The training hall buzzed with quiet excitement. Sunlight streamed in through the tall windows, catching on floating specks of dust as rows of children stood before a long table lined with materials— each representing one of the primary elements like fire, water, wind, earth, light, darkness.
A faint hum of energy filled the room.
"Remember," Elder Marn's voice echoed across the hall— calm but firm— "your Soul Marks have awakened now. From this point forward, your path as magic wielders truly begins."
He raised a hand, palm open. "You've all trained for two years using materials of all elements— whether you had an affinity or not. That practice ends today. Now begins the test."
The children nodded— some eager, others visibly nervous. One by one, they stepped forward to their assigned stations, where small piles of elemental materials waited: dried leaves for fire, smooth low-density stones for earth, a blue shimmering liquid blend for water, crystal orbs for light, and softly floating spores in sealed jars for wind.
They began.
Mana was drawn from the world around them— an invisible stream of energy pulled toward them, like rivers flowing to a dam. The Soul Mark on each of their backs glowed faintly, becoming the bridge between the world's mana and their own body. The energy flowed inward, channeled through their soul mark, then out through their arms and hands.
Small sparks ignited as the dried leaves caught flame in several corners of the hall.
Other students focused on the stones, pouring mana into them. The pebbles trembled, lifted slightly into the air, then fell back. A few cracked neatly in half— a successful sign of controlled Earth magic.
Some dipped their fingers into the shimmering blue liquid, now glowing faintly from the mana infused into it. As they concentrated, the liquid danced in the air, rippling into globes of floating water.
The crystal orbs pulsed with a gentle white glow as students focused their mana, successfully casting the basic light spell— a test of control and clarity.
Wind was trickier. A few students opened the jars of spores, channeling mana to produce faint gusts that lifted the particles in swirling, airy spirals.
Despite the variety, they all followed the same principle: draw mana from the world, guide it through the Soul Mark, and direct it into the appropriate material. The familiarity they had cultivated with each element's properties over two years now bore fruit.
But there was a limit.
Although all students could now perform basic spells of each element, true magic remained out of reach unless their Soul Mark resonated with that element's natural frequency— known as affinity.
Affinity changed everything.
If one had an affinity with fire, for example, they needed only to focus on their Soul Mark and align its resonance with the world's fire energy. That alignment created a deeper connection, allowing more advanced spells, higher output, and quicker recovery.
Without affinity, even basic spells demanded precision, stamina, and effort. That was why these past two years of training had been essential.
Some students had dual affinities. They had learned to shift the resonance of their Soul Mark— first to fire, then to water— depending on intent. That focus, trained and sharpened, would define their growth.
Elder Marn watched silently, arms crossed behind his back.
"Most of you won't realize the value of these past two years until much later," he murmured to himself. "When the time comes to fight for power or survival… the familiarity you've earned today will decide whether you regret the path you took— or thank it."
And so, the test continued. Simple. Silent. Beautiful.
Elder Marn nodded several times as he observed the students.
When it ended, he stepped forward and addressed them.
"Well done, everyone. You all did well in the test."
"I'm pleased to say that each of you has reached the First Flame of the Sparked Stage of the Mortal Realm."
His words caused several students to beam with pride.
"Once you begin practicing more with your attuned elements, you'll move toward the Soul Glimmer stage— the fourth and final sub-stage of the Sparked Stage."
He paused before continuing.
"For Soul Glimmer, your Soul Mark must respond to your emotions. You need to resonate with the element you're attuned to and with the world around you. If not, you'll fail to cast high-tier spells. Keep your mind calm, think of the element you want to use, feel it… and will it."
"After that, you can learn to cast and weave complex spells. To be eligible to enter the Academy of the South Region, you need to be in the Etched Stage of the Mortal Realm, capable of casting low-tier spells and proficient in basic weapon combat. You must also be at least twelve years of age."
"In the next two years, all of you will turn twelve. So prepare yourselves. Work hard, strive for your dreams."
"Yes, Elder!" the class replied in unison.
Kael raised his hand eagerly. "Elder, what about the weapon selection you mentioned yesterday? When do we get our weapons?"
Marn turned toward him with a soft smile. "Ah yes, I was getting to that. But first, rest. You're all tired. You'll need a fresh mind to make a proper choice."
"Now go. Rest for a while," he said, waving his hand and dismissing them.
Some children sat on the nearby grass, gulping water. Others pulled out snacks they had brought from home.
Kael glanced at Arin and asked, "So, why were you so late today?"
Arin just smiled and replied quietly, "Thanks, Kael."
Kael tilted his head. "Thanks? For what?" Then his eyes widened. "Wait… is it about the journal? Did it belong to your father?"
Arin nodded. "Yes. Mama copied it into a new book. She said she could understand his handwriting and managed to recover most of it."
Others nearby overheard and gathered around.
Daren stepped closer. "Is it true, Arin? You found your father's journal?"
Arin nodded again. "Yeah. Kael found it yesterday in the village library."
Even Silen— usually quiet— spoke up this time. "What did Darian write in it? Have you read it yet?"
Arin shook his head. "Not yet. Mama said it's mostly about his days at the South Academy and his early journey."
"I'll take a look at it once I'm home."
After the crowd dispersed, Arin turned to Kael and whispered, "You can come over later, Kael. We can read the journal together."
"Really?" Kael's eyes lit up.
Arin chuckled. "Yes. But Mama said you have to promise not to mess up her herb garden."
Kael coughed awkwardly. "I'd never do that... I promise."
Arin smiled and nodded. "Okay."
Kael sprawled out on the green grass, arms wide. "Anyway… did you decide what weapon you want to choose?"
Arin looked thoughtful. "No. I asked Mama what weapon my father used. She said… he didn't use one."
Kael blinked. "Wait, so you're not going to use a weapon? But Elder Marn said it's required to enter the South Academy!"
"I know," Arin said. "I'll choose something. I just haven't decided yet. Maybe once I see all the weapons, I'll get an idea."