Chapter 6: The First Touch

A nervous energy vibrated through the room, punctuated by hesitant murmurs.

The command to"proceed forward" hung in the air, but many students glanced at each other, their faces etched with uncertainty.

"Miss Elara," a voice called out, bolder than the rest but laced with apprehension,

"what happens if... what if we can't make the orb light up?" The question hung heavy, articulating the unspoken fear of many.

Miss Elara's gaze softened slightly, a hint of understanding in her sharp eyes.

"It's a valid concern," she acknowledged.

"This is not about immediate success, but about connection and recognition. If the orb doesn't respond, it simply means your mana isn't yet flowing in a way that the orb can detect, or that you haven't yet found the subtle connection point. It's a baseline assessment, not a judgment of your worth or potential. Everyone's journey is different."

She then added, her tone becoming more serious,

"And everyone doesn't need to worry. This test is also about making sure if someone has been corrupted by their mana, to check for any dark energy flowing through them while it's still early. But worry not, even if someone does have a dark energy running through their mana, it doesn't mean they're dangerous. It simply means they need more observation and guidance."

Professor Aris then stepped forward, picking up her data slate. Her voice, crisp and authoritative, cut through the remaining tension."Very well. The first phase of the Ascension Trial will now commence. You will each approach the orb, one by one. Place your dominant hand a few inches above it, as Miss Elara demonstrated. Concentrate. Focus on the energy within you, the mana that Miss Elara just described as flowing through everything."

She paused, scanning the faces in the room.

"The orb is designed to react to the presence of mana by absorbing it. Its response will allow us to record your individual baseline. This is not about power, but about connection. Remember, patience and belief in your own inherent energy are key."

"We will begin with the rows closest to the front. Mr. Alaric, you are first."

A thin, nervous boy from the front row visibly gulped, his face paling slightly as he slowly rose from his bench. He glanced around, taking in the expectant gazes of his classmates, then hesitantly made his way towards the demonstration desk.

The black orb, now inert and dull, seemed to loom larger under the focused attention.

Zak watched, a familiar sense of detachment settling over him, yet tinged with a faint curiosity. He wondered if he would feel anything at all.

Gus, beside him, was practically vibrating with excitement, murmuring,

"Oh man, oh man, it's starting! I wonder what it'll feel like!" Lila leaned forward, her bright eyes fixed on Alaric, a mixture of apprehension and hope on her face. Finn adjusted his glasses, his analytical mind already dissecting the instructions, preparing himself mentally for the task ahead.

Alaric reached the desk, his hand trembling slightly as he held it above the obsidian orb. He closed his eyes, his brow furrowed in concentration, and the room fell silent once more. After a few tense seconds, a faint, almost imperceptible gleam appeared on the surface of the orb.

It was dim, barely enough to illuminate the immediate area of the desk, but it was there—a soft, internal pulse of white light, like a tiny star struggling to shine through dense fog.

"Baseline recorded," Professor Aris stated, her voice flat, as she scribbled something on her slate.

"You may return to your seat, Mr. Alaric."

Alaric's shoulders slumped in a mixture of relief and disappointment.

He hadn't made it blaze, but he hadn't failed either. Gus let out a small, relieved sigh next to Zak. Lila offered Alaric a small, encouraging smile as he passed. Finn, however, simply watched, his expression unreadable, already analyzing the subtle energy signature he might have just witnessed.

One by one, more students were called. Some, like Alaric, managed a faint, hesitant glow. Others, despite their visible effort, produced no light at all, the orb remaining stubbornly dark. A few achieved a slightly brighter, more consistent luminescence, drawing gasps of admiration from their peers.

Professor Aris maintained her stoic demeanor, meticulously recording each outcome on her slate, while Miss Elara observed with an almost imperceptible nod for each successful connection, and a thoughtful frown for the blank responses. The air in the room grew thicker with the collective tension of individual attempts, success, and failure.

Finally, Professor Aris's voice cut through the monotonous rhythm of the assessment.

"Mr. Finnian, you are next."

Finn took a deep breath, pushing his glasses further up his nose. Unlike the nervous trembling of Alaric or the eager anticipation of others, a quiet, almost scholarly determination settled on his features.

He rose with deliberate calm, his gaze unwavering as he walked towards the orb. Zak watched, knowing Finn had prepared for this moment, not just physically, but intellectually.

Finn approached the desk, his hand steady as he held it above the dark sphere. His eyes, usually sharp with observation, now closed in deep concentration. He didn't strain or flinch, but seemed to delve inward. A moment passed, then another, and then the obsidian orb began to glow.

It wasn't a hesitant flicker like Alaric's. Instead, a clear, steady white light bloomed from within, brighter and more robust than any student before him. The soft illumination spread across the desk, reflecting clearly in Finn's still-closed eyelids.

A collective gasp rippled through the classroom, and even Professor Aris paused for a moment, her usual impassive expression momentarily softening into something akin to quiet interest before she swiftly recorded his baseline.

As Finn returned to his seat, a new name was called."Mr. Kaelen."

A quiet boy, who had mostly kept to himself in the back rows, slowly pushed himself up. Kaelen's movements were slow, almost hesitant, and his eyes, though sharp, held a guarded, weary look that seemed too old for his young face.

There was a subtle tension in his shoulders, a slight tremor in his hands that had nothing to do with nerves and everything to do with a deeper, unreadable strain. He walked to the desk, his steps light, almost as if he didn't want to disturb the air.

He positioned his palm above the orb. Unlike the others who strained for connection, Kaelen's face remained impassive, almost vacant. And then, the orb reacted. A deep, unsettling darkness bloomed from within the obsidian sphere.

It wasn't a radiating glow that consumed light, but rather a profound, almost tangible absence of light that settled upon the orb itself, making its surface appear even blacker than before, as if it had absorbed all illumination into its core. The effect was subtle but undeniably there, a stark contrast to the white glows.

A few students exchanged uneasy glances, but before any murmurs could start, Miss Elara's eyes widened almost imperceptibly.

"It's okay," she stated, her voice calm but with an underlying firmness that quieted the room. She glanced at Professor Aris, whose fingers had paused over her slate.

"We now have one record of dark energy in their mana."

Miss Elara then turned her gaze to the rest of the class, a reassuring expression on her face.

"There's no need to be nervous about what you just witnessed," she projected, her voice carrying clearly.

"As I mentioned earlier, detecting mana in this phase is precisely to identify any irregularities early on. This is for your safety and development."

As Professor Aris finished recording Kaelen's baseline and gestured for him to return to his seat, Kaelen walked past Miss Elara.

Her voice dropped to a barely audible whisper, meant only for him.

"If that energy ever feels like it's getting more unstable, Kaelen, don't hesitate to ask for my help or advice. My door is always open."

Professor Aris called the next name.