In the middle of this sandy circular training ground, specially designed for close combat exercises, the Flamul family and their mentors gathered. This private area belonged exclusively to the Grand Duke's family, optimized for sparring sessions, usually with simple weapons and light armor. Normally, at this hour, Harald would be training with Tristan and Raven. However, today's scene was slightly different. A pair of twins, Helena and Valéria, stood nearby, struggling to conceal their excitement. Tristan glanced at Raven with an amused expression, while Isabella relaxed in a chair under a servant's held parasol. Harald stood at the center of the arena, emanating an imposing presence. Beside him stood the person Raven had surmised to be Markus – around 5'7" broad-shouldered, his features marked by years of training and battles on various fronts. His fine features and bronzed skin bore the marks of age, while a vibrant crimson cloak draped his shoulders. Intricate rune details adorned the sleeves of the cloak, giving it an aura of mystical power. The design was tailored to provide freedom of movement, highlighting Markus' athleticism without being overly muscular – a balance perfect for agile movements and combat.
Yet, what caught Raven's attention the most was the vivid red and intense aura that emanated from the visitor. It was as if the very mana of the environment responded immediately, taking on fiery properties as it interacted with the veteran mage's personal field. The youngest Flamul couldn't help but be captivated by this powerful and intriguing display of magic.
"I see that everyone has gathered," spoke the family patriarch dryly. "Allow me to introduce you to my dear friend and oftentimes battlefield companion, Markus, better known on the battlefield as the Ashen Wanderer. Today, he will test how Mana interacts with your bodies.
As you know, our bodies react to, generate, and influence Mana in two different ways. The body can utilize the energies available within itself and the surrounding environment to strengthen itself, enhance speed, reaction capabilities... When Mana interacts in a way that 'sticks' to the body and generates effects within the user, they are considered Auric practitioners.
Now, when the body harnesses this energy to expel it back into the world with a particular property, the phenomenon makes the person an Arcane practitioner.
The Flamul family is renowned for producing Auric practitioners. Harald continued his speech with a calm yet powerful tone, then glanced at Raven before concluding. "However, I suspect that in this brood, we might have an exception."
"Now that we've been properly introduced, it's time for the fun part," Markus's voice was deep, but unlike Harald, his tone sounded lively and full of life. "Line up in front of me, I will direct a bit of my own Mana to the energy center of each of you, and the effect generated from this interaction will reveal whether you are Auric or Arcane!"
"Yes, young Flamul," Markus seemed amused as Raven timidly raised his arm.
"I read in one of the books from the library that many magical academies use special orbs and other tools to identify mana interactions in people. Why are you using this particular method?" Raven inquired.
"Because the other method is generic and doesn't clearly reveal the nuances of those being tested. Now, enough questions, let's proceed with the test," Harald interjected, cutting off any further inquiries or questions he knew his curious son might ask.
Raven found himself at the end of the line. The explanation of a different mana application than what he had read or discussed with Cuthbert momentarily pulled him from the melancholy he had been feeling, knowing what would happen when his father discovered he was of the Arcane type.
Helena stepped up to Markus, who conjured a small sphere of vivid red and floated it to the chest of the elder Twin. Immediately after, an aura in various shades and colors became distinctly visible, enveloping the girl's body and seemingly infusing the surroundings with vibrancy and warmth.
"Auric abilities, and from what I can see, the kind that can manipulate emotions and energies within a close range of your own energy field. Interesting and rare. The girl is perfect for making friends and manipulating feelings."
Considering her personality and everything she has demonstrated, let's have Helena be trained for information gathering and counterespionage," Isabella decreed, looking at her husband who nodded in agreement.
After Helena, who seemed clearly pleased with the result, it was Valeria's turn to step forward for testing. Raven noted with surprise that his steps made no sound as he walked over the sandy training ground.
Markus repeated the process, and the phenomenon that followed was quite different from the previous one, something Raven made sure to mentally note as he thought that since Valeria and Helena were twins, their mana interaction would be very similar. Her aura manifested as dark, cold, and under the gaze of everyone, the presence of the girl became distinctly blurred in the environment.
"This one is worthy of her protector, from what I see," Markus exclaimed, smiling as he looked off into the distance, toward one of the entrances to the training field.
"Her capabilities are Auric, but the way her body reacts to mana reminds me of a trained assassin. It's a cold aura that can make young Valeria almost invisible in her surroundings," he continued.
"Elara, congratulations, you've gained an apprentice," Lord Flamul declared with a playful tone in his voice, while Valeria flashed a satisfied half-smile, and Raven realized he would be next.
The world seemed to slow down as the child walked to the front of the tester. Raven could sense that his mother's gaze had fixed on him intensely, with a sort of interest different from what she had shown during his sisters' turns.
"She knows," was the last thought to cross the boy's mind until then, as he positioned himself in front of Markus, his fate now about to be sealed.
Markus smiled as he repeated the process he had done with Raven's sisters, creating the small vibrant red sphere. Raven could feel the warmth and potent energy that the sphere held as it floated gently until it entered the boy's chest.
Immediately, Raven felt his body grow warm and sore. The mana sphere had overwhelmed his own reserves, and though the excess energy was intense, it posed no danger to the child. It was mechanically expelled from his body through every available channel and pore.
The ground beneath his feet lightly frosted, the air around Raven seemed charged with static electricity. His hands turned red, as if burning, and from his shadow, multiple red eyes manifested. Raven's aura grew and flickered rapidly in a range of colors, from the most vivid to the dimmest, bringing with them different sensations.
"What an incredible phenomenon, Lord Harald. You've created an anomaly! Your son clearly belongs to the arcane class. He displays great elemental affinity, especially with ice, fire, and electricity. This will undoubtedly make him a powerful addition to our ranks. Moreover, the child seems to have some familiarity with the illusion school. But that's inconsequential in light of the last phenomenon young Raven displayed. This is one of the rarest, something I've only ever read about in books..."
Markus looked intensely into Lord Harald's eyes and spoke in a serious tone, devoid of the joy and amusement he had previously shown. "Your child, young Raven Flamul, will know no limits on the arcane path."