The room looked like it was rarely used, but well kept. In the middle of the room was a very long table with various different colored gems, which were huge. 'Those gems most likely represent different affinities' Arthur thought. And he was spot on.
Soon after he thought that, Mara started speaking "Welcome to the room where you will come to know what your affinities are. Those Giant gems are element stones, and they can show you if you have an affinity with the element it represents." She explained.
"We will begin without wasting any time. Emilia, you're up first", Mara pointed at Emilia and told her to go up to the table. "How am I supposed to do this?", Emilia asked with her eyes looking at the ground.
"That is easy, just stand next to an element stone and try to feel a connection, if you feel a connection touch the stone if something happens, that's when you will know that you have an affinity, as for how strong the affinity is, it will depend on how strong the reaction is", Mara explained, not even looking at the girl.
She was looking at Arthur with a look of interest 'I wonder what affinity will he have, and how strong will it be', Mara thought to herself.
There are four different grades of how strong of an affinity someone can have. They are Low affinity, medium affinity, high affinity and an excellent affinity. Having an excellent affinity to any element is very rare, you could say that it's a one in ten million chance.
Emilia went up to the table and slowly started to try and feel a connection. 'Her soul gem, on the back of her hand was green in color and had a shape of an arrow. So she must have a wind affinity' Arthur reasoned.
Lo and behold, Emilia stopped near a big, green element stone below which was written 'Wind'. After a while she touched the stone and everyone felt a slight, warm breeze blow by them.
"Not bad. A medium grade affinity to wind", Mara smiled and gestured her to continue just in case she had a secondary affinity, which was highly unlikely at the first realm. "Thank you, miss Mara", the girl smiled, seemingly happy with the praise that she received just now.
Emilia, continued walking slowly, but she didn't stop again and so she was done with her examination. She came back to the group and stood back where she was before.
"Harp, you're up next", Mara told Harp to go and repeat the process. Harp nodded happily and went up to the table. She walked, for a little bit and then stopped near a dark blue stone with 'Water' written below it.
Her gem was in the form of a drop and was blue in color. So it was no surprise that when she touched the stone, the whole room and even the air became humid. "Is that good?" Harp asked while looling at Mara.
"Indeed it is. The air becoming humid along with the room means that you have a high grade affinity with the water element, you are very lucky", Mara laughed and told Harp to continue, just in case, like before. But nothing happened and she came back.
Harp looked at her sister Aria and said with a laugh "Try to beat that. Haha!".
Seeing this, Mara told Aria to go next, to which she agreed happily and immediately went up to the table.
Arias soul gem was also in the shape of a drop, but the color of it was dark yellow. As she walked by the element stones slowly, she stopped near a mossy-looking yellow stone, which had 'Earth' written below it.
She touched the stone and soon after, the room started trembling noticeably. Aria was surprised and thought she did something wrong, but thankfully Mara started talking.
"Wonderful, two high grade affinities in a single day" she said and Aria relaxed. "You have a high grade affinity with the Earth element" she continued. After that, just like the other times she told her to try and look for any other affinities, but it ended with there being none.
Aria came back with a bratty smile on her face and laughed at her sister "There is no way I'd lose to you". They both giggled and looked at Arthur, since he was the only one left.
"Go on, Arthur, its your turn", Mara encouraged him.
And so Arthur stepped up to the table and stretched his arm out. Of course he already knew what his affinities were. But he decided to hide the fact that he has a secondary affinity with the shadow element and only show that he has one.
He walked slowly by the stones and soon he was near the stone which had the word 'Fire' written below it. He suddenly felt a very strong connection to that stone, it was as if it was calling for him to touch it. And so he did.
The stone started sizzling and soon extreme heat filled the whole room. To others it felt as if they were inside an active volcano, but it didn't hurt them, it only felt suffocating. But Arthur just stood there, he didn't even feel slightly uncomfortable.
When he saw the look in the eyes of others, he removed his hand from the stone and looked at Mara.
"E-E-EXCELLENT GRADE AFFINITY!", Mara exclaimed with a bated breath and a jaw that was wide agape. It took a little bit of time for everyone to collect themselves and calm down. Everyone including Mara were looking at Arthur with envy and sparkling eyes.
"Incredible, you have an excellent grade affinity with the fire element" She said still unable to believe what she just saw. 'He will most definitely become a strong Linker in the future, i must keep a good relationship with him', Mara thought to herself.
"Please continue" she said politely. Arthur was surprised a bit by her polite behavior, but he didn't think much of it and continued.
When he came close to the shadow element stone, he felt a connection just as strong as the one he felt to the fire stone. 'I have two excellent grade affinities?!' He thought while trying to hide his excitement. And moved past the stone.