Lui turned to his friends and clenched his fist with much satisfaction as a chilly vapor began to exude from his fist and a smile crept up his face.
"Rare elemental – Ice." Mai declared.
The crowd murmured and some cheered. It was very rare to obtain a rare element. For it to be ice, of all things. One would have to be a hateful individual indeed to not marvel at it.
"You did it Lui." Han was bubbling with excitement. "You did it; you really did it." He jumped at him and hugged his little brother. The crowd, cheering.
"A rare element at that. Congratulation Lui." Lina congratulated.
They showered him with praises and words of congratulations as he approached.
"The gods may be listening after all. Good going Lui." Khay tapped him on the shoulder.
Trilith tapped him on the other shoulder. "Nicely done Lui."
"Hmph… Dumb luck." Kaina scoffed from amongst the crowd.
"Not to be a downer but we don't have all day kids." Mai cautioned.
"I'm proud of you Lui, I'm sure gramps will be thrilled to hear this." Han assured.
"Next!" Lina instructed.
"Wish me luck guys." Lilith exhaled.
"Give it your best sis." Lilith set off as her twin cheered her on.
She now found herself standing at the table looking at the gem, anxious.
"You got this Lilith." Khay cheered on from the crowd.
She drowned out the surroundings as Khay's and her brother's good wishes entered her ears soothingly. At the E.A gem; she begun to concentrate, following Lui's example, then suddenly a bright glow of white illuminated and radiated to greenish blue, dancing around then slowly diminished and took the full confident glow of a deep blue color, strongly radiating. She could feel the intensity of the light from the gem and yet was reluctant to open her eyes.
"Lilith?"
"Lilith?"
She heard Lina call of her name and then, she pried her eyes slowly open, then she saw. She was stunned for a moment but burst out in joy soon.
"I did it."
"Water Elemental." Mai announced.
"I knew she could do it." They clapped and cheered her on.
"She's made us proud."
"Good going beastiary-girl." Han congratulated.
As shy as he was, Lui made his emotion known as a smile crept up his face.
"You sure know how to put on a show Lilith." Khay congratulated.
"That's my sister, right here." Trilith cheered.
"Next." The celebrations were short lived as Lina called out.
"Looks like it's finally my turn." Trilith said, very much thrilled and fired up.
"Wish me luck partner."
"There he goes, the dud won't even give the gem a good time."
"Place a bet for me, 10 gold coins on. No elemental"
"20 for me No light at all"
"5 coins for any."
"2 coins on a glow."
They students gambled on with their test amidst the crowd.
"Pour all your zhin into it Tril." The duo bumped fists as Trilith set off.
Now he was close to the gem, he stood there, stretched out his hand and stared at his friends.
"Just put your hand on the gem." A voice said from the crowd.
"We haven't got all day you dud."
"SILENCE!" Principal Takel ordered.
Trilith turned his gaze to the man and gulped down. The kind principal smiled back at the teen.
Trilith slowly reached out and touched the gem and glanced at his friends, Khay smiled hopefully at him, her sister had her hands clasped together, as if she was praying, Lui and Han smiled on assuredly. Then through the crowd, a wave of nervousness washed over him but he drowned it out with his confidence and fist filled with expectations; he closed his eyes as the gem begun to glow, the intensity of the gems hit his closed eye lid and slowly they opened. The gem was shining radiantly, and turned all whitish, emanating a torrent of greenish-brown color, then the brown took over and spun greatly as the crowd murmured, then suddenly, the glow snuffed itself out.
"Ah---"
The place was dead silent, everyone wondered what had happened. And out of the people present, Trilith was the most confused.
"That's strange. I thought I felt something there."
Majority of the crowd broke out in laughter drowning the whole place in their uncontrollable giggles and bickering, passing unkind comments of all manner.
"I told you he was going to fail."
"A dud is a dud no matter what." They laughed.
Meanwhile, Kaina sat back amidst his gang... and he wasn't pleased at all. "There was a glow." He said.
"Lina, Mai… What does this mean?" He couldn't help but question.
"How do I put this… Trilith…" Lina tried to find the words.
"It seems you have… no affinity with any… element." She softened the news as much as she could.
Lilith and the others stood; shocked as looks on their faces fell. Before any of them realized, Trilith had already reached them; his face; pale and seemingly lost in his thoughts.
"Trilith…" Lilith reached out her arms and hugged him.
"I'm okay sis." He said with a faint smile.
Though Trilith had done his best in relaying to everyone that he was okay, they all knew how he felt, they all knew he had high hopes for this test. They saw through his faint smile and underneath, they all knew he was far from okay.
"Partner…" Khay was lost for words. "That glow was really something. You did well"
"Tsk. You have time to comfort? Get going, don't worry about me." He put his hands on Khay's shoulder.
"Alright buddy." Khay patted him on the shoulder and left for the test. Lilith hugged his brother once again, knowing how he felt. Now quiet as the night, Trilith stared on; "You got this Khay." He wished Khay.
His footsteps encroached. The presence of Principal Takel had ceased all bickering and unkind chattering. So he walked on confidently, casting his fears aside. In no time, he was at the table; where all his friends had been before him and he stood. He glanced at Lina and Mai.
"We don't have all day you know?!" Lina suggested.
"Yes, yes." He chuckled and stretched his joints, warming up. "Let's get this over with!"
"What's this buffoon up to now?" Kaina said softly scorned from amidst his peers.
"Here goes nothing!" He heaved a heavy sigh and stretched forth his hand toward the gem. Then, a sudden bright light began to emit and intensify in glow, a white light brighter than ever seen in any elemental affinity test.
"What in the…" Principal Takel uttered, in unison with all the present teachers that were present.