he testing hall hummed faintly, the sound of mana-infused conduits filling the air like a steady pulse. This room, far removed from the chaotic courtyard evaluations, was designed for precision. Every detail—from the glowing runes etched into the walls to the polished stone floor—spoke of purpose and authority.
At the center of the hall stood the Impact Analysis Column, a masterpiece of Dominion engineering. It loomed tall, its Voidsteel plating gleaming under the soft light. Embedded Aetherium conduits pulsed faintly, waiting to channel and measure energy. Above the column, a crystalline display projected parameters:
Force Output (kg)
Aura Output
Mana Resonance
Affinity Signatures
---
Rynar stood a few paces from the column, his broad shoulders squared and his expression unreadable. Around him, evaluators, knights, and a few select figures observed silently. Among them was a noblewoman in silver robes adorned with golden filigree. Her sharp eyes followed his every move, her presence a reminder that this test was anything but routine.
"Step forward," instructed the wiry evaluator, her voice precise and commanding. She adjusted her clipboard, her gaze piercing. "This test is designed to measure physical force, aura output, and resonance. Begin with a basic strike to establish a baseline."
Rynar nodded and approached the column, his boots echoing faintly on the polished floor. The crystalline display flickered to life, the parameters resetting to zero. He squared his stance, his green eyes narrowing as he focused on the gleaming surface.
With a steadying breath, Rynar drew back his arm and delivered a clean, controlled punch. The impact rang out like a hammer striking metal, the column shuddering under the force but holding firm. Sparks danced briefly along the Aetherium conduits, and the runes flared with a steady light.
The crystalline display began to populate:
Force Output (kg): 5,000
Aura Output: N/A
Mana Resonance: None Detected
Affinity Signatures: None Detected
---
The wiry evaluator raised an eyebrow, her pen pausing mid-note. "Five thousand kilos," she murmured, her voice neutral but thoughtful. "No aura, no mana."
The scarred instructor leaned against a nearby pillar, his arms crossed. "Not bad," he said, his tone laced with skepticism. "But nothing extraordinary."
Rynar straightened, his jaw tightening slightly. "You asked for a baseline."
The wiry evaluator exchanged a glance with the scarred instructor. "Fair enough," she said. "Now, we need to see your full capability. Hit it again, but don't hold back."
Rynar hesitated for a moment, his fists clenching at his sides. He glanced at the column, its reinforced structure gleaming like an unspoken challenge. He had always held back—whether hauling logs in Whisperwood or facing down beasts—afraid of what his full strength might reveal. Now, they were asking for the very thing he had spent years hiding.
"Are you sure this thing can handle it?" he asked, his voice steady but edged with caution.
The wiry evaluator tilted her head. "The column is built for knights with aura enhancements. It can handle far more than five thousand kilos."
The scarred instructor smirked faintly. "Unless you're stronger than most knights, there's nothing to worry about."
---
From her seat on the elevated platform, Lady Kaelis Vallin leaned forward slightly, her silver robes pooling around her like liquid light. Her pale, elegant fingers rested on the armrest of her chair, her posture composed but watchful. Her sharp eyes tracked Rynar's movements, noting the way his shoulders tensed and the controlled precision of his stance.
"He's untrained," she said softly, her voice smooth and deliberate. The knight seated beside her straightened at her words, his expression puzzled.
"Untrained, Your Grace?" he repeated, lowering his voice to match hers.
Kaelis's lips curved into a faint smile, though it lacked warmth. "Yes. His stance is unrefined, his movements too instinctive to be learned. And yet... look at how he carries himself." She gestured faintly toward Rynar with a graceful motion. "There's no hesitation, no doubt. That is not the bearing of a common boy."
The knight followed her gaze, his brow furrowing. "You think he's of noble blood?"
Kaelis tilted her head slightly, her pale hair catching the light as she considered the question. "No. There's no polish, no pretension. He's raw, like ore fresh from the earth—powerful, but unshaped."
