'I couldn't move there.'
Right now, I was completely drenched in sweat.
Miss Havelock stood casually in front of me with dozens of icicles floating in the air.
Despite not being a mage, her control over ice was beyond some mages.
Simply put, she was a genius.
She claimed that for my current level, my technique and movements were well refined. All I had to focus on was improving my stats.
As her training ended, I was bruised and beaten all over. She couldn't teach me how to dual-wield, but she had some knowledge of martial arts.
I was trained by The Sakura Sanity, so her input was not much compared to his.
Her silky voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Are your affinities wind and lightning, Aeron?"
"No Master"
My answer seemed to surprise her. Her brows raised as if questioning my answer.
"My affinities are due to my soulbound items, my daishō blades."
Once again, her puzzled eyes waited for me to explain more.
"They are legendary items that will grow with me."
She quietly muttered, "Legendary?" looking taken aback.
I said they were legendary despite them being mythical because the only known mythical ones were held by the SS ranks, and if news spread, I had it people would come for me.
I also couldn't say they were epic, as only legendary weapons were known to be soulbound.
Even Miss Havelock's katana was epic, so legendary weapons were scarce to see.
"Would you like to see them?" She nodded her head with eagerness and curiosity.
'What a twist in personality. Does she trust me so much?'
I summoned the handles, one white and one black. Master turned and cocked her head with subtle interest.
An amusing sight.
Taking a deep breath, I willed the blades into existence. The sight never failed to amaze me.
She too stared in awe at the brother blades.
I explained to her the abilities it gave me, leaving out the paralysis, retribution, and elemental immunity.
What surprised me was that her eyes held no signs of envy, only faint admiration and interest.
"Let us find out your affinity now then."
Items that showed affinity were extremely rare. Only SS ranks could see affinities. Most would wait for their affinities to manifest as affinity grew with age, becoming visible at 18.
This was why guilds hired after 18 years old.
You could speed up the manifestation by 'bathing' in the element if you somehow found out earlier.
Only the academy had an affinity stone, which was what made them extremely popular amongst the human world.
Currently, the black stone was sitting on a table in front of me. It looked like shiny obsidian, and it didn't look like anything unique.
As soon as Clara touched it, it lit with a turquoise blue mixed with yellow, representing her ice and lightning.
"As far as our knowledge goes, the stone is that it has never been wrong. Everyone has an affinity, so it will light up. Even Aura users have affinities from all our experiments."
She paused.
"Everyone will take the test tomorrow in class, and the colors are as follows.
Red: fire
Yellow: lightning
Dark blue: water
Light blue: ice
Brown: earth
Dark Brown: metal
Grey: wind
Dark grey: gravity
Green: life
Dark green: plant
Pink: charmer (illusions)
Purple: Poison
Those are all the known colors to us."
'I don't think I have an affinity. I was a foreign soul, but my cap was {EX}. Was there a color for Astreals? Celestials were barely covered in the novel as the MC hadn't reached the point. They could most likely bend all elements to their wills.'
I asked, "What if I break it?"
"You won't," she answered confidently. "If you did, I would pay you for breaking it," she added jokingly. A light but beautiful smile was lit on her face.
I was dazed for a little before looking at the black stone.
Carefully, I placed my hand on it.
It was cold.
Nothing happened.
"Imposs--"
The stone glowed red.
Light blue.
Yellow.
Green.
Grey.
All the colors lit up before the stone hummed, vibrating against the table.
Gold pulsed out of it, and I felt a sting on my hand.
It floated for a while before settling on the cloth.
All the colors were present, but they all pointed to spinning black and white at the rock's center.
It spun faster and faster.
Sucking up the colors to the middle.
The stone finally stopped moving.
Half black. Half white.
It went back to the original obsidian black after 5 seconds, but it was less shiny as if its energy had been drained.
There were no words said.
'White and black? What affinity was that?'
I looked at Clara and watched her walk to the stone, placing her hand on it.
It turned blue and yellow.
She said, "Try again."
As I approached, the stone shimmered gold. Gently, I placed my hands on it.
We watched with intensity.
The pulsing gold had stopped.
It gradually turned white.
Only white this time.
My head shook slightly, and a shiver crawled up my spine. I looked around me.
Hundreds.
Thousands of multi-colored strings were around me.
Clara was still staring at the stone frozen in time.
'What was happening? A time affinity? What are these strings?'
I walked forward and examined the streaming lines.
They pulsed their colors.
I approached a light blue string.
It dissipated, and the particles entered my palm.
Ice gradually encased around my hand, and I watched it crawl up onto my body.
I didn't feel a need to resist.
It was cold but it was comforting.
Until I felt a burn in my head.
A frostbite.
I scrunched my eyes close at the sudden cold.
When I opened my eyes, the pain was gone.
But I was somewhere else.
'Is this because of the string?'
My surroundings were dark. I couldn't see anything.
Impeding my arms were chains, and a collar was on my neck. I was somewhere cold and I was on my knees. They were numb from the floor that seemed to be made of ice.
I felt weak, and my mana reserves were unimaginably large.
'Status'
'Status'
'Disconnected from the system?'
'Where am I?'
A blinding light suddenly flashed, causing me to squint.
A voice bellowed,
"Malekai Lapis, by the decree of the Frost Sovereign, King Borealis, you will be sentenced to death on account of 31439 crimes."
His voice previously fueled with confidence trembled as he neared the end of the decree.
I looked into his eyes, and he shuddered. I could hear ice ringing.
'I am not in control of my body right now.'
The guard or warden gulped and clenched his jaw as he unlocked the door.
An unwanted grin grew on my face, and excitement grew within me.
I licked my cracked lips and scoffed.
The warden stood far away and grabbed the chain, pulling me into the light.
An astounding sight greeted me.
Thousands of soldiers in clear turquoise armor were stationed around me, all carrying spears that reflected the sun in the sky.
'Was this a memory?'
It was cold.
So so cold.
It was a foreign feeling. Pain.
The body took a deep breath in, and clinks of ice sounded in the area.
Everyone had tensed.
"Boo."
The warden dropped the chain and drew his sword immediately, and thousands of spears pointed at me.
I let out a raspy chuckle as the warden restarted dragging me across the transparent floor.
Millions of people were under us looking at me with eyes full of dread and fear.
Everyone stayed tense.
Soon we slowed down.
'Whose memory is this?'
A man with a white beard and ice-blue eyes sat on a throne made of ice.
The warden greeted him.
"I greet his majesty."
The king didn't say anything but stared at me with plain eyes. No emotions were held in them.
For some reason, feelings of regret, defiance, and self-loath radiated from my heart.
I hated the way he looked.
The way he sat there.
The way I was in chains.
The way I was so powerless.
In his eyes, I saw myself.
My hair was white, and my eyes were also blue. I was handsome, but scars painted my face, and my body was wrinkled and feeble.
As if the slightest wind could blow me away.
Why was the silence so heavy?
I felt the weight on my shoulders, and it was disgusting.
Why was I here?
'Why am I here?'
'It's getting so cold'
Hours of silence went by.
The King finally said something.
"Freedom does not come so cheap, Malekai."
My head was hung over, my hair dangling in front of me.
"What you have done can be forgiven."
Millions of cries sounded in indignation.
Gasps of fear followed.
The soldiers looked unperturbed, but glints of agitation could be seen.
"If you kill yourself."
Silence followed.
"Kill yourself or die by the sword of your family."
At the mention of my family, a pain I had never experienced stabbed my heart. My eyes blurred, but my pride wouldn't let tears fall.
The reason I was here... was clear.
Webs of memories swept my mind.
My raspy voice sounded
"Ice represents death and endings."
I forcefully willed the ice to shatter my bonds.
My dry lips transformed into a grin of contempt and madness.
Shouts resounded. The king barked orders and raised the sword.
Domes of ice surrounded me.
The soldiers formed a defensive formation.
The current me, Malekai, began burning his life force.
"I am the Ice.
And Ice is me."
"If I can't be free." Feelings of what I think was warmth and happiness swarmed me.
Sounds of laughter and joy resounded through memories, filling me with melancholy.
'Join me in death.'
All the ice around me crumbled. The transparent floor also crumbled.
