Mana Affinity Detection Test

As we talked that day, Alexander told me a few things.

First of all, he told me that he had found me just outside the metal door that led to the underground cavern that day.

And he also told me that after anybody passes out in the pool, the pool either deems them worthy to live, modifies their body but doesn't reconstruct it and spawns them out of the pool to any random location in the mansion.. or, they're left to die.

And from what he said as he talked to me, it's safe to assume that nobody has ever seen that Phoenix during the ritual before. I'm the first.

A bitter smile spreads on my lips.

"Well, it doesn't matter to me. What matters is what the Phoenix told me about my wife, myself, and my destiny.

It told me about the mysterious entities called 'THEY' that are 'guiding' me toward my destiny. And that my journey begins at Ludia, the city of beginnings.. where the hell is it even located?"

My voice is a low murmur. I bet anyone would think I'm crazy if they heard me.

"I should wait for now and do proper research. To know more about this world and its rules. I planned to leave this household after I learn Magic anyway."

My fingers scratch an itchy spot at the top of my head.

It's been five months since that gruesome ritual.

Much has changed. Well– not much, but some things have changed.

At least, the maids and other people don't blatantly insult me in my presence anymore. I think they do it behind my back.

I'm staying in the main residence now. The largest building in the estate. The downside is that I frequently run into some of the family members. Sometimes, James, the little gremlin that thought I'd die, but the boy is no longer able to meet my eyes. Sometimes I run into Jiley, the quiet teenager, but I heard he's gone to the imperial academy now and is no longer in the mansion.

And sometimes I even run into some old men or women in the hallway that I believe are the 'Elders of Flameworth,' they always look at me with thick disdain, but my survival in the pool makes them unable to talk bad about me. At least in my presence.

On the upside of all this, I'm allowed a little freedom now. I can go on strolls around the entire estate whenever I feel like it. But that's about it.. nothing more, these are the only things that have changed.

Speaking of change, today... today will be the day that determines my total change in treatment in this family. It'll determine whether I'll learn magic in this family, and how people would see me from now on– either a star or trash.

It's also gonna determine if I'll be disowned by my family and banished for having an affinity to another element that isn't fire.

It is no problem to me though. Because no matter what happens today, it won't affect me or my goal. I'm not doing this to become loved by this crazy family or the people around me; my goal is to learn magic.

And I don't care where I learn it from or which element my mana is in affinity with.

It's just that it's easier to learn here first and know more about this world than to dive head first into a world I know nothing about, defenseless.

The ceramic tiles clink on impact with my boots as I stride toward the door, determined to go get my detection done.

***

"I heard that the affinity detection day is always crowded with people, but I didn't know it'll be this crowded."

I'm at the training grounds of the mansion. It's a large spaced area with sand on the ground that causes dust at the slightest movement. The training grounds is big enough to contain... Hundreds of people.

As I arrive at the training grounds, the stench hits me first; it's sweaty, but it's breathable. The type that gets half filtered away by the occasional surge of cool breeze.

There's a crowd filled with men, women and children of all types. And they all have something in common; their eagerness. It's written all over their faces.

Reminds me of interview days..

The people gatherered all here to detect their children's mana affinity.

If by some miracle their child's mana is in affinity with the fire element, their child will be scouted by the Flameworth's household and trained from a young age to become a flame mage and the child's family will be compensated fully of course.

As I walk inside the training grounds, the sights of many things stand out to me. Various carriages are parked in a single line at the front entrance of the training grounds.

The carriages belong to local nobles of nearby fiefs. Some might be noble families from far away, I can't tell. But according to Jennette, some of them are from the branch families of the Flameworths.

I slip past the crowds of people. Most of them are mothers– Commoners, some are fathers, and many of the nobles sent their representatives.

They're all standing with children, not older or younger than the age of four.

The scorching, hot afternoon sun shines on the people gatherered in this training ground that's alive with hustling and bustling, whispers and chattering from every direction.

Giggles flood into my ear. Even cries– they're from children. They're playing, and running around while waiting for the announcer to show up with his huge affinity detecting crystal.

These kids.. they're so noisy. Well, that's how kids their age are supposed to behave. I'm the odd one.. but still, I don't think either of my kids behaved like this...

The front line of the of the crowd is where I'm standing. Shielded from the scorching sun by the shadow of some men in front of me.

Literally every adult is a giant to me.

I'm dressed in a finely tailored black shirt, jacket and trousers. I wonder why the announcer hasn't yet showed up. We've been waiting for a while now.

And it's getting more annoying even as I'm trying to ignore it; the gossips of these people.

I let out a deep breath.

"Isn't that.. the trash illegitimate child?"

"I think it is, I heard his mother was a mere maid."

"No wonder his hair is black, really different from a normal Flameworth's."

"Do you think he'll be worth anything?"

"Pfft, please, he's a half-blood, I bet after today he'd be disowned."

"Hahaha, you're right. He's so disgusting, standing there like some kind of big shot just because he's a Flameworth."

"Hey, careful, you don't wanna get roasted by a guard because you're insulting their Young Master."

"Ha! As if they care about that trash."

The Snickers are getting more and more blatant. I can't hold back my annoyance anymore.

My neck slowly turns, and my eyes catch the sight of the women who are trash-talking me.

Under the shadows of the men in front of me, my eyes glows a dangerous and ominous crimson as I flash a hostile look at them.

That ought to shut them up.

With a flinch, they straighten their backs, avoiding my gaze as beads of sweat slide down their foreheads.

My sight turns away from them as I turn to face forward.

Fools.. they have no colored ring or clusters around them, only moonlight. Even their children have no colored cluster or ring. They should give up on this detection test.

Finally, the man we've all been waiting for– the announcer steps out.

Sure took his sweet time.

He's a burly man with sharp eyes, dressed in a neat black uniform.

He steps forward, at the wooden platform in front of the training ground. And behind him, three men carry a huge colourless crystal that reflects the sun's light to different angles.

They drop the crystal on the wooden platform, next to where the announcer's standing. The crystal is oddly shaped, it's like the map of some country.

"Ahe–hem!"

The announcer shouts, and the loud training ground is engulfed in silence.

He brings out a scroll from the inner pocket of his uniform. It's long, very very long.

"Below is the list of people that signed up for this year's affinity detecting test! If you hear your child's name bring them up the platform to touch the crystal and check their affinity!"

His voice is the only thing that echoes throughout the silence of the once bustling training ground.

"Tuna Fishembourg! Step up and detect your affinity!"

Pfft, what a name.

Immediately a child touches the crystal, the colorless crystal shines either of four different lights; Red, Yellow, Green and blue.

Red for Fire.

Yellow for Earth.

Blue for Water.

Green for Air.

Depending on the brightness of the light as it shines on the crystal, their affinity is graded to be high or low.

But I already know... I know their affinity before they touch the crystal. It's because of the clusters of light around them. The color of the clusters of light is the element they have an affinity with. The ones with pure moonlight clusters around them have no affinity with any element.

And people with rings instead of clusters around them are... I don't know yet. But that announcer guy has four red rings revolving around him.

But me? I don't even know my affinity. I only see a plain cluster of darkness around me.

Many of the adults cry as they take the children they hold, away from the platform with lowered heads.

Some of them celebrate as the announcer declares their child with an affinity to fire, whether low or high.

Many noble kids from the branch families stand out with some of them having high, mid or low-grade fire affinities.

My eyes lock with the announcer's, his lips curling up into a smile.

"Charles Liam Flameworth! Step on the platform and detect your mana affinity!"

And finally, I hear my name... it's my turn.