The trial of Artes.

Kun barely had time to steal another pastry from the royal kitchens before Alice dragged him through the winding halls of the palace, grumbling the entire way.

"I still think this is a terrible idea," Alice muttered under his breath. "You're just going to let them poke and prod at you?"

Kun, unfazed, took another bite of his stolen pastry. "You worry too much."

Alice groaned. "Kun, my father doesn't test things. He dissects them. If he finds out you're something unusual, you might never leave this palace again."

Kun raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound too bad. Free food. Fancy bed. People who bow when I walk past." He smirked. "Could be fun."

Alice deadpanned. "Oh? And what happens when he starts making you fight mages twice your size? You think that's fun too?"

Kun chewed thoughtfully. "Depends. Do I get more pastries if I win?"

Alice nearly tripped over his own feet.

"Unbelievable," he muttered.

- - - 

Kun found himself standing in the center of a grand, circular chamber deep within the palace. The floor beneath him was smooth obsidian, carved with ancient runes that pulsed faintly with magic. The walls stretched impossibly high, lined with towering bookshelves and flickering torches. At the far end of the room, the King sat on a raised platform, watching with an unreadable expression.

Alice stood beside Kun, arms crossed and brows furrowed. "This is ridiculous," he muttered under his breath. "A whole exam? Just because you deflected one spell?"

Kun shrugged, unfazed.

The court mage, the same one from the previous day, stepped forward, his robes swaying. "By order of His Majesty, we will conduct a formal assessment of the boy's Artes." His voice echoed through the chamber. "We will begin with a simple evaluation of magical affinity."

Kun blinked. "What's that?"

The mage huffed in disapproval. "It is a method to determine what element or type of Artes flows most naturally within you." With a wave of his hand, five glowing orbs appeared, each swirling with a different hue—fire, water, wind, earth, and light. "You will touch them. The one that reacts will reveal your affinity."

Kun stared at the floating orbs, then reached out.

He touched the red one first—fire. It flickered slightly, but nothing else happened.

Next, the blue—water. No response.

He moved to the green—wind. A faint shimmer.

Alice held his breath as Kun reached for the brown—earth. This time, the orb trembled, as if uncertain.

Then, finally, he placed his hand on the last orb—light.

A shockwave exploded outward.

The orb shattered into golden fragments, swirling around Kun's fingers like tiny stars before fading into the air. The torches lining the chamber flared brightly, then dimmed. A deep, unsettling silence followed.

The court mage took a step back, eyes wide. Even the King's gaze sharpened.

Alice, however, had only one thought: Oh, we're so doomed.

Kun tilted his head. "Was that supposed to happen?"

The mage cleared his throat, attempting to regain his composure. "...It appears your primary affinity is Light." He hesitated before adding, "But that level of reaction is highly… unusual."

Kun hummed, uninterested. "What's next?"

The mage hesitated, then turned to the King. "Your Majesty?"

The King tapped his fingers on the armrest of his throne, deep in thought. Then, he smirked. "Proceed."

Alice stiffened. He's enjoying this.

The mage nodded. "We will now test control. Kun, you will be given a basic spell. Your task is to recite the incantation and channel the energy correctly."

Kun frowned. "I have to say words?"

The mage sighed. "Yes. As is proper for Artes." He extended a hand, conjuring a simple golden script in the air. "This is an incantation for a small shield spell. Read it aloud, and focus."

Kun stared at the glowing text, lips parting slightly.

"I can't read."

Alice sighed in relief for seconds.

The nobles whispered. 

The King, however, leaned forward, intrigued. "Oh?"

Kun exhaled and lazily raised his hand. A golden light flickered to life in his palm. Without speaking a single word, a radiant shield of Artes materialized in front of him, shimmering and flawless.

A spell, cast without an incantation.

The court mage looked like he was about to faint.

Alice buried his face in his hands. I knew this would happen.

Kun, meanwhile, examined his own work with mild curiosity. "Huh. Worked anyway."

The King chuckled, slow and calculating. "How very… unique."

Kun finally looked at him. Their eyes met.

For the first time since stepping into this chamber, Kun felt it again—that eerie sensation from the throne room. Like the King was watching something beyond him, as if he could see something Kun himself could not.

Kun didn't like it.

The King smiled. "One final test."

The air grew tense.

The court mage swallowed. "Your Majesty, perhaps we should—"

"Silence," the King said smoothly, rising from his seat. "I will conduct this one myself."

Alice froze. "Father, that's not—"

But it was too late.

The King raised his hand.

A single word left his lips.

"Break."

A pulse of invisible force shot toward Kun, fast as lightning. Alice barely had time to react before—

BOOM.

Kun moved before he even realized it.

The golden glow in his hands flared violently, and in an instant, the force of the King's spell was reflected back at him. The impact shattered the floor beneath Kun's feet, golden cracks spreading outward. The King's own spell was sent hurtling back toward him—only for it to vanish just before reaching his throne.

The King lowered his hand, utterly unbothered. But his eyes gleamed with something close to satisfaction.

Kun, on the other hand, stood still, his breathing slightly uneven. His body had reacted on its own.

The silence was deafening.

Then—

The King laughed.

Deep. Amused. Satisfied.

Alice felt sick.

"Magnificent," the King murmured. "Instinctive Artes. No formal training. No knowledge of incantations. And yet…" His golden gaze bore into Kun. "You are dangerous."

Kun frowned. "I didn't attack you."

The King merely smiled. "Not yet."

Alice hated the way he said that.

The court mage hesitated, then quickly bowed. "Y-Your Majesty, what are your orders?"

The King exhaled, looking at Kun one last time. Then, he waved a hand dismissively.

"Take the boy back to his quarters." He glanced at Alice. "And do keep an eye on him, my son."

Alice swallowed hard. "...Of course."

Kun yawned, rubbing his eye. "That's it?"

"For now."

Alice grabbed Kun's wrist immediately. "We're leaving."

Kun let himself be dragged out of the chamber, unfazed. But as they left, he glanced over his shoulder—just in time to see the King watching him.

Not like a ruler looking at a subject.

Like a hunter watching prey.

Kun turned away, his grip tightening ever so slightly.

Something told him this wasn't over.