Domain: Glacial Anarchy
The ice that crumbled turned black, each turning into needles.
Each needle merged with the other.
By the time it was done, my body had wilted and my hair had turned black.
Yet my eyes swirled with scenes of memories I had never seen.
A black spiral hovered in the air. There was no end to the length stretching upwards to the sun.
Warmth trickled down the side of my face.
I checked with wrinkled fingers.
Blood.
The screams of people rang as they tried their best to run.
But I couldn't hear it.
I watched as they scrambled over each other.
Children were tread on.
The elderly left behind.
The 'brave' soldiers fled, pushing, shoving, and throwing away civilians.
Some kneeled, praying.
Some laughed in futility.
Some stared in admiration.
'No God could save them now.'
The King had soulless eyes staring at the black monstrosity.
I felt the agonizing pain course through my body.
Yet I stood there, arms behind my back, chest puffed out.
Unfazed.
My presence emanated my emotions, my feelings.
The spiral's shadow covered everything in darkness.
The spiral began to rotate and spin even faster.
Black shards shot out like bullets on the fleeing people.
"If freedom has a price,"
Blood was spilled.
My left hand lowered slowly.
"Let us pay for my family's."
The spiral descended straight into the planet.
Even then, I felt a burden lift.
The silence was majestic.
Relief with guilt welled from within.
Memories with my brother played on repeat.
His smile.
'At least with this, my family's killers are dead.'
My tired eyes were finally allowed to close.
Darkness filled my vision.
I blink, and I'm back in the gym.
I nearly vomited, remembering the scenes.
The strings were gone, and Miss Havelock turned to look at me.
Lethargy and nausea suddenly overwhelmed me.
Everything was misty.
I saw Master come up to me, holding me in her embrace.
It was cold.
Then I fainted.
.
.
.
Valencia Nocturna POV
'That wasn't his full speed.'
Those were the thoughts that plagued my head since yesterday.
When he was training, I thought he was moving at full speed.
'Apparently not.'
I had only managed to stop him this time due to my skills.
Not perception alone.
And if Celeste wasn't there... Lux would have been hospitalized.
Even at that pace, his face looked casual.
How high was his agility stat, or was it many skills?
But the mana consumption...
Aeron hadn't approached me ever since the note.
I also had another problem. Adrian had started his advances on me.
My charm stat would most likely keep growing, but with Adrian being in Metanoia, my mother held him in high regard.
He was certainly interesting, but I did not want a relationship with him.
His smile and the way he acted were fake. It was well practiced, but the eyes told everything.
Eyes of avarice that were shielded by smiles and pleasantries.
I was preparing to leave my room to meet the others.
Being ranked no. 2 meant our rooms were next to each other.
As I left my room, Adrian was already outside waiting.
"Good morning, Valencia." He gave a refrashing smile, which only alerted more.
"Good morning, Adrian," I replied in my usual voice.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yes."
I forced the conversation to end there.
Yet he didn't mind my antiques.
His mouth was about to ask another question, but Celeste had come out.
The usual greetings resounded in the corridor.
Making our way to the classroom, the pair of loud annoyances would join us.
Though they were loud, it wasn't unwelcome.
They were unreserved in our presence, which was certainly different.
They joked and talked to us like friends.
But it wasn't without intentions.
I had yet to figure out their goal, but at least their intents didn't seem malicious.
The incident seemed to increase our bond, except for Adrian.
Entering the classroom, my eyes swept across it.
My attention was drawn to the empty seat near the back. There were 10 minutes till class started, but he had yet to come.
Aeron didn't look like someone who would be late.
So I waited patiently for his presence to appear.
Xavier asked,
"Anyone got any idea where Aeron is at?"
He looked at the empty seat in curiosity. The class would begin soon.
I shrugged at the question, and Celeste said,
"He doesn't look like someone who would be late."
My eyes twitched slightly at the phrase.
Adrian grudgingly said, "Who cares about the emo?''
He was ignored, making his eyes twitch.
"You good, Valencia?"
Adrian asked, noticing my twitch.
"Just a slight itch." I smiled lightly, which froze Lux and Granger. Adrian too stared blankly, which he recovered from when the teacher walked in.
'Aeron still isn't here.'
Her demeanor was different.
Miss Havelock was slightly less excited, but it was negligible. She seemed to be considering something.
After finishing the register, she hadn't mentioned Aeron's name.
'Did something happen yesterday?'
Lux's gruff voice sounded, breaking the silence.
"Where's Aeron, Miss Havelock?"
"There was an incident that involved him after school yesterday. He may be absent for some time."
'Was it related to the light snow yesterday?' I thought.
Yesterday evening, after I had finished training, the temperature had dropped and snow had fallen for a few seconds before stopping.
This shouldn't have been possible as the academy was under the headmaster's domain, unless he willed it.
"We will be learning about our affinities today."
The class immediately forgot about Aeron, and chatters and whispers echoed across the classroom.
The excitement was noticeable.
Even I felt curious. No one knew their affinity until they got it tested in the academy, unless you somehow found out about it before.
I expected Lux and Xavier to be the loudest, but they raised their hands, asking the teacher if they could refrain from being tested.
'Did they already know their affinities?'
How?
Miss Havelock said yes as if she already knew the reason.
The pair nodded in solemnity before returning to their cheery mood.
I wouldn't pry, but Celeste asked straight away,
"Xavier, what's your affinity? Can you tell me pleeeaaaaaassssseeee?"
Her eyes glowed with boundless cuteness, which stunned the pair.
They looked at each other, communicating with their eyes.
After some hesitation, Xavier whispered,
"You can't tell anyone, but I am dual affinity: life and gravity."
'A support and high offense—what a powerful match.'
No elements, except life, were rarer than the others, which each had weaknesses and strengths.
Dual affinities were considered rare, but Celeste was known to be a tri-emental, boosting her fame. She had contacts with the Omni Magus.
"I am also dual affinity: life and earth."
'2 life users...'
"The order will be done in rank order."
On a white cloth lay a black obsidian-like stone glinting gently.
As Adrian approached it, the stone hummed.
The class watched him touch it with his palm.
The stone glowed a light blue. He had a water affinity. Adrian stood there with a slightly disgruntled and confused expression before turning to the class and giving them his signature smile.
I would be up next.
It would be a lie if I said I wasn't nervous.
Making sure Hazy Eyes was on, I approached the stone.
The stone shuddered in my presence.
My hand extended towards it.
A wisp of black shimmered.
'Black?'
The color changed to a mix of light blue and red.
'Dual affinity'
The red overpowered the blue, so it was probably my stronger element, but none the less, it was a powerful set.
A few gasps went around the classroom.
I glanced at the teacher, yet a subtle frown was on her face.
'Was it something to do with the black?'
I held back a grin, keeping my expression stoic, before returning to my seat.
Congratulations came from my 'friends'.
But my mind wandered to Miss Havelock's expression and the average boy missing.
'What were his affinities?' I wondered.
He would most likely skip the test too, considering his nature.
I had thought this year would be boring, but I was happy to be wrong.
.
.
.
Clara Havelock POV
He fainted.
I had been staring at the stone in question when I felt his gaze on me.
Once again, it had changed. There was pain, relief, and melancholy swirling in them.
One so real I could feel it.
'What has he been through?'
He suddenly looked unstable, and his face paled.
I caught his falling figure in my embrace.
The room around began to change.
The temperature dropped sharply. Ice formed around us.
He was really cold.
Really cold.
I rushed him to the infirmary.
It had begun snowing, and it wasn't my doing.
Glancing with worry, I looked at the boy in my embrace.
The report was out after an hour.
'He would be in a coma for an unknown time.'
I didn't know what to feel.
I didn't know what had happened.
I didn't know why my heart shook at his pitiful state.
.
The wisp of black was present in other readings. All of them were tiny, incomparable to Aeron, but I felt a slight apprehension grip my heart.
I noted down their names.
Adrian- Water
Celeste-Wind Lightning Plant
Valencia-Ice Fire
Lux-Life Earth
Xavier-Gravity Life
Kerena- Illusion
Xavier's one seemed a tad bit larger, but it was negligible. I would tell the headmaster everything.
They had all come in contact with Aeron.
It wasn't just them.
I too had a wisp, larger than all of them.