Mame came back into the room with a tray of a few things on them. A cup size mountain of salt, a glass of water, a small lump of brown clay, and 2-inches long branch.
She placed the tray on the table and sat Yilas down in front of it.
"Is this for the tests of the elements?" Yilas asked as her eyes followed Mame to her seat, she nodded her head in approval.
"Yes, this is the standard test which we here in the Goat's city use, there are of course many different variations of this across all clans."
"Before doing this can you tell me the ones you can control? I just feel a little nervous to be on the spot." Yilas asked shyly, but of course, Mame didn't oppose to her questions.
"I am very blessed by the Beast God to master the wind and the fire, my sweet child."
"I-Is it rare to be able to use two? L-like you?" Mame widened her eyes looking at the adorable pretty white ball in front of her thinking this child must have forgotten everything.
"My child, let's take the beasts in this city, for example, there are about over 6500 beasts currently reside here. If 6000 of them can control one element, no matter which level, only about 500 are able to use two, no matter the level, and only about 6 could produce 3. Do you understand their standing now?"
"Wow..." With a very specific sample, Yilas got the gasp of their rarity now. "I understand."
Yilas suddenly remembered Viosus saying he could control two elements, which means he was also quiet higher up in the talent ranks.
"Let's get started, shall we? I am so excited for you I can't even sit still." Mame clapped her hands and took Yilas's right hand, laid them flat on top of the salt first.
"Yilas, close your eyes and think of the wind, imagine it in your head, its sensation, its smell, its sounds everything as vividly as you're sitting in a field with the wind blowing gently."
Yilas eyes were sealed shut, her mind wandered back to their house, she was sitting next to the creek, laying on the fresh short grass, enjoying to gentle wind playing with her skin and hair.
As Mame was giving instruction, she paid close attention to the salt but nothing looked like it was moving. After about a few minutes, she gave up on the salt and move on Yilas hand to the next item, specifically not letting Yilas opened her eyes. Until they identify the right element, she wouldn't let Yilas get discouraged.
"Yilas, now, can you think about the water for me, a river or the ocean if you have ever seen one, remember how it feels, how it looks like you're standing right in front of it."
Yilas's hand was placed right on top of the cup of water, but after 5 minutes, the surface hadn't moved either. Mame was starting to get nervous but she fought back the thought immediately, there were still two more to go.
"Alright, now think about the ground you stand on every day for me, imaging it clearly as if it was real in your head."
Mame blinked and widened her eyes, this time she was determined to look for any signs of movement. But to her disappointment, the clay didn't take any form, she secretly prayed the Beast God to show her any sign, even the tiniest one.
But the gods were not kind to her, Yilas with her eyes sealed shut still waiting for Mame's next instruction, not dare to peek since she was afraid to ruin the process.
"Haizz... just one more time Yilas, be patient with me." Mame desperately prayed, she asked the gods to not let the child down, both of them were so eager with hopes so why did they let them down like this. "Now think about a fire, a hot, burning fire, maybe one that you use to light, maybe one that you use to cook, whichever closest to your heart."
Mame looked at the dried branch and murmured to herself "please light up, please light up!"
Yilas was still in a daze like she was hypnotized by the words of Mame. The picture of her and everybody in her clan sat next to the dinner fire appeared as clear as if it was real. They were eating, talking happily, the warm orange tint stained their faces, they all looked so satisfied and peaceful. Yilas missed them so much already, she missed their faces, their voices, their shapes. All the emotions took over her, she couldn't keep her mind focus on the fire itself.
Mame who was attentive to the things on the trays forgot to observe Yilas's facial expression, it was all scrunched up in pain.
Suddenly the branch was shaken from its post, Mame gasped, finally, she thought, finally something reacted. But the little movement wasn't the last of it, actually, the tray was shaking, not the branch alone. Mame looked at all of them in confusion, never in her life had she seen anything like this before.
"What is this, Beast-God?" Mame whispered in shock, her hand had let go of Yilas's hand. Yilas who was still frozen in her pose still had her arm straightened, her palm hovering on top of the shaken tray.
And everything became contagious of the movement, the tray shook, the table shook, the chair shook, the bed shook, the bookshelves shook, eventually the ground shook. Mame was frightened, she was sure it was Yilas doing but what on earth was this power, how can she manage to do all this.
As it was bound to become an earthquake if Yilas kept going, Mame quickly called out for Yilas.
"YILAS! WAKE UP, CHILD!"
Yilas suddenly opened her eyes. The room stopped its movement, returning to its original state as if nothing had happened. Yilas on the other hand was completely unaware of any of this, she smiled and asked.
"Did I do good, Mame? Can I use any elements?"
Mame was still trembling, her whole body still bracing for impact. A guard ramped the door opened and shouted as soon as he entered the room.
"Ma'am, are you alright? Are you hurt?" He huffed and puffed while he was talking so he must have run very quickly to get to this room. It was one of the guard who stood on the ground of the tower, as he felt the strange, unannounced earthquake, he ran with all his might to protect his master.
Mariem waved her hand in response and dismissed the guard, he closed the door behind him once again to left the two alone. Yilas widened her pure eyes as she knew nothing that just happened. Mame recollected her composure and patted Yilas's head, she didn't know what to say to her.
"I think the test was flawed and old fashioned in its own way, from now on I will teach you every element possible and it will show that there is no such thing as limits to the potential of a beast-man."
Mame lied, she was unable to pin-point what Yilas could do. But one thing she was sure of, this innocent-looking child possessed a power like never before, and how she learned to use it would determine the faith of the next generation.