Lyra nodded and turned, walking through the crowd of young candidates who parted to let her through. The murmurs quieted until only her footsteps on the cobblestones could be heard.
While Kayn was distracted, Burst elbowed him, making him stumble slightly."Well done," Burst said with a sly grin.
"Well, she helped me too," Kayn replied. "It's normal for us to be nervous. After all, today's a big day."
"I'm perfectly fine," Burst declared, thumping his chest.
"I'd like to see you when they call your name."
Kayn turned his attention back to Lyra, watching as she gently placed her hand on the orb, waiting for it to react. Suddenly, Burst's voice sounded beside him."So… when are you going to tell her you like her?"
Kayn spun to face his friend, caught off guard by the abrupt question. He stared at Burst for a moment, unsure how to react. Burst's mischievous grin only heightened his discomfort. A blush quickly spread across Kayn's cheeks, betraying his attempt at indifference.
"Shut up," he muttered, turning his face away to hide his embarrassment.
"Oh, come on. Why is it so hard for you?" Burst pressed. "You've been in love with her for years. Don't you think it's time to tell her?"
"It's complicated," Kayn murmured, unable to hide his blush. "She'd probably reject me, and… I don't want to lose her as a friend. You get that, right?"
"Sure," Burst replied, rolling his eyes. "It's not like she's constantly finding excuses to be around you. You're just too dense to notice sometimes. I think she's waiting for you to make the first move."
"And what makes you think that?"
"Lyra's always energetic and smiling, but sometimes when she's with you, she gets a little shy," Burst said. Before Kayn could respond, he added, "And do I need to remind you about what happened in the forest?"
Kayn clicked his tongue, tired of his friend's teasing. He turned his gaze back to the pedestal, where Lyra was in the middle of her bonding test.
A few seconds later, the orb reacted. First, it shone with an intense blue light before softening to a pale blue. Lyra closed her eyes, focusing deeply to establish a bond with her assigned guardian. The air around her changed—a cold breeze materialized from nowhere, lifting her silver hair gently. Small snowflakes danced around her. She inhaled deeply and, with a clear and firm voice, called out the name that resonated in her soul.
"Frost!"
The snow swirling around her condensed in her hands, spinning until it took the form of a small white wolf. Its fur gleamed like freshly fallen snow, and an ice crystal adorned its forehead, mirrored in parts of its body. The guardian blinked, shaking its head softly before looking up to meet Lyra's tender gaze.
Lyra smiled and stroked the wolf's fur, feeling the warmth it emanated despite its frosty appearance. The guardian tilted its head, emitting a soft sound that filled her heart with affection.
After bowing respectfully to Rolland, Lyra descended the pedestal with light steps. Frost rested comfortably in her arms. When she reached her friends, she lifted the small guardian toward them, her eyes sparkling with joy.
"Look! Isn't it adorable?" she exclaimed, hugging the little wolf enthusiastically. "It's the best guardian I could've asked for."
Kayn extended a hand timidly, gently placing it on the wolf's head. Its fur was incredibly soft, softer than anything he'd ever touched. Feeling the contact, Frost let out a playful growl and licked Kayn's fingers, drawing a smile from him.
"Not bad, but let's see how strong it is," Burst chimed in, locking eyes with the wolf.
"Here we go with battles again," Lyra murmured, rolling her eyes and letting out a sigh.
"Well, that's what guardians are for, right? It's thanks to them that binders are so powerful," Burst replied, turning to Kayn. "Don't you think so too?"
Kayn blinked, surprised by the sudden question. Lyra's expectant gaze only added to the pressure.
"Well…"
"Not everything in life is about fighting, Burst," Lyra protested, sparing Kayn from answering. "And for now, I'm ahead of you."
"You'll see. My guardian will be incredible."
"Sure, sure…"
Kayn watched the scene unfold in silence. As they bantered, his mind kept circling back to the same thought: his own turn was drawing closer. As the other students took their tests.
The minutes dragged on. The candidates stepped forward one by one. Kayn watched as some returned radiant, accompanied by their new guardians, while others descended with downcast eyes, burdened by the weight of failure. After several more candidates, it was finally Burst's turn.
"Leo Fangar."
Though Burst had maintained a calm and carefree smile until now, as soon as his name was called, he froze. His legs trembled, unable to move. The crowd began to look around, searching for someone stepping forward. Rolland raised an eyebrow, scanning the gathering in silence.
"Leo Fangar," he repeated, this time more firmly.
Kayn and Lyra exchanged a worried look. Both turned to their friend, who remained as still as a statue.
