Complement

It was the first day of classes at Eldoria Academy, and the campus buzzed with excitement and the anticipation of new lessons. Raven walked through the halls, a sense of curiosity building within her.

Despite being in the same year as Celia, they were in different classrooms, a fact that made Raven feel both a little lost and a little excited for the change.

As she entered her classroom, Raven's gaze landed on the professor standing at the front. It was none other than Miss Lysque, the same professor who had sparred with her during the academy's orientation. The woman stood tall, her purple eyes scanning the room with a calm authority. Her long brown hair was tied neatly in a bun, and her attire was the same elegant outfit she wore during their previous encounter, a white bodice accented with gold details over a cream skirt.

"Hello, students," Miss Lysque began, her voice smooth and commanding. "Today, we'll be discussing magic affinities. Each of you will have one, and today's lesson will cover the basics of each affinity. But before we dive into that, we'll first determine your personal affinity using this."

She placed a transparent orb on her desk, the surface shimmering with faint hues of light as if it were alive. It was a strange, mesmerizing object, and Raven could feel a subtle pull from it, like it was waiting for something.

"This is a Mana Affinity Sphere," Miss Lysque explained. "Each student will place their hand on it and infuse their mana into the ball. Based on the color it displays, we'll determine your elemental affinity. It's a crucial part of understanding your magic. Your affinity will not only define the type of magic you will likely excel at, but it can also shape your approach to combat and spellcasting."

The class was silent, their attention fully on the professor and the glowing sphere. Raven felt a small surge of nervousness building within her. She had never formally tested her mana affinity before with a modern object, but she had with one of her former trainers. 

Although she already knew what her magic affinity was, it would still be interesting to see how the spher would react. In her past life, there was nothing like this. She was kind of excited to see how the Mana Affinity Sphere worked. 

Miss Lysque gave a small nod, signaling the start. "Starting from the left row, come up one by one, place your hand on the ball, and channel your mana into it. Don't worry, the sphere will guide you. We'll determine your affinity in turn. Understood?"

The class chorused, "Yes!"

Raven's eyes watched as the first student approached the ball, a nervous boy who seemed unsure of himself. He hesitated for a moment before placing his palm against the orb. A brief, soft glow emanated from the ball before it flashed bright blue. The boy stepped back, looking confused.

"Water affinity," Miss Lysque said with a nod. "You have the potential to manipulate water magic. It's a versatile and adaptable element."

The boy beamed, relief and pride washing over him as he returned to his seat. One by one, the students came up, and Raven watched intently. The colors that appeared ranged from bright green for earth to yellow for lightning, each element showing itself through the ball's shimmering glow.

Finally, it was Raven's turn. She stood up from her seat, her pulse quickening slightly as she made her way to the front. The room grew unnervingly silent, all eyes locked on her. Each step she took seemed to echo louder in her ears. She reached the orb and placed her hand gently upon its cool, smooth surface. As she focused her mana into the sphere, she expected it to glow like it had for the others. But something different—something strange—happened.

The orb hummed softly, a low vibration that resonated up her arm. For a brief moment, it remained dormant, as if absorbing her energy and deciding how to respond. Then, slowly, the orb began to glow—but not with the vibrant hues of the familiar elements. Instead, its core darkened, a deep, swirling purple spreading outward like ink in water. The light within seemed to twist and coil as though alive, consuming the surrounding brightness.

Gasps erupted across the room, breaking the silence like a stone shattering glass.

"What… is that?" one student whispered, their voice tinged with fear.

"Dark magic?" another muttered under their breath.

Raven felt the weight of their stares intensify. Miss Lysque, standing nearby, kept her expression calm, but Raven caught a flicker of something in her eyes—intrigue, perhaps even admiration.

The murmurs began to rise, a low hum of uncertainty and speculation.

"Dark magic? Isn't that... dangerous?"

"I heard it's cursed—brings misfortune."

"How can she have an affinity for darkness? She's a Vermillion!"

Miss Lysque raised a hand, her measured tone cutting through the chatter. "Silence, please."

The class stilled, though uneasy glances continued to dart toward Raven.

"Darkness affinity," Miss Lysque announced, her voice firm but thoughtful. "It is rare, indeed. Raven Vermillion, your affinity lies with the shadows themselves. Darkness is not inherently evil, despite what some may believe. Like all magic, its value depends on how it is wielded."

Raven stood motionless, her hand still on the orb. The swirling purple light within it began to fade as she stepped back. Though slightly surprised, she kept her expression neutral. This wasn't entirely unexpected; her mana had always felt... different. Still, hearing it confirmed brought a strange mix of pride and uncertainty.

Her gaze flicked to the other students. Most were staring at her with a mixture of awe and trepidation. A few whispered to each other, their words barely audible but clear enough in their intent.

"She's dangerous. I bet she'll bring bad luck."

"Didn't they say dark mages caused the Cataclysm centuries ago?"

"How can someone like her be a Vermillion? Aren't they supposed to have fire magic?"

Raven straightened her back, brushing off the whispers and the stares. She had no time to concern herself with baseless fears or prejudice. She had heard the stories, the misconceptions about darkness magic. But she knew better than to let those whispers define her.

As Raven returned to her seat, the room still buzzed with unease. Miss Lysque allowed a moment for the students to settle before calling the next name.

"Lumina Aurelis, step forward."

The classroom hushed again, the murmurs replaced with curious anticipation. All eyes turned to the elegant figure who rose gracefully from her seat. Lumina's presence commanded attention, her golden hair catching the light as she walked with poise to the orb. Her pristine uniform, coupled with the small golden sigil pinned to her chest—a mark of royal lineage—set her apart.

She reached the orb and rested her hand delicately on its surface. The room seemed to hold its breath. As Lumina focused her mana, the orb immediately reacted, flaring to life with a radiant glow. A pure, golden light pulsed from the sphere, enveloping the classroom in warmth. The brilliance of the light was almost blinding, filling the space with an aura of serenity and power.

The students gasped in awe, the tension from Raven's reveal momentarily forgotten.

"Light affinity," Miss Lysque declared, her voice carrying an unmistakable note of approval. "An exceptional display of mana purity and control. As expected of the Aurelis lineage."

Lumina withdrew her hand, and the golden light faded, leaving a sense of calm in its wake. She turned and faced the room, her expression composed yet unmistakably proud. Her eyes briefly met Raven's, her gaze lingering for a fraction of a second before moving on.

"She's royalty—of course, she'd have light magic," one student murmured.

"But did you see how bright it was? I've never seen anything like that."

"She's incredible. Imagine being able to wield light like that!"

Lumina returned to her seat, her steps as graceful as her movements. As she passed Raven, their eyes met again, and this time, there was a flicker of something in Lumina's gaze—curiosity, perhaps, or recognition.

Raven held her stare for a moment before turning her attention back to the front. The contrast between their affinities couldn't have been starker: light and darkness. Yet, instead of feeling intimidated, Raven felt a spark of determination.

Miss Lysque resumed her lecture, her tone as steady as ever. "Light and darkness. Two sides of the same coin, each with its own strengths and challenges. Let this serve as a reminder that magic, regardless of its nature, is a reflection of the wielder."

The class settled once again, though Raven couldn't shake the weight of Lumina's brief glance. She had a feeling their paths would cross again—and sooner than she might expect.

Soon enough, the class had ended after a long lecture of magic affinities, and how mastery over your magic affinity is much easier than mastery over a different element. 

"Things are changing..." Raven muttered as she went to her next class.