Kaelith nodded, his golden eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Very well. Produce a controlled fla, no larger than your palm."
Liria stepped forward, her mismatched eyes narrowing slightly as she focused. A deep breath steadied her, and she extended her hand. She didn't need to concentrate much; fire responded to her almost instinctively. Heat stirred around her fingertips, and within seconds, a small fla flickered to life.
Only it wasn't normal fire.
The fla that blood in Liria's palm wasn't the traditional orange or red but black as the void. It shimred faintly with a silver edge, as if outlined in moonlight. The entire room went silent, the crackle of her magic the only sound.
Kaelith froze. His golden eyes widened briefly before narrowing into an intense, calculating gaze. "Impossible," he murmured under his breath.
The whispers began, cascading through the room like wildfire:
"Black flas? But isn't that…"
"…only the royal bloodline can do that!"
"She's not even a demon!"
Liria glanced at the stunned faces around her, her expression neutral. Internally, she could feel her heart hamring against her ribs.
[Note: You appear to have upended the natural order of this classroom. Well done.]
Not the ti, she thought at the system. Why didn't you warn this would happen?
[Query: Did you ask?]
She bit back a sigh. Fair point.
Kaelith stepped closer, his presence heavy as he lood over her. "Silverthorn," he said, his voice dangerously soft. "Explain yourself. Where did you learn this?"
"My adoptive grandmother taught ," Liria replied evenly.
Kaelith's expression flickered with surprise. "And who, pray tell, is your grandmother?"
"Daena," Liria said simply.
That single word sent a visible ripple of shock through the class. Kaelith's jaw clenched, and he stepped back, his gaze flickering with sothing unreadable.
"I see," he said finally. "That explains much."
Enara, lounging in her seat with an amused smirk, interjected. "She's full of surprises, isn't she?"
Kaelith ignored her, turning his attention back to Liria. "Black flas are a rare variant of fire magic, one associated exclusively with the royal family of demons. To see a human wield it is… unprecedented."
Liria shifted uncomfortably. She hadn't asked for this kind of attention, and the accusatory stares weren't helping.
[Recomndation: Lean into the mystery. It will discourage further questioning.]
Right, because nothing says 'normal' like ominous black flas.
Kaelith cleared his throat, regaining his composure. "Let us settle this matter once and for all. Silverthorn, step forward. We will determine your elental affinities."
He gestured, and a sleek, crystalline orb materialized in his hand. The orb shimred with a faint rainbow glow, shifting colors like an oil slick.
"This is the Orb of Affinities," Kaelith explained. "It will reveal which elents you are attuned to. Most students exhibit one, perhaps two affinities. More than three is exceedingly rare. Place your hand on the orb, and we shall see where you stand."
Liria hesitated. She had only ever worked with fire magic; it was the first thing Daena had taught her. Could she even handle more than one elent?
[Observation: Your hesitation is unnecessary. Proceed.]
Thanks for the pep talk, she thought sarcastically before stepping forward.
She placed her hand on the orb, and imdiately, it flared to life. A cascade of colors burst forth, lighting up the entire room in a dazzling display. Red for fire. Blue for water. Green for earth. White for air. Yellow for lightning. Deep violet for darkness. Icy blue for ice. And finally, golden for light.
Gasps erupted from the class.
"All eight?" soone whispered, their voice trembling.
"That's not possible!" another student exclaid.
Kaelith stared at the orb, his face a mixture of awe and disbelief. "Silverthorn," he said, his voice low. "Do you understand what this ans?"
Liria removed her hand, eting his gaze steadily. "I have an affinity for all elents," she said simply.
"It's more than that," Kaelith replied, his tone sharp. "To possess all eight affinities is unheard of. Even among the most powerful beings in history, such mastery is exceedingly rare. You… You are an anomaly."
Enara clapped lazily from her seat. "What did I tell you, Professor? My guard is one of a kind."
Liria shot her a glare, but Enara just grinned.
Kaelith stepped back, his expression returning to its usual sternness. "This revelation demands further study. However, let us proceed with the lesson. Variants of magic are as important as their core elents. Silverthorn's black flas are a pri example an advanced variant of fire magic. Other notable variants include shadow lightning, a lethal blend of darkness and electricity; healing ice, which numbs pain while nding injuries; and nature magic, a rare offshoot of earth magic that allows its user to control flora and fauna."
He waved his hand, and the orb dissolved into the air. "These variants are typically inherited or acquired through intense training. For most of you, such mastery is far beyond your reach. But exceptions do exist."
His gaze flickered briefly to Liria before continuing.
The class moved into group exercises, with students practicing basic elental manipulation. Liria returned to her seat, but she could feel the weight of dozens of eyes on her.
"So," Enara said, leaning over. "Eight affinities, huh? Not bad for a human."
"Don't start," Liria muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.
[Observation: Your performance has significantly altered peer perception. Recomnd maintaining dominance to avoid unnecessary challenges.]
Fantastic. Now everyone thinks I'm either a freak or a threat.
Enara nudged her with a grin. "Don't worry. Anyone who tries to ss with you will have to answer to ."
"Comforting," Liria said dryly.
As the lesson continued, Liria couldn't shake the feeling that her life had just gotten a lot more complicated.
Kaelith's instructions faded into background noise as Liria tried to steady herself from the weight of what had just happened. Eight affinities. Black flas. Even with her system, she hadn't expected to stand out this much.
[Correction: Standing out is inevitable given your unique qualities.]
Not helping, she shot back ntally. She flexed her fingers, feeling the lingering warmth of her black flas. Did the other elents co as naturally to her as fire? She wasn't sure she wanted to find out in front of an audience.
The class had just resud practice, with students fumbling through basic elental conjurations, when the door to the classroom creaked open.
The air shifted imdiately.
A tall, imposing demon entered. His skin was the color of molten bronze, and his horns were sharp and angled, like twin blades. His uniform a black and crimson ensemble marked him as a mber of the academy's disciplinary staff.
"Silverthorn," the demon's voice bood, echoing in the suddenly silent classroom. "You are to report to the principal's office. Now."
All eyes turned to Liria.
"Great," she muttered under her breath, rising from her seat.
Enara tilted her head, her expression amused but curious. "Looks like soone's popular today."
"I'm not looking for this kind of attention," Liria replied, brushing past her.
Kaelith frowned but gave a curt nod. "Go on, Silverthorn. The rest of you, focus!" he barked, snapping the class back to attention.
As Liria followed the towering demon down the corridor, her thoughts raced. What could the principal want? She hadn't done anything yet that warranted this kind of attention.
[Hypothesis: The black flas and your affinity revelation likely reached the principal's ears within minutes.]
Of course. Why wouldn't it?
[Suggestion: Proceed cautiously. Demons of authority are known for their unpredictability.]
Liria sighed inwardly. Good to know.
The silence in the hall was deafening as they approached a massive set of ornate double doors. The demon opened them without a word, gesturing for Liria to step inside.
She squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and walked through.
The doors closed behind her with a resounding thud.
Reviews
All reviews (0)