"Well, look at Mr. Cool," murmured Kayn, stifling a laugh. "Didn't you say you weren't nervous? You're shaking like a leaf."
"Burst, what are you doing?" Lyra's hand landed firmly on her friend's shoulder. "They're calling you. Stop messing around."
"Ah! Yes, yes, I'm going," he stammered, moving stiffly toward the designated spot.
"Do you think he'll be alright?" Lyra asked, watching Burst make his way through the crowd, bumping into a few people along the way.
"Well, there was no way he was that calm," Kayn replied, causing Lyra to nod in agreement. "Anyone would be nervous at a moment like this."
Once in front of the pedestal, Burst took a deep breath and extended his hand toward the orb. The instant his palm touched it, the sphere began to change. The light it emitted faded entirely, turning pitch black. Burst knew exactly what that meant and smiled in response.
Unlike the four primary affinities, there were two others that couldn't combine with the rest—known as unique affinities: Light and Darkness. While these affinities couldn't merge with others, they offered greater versatility in creating different types of magic.
"Darkness, huh?" Rolland murmured, stroking his beard. "I wonder if you'll be able to control it."
"You can count on it," Burst replied confidently.
In the bonding ceremony, there were two ways to fail. The first was if the sphere didn't light up at all. If your anima wasn't compatible with any guardian, you couldn't form a bond. However, even if your anima was compatible, it would only be with one guardian. If that guardian deemed you unworthy of their power, they would reject you, and there was nothing you could do. Obtaining a color didn't guarantee success.
After what felt like an eternity, Burst opened his eyes. A dark aura began to emanate from his body, swirling like smoke. Kayn and Lyra held their breath, awestruck. They weren't the only ones. The murmurs among the students turned into excited shouts. After all, Darkness wasn't as common an affinity as the others.
"It seems you've succeeded after all," Rolland commented, observing him closely. Burst looked at his hands, feeling the power coursing through his body. "Well, what are you waiting for? Shout the name of your guardian already. I'm sure you're dying to."
"Gork!"
The darkness around him coalesced before him, taking shape until it became a small bear with jet-black fur and an arrogant gaze. Burst extended his hands, and the guardian settled into them, examining him curiously. The young man stroked the bear with an unexpected gentleness.
After bowing respectfully to Rolland, he headed toward where Kayn and Lyra waited eagerly to congratulate him.
"Let's continue with the next name," Rolland said, picking up his scroll again and examining the name of the next candidate. A small smile formed on his lips as he read it.
"Kayn Ashborne."
Kayn's heart skipped a beat. It felt as if an electric current surged through his body, momentarily paralyzing his muscles. He had teased Burst earlier, but now he was the one feeling nervous. His hands started trembling, and he felt a cold sweat running down his forehead. Sensing his unease, Lyra patted his back reassuringly.
"Don't worry. Everything will be fine, you'll see."
Kayn nodded, trying to muster a smile. His friend's support gave him some comfort, but he couldn't shake the feeling of all the eyes on him. He stepped toward the designated spot as the other students parted to let him through. His heart pounded so loudly he feared everyone could hear it.
On his way, he passed Burst, who raised a hand for a high-five as he approached.
"You better not mess this up."
Kayn raised his hand and approached slowly. Avoiding Burst's gaze, he slapped his hand against Burst's with a sound that echoed across the area.
"Count on it."
Continuing toward the central pedestal, he felt the weight of every gaze on him. In that moment, he truly felt like the protagonist. Each step made his heart pound harder. Finally, the moment he had been waiting for was here.
As he neared, Rolland's figure became clearer. The old man stood by the orb that would decide his fate—the one that would determine his guardian.
Standing at the foot of the pedestal, Kayn felt like his heart was about to burst out of his chest. Rolland observed him with a kind smile.
"So, you're Kayn Ashborne…" he murmured, studying the young man curiously. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but are you Galen Ashborne's son?"
"You know my father?"
"Of course. I was not only his instructor at the Binder Academy, but I was also the one who conducted this very test for him."
Rolland glanced toward the section where the parents watched attentively, and Kayn followed his gaze, spotting his father among the crowd. Strangely, he seemed to be trying to remain inconspicuous.
"I remember Galen was so nervous he took the test in his underwear. It seems you have a bit more decency."
Kayn laughed, recalling the embarrassing story his parents had shared that very morning. Without realizing it, his nerves began to fade.
"Well, look at that… You're not as nervous anymore. Do you feel ready to take the test?"
"Absolutely!"
"Then go ahead."
Kayn took a deep breath and approached the orb—a transparent sphere that would glow if he passed and remain inert if he failed. No, failure wasn't an option.
