"Seriously?! That's what the specialist said?!"
"Yeah, right in their faces, you should have seen him, like he had seen something unsightly. Oh this was said by the first specialist, though. Llah was… different."
"After that, it went bad, people said they weren't normal and that there was nothing special about them. You know how we have non powered civilians and powered civilians, Khay and Trilith didn't fit in any of these categories, if they went with the normal kids, they'd be too strong for them and over at where they should be accepted, society saw them as not being up to standard. They were just kids with really strong build. The people alienated them for that for a while because they were different."
"But they're so good at Battle Arts. It has to be some kind of misunderstanding right?' Han questioned.
"That's what they decided. They found something they could do and loved it. Being able to focus your zhin and release it into the element gem allows it to determine which element you possess and without any zhin you shouldn't expect much, and that's why I'm worried, so worried, I wish they wouldn't take the test." Silent tears strolled down her cheeks once again.
"Lilith…" Han sighed.
"You know, ever since that unfortunate day, they've been working tirelessly doing the best they can at what they're good at. They even wanted to be mocked for something they did rather than something they didn't do. That's why they began…"
"The Mischievous Duo act huh." Mira sighed. "I always felt there was something off about that, because these two, you three are my hands outside the student board. You've solved cases we couldn't. You're part of the board no matter what anyone says. Handy-counsel"
Han pondered. He knew how it felt to have someone you cared about stuck in their tracks. He knew that feeling because his brother suffered the same fate. Sudden bitterness enveloped his demeanor, flashes and bits, memories of their past flooded his mind, a prestigious family with dysfunctional children, a disgrace, the mistreatment. He stopped himself from thinking further as he turned pale.
"Han… are you alright?" He wasn't, if he was he would have responded to Lilith's call several times before. But could he tell her Lui's situation? He wondered while he pulled himself together.
"Sometimes I hate how this world has been structured. The people can be ugly than you can imagine, because of something someone has or doesn't have? When did it become a norm to relate to person based on what you expect them to have?"
"Han…" Mira softly let out.
"Elemental affinity huh…" he bitterly exhaled. "They're not alone in that regard." Lui hasn't awakened his yet while… I've had mine since birth." He stared at his palm opened wide. "It has me a little worried and nervous." He clasped his palm grabbing nothing but air as he tightened his grip.
"Well… you have to believe he can do it. And besides, he has quite a good control with zhin so it shouldn't be a problem. I've seen what he can do. He's a natural." Lilith assured.
"Speaking of not having elements, you haven't awakened yours either! How can you be so relaxed?" Mira addressed.
"Because… I have to do it, for them. There's no way I'd magically not have zhin at this point, that would be crazy." She blatantly stated putting Han in a state of brief shock.
'...'
"You want my advice? Don't worry so much about Lui, he's been giving it his all."
"I suppose that really is all I can do to help in this situation. Believe in his efforts."
The line to the elemental affinity test had dwindled greatly over the course of their conversation and upon realization, she quickly left to find Khay and Trilith. She searched for a while and sooner came to Nana's secret shack. There, she found them meditating, concentrating zhin.
"Khay, Tril, it's almost our turn, come on let's go join the others."
"We have to prepare for this, we need this to work."
"It's as Khay says Lilith, our journey would be much easier if we had this on our side."
She sighed. "I've been with you guys all my life and we've been training hard every day since we were kids. So how about you believe in yourselves a little bit. I can't do this without you."
Khay deeply sighed. "Seriously, you're helpless without us." Khay slowly rose to his feet. "When you put it that way, we can't just sit here. Khay… Let's get this over with."
"Oss!!" Trilith smashed his left fist into his right palm.
"There they are, those are the faces I know!" She cheered. "Come, let's go get this over with."
The trio went back to the test site with hopes of completing the test successfully. Upon reaching the site, all the students had taken their tests and moved unto the next stage with the exception of Han Jun and Lui Jun.
"Han, you guys are still here?" Khay asked.
"About that… Lui said he wouldn't take the test without you guys."
"Aww, that is so nice of you!" Lilith uttered with a bright smile.
Lui who was usually silent could only blush. A hint of red smearing on his cheek, brightening his snow white skin. He grabbed unto his hat that always covered his eyes and pulled it even lower.
Lina and Mai stood at the test site around the elemental affinity gem, announcing if there was anyone ready to undertake the EA test repeatedly.
Lui stared on, tossing a few glances at the EA test site and the duo and together they marched on to the gem.
"Hey look, it's the good for nothing bunch." A voice came from the crowd.
"Shh. They might hear you."
"Do I look like I care? In fact." He ran outside. "The good for nothing bunch are taking their affinity test." He screamed, signaling everyone and they came rushing to see.
"It's the duds."
"Come, let's go see them fail."
"I bet not even one of them would get anything."
"Shit, I say, shit, is what they'll identify with."
They chattered amidst themselves as they gathered at the Elemental Affinity test ground.
"Well this is quite the scene. Kaina that brat. Look at the scene you've caused." Lina sighed.
"Kainaa!" Khay located him amidst the crowd. His haughty eyes stared on at them in pride and disdain, then he saw a guy with about four people behind him approach Kaina's space. Then, Khay smirked and left it at that.
"Kaina, still ugly as always." A voice shot at him. He wore a black top and trousers, a color of his choosing per the standard Dolrea Academy attire, a pair of fingerless gloves, black hair and brown eyes.
"Amine. You again." Kaina glanced at him. "I see you came with your dogs.
"What did you say?!" one of the guys behind Amine cried out.
"What I do is none of your business." He sighed.
"Hmph." He scoffed. "Just make sure you don't over step your lane, I'll be watching you."
"Tsk."
The two rivalry groups of their year always made sure to check each other, or should I say, Amine's group checked Kaina's for their unjust treatment and bullying of those they deemed weak and unworthy.
Back at the test ground, Lui was ready.
"The gods will not watch your hard work go to waste. Regardless, whatever that happens today, happens for a reason. May the gods be with us where ever they are in this godforsaken era." Lui spoke as he set off to take his test.
Taken by surprise, the trio stuttered… struggling with words.
"He talked…" Khay said, still in shock.
"To us…" Trilith and Lilith said respectively.
"Don't look at me; I'm just as surprised as you are." Han brushed off Khay's unwavering gaze.
"So he finally said spoke." Lilith said.
"But for him to have said something, Lui must have been really worried about you guys…" At the front, Lui had already gotten to the gem and was ready to lay his hands on it.
"Oh he's going at it." Another voice signaled.
The elemental gem was set on a small pillow on a table about around waist length, reachable without problem. They all focused their attention on him as he laid his hands on the E.A gem. There, he closed his eyes and shortly after; the gem began to glow and Lui could feel the intensity of the light even as he had his eyes closed. His eyes slowly pried open and with much anticipation and tension, a light blue hue glowed from the elemental affinity gem.