Aina's pointer swept back to the center of the chart.
"These Anomalies, Elias, are tied to the very first and last of the great Arcana. 'The Fool', its symbol a shattered orb reflecting light from its many fragments, constantly shifting patterns across its broken surface. Its personality is unpredictable, adventurous, optimistic, spontaneous, and holds vast, untapped potential.
Its counterpart, 'The World', symbolized by an intricate pattern of infinitely spiraling rings, perfectly enclosing an absolute, lightless void at its center. Its personality is integrated, complete, achieves mastery, embodies finality, and possesses profound stillness. These two are assumed to be the ultimate expressions of Flow and Anti-Flow, the Alpha and Omega of existence."
She then moved to the Cosmic Class, her pointer hovering over the first set of five symbols.
"Within the Cosmic Class, first:
'The Magician', its symbol a pair of clown's lips with three eyes above it, the two outer eyes angled toward the central vertical eye. Its personality is resourceful, skilled, active, focused, and a clear channel for cosmic energies.
Next, 'The Chariot', depicted as a comet in the shape of a wheel, trailing brilliant stardust as it streaks across a miniature cosmic backdrop. Its personality is driven, disciplined, victorious, exerts strong control, and moves forward relentlessly.
"Then comes 'The Wheel of Fortune' , a cluster of gears, one large central gear surrