Sunlight streamed through the hall's towering windows, casting long rays across ancient stone walls and weathered wooden beams. Curved rows of benches spiraled up the chamber's sides where parents and elders sat in anticipation, their shadows dancing on the worn granite floor.

At the center, the Orb of Resonance floated above an intricately carved ebony pedestal, its obsidian surface drinking in the morning light. Meanwhile, nervous twelve-year-olds occupied a circle of seats surrounding it.

Among them, a slim boy with short black hair shifted restlessly in his seat, his brown eyes fixed on the orb as his fingers traced the rough granite beneath him, searching for any hint of the power that flowed so naturally through his people's veins. Where others felt the mountain's pulse, He only felt cold stone. He'd imagined this moment numerous times, but now that it was finally here, his stomach twisted from anxiety.

"Next, Nour," the resonance guide called.

She whispered to him. "Wish me luck," then rose and approached the Orb with graceful steps, her golden hair swaying as it reflected the morning light seeping through the windows.

The hall fell silent as she placed her hands on the Obsidian Orb. The surface erupted in brilliant golden light, cascading outward in radiant waves that bathed the hall in light and warmth. 

The guide took an involuntary step back covering his eyes from the sudden flash of light, his eyes widening in shock. "A light prodigy," his usual composure cracking. "with such purity…"

As the golden light receded, a faint circle began to glow on her right hand, forming an intricate golden ring etched with ancient runes. The design encircled her wrist like a radiant, otherworldly bracelet, seamlessly part of her skin. Each rune shimmered faintly, pulsing with a gentle rhythm that signified her awakening. 

Murmurs spread through the hall like wildfire.

"The Order of the Phoenix will be tripping over themselves to recruit her."

"To think we'd have a light elementalist in our small village."

Even the most traditional Earth-favoring villagers seemed impressed. Light users were very rare, and one with such talent would surely be destined for greatness. Such a blessing had not been seen in their mountain village for generations.

As Nour withdrew her hands from the Orb, she glanced down at her wrist, marveling at the golden circle. She flexed her fingers experimentally, the light flaring faintly in response. Her golden hair seemed to catch the glow, reflecting the same radiance as her rune. 

'As expected of Nour,' a mixture of quiet admiration and envy curling in his chest. 

 'If only I had a fraction of her ability…' 

The guide nodded at Nour, his voice carrying a mix of pride and resignation. "Your path, young lady, may lead far beyond these mountains."

Nour returned to her seat, her hair shimmering in the fading light. She glanced at him with a soft smile. "How was I?" 

"You did great," his voice steady but subdued.

She tilted her head slightly. "You nervous?"

"A little," he admitted, eyes lowering. 

Her tone bright yet unassuming. "You'll do fine too."

As the ceremony continued. The next children approached the Orb one by one. The next boy, a sturdy child with dust-streaked cheeks, placed his hands on the Orb. A soft, earthen brown light radiated from its surface, wrapping around his wrist in a simple but solid rune ring. Its jagged patterns mimicked cracks in stone. The cycle repeated for the next few children, each one manifesting the expected earthen affinity. 

Then, the hall stilled as the daughter of the village fisherman, the shy girl Maya approached the orb. She hesitated before placing her hands on it. A moment passed, and instead of the familiar earthy glow, a shimmering cyan-blue light burst forth, filling the room with a gentle, fluid radiance.

A few gasps rippled through the crowd. "Water," someone whispered. "In Hejaz?"

The rune forming on her wrist shimmered like ripples on a calm lake. Its flowing lines moved gracefully.

Whispers of awe and surprise spread quickly. "Two talents in one year?" an elder murmured. 

"First light, and now water? What a blessed year!"

One woman leaned closer to the village healer, smiling knowingly. "Looks like you've got yourself a student, Layla. She'll need your guidance."

Layla returned the smile warmly. "If she's willing, I'd be happy to teach her. Water is rare here. It's a gift that shouldn't go untended."

Maya glanced shyly at Layla, clearly overhearing the exchange. She gave a small, courteous nod smiling brightly, her hands instinctively cradling the glowing ring on her wrist.

"Lastly, Zayd." The guide's voice cut through his thoughts.

