairs, a fireplace against one wall, and bookshelves stocked with a variety of texts. To the side, there was a small kitchen area for basic meal preparation, though the academy had dining halls for proper meals.
A staircase at the back led to the first floor where the individual rooms were located. There were four rooms on each floor, each with a simple wooden door and a small nameplate slot beside it.
Finn stretched his arms. “Alright, time to pick a room. You got a preference?”
Arthur glanced around before settling on one of the rooms on the first floor. After leaving Finn to select his own. He walked over, turned the key in the lock for the room, and pushed the door open.
The room was modest but well-furnished. A sturdy bed with a firm mattress, a wooden desk with a chair, a wardrobe, and a small bedside table. A single window allowed a cool breeze to filter in, giving a view of the academy grounds. The walls were bare, leaving space for personal additions if desired.
Finn peeked in and nodded approvingly. “Not bad. I’ll grab the one next to you.”
Arthur nodded and placed his bag down the bed.
…
After locking the door, Arthur sat cross-legged on the bed and pulled out the book the elder had given him. The cover was old but well-preserved, bound in dark leather with golden inscriptions that shimmered faintly under the room’s soft lighting. The title, "Foundations of Magic: From Apprentice to Third Circle
Reviews
All reviews (0)