Chapter 5: The Test

The sky above Arlin Village was overcast, a heavy shroud of gray that promised rain. Yet the people gathered in silence, eyes fixed on the figure in blue robes who stood beside the ancient stone altar at the village square.

The man from the Azure Flame Temple—Master Selric, he had called himself—radiated an aura of quiet authority. Though he had barely spoken, his presence had already silenced the entire village. The villagers, usually curious and chatty, now stood as still as the surrounding trees.

"Bring the candidate forward," Selric said.

Elian stepped out from the crowd, heart pounding but eyes steady. Mira was beside him, her grip firm on his shoulder before she let go. "Remember what we practiced. But more than that, trust yourself."

He nodded.

As he approached, he could feel Selric's eyes on him—sharp and calculating.

"State your name and age," Selric commanded.

"Elian. Sixteen."

Selric nodded and turned toward the altar. A stone pedestal stood there, inscribed with glowing runes that pulsed faintly in rhythm with the surrounding energy.

"Place your hand on the Conduit Stone. We will measure your spiritual potential and resonance."

Elian stepped forward and placed his hand on the stone. The moment his skin touched it, a ripple of golden light burst out—not white, not blue, but deep gold, like liquid sunlight. The runes on the stone blazed to life, swirling in patterns no one had seen in centuries.

Gasps rose from the crowd.

Selric stepped back, visibly shaken. "Impossible. That reading... it's beyond the Heaven-Aligned threshold."

He moved quickly, drawing a sigil in the air with a flick of his finger. A sheet of glowing energy appeared, covered in glyphs and diagrams. Numbers and patterns raced across it—until the sheet cracked, unable to contain the data.

"No recorded limit. The Conduit Stone can't measure it," he muttered.

Elian pulled his hand back, his own expression one of concern. "Is that... bad?"

"It means your spiritual veins exceed even the highest rank. It shouldn't be possible. The energy isn't just flowing through you—it's being amplified, refined, multiplied. Your very body is like a living forge."

Mira moved closer, arms crossed. "You see now why we trained in secret."

Selric turned to her, then back to Elian. "This kind of power will attract danger. The Temple must protect you... but they will also seek to understand you. Possibly control you."

Elian's jaw tightened. "I'm not a tool."

Selric raised a brow. "Then prove it. We have one more test."

He turned toward the training field and motioned. A young man stepped forward—slightly older than Elian, dressed in a silver tunic with the Azure Flame insignia. His expression was calm, but there was a glint of challenge in his eyes.

"This is Kareth, a Core Disciple of the Azure Flame Temple. If you wish to enter, you must spar with him. No fatal blows, but no holding back."

Elian stepped onto the field. Mira whispered, "Be careful. He's strong. And he's watching you closely."

The match began with a silent nod.

Kareth moved first, a streak of blue lightning crackling around his fists. He lunged forward with speed that impressed even Mira. Elian barely dodged, his instincts kicking in just in time. He countered with a palm strike, and again, golden light flared.

Their auras clashed. Kareth staggered back, stunned. "Your spiritual flow—it's unstable. No, not unstable… wild. Unshaped. Like raw lightning in human form."

Elian didn't reply. He focused, breathing deep. His veins surged with energy, and suddenly, he felt his surroundings slow. The wind, the footsteps, the racing heartbeats—all became clear.

He moved.

In a blur, he was behind Kareth, his hand glowing. He could end the match now. But instead, he paused, and lightly tapped Kareth's back.

The older disciple fell to his knees, stunned but unharmed.

Selric raised his hand. "Enough."

Silence returned.

Then, murmurs. Whispers. Awe.

Selric stepped forward, studying Elian like one would a newly discovered artifact.

"Welcome to the Azure Flame Temple, Elian of Arlin. Your path... will not be ordinary."

And so, with the heavens watching and mysteries unfolding, Elian's journey truly began.

Not just as a cultivator.

But as the bearer of Boundless Veins.