### Chapter 28: The Test of Affinities
The baron's words still echoed in the air, and the crowd was buzzing with excitement as the tournament officially commenced. The arena was filled with the lively chatter of spectators, the rustling of clothes, and the occasional bursts of laughter and cheers. But soon, a hush fell over the crowd as one of the knights, a tall figure in gleaming armor, stepped forward and made his way to the center of the stage.
This knight was known as Sir Gareth, a seasoned warrior who had served in many battles and was respected throughout the land. He had been chosen to oversee the first stage of the recruitment—a crucial test that would determine the potential of the city's youngest children.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Sir Gareth announced, his voice carrying across the arena. "We will now begin the first stage of the recruitment process. All children below the age of seven are to come forward, one by one, to test their affinities. The mystic ball before you will reveal the true nature of their abilities."
As he spoke, two assistants brought out a large, glowing orb—the mystic ball—placing it on a pedestal in the center of the stage. The ball shimmered with an inner light, swirling with colors that hinted at the powerful magic it contained.
Sir Gareth continued, "The mystic ball will respond to each child's touch, revealing their affinity and its strength. Each color represents a different element or force: black for the dark arts, blue for water, red for fire, green for nature, brown for earth, grey for space, and many more. The brighter the color, the stronger the affinity. Now, let us begin."
The first child to step forward was a small girl with curly brown hair. She looked nervous as she approached the ball, her tiny hands trembling. She was the daughter of a well-known merchant in the city, and the crowd watched with interest as she placed her hand on the ball.
The ball glowed with a soft green light—a tier 1 affinity for nature. The crowd murmured with approval as Sir Gareth nodded.
"Elara, daughter of Master Tonis, tier 1 affinity for nature," he announced. "A fine beginning."
The next child was a boy with dark hair and sharp eyes, the son of a blacksmith. He approached the ball confidently and placed his hand on it. The ball glowed blue—an affinity for water, also tier 1.
One by one, the children came forward. Each time, the mystic ball revealed their affinities, and Sir Gareth announced their names and the results for all to hear. Most children displayed tier 1 affinities, with a few tier 2s among them. The parents of these children beamed with pride, knowing their children had the potential to be trained by the knights.
Then, it was Hendrix's turn. Old Lark gave him an encouraging nod as the boy walked up to the mystic ball. Hendrix was curious but a little nervous. He had listened to the others and wondered what color the ball would show for him.
Hendrix placed his small hand on the mystic ball, and for a moment, nothing happened. Then, the ball began to glow—a deep, dark purple light that filled the entire arena with an eerie but beautiful glow.
The crowd fell silent, and even Sir Gareth seemed taken aback. Dark purple was not a color they were familiar with. It was not one of the traditional affinities, and the meaning of this color was unknown.
Sir Gareth hesitated for a moment before announcing, "Hendrix... dark purple affinity... unknown."
The crowd murmured in confusion, with some whispering that it must be a weak or unimportant affinity. Without knowing its true nature, many dismissed it as a tier 1 affinity, assuming it to be one of the lesser-known, insignificant forces.
Old Lark, however, was not so quick to judge. He didn't know what the dark purple light meant, but he knew that Hendrix had inherited the blood of the Kain family—a bloodline known for its strength and unique abilities. There was something special about this boy, and Old Lark felt it in his bones.
Still, the results were a mystery to everyone else, and the crowd quickly lost interest as the next child stepped forward.
Now it was Little Lu's turn. The young boy, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lu, had been nervous as he watched the other children, but he stepped up to the ball with determination. His parents watched anxiously from the sidelines, Mrs. Lu trying to suppress her sorrow as she focused on her son.
Little Lu touched the mystic ball, and immediately it glowed with a bright, deep brown light. The crowd gasped—this was a tier 3 affinity for earth, a rare and powerful affinity that was seldom seen, even in the nearby tier 2 cities.
"Amazing!" Sir Gareth announced, clearly impressed. "Little Lu, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lu, tier 3 affinity for earth."
The crowd erupted in cheers, and even the knights nodded in approval. Little Lu had proven to be one of the brightest talents in the city, and his parents could not have been prouder. The baron himself smiled with satisfaction as he watched his nephew stand tall before the crowd.
As the murmurs of admiration spread, the baron's wife, Lady Valtoria, stood beside him with a cool expression. She had always harbored a deep jealousy toward her sister-in-law, Mrs. Lu. The bond Mrs. Lu shared with her brother, the baron, and her own talents, always seemed to overshadow Lady Valtoria's accomplishments. The sight of Little Lu being celebrated only deepened that jealousy.
But Lady Valtoria had her own plans. She leaned down to her son, Aster, who was standing beside her. Aster was six years old and had already received some training from the knights. She knew he was strong, and now was the time to show everyone just how strong he was.
"Go, Aster," she whispered to him, her voice filled with a mix of pride and ambition. "Show them what you're made of."
Aster nodded, his face serious as he stepped forward. He approached the mystic ball with confidence, his training giving him the assurance that he was about to prove himself as one of the best.
When Aster touched the ball, it flared to life with a bright, fiery red light—a tier 4 affinity for fire, just half a step below the highest tier.
The crowd gasped once more, and the knights exchanged impressed glances. Tier 4 affinities were almost unheard of in a tier 3 city like this one, and even in higher-tier cities, they were incredibly rare.
"Aster, son of Lady Valtoria and Baron Cole, half-step tier 4 affinity for fire!" Sir Gareth declared, his voice filled with admiration.
The crowd erupted into cheers, louder than ever before. Lady Valtoria beamed with pride as she watched her son stand before the crowd, basking in the attention. Even the baron nodded in approval, impressed by his son's potential.
Little Lu, who had just been celebrated moments before, now stood quietly as Aster's name was praised. But he didn't feel jealous; instead, he turned to his friend Hendrix, who stood beside him, looking a little downcast after his own results.
"Don't worry, Hendrix," Little Lu said, trying to cheer up his friend. "You're still my best friend, and I'll take care of you. We'll stick together, no matter what."
Hendrix smiled weakly, appreciating Little Lu's kindness. He wasn't sure what his dark purple affinity meant, but he knew that it wasn't as impressive as Little Lu's or Aster's. But having a friend like Little Lu by his side made him feel a little better.
As the crowd continued to cheer for Aster, the 5-star knight, who had been watching the proceedings closely, stepped forward. He was a towering figure, his presence commanding attention from everyone in the arena. With a motion, he called Aster over to him.
"Aster," the knight said, his voice deep and authoritative. "You have shown great potential today. A half-step tier 4 affinity is a rare gift, and it must be nurtured with the utmost care. I am offering you the chance to become my squire. Will you accept?"
*****End of chapter*******