As Princess Seraphina stepped forward to place her hands on the Essence Prism, the audience held their breath in anticipation. The glowing light emitted from the crystal, revealing her dual affinity: a radiant white light for Light and a deep blue hue for Water. Her A-Grade Lumina Halo glowed brightly above her head, a testament to her strong magical potential.
The audience murmured in awe, impressed by her dual affinity. The combination of Light and Water was highly regarded, known for its versatility and powerful healing capabilities. However, as the crowd reacted with admiration, King Aldric couldn't hide the flicker of disappointment in his eyes. While Seraphina's dual affinity was impressive, it wasn't the Arcane Affinity he had secretly hoped for. The Valencrest family had built their power on that rare affinity, and the hope of passing it on to his children was a heavy weight on his shoulders.
Seraphina, standing tall and poised, caught her father's subtle reaction. She had always been perceptive, especially when it came to her father's expectations. The momentary disappointment stung more than she wanted to admit, but she masked her feelings with a proud smile, refusing to let anyone see her distress. Still, she couldn't help but feel the pressure of her family's legacy weighing on her.
Seeing the princess's inner turmoil, Headmaster Eldrin Solis approached her with a calm and reassuring presence. He offered a soft smile, leaning down slightly to meet her eye level. "Your Highness, dual affinities such as yours are a gift. Light and Water are powerful forces—healing, protective, and capable of great influence. Many would be envious of such a potent combination."
Seraphina blinked, surprised by his comforting words. "But... it's not Arcane," she whispered, her voice barely audible. She glanced at her father again, seeing his stoic expression, and sighed softly.
"True," Eldrin nodded. "But not everyone is meant to carry the burden of the Arcane. You are destined for your own greatness. Do not measure your worth by expectations that others impose on you. You have strength within you that will surpass even the rarest affinities in time."
The princess gave a faint smile, his words offering some solace, though the shadow of her father's disappointment still lingered. With a respectful nod, she returned to her seat, trying to find comfort in the admiration of the audience and Eldrin's reassurance. But deep down, she couldn't help but feel the pressure of the weight her family name carried—one that her brother Caelan, with his pride and affinity for Arcane, bore much easier than she ever could.
As the youngest Prince, Orion Valencrest, stepped forward, the atmosphere in the hall shifted. Despite being quiet and a little oblivious at times, he had always carried a calm and composed demeanor, often overlooked due to the strong presence of his older siblings. But now, all eyes were on him, and the anticipation in the room was palpable.
Orion placed his hands on the Essence Prism, and the moment he did, an overwhelming burst of light filled the hall. The first color to appear was a golden hue—the unmistakable mark of the Arcane Affinity, the supreme magic of the Valencrest lineage. Following it, the prism glowed a soft sky blue, indicating a second affinity: Air. Then, above his head, the S-Grade Lumina Halo emerged—radiant and multi-layered, pulsating with blinding intensity.
The crowd erupted into a frenzy of whispers and exclamations, unable to contain their astonishment. The combination of Arcane and Air, coupled with an S-Grade, was beyond what anyone had anticipated. Even the most seasoned nobles could hardly believe what they were witnessing.
King Theron Valencrest, seated beside his son, was momentarily struck speechless. For the first time since his reign, there was someone in the royal family who had inherited both the Arcane Affinity and an S-Grade, a power only the former king himself possessed. He exchanged a glance with King Aldric, his son and the current ruler, who was equally shocked, but slowly, a sense of pride and relief washed over him.
Aldric's heart raced with emotion, his mind still reeling from the earlier revelation of the Shadowstar twins—two S-Grades from a family that had been steadily gaining strength. While he had felt the pressure from the Shadowstars, now, with Orion's performance, he felt a surge of reassurance. "We have a monster in our family, too," he thought, a faint smile of pride tugging at his lips. After years of anticipation, their family's legacy of power had not been broken. The Arcane Affinity, the very foundation of their strength, had found its next heir in Orion.
The Queen, Isabella Valencrest, watching from her seat, had tears in her eyes. She had hoped and prayed for this moment, and seeing her youngest son standing there, radiating with such potent magical potential, she felt immense pride. She looked at Aldric, her husband, and saw the relief mirrored in his eyes. For the first time since the ceremony began, they could breathe easy, knowing that the Valencrest family would continue to reign supreme.
Even the former King Theron, normally stoic and composed, showed a flicker of emotion. He hadn't expected Orion, often seen as the quiet one, to be the one to carry the Arcane Affinity forward. He leaned toward Aldric, his voice low but filled with a touch of surprise. "It seems our bloodline still carries its strength. The Arcane lives on."
Aldric nodded, his eyes still on his youngest son. "Yes, Father," he replied, his tone filled with pride. "Orion will be our family's future... and our strength."
The headmaster, Eldrin Solis, who had seen countless awakenings, was visibly impressed. His eyes widened as he observed the glowing halo and the brilliant arcane light. "Remarkable," he murmured. "An S-Grade Arcane, and with Air as well... Truly, this generation of nobles is unlike any before."
The hall buzzed with excitement, and even the other dukes and duchesses, though concerned by the rising power of the Shadowstars, couldn't help but feel the gravity of Orion's awakening. The Valencrests had produced another prodigy, and their grip on the throne was solidified once more.
As the commotion slowly settled, Orion, still standing in the center of the hall, seemed slightly oblivious to the overwhelming reactions around him. He smiled, calm and collected, as if unaware of the monumental moment he had just created. To him, this was simply another part of his life, though a life that had now changed forever.