He placed his trembling hand on the orb's cool, smooth surface. All Kayn could do now was wait… wait and hope.
The seconds stretched into what felt like hours as each beat of his heart echoed in his ears. His eyes remained fixed on the sphere, willing it to react, willing it to change color.
"Why isn't it lighting up? Come on, react."
The orb showed no sign of change. Even the mana particles within remained motionless.
"Please, you have to react," he thought desperately, his eyes full of pleading. Despite his internal cries, the orb stayed inert.
"React!"
Nothing happened.
The orb remained completely dark.
Rolland sighed, stepping closer to Kayn and placing a hand on his shoulder. He was about to speak, but Kayn didn't want to hear it. He already knew what he was going to say. Desperate, he gripped the orb even tighter.
"Please!" Kayn clung to the orb with all his strength, tears threatening to escape his eyes. Rolland looked at him with sympathy, knowing how difficult this moment was.
"Don't force it anymore," Rolland said gently. "It won't help."
Kayn looked up, meeting the old man's compassionate eyes. A wave of helplessness washed over him, as if trapped in a nightmare he couldn't wake from.
"No, please. I don't want to…"
"I'm sorry, but…"
"No, no. Please, no."
"You've failed."
The strength drained from him. His hand slid slowly off the orb, falling limply to his side. Kayn stood there, motionless, unable to process what had just happened. It felt like his entire world had crumbled. He looked at the orb. It was dark. He looked at his hands. There was no change.
Words stuck in his throat, but he finally managed to speak.
"No… This can't be. But… does this mean I…" his voice trembled, on the verge of breaking.
"You cannot become a binder," Rolland said with a compassionate tone, though his words hit Kayn's heart like stones.
He didn't even know how to react. He had spent his entire life looking forward to this day—the day he would bond with a guardian and move closer to becoming a binder like his father. But now, none of that mattered. There was no way to fulfill his dream. It was over for him.
"It's cruel, but…" Rolland murmured, though Kayn had stopped listening. "You must understand that not everyone has the potential to bond with a guardian. I'm sure you can become strong even without one."
Kayn clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, fighting to contain his anger. He wanted to scream. He wanted to cry. He fought back tears. He couldn't break down. He had promised his father. Maybe it was his own fault for getting his hopes up, for thinking everything would turn out fine.
With his head bowed, he turned away. The murmurs around him grew louder, like an annoying buzz piercing his ears. He felt the eyes of others on him, filled with pity, which only made him angrier. He hated being pitied; it meant they saw him as weak.
A few meters away, Burst and Lyra waited for him. Their faces were filled with worry and sadness. As he approached, Lyra reached out with a trembling hand.
"Kayn…"
He lifted his gaze, meeting her tearful eyes, then immediately looked away, unable to bear seeing her like that. This should have been a happy moment for her, and now she was nearly crying because of him. He already struggled to hold back his own tears in front of everyone.
"Don't worry," Kayn said, forcing a smile that even he knew wouldn't fool anyone. His red eyes gave him away completely. "After all, this could've happened. It's my fault for getting my hopes up."
"Liar. How can you be okay?"
"Are you sure you're alright
?" she asked.
Kayn swallowed hard and forced another smile.
"Of course."
"Liar."
"It's not like the world's going to end just because I don't have a guardian. I can live with it."
"You're lying."
"Besides, I wasn't even that excited to get one."
"Who are you trying to fool?"
"It was just a silly whim," Kayn said, laughing. His laughter only worried Lyra more. It was obvious he was lying, and even he knew it.
Lyra opened her mouth to respond, but Burst placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head gently. Right now, no one could console Kayn. The best thing they could do was stay silent and give him space.
The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur for Kayn. He didn't pay attention to the names being called. He didn't care who passed the test. He had no interest in being there anymore. All he wanted was to go home.
Once all the candidates had taken their tests, Rolland's orb floated before him again, amplifying his voice as he addressed the crowd. Before speaking, he cleared his throat once more, seemingly struggling with a dry cough.
"Well, that concludes the ceremony. Congratulations to all those who have successfully bonded with their guardian. The Binder Academy will welcome you with open arms."
For the first time in a while, Kayn paid attention to the ceremony, but this only deepened his despair. The shock of failing had clouded his mind. Now that the ceremony was over, he fully realized what it meant to have failed.
Burst and Lyra would soon leave for the academy, located hundreds of kilometers from Brumavilla. They would depart that very night. Kayn would have to stay behind. Alone.
A lump formed in his throat. He clenched his fists, trying to hold himself together somehow. Burst and Lyra glanced at him out of the corner of their eyes, unable to do anything to help him.