Her gaze flicked back to Rynar as he squared his stance in front of the column. "But raw ore," she continued, her voice softening, "can be forged into something extraordinary."
Rynar's green eyes flicked between the evaluators, his expression unreadable. "Fine," he said quietly. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
Kaelis's expression didn't change, but there was a glint of something deeper in her eyes—a flicker of intrigue, tinged with anticipation. "Do not disappoint me," she murmured, her words meant for herself alone.
---
Rynar stepped back into position, rolling his shoulders as he prepared. The faint hum of the room seemed to dim, the air growing heavier as his focus narrowed. Slight wisps of steam began to rise from his skin, his body adjusting to the immense tension building within. Every muscle in his frame coiled like a spring, ready to release.
The room fell silent as he drew his fist back, the tension palpable.
With a sharp exhale, Rynar launched his punch.
The impact wasn't just heard—it was felt. The column exploded backward, its Voidsteel panels groaning as they buckled under the force. The Aetherium conduits shattered in a cascade of sparks, and the glowing runes fractured into shards of light. The column slammed into the far wall, embedding itself deep into the reinforced stone and leaving a crater-like dent.
The crystalline display flickered violently, struggling to process the sheer magnitude of the strike. Finally, it stabilized:
Force Output (kg): 88,000
Aura Output: N/A
Mana Resonance: None Detected
Affinity Signatures: None Detected
---
The wiry evaluator approached the shattered column cautiously, her sharp eyes scanning the fractured Voidsteel and ruined conduits. "Eighty-eight thousand kilos," she murmured, her voice tinged with disbelief. "No aura. No mana. That's... impossible."
The scarred instructor let out a low whistle, his gaze fixed on Rynar. "Kid," he said finally, "you didn't just break the column. You redefined the test."
Kaelis rose from her seat with the practiced grace of someone accustomed to commanding attention. Her silver robes trailed behind her as she stepped forward, her sharp gaze locked onto Rynar. The soft light of the hall glinted off the golden filigree woven into her attire, amplifying her regal presence.
"That wasn't even your full power, was it?" she asked, her voice smooth and composed.
Rynar straightened, his green eyes steady. "No," he admitted. "It wasn't."
Her lips curved into a faint smile, though it carried no warmth. "The Dominion will be very interested in what you are," she said, her tone sharp. "And what you might become."
She reached into the folds of her silver robes and retrieved a small, rectangular card made of smooth Aetherium crystal, its surface etched with glowing runes that shimmered faintly under the hall's light. Stepping closer, she extended it to Rynar.
"This is my contact sigil," she said, her voice even. "Should you find yourself seeking answers—or opportunities—you may summon me. But do so wisely. I don't make idle offers."
Rynar hesitated for a moment before taking the card, its cool surface sending a faint tingle through his fingertips. He studied it briefly, noting the intricate runes and her name written in flowing script: Lady Kaelis Vallin.
Their gazes locked for a moment, her piercing eyes searching his face as if looking for something beyond the surface. "You've taken your first step into a world far larger than you realize, Rynar," she added softly. "Tread carefully."
---
Rynar slipped the smooth Aetherium card into his pocket, its faint glow pressing lightly against his palm before disappearing from view. He didn't respond immediately, his green eyes fixed on Lady Kaelis Vallin as her words hung heavy in the charged air. Her presence was commanding, yet it carried a quiet danger—an aura of someone accustomed to shaping the fates of others.
"I'll keep that in mind," Rynar said finally, his voice steady despite the unease stirring within him.
Kaelis nodded, her silver robes trailing as she turned to leave. "Good," she said over her shoulder, her voice soft but deliberate. "It would be a shame to waste potential like yours."
As she departed, the remaining evaluators exchanged glances, their expressions caught somewhere between awe and uncertainty. The scarred instructor crossed his arms, his gaze still fixed on the mangled column.
"You've drawn a lot of attention, kid," he said finally. "Get used to it."
For better or worse, the world had taken notice.