The classroom was now a battleground of opinions, split between those who marveled at Aurelius's abilities and those who dismissed it as an exaggeration. The skeptical voice belonged to Emeric Ironheart, the fourth-ranked student, who had a reputation for challenging and confronting his peers.
Aurelius, maintaining his composure, responded calmly, "I understand it's hard to believe. But I'm not lying. I have no reason to."
Emeric snorted, a cocky grin on his face, "Affinities with light, darkness, and lightning? You must think we're fools. I've never heard of anyone having so many affinities."
The tension in the room escalated. Aurelius seemed unfazed, but Adrian, sitting nearby, wore a knowing smile. He had anticipated this reaction.
Emeric continued, his tone challenging, "Let's see you prove it then. Show us your so-called affinities with light, darkness, and lightning. I bet you can't do it."
Aurelius sighed inwardly. He knew this was coming, and he had expected Emeric to be skeptical. Without uttering a word, he closed his eyes and began to channel his aether.
A soft, radiant glow enveloped him as he focused on his light affinity. In an instant, a small sphere of light materialized in his palm, casting a gentle luminance across the room. The gasps of surprise from his classmates echoed as they witnessed the manifestation of his light affinity.
Emeric's confident expression wavered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "Beginner's trick. Anyone can do that."
Aurelius, without contesting, shifted his focus to darkness. The room dimmed as a shadowy mist gathered around him. The darkness condensed, forming a small orb of shadow in his other hand. The contrast of light and darkness held the room in a mesmerized silence. However, they soon trembled and vanished into thin air. It was due to a lack of mastery as Aurelius mentioned before.
Emeric, now visibly unsettled, muttered under his breath, "This has to be a trick. Yes..."
Ignoring the comment, Aurelius directed his attention to his final unmastered affinity – lightning. At first, nothing happened, but after a few seconds, the air crackled with energy as sparks danced between his fingertips. A soft hum filled the room, culminating in a sudden burst of lightning that arced across his hands, creating a spectacle of electric brilliance.
The gasps from his classmates were louder this time. Aurelius had not only demonstrated his affinities but had done so with a level of mastery that surpassed expectations.
Emeric, realizing he had underestimated Aurelius, shifted his focus. "Alright, you've had your show. I give up. But what about the first-ranked student, Adrian? I am sure he will put you into your place."
"Huh?" Adrian who was caught off guard by Emeric's sudden turn asked in a puzzled tone. 'Bro, why the hell are you talking from my name? Weren't you supposed to only target the MC?'
But before Adrian could say anything, all the attention turned toward him.
"Oh, student Emeric is right. Why don't you demonstrate as well, student Adrian?" The instructor Lyr addressed Adrian. "All of your classmates seem interested in the first ranker's abilities too."
Adrian, sensing the weight of the gazes upon him, stood up slowly. His expression remained indifferent, a mask that concealed the turmoil within. Aurelius, aware of Adrian's condition, threw a sympathetic glance at him.
As Adrian faced the expectant crowd, he took a deep breath. "Before I demonstrate anything, there's something I need to tell all of you."
The room hushed into a silence, the attention now solely focused on Adrian.
'It would be revealed sooner or later, it's better if I reveal it myself as well...'
"I don't have an affinity," Adrian then declared, his voice steady. "I can't manipulate elements like the rest of you. No fire, no water, no air, no light, no darkness, or lightning. I am what they call an Affinityless."
"...."
The whole class fell into silence. The revelation hung in the air, met with a collective murmur of surprise and disbelief. The students exchanged glances, some struggling to comprehend the rarity of Adrian's condition.
"Did he say he has no affinity? But how?"
"Affinityless?"
"Then how did he get the first rank?"
Aurelius, realizing the impact of Adrian's admission, tried to divert attention. "Hey, let's not make a big deal out of this. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Adrian may have not an affinity but-."
"Woah! Did you guys hear that?" But before Aurelius could end his words, a loud exclamation should spread through the room. Emeric, the one who is responsible, seized the moment, a triumphant grin on his face, "Adrian, the first ranker, is an Affinityless! I bet no one saw that coming. How did someone like him manage to climb to the top without any magical abilities?"
The room buzzed with a mix of disbelief, whispers, and hushed conversations. Students exchanged curious glances, and some couldn't contain their laughter. The news of the first-ranked student being Affinityless was indeed an unexpected twist.
Emeric, reveling in the newfound attention, continued to taunt, "Oh, look at the mighty first ranker. How will he survive in the academy without any affinity? Maybe he's been using some sneaky tricks all along. He's seriously suspicious."
Adrian, unfazed by the mockery, maintained his calm demeanor. He first looked at the professor and then Emeric. "I've earned my rank through hard work, dedication, and mastering combat techniques."
"And..." He then looked coldly at Emeric, his expression cold as ice, his eyes piercing through the mockery. "If you doubt my abilities, feel free to challenge me to a duel."
"I hate petty tricks like this."
Emeric, for the first time, felt a shiver run down his spine as he locked eyes with Adrian. The atmosphere in the room shifted, the once triumphant grin on Emeric's face replaced by a subtle expression of unease.
Adrian's gaze, cold and unyielding, seemed to pierce through Emeric's bravado, laying bare a quiet confidence that transcended the need for conventional magical abilities. The surrounding students, sensing the shift in dynamics, grew hushed, their curiosity now laced with a newfound interest in the first-ranked student.