Luther touched the crystal sphere, his fingers trembling, as the others watched with anticipation. Barely a second after he made contact, the sphere lit up with a blinding white flash so intense that the onlookers raised their hands to shield their eyes. The light was overwhelming, enveloping the training grounds in a pure glow, but then something changed.
The brilliant white slowly began to darken, turning into a faint black. A chilling sensation filled the air, which grew cold and heavy. Silence fell over the spectators, and all the summoned were stunned by what they saw. Even Princess Selene, usually calm, showed an expression of genuine concern. Only Sir Aldric broke the spell of shock, clicking his tongue in visible annoyance before turning and leaving without a word.
Luther, shaken by what had just happened, looked around for answers. "What's going on?" he thought, heart pounding wildly. When he looked at Borik, he saw him give a reassuring smile. But when his eyes met Selene's, he saw something very different: fear and worry.
Luther's own concern escalated. Trembling, he asked in a shaky voice, "Is everything all right... Princess?"
Selene swallowed, clearly unsettled by what she had seen, and returned his question in an unsettling manner: "Are you… truly human?"
The already tense atmosphere grew darker. Everyone present fell into an absolute silence, and even Borik's smile disappeared, replaced by an expression of genuine concern.
Luther, bewildered, could only stammer a response. "W-what? Yes, of course I am… why would you ask that?"
Selene closed her eyes for a moment, shaking her head as if to clear her own doubts. "No… don't worry. I let my thoughts get the better of me," she said, attempting a kind smile, though the tension remained.
Finally, the princess took a deep breath and, with a firmer voice, announced the results: "Luther, you have a strong affinity with both arcane mana and dark mana. The intensity of your affinity is extremely high—you have a promising future ahead of you."
Excited, Luther began to walk toward the area where the other evaluated participants were waiting. But before he could go far, Selene stopped him. She leaned close to his ear and, in a near-intimate whisper, said, "Tomorrow night, come to see me. I want to speak with you."
Luther was taken aback for a moment, his cheeks flushed with surprise. "What could the princess want with me?" he thought, feeling incredibly nervous. With a voice slightly shaky from the surprise of her request, he managed to respond, "Yes, of course, Princess…"
As he returned to the group, Luther's heart pounded wildly. Borik was waiting with a huge smile. "Ah, you've really outdone yourself, kid!" Borik laughed, clapping him on the back so hard it nearly knocked him over.
"Calm down!" Luther exclaimed, laughing, trying to catch his breath as Borik kept laughing.
"Come on, kid," Borik said, still chuckling. "You're already the princess's favorite. You'll have to save a spot in the castle for me when you become the king! HAHAHA."
Luther, laughing and blushing, replied, "What are you talking about! She barely even knows me, haha..."
Borik put his arm around Luther, pulling him in amicably. "Oh, sure! Don't play coy. You think I didn't see your face light up when you came down? I bet you thought she was going to declare her love! HAHAHA!" Luther tried to smile, though it was hard to breathe with Borik squeezing him so tightly. It was a mix of jokes and genuine camaraderie, and for a moment, Luther felt truly happy, recalling the old times with his friends from the gang…
Once all the summoned had been evaluated, they were gathered again to hear the final results. Radek took the floor once more and began dividing the summoned into two groups: those who would train under Sir Aldric and those who would be under Princess Selene's tutelage.
Radek stepped to the front and raised a hand to capture the summoned group's attention. His expression was stern, and everyone fell silent, awaiting his words.
"The results have been reviewed," he began, his voice echoing across the field. "We will now divide you into two groups: those with a high physical affinity, who will train under the guidance of Sir Aldric, and those with a magical affinity, who will be under Princess Selene's tutelage."
Radek scanned the group and began listing names. "Naomi, Ithan, Borik… you will be training with Sir Aldric." A murmur of disappointment ran through those assigned to him, especially Naomi and Ithan, who exchanged frustrated glances. Borik frowned and let out a sigh of exasperation, but he was the first to break the silence.
"Why? I excelled much more in the magical test—I should be with the Princess," Borik protested, a mix of frustration and disappointment in his tone. Ithan and Naomi nodded quietly, clearly feeling the same.
Radek, with no patience, shot them a steely glare. "Silence!" his voice boomed like thunder, making everyone present tremble. "You're not here to choose. Remember, right now, you are nothing more than dogs. Here, you have no say."
The seriousness in his tone silenced the complaints instantly, and Borik lowered his head, swallowing his protest.
Then Sir Aldric joined the conversation. His voice, though deep, had an understanding tone. "I understand your disappointment," he said, glancing at Borik, Naomi, and Ithan. "But know that the training you'll receive with me will be no less valuable. Magic can open doors, but in this world, the ability to defend yourself and fight on the front lines can mean the difference between life and death. Take this opportunity and show that your physical skills are no less important than magic."
Sir Aldric's words seemed to calm the assigned participants somewhat, and they nodded, resigned yet still visibly frustrated. Luther observed in silence, feeling a mix of relief and pride. The possibility of training under Princess Selene was now within reach.
Radek continued, resuming his formal tone and wasting no time. "Luther, Elise… and Kay," he announced, casting a look toward the magic-affinity group. "You three will be training with Princess Selene."
Luther felt a surge of excitement and nerves when he heard his name. But one detail made him pause: the name "Kay" was unfamiliar. Curious, he looked around to spot the person in question. That's when he noticed the unfamiliar young man—the same one who had demonstrated astonishing affinity with all elemental types of mana and arcane mana. The young man, Kay, had a serene, almost enigmatic expression and simply nodded when his name was called.
Radek paused, allowing the selected to process the situation, then continued in a tone that made it clear there was no room for discussion.
"This will be your last night together," he announced. "Starting tomorrow, you'll be in separate groups and will train in isolated locations. The training will be intense, and the bonds you forge with your teammates will be crucial. Learn to work with those assigned to you, or face the consequences."
Radek's announcement left a feeling of tension hanging in the air. Many of the summoned exchanged uneasy looks with their future companions, aware that the bonds of camaraderie they could build would be crucial in a hostile world like Aether.