The proceedings continued with Otto stepping forward to introduce himself. "I am Otto, a Velocian," he stated confidently, referring to his ability to move at incredible velocities.
To demonstrate his talent, Otto darted towards the nearby Mage, snatching a cup from their hand in the blink of an eye. The Mages' eyes widened in surprise, but when they turned to look at Otto, he was already back in his original position, the cup held casually in his hand. It was as if he hadn't moved at all.
The Mages exchanged impressed glances, nodding their heads in appreciation. However, their reaction was subdued compared to the astonishment they had displayed during Marilyn's demonstration.
Otto bowed graciously, acknowledging their applause, before stepping back in line with his fellow contestants.
The contestant Void had nicknamed "Ken Doll" was up next. Ambrose, as he would soon introduce himself, seemed hesitant to take center stage. He remained rooted in place until the host called upon him again.
With a not so gentle nudge from Nadia, Ambrose stepped forward, his eyes scanning the room nervously.
He stuttered slightly as he introduced himself. "M-my name is Ambrose, Am-Ambrose Archibald. And my talent is... Duplicatus Ferro" – the ability to duplicate and manipulate metal objects, specifically knives.
Ambrose proceeded to demonstrate his talent, his hands shaking slightly as he held up a single dagger. With a flick of his wrist, a duplicate dagger materialized, hovering in mid-air beside the original.
Ambrose focused his energy, and the duplicate dagger shot towards a nearby wall, striking it with precision. The room fell silent, with the Mages and contestants exchanging impressed glances.
The Conjurer's Mage leaned forward, intrigued. "How do you manage to duplicate the dagger, Ambrose?" she asked.
Ambrose's confident facade crumbled, and he stuttered out a response. "I-I don't know... I just can." His eyes darted around the room, avoiding direct eye contact.
The Conjurer's Mage raised an eyebrow. "Can you attempt this with another weapon?" she pressed.
Ambrose hesitated, his stutter worsening. "I—I'm not—I haven't attempted this... before." His voice trailed off, and he looked down, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
Void turned to Octavius, and questioned him. [What happened to Ken Doll's confidence?] he whispered.
Octavius shook his head, unsure of the answer. However, he couldn't help but notice the Healer's Mage watching Ambrose with disdain. Ambrose, in turn, avoided his gaze, and Octavius sensed a deeper, unspoken connection between the two.
As the exchange came to a close, Ambrose bowed slightly and stepped back in line with the others, his eyes still downcast.
Nadia was the next person to be called forth, and Octavius's gaze shifted from Ambrose to her, filled with anticipation.
He had an inexplicable sense of unease about her, similar to the feeling he'd experienced earlier when he saw the mysterious blue-haired girl running alongside him.
As he watched Nadia, he couldn't shake the feeling that he hadn't seen her before they left for the Blackstone Sanctum. But he also knew that there were many new faces in the group, and it was possible that he simply hadn't noticed her until now. And the fact that she bore the Architect symbol on her forehead, made him feel at ease.
Despite his reservations, Octavius's curiosity got the better of him. He leaned forward, his eyes fixed intently on Nadia, eager to see what she would demonstrate.
Nadia began her introduction, her voice steady. "My name is Nadia," she said, following the same format as the others. However, before she could continue, the Healer's Mage interrupted her.
"Remove your cloak," he commanded.
Nadia's eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, she seemed reluctant to comply. She stood still, her gaze locked on the Mages, but they couldn't see her watching them due to her cloak.
The Healer's Mage's expression turned stern. "I said, remove your cloak. If you're unable to do so, perhaps you'd do us a favor by—"
His words trailed off as Nadia slowly reached up and pulled back her hood, revealing her completely shaved head. The room fell silent, with gasps and whispers erupting from the crowd.
In the conservative society of Wysteria, it was unheard of for a woman to shave her head completely. The shock and scandal were palpable, and all eyes were fixed on Nadia, whose expression remained calm and defiant.
Nadia's voice cut through the tension, steady and calm. "My talent, there honorable mages, is that of a siren."
The Healer's Mage raised an eyebrow, his curiosity getting the better of him. "And what, pray tell, does a siren do? Make others go bald?"
Few of the contestants from Erick's group lauaghed at the Mage's sarcasm.
Nadia's gaze swept the room, her eyes locking onto the Mages. "A siren has the ability to weave the very fabric of sound and silence," she explained, her voice taking on a mesmerizing quality. "I can summon the whispers of the wind, conjure echoes from the shadows,"
As she spoke, Nadia's voice began to take on a hypnotic quality, and the room seemed to hold its collective breath. The Mages' eyes widened in awe, and the air was filled with an almost palpable sense of wonder.
Without warning, Nadia's voice dropped to a whisper, and she began to hum a soft, melancholic melody. The sound was like nothing anyone in the room had ever heard before – it was as if the very essence of the wind had been distilled into a haunting, ethereal tune.
As she hummed, Nadia turned to Octavius, her eyes locking onto the pouch at his side. The mohit bird inside the pouch began to stir, its tiny body twitching in response to Nadia's melody. Suddenly, the bird sprang to life, bursting out of the pouch in a flurry of feathers and song. It soared into the air, its trills and chirps harmonizing perfectly with Nadia's humming.
More mohit birds fluttered in through the window, joining in the enchanting melody. The room brightened with their energy, and everyone's faces lit up with wonder.
[Snow white would be proud, ] Void countered as he watched in equal amazement.
Just as the atmosphere was filled with joy and awe, Nadia's expression turned solemn. "And I can shatter the air with a single, piercing note," she said, her voice dripping with an unsettling intensity.
With that, Nadia hummed a note with a high and strong octave. The mohit birds' singing ceased abruptly, and they fell to the ground, lifeless. The room plunged into stunned silence, with all eyes fixed on Nadia in a mix of horror and fascination.
[That bitch just stole our shine!] Void scoffed out.
Worry lines formed on Octavius' forehead as he wondered what he was going to do.