The Phenomenon of Heaven’s Chosen
The talent test continued, and the atmosphere in the examination hall grew heavier with each passing moment. The crystal ball, an artifact imbued with ancient inscriptions, radiated a soft glow as one applicant after another placed their hands on it, their potential revealed in dazzling or underwhelming displays.
Elias stood at the top, his display unmatched. His crystal ball had shone with a deep, mesmerizing golden hue, his talent undeniable. Ryn, while performing excellently, had been a step behind, his glow bright but paling in comparison. Yet, the test was far from over.
Now, new figures stepped forth, each revealing talent and potential that could not be ignored.
The Prodigies
Among them was a young man named Kyren Vasht—a calm and composed individual with a refined air. He placed his hand on the crystal ball, and for a moment, nothing happened. A murmur spread through the crowd, but before anyone could mock him, the entire testing area trembled. The crystal ball flickered before turning a brilliant shade of silver, a sign of unparalleled inscriptional affinity. The proctors exchanged glances, recognizing that another monster had appeared in this examination.
"He… has excellent talent?" one of the examiners muttered.
"He might even rival Ryn."
Another young man, Jareth Lorne, followed suit. He was a hulking figure, muscles coiled with power, his presence alone exuding dominance. As his hands touched the crystal ball, arcs of blue lightning danced across its surface. The orb pulsed wildly before settling into a deep azure glow—his talent connected with storm-based engravings, a rare and dangerous affinity.
Then, the hall grew silent as the next applicant approached.
The Girl of Heavenly Beauty.
She was like a painting come to life.
Long, silken silver hair cascaded down her back, reaching her waist. Her skin was as pale as fresh snow, her eyes an ethereal shade of violet, like the glow of a starry night. She moved with the grace of flowing water, her very presence demanding attention without a single word. The whispers in the hall grew in intensity.
"Who is she?"
"She doesn't look like she's from around here."
"She's… too beautiful."
Her name was Seraphina Valcrest.
As she stepped before the crystal ball, there was an undeniable weight to her presence. The moment her slender fingers graced the orb's surface, a phenomenon unlike any before unfolded.
The crystal ball, which had only ever displayed light within its surface, suddenly shattered.
Gasps echoed across the room. The artifact was designed to withstand even the greatest prodigies—yet before her, it had failed to contain the surge of her talent. From the broken fragments, a surge of golden light erupted into the sky, twisting into intricate sigils that shimmered with divine brilliance.
"What… what kind of talent is this?" a proctor stammered.
The inscriptions in the air lingered for a long moment before fading, leaving everyone breathless.
Silence.
Then, a slow, deliberate clap broke through the stillness.
It was Elias.
His golden eyes, filled with intrigue, were locked onto Seraphina. A smirk played upon his lips. "Fascinating."
The test continued, but the atmosphere had shifted. The world had just been introduced to yet another heaven's chosen, and the competition had grown fiercer.
Ryn clenched his fists. The academy entrance exam was proving to be far more difficult than he had imagined.
The shattered fragments of the crystal ball were still being swept away as Seraphina Valcrest stepped down from the testing platform. The entire hall remained hushed, the weight of her display lingering like an unspoken pressure on the other applicants.
She ignored their stares. The awe. The whispers. She had long grown used to them.
Instead, her mind drifted elsewhere.
It happened again…
Her fingers curled slightly at her sides as she walked toward the designated waiting area. The light, the inscriptions, the phenomenon—it was not intentional. She had merely placed her hand on the crystal, yet something within her had responded, something vast and unknowable.
For as long as she could remember, she had been different. From childhood, inscriptions would form in the air around her at times of heightened emotion. They were not man-made, nor had she been taught them. They simply… appeared.
It had frightened her at first. She recalled the first time it happened—how her family had watched in awe and reverence. How the elders of her house had whispered amongst themselves, their voices hushed but unable to hide their greed.
"She is blessed by the heavens."
"She will bring the Valcrest name to new heights."
"Her talent is not something that can be measured by mortal means."
Blessed? No.
If anything, she felt cursed.
The light, the engravings—she did not control them. Rather, they controlled her.
Even now, standing amongst the waiting applicants, she could feel something deep inside her. A whisper, an ancient echo, brushing against the edges of her consciousness.
She exhaled softly, suppressing the unease. Not here. Not now.
Her gaze flickered across the room.
Elias. His golden eyes gleamed with undisguised amusement as he observed her. He was powerful. Overwhelmingly so. Yet when he looked at her, it was not with arrogance, nor intimidation. No, Elias looked at her as if she were a puzzle to be solved, a challenge to be unraveled.
Then there was Ryn. Unlike Elias, he had not spoken, nor had he lingered on her for long. Yet she had felt his eyes on her, his expression unreadable. He was strong—there was something restrained within him, something unpolished but growing.
And then there was another.
Seraphina's violet eyes settled on a dark-haired boy standing off to the side. He had given no name. He had spoken to no one. Yet he observed everything.
She did not know why, but something about him unsettled her. His gaze was not like the others. Where Elias was intrigued, and Ryn was uncertain, this boy was simply… watching.
It was a look she had seen before. Calculating. Cold. A gaze that did not see people, but tools.
A small, almost imperceptible shiver ran down her spine.
For the first time since arriving at this academy, Seraphina felt the stirrings of wariness.
And she did not know why.