The town square buzzed with activity. Stalls lined the cobblestone streets, their merchants hawking wares ranging from fresh produce to enchanted trinkets. At the center of it all was a raised platform where a robed examiner stood beside a peculiar contraption—a crystal orb mounted on an ornate pedestal.
A line of eager villagers waited their turn to test their affinity. Takumi joined them, his anticipation growing.
When his turn came, the examiner—a stern-looking man with a trimmed beard—gestured for him to step forward. "Place your hand on the orb."
Takumi did as instructed. The orb glowed faintly, its light shifting through various colors before settling on a dull brown. The crowd murmured, and the examiner sighed.
"Your affinity is for rock manipulation," he announced, his tone laced with disappointment. "A low-tier magic with limited utility. You'll be lucky to get work as a miner or a builder."
Laughter rippled through the crowd. Takumi's face burned, but he refused to back down. "What does it do?" he asked.
The examiner raised an eyebrow. "It allows you to move and shape small amounts of stone. Not much else."
Takumi clenched his fists. He had hoped for something grand—fireballs, lightning strikes, or even healing magic. But rocks? It sounded pathetic.
Yet a flicker of determination ignited within him. If this was the power he'd been given, he would master it.