The village square of Glacia was a small, open space nestled between quaint wooden houses, all topped with thick layers of snow. In the center of the square stood a tall stone pillar, etched with ancient runes that shimmered faintly with magical energy. This was the testing pillar, a relic from the time of the kingdom's founding, and it was said to be imbued with the power of the gods themselves. It had been used for centuries to determine the magical potential of the kingdom's young ones.
As Lumi, Boreas, and Kirsi approached the square, they saw a few other families gathered, each waiting for their turn to test their children. The air buzzed with a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation, but Lumi felt none of it. She was confident, almost certain, that whatever the pillar revealed would only confirm what she already knew—that she was born for this.
One of the village elders, an elderly elf with long, silver hair and sharp, wise eyes, stood beside the pillar. He wore a thick, fur-lined robe, and his breath came out in visible puffs of steam in the cold air. His gaze swept over the gathered families before settling on Lumi and her parents.
"Boreas, Kirsi," the elder greeted them with a nod, his voice carrying the weight of many winters. "And this must be young Lumi. It's an important day for you, child. Are you ready?"
Lumi glanced up at the elder, her ice-blue eyes calm and steady, but with a glint of intellect behind them. "I suppose so," she said, her tone as laidback as ever. "Let's get this over with."
The elder chuckled softly, amused by Lumi's nonchalance. "Very well, then. Step forward and place your hand on the pillar. The gods will reveal your Blessing."
Lumi moved toward the pillar with a deliberate calm, her steps slow and measured, as if she were still half-asleep. She placed her hand on the cold stone, feeling the faint hum of magical energy beneath her fingers. The runes on the pillar began to glow brighter, shifting from a soft blue to a radiant white. The light spread up the pillar, swirling around Lumi's hand and enveloping her in a cocoon of shimmering energy.
For a moment, everything was still. The other villagers watched in hushed silence, their breaths held as they waited for the pillar to reveal Lumi's Blessing. Boreas and Kirsi stood close by, their expressions calm but expectant.
Then, without warning, the light from the pillar intensified, becoming almost blinding in its brilliance. Lumi blinked, surprised by the sudden surge of power, but she remained still, her hand firmly on the pillar. The air around her grew colder, the temperature dropping rapidly as the light took on a frosty hue, tinged with the blue of ice and snow.
A sharp crack echoed through the square as a layer of frost spread out from the base of the pillar, covering the ground in a thick sheet of ice. The villagers gasped, some stepping back in awe and surprise. The elder's eyes widened, his expression shifting from calm to one of astonishment.
"This… this is the mark of the Ice Element queen," the elder murmured, his voice barely audible over the crackling ice. "A rare and powerful Blessing indeed."
Lumi stared at the pillar, her hand still resting on its surface as the frost continued to spread. She could feel the icy power coursing through her veins, a cold yet comforting sensation that felt entirely natural. It was as if the very essence of winter had awakened within her, responding to the ancient magic of the pillar.
Finally, the light began to fade, and the frost receded, leaving only a thin layer of ice beneath Lumi's feet. The runes on the pillar dimmed, returning to their original soft blue glow. Lumi slowly withdrew her hand, staring at the thin tendrils of frost that clung to her fingers.
"Well," Lumi said, her voice as calm and unbothered as ever, "I guess that means I'm not a Muted."
Boreas chuckled, his deep, rumbling laughter echoing across the square. "Not even close, my little snowflake. It seems you've been blessed with something extraordinary."
Kirsi, her eyes filled with pride, stepped forward and wrapped Lumi in a warm embrace. "You've always been special, Lumi. But this… this is a Blessing beyond anything we could have imagined."
The elder nodded in agreement, his expression now one of deep respect. "You are indeed blessed by the Ice Element queen, child. Such a Blessing is rare and marks you as a mage of great potential. The academy in Iris will be eager to have you among their students."
Lumi, still somewhat dazed by the whole experience, simply nodded. "I guess that means I have to go to school now, doesn't it?"
"Yes," Kirsi said gently, brushing a strand of Lumi's hair away from her face. "But don't worry, Lumi. You'll do just fine. And we'll be with you every step of the way."
Lumi sighed softly, her shoulders relaxing as she leaned into her mother's embrace. "Alright. As long as I can still have my frostberry tarts afterward."
The elder smiled warmly at the exchange, then turned to the other families, signaling that the next child could step forward. As Lumi and her parents walked away from the pillar, Boreas ruffled Lumi's hair affectionately.
"We'll head to the bakery right after this," Boreas promised. "You've earned those tarts, Lumi."
Lumi's face lit up at the thought, and for the first time that morning, a genuine smile spread across her lips. "Then let's go, Papa. I'm ready for those tarts."
As the Borealis family left the square, Lumi glanced back at the pillar, her thoughts drifting to the power she had felt during the test. It was strange, almost overwhelming, but somehow… right. Like a piece of herself she hadn't known was missing had finally fallen into place.
But for now, Lumi pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the delicious treat that awaited her. After all, even the most powerful mage needed to indulge in a little sweetness now and then.