He turned, glancing briefly at his parents. His father, the village chief Raed, sat in the front row, straight-backed and expectant. Beside him, his mother, Layla, met his eyes with a warm smile and a small nod of encouragement. 

Zayd approached the Orb with measured steps, each footfall echoing in the sudden hush that fell over the hall, marking the distance between everything he'd hoped to be and everything he feared he wasn't. 

He placed his hands on the cold, smooth surface.

He closed his eyes and reached for the elements as the others had described—searching for that spark of connection, that resonance that came so naturally to everyone else. But where they spoke of warmth and light, he felt only emptiness—or worse, a strange attraction to the darkness.

The Orb remained still and inert, its surface as black and unyielding as stone. 

Or was it?

There— a faint ripple stirred across the stillness, and the shadows near Zayd's feet seemed to shift, reaching toward him ever so slightly. 

In the parent's row, Elder Hakim leaned forward slightly, adjusting his spectacles. His weathered eyes narrowed, studying the orb's surface with scholarly intensity. In front of him, Nour's golden rune dimmed for the briefest moment. She frowned, glancing between Zayd and the Orb, her unease visible even as she stayed silent.

Chief Raed's jaw tightened imperceptibly. His gaze darted between his son and the Orb, catching something that others couldn't quite see—a deepening of shadows perhaps, or a shift in the morning light that didn't seem entirely natural. 

"Try again," the guide commanded, his brow furrowed in confusion. He placed his hands on Zayd's shoulders.

"Focus on the elements. Earth, like the mountains beneath our feet. Water, like the river that nourishes our village. Fire, like the flames that warms our houses. Air, like the winds that sweep our peaks. Light, like the sun that shines every day."

'Just react,' he pleaded silently, his heart hammering in his chest. 'Please. Anything.'

Zayd's pressed harder, the cool surface of the Orb biting into his palms. His knuckles whitened as he leaned forward, his breath shallow. Still, the Orb did not light up, no vibrant colors, no rune ring forming on his wrist. He reached out with everything he had, trying to grasp the intangible. But there was nothing. Only the cold weight of the Orb and the growing realization of the silence around him. 

"Nothing's happening," someone whispered from the crowd, their voice heavy with disappointment. 

The elder's frown deepened. He glanced at Zayd's blank wrist, the absence of a rune ring stark against the other children around him. He stepped back, his face heavy with disbelief. "Zayd, no resonance detected." 

The announcement struck him like a physical blow he stood motionless, his face turned hollow and his look distant. His worst fear manifested in reality. 

Whispers erupted through the hall, each one digging deeper at his already fragile resolve. 

"Elementless? The chief's son?"

"Can he even lead us someday?" 

"It's not normal... Something's off." 

"He's cursed by the elements themselves," someone hissed, the words dripping with fear and judgment.

 "What if it's a sign? A bad omen?" 

"SILENCE!" Chief Raed's voice reverberated like a seismic shock, his voice carried the unmistakable edge of restrained anger. His sharp glare swept over the crowd, silencing everyone present. But the damage was already done.

Zayd's hands fell limply to his sides. He stared at the ground, unable to lift his gaze, unable to face the stares and whispers that pressed in around him. The stone floor beneath his feet seemed to swim in his vision as shame burned through his chest.

He turned away from the Orb, his movements sluggish, distant. He walked toward the hall's entrance, his steps echoing in the sudden quiet. He didn't run—running would mean acknowledging the weight of what had just happened. Instead, he moved with a forced steadiness that barely contained the trembling in his limbs.

Layla's heart clenched as she watched her son leave, her instincts screaming to follow him. She placed a calming hand on Raed's arm before he could say anything, her expression soft but firm.

He nodded at her "Go."

Footsteps followed him as he emerged into the morning air. "Zayd," his mother's voice called softly. He stopped but didn't turn, couldn't bear to see the worry he knew would be etched across her face.

"Let's go home," she said gently, moving to stand beside him and shielding him from the lingering stares of those who had followed. "We'll figure this out together." 

In the shadows of the doorway, Elder Hakim watched them leave, his expression thoughtful. He glanced down at his daughter, noting how her golden rune had dimmed ever so slightly during Zayd's test. Something had happened in that hall—something subtle and strange it was unlike anything he had seen before. And he feared what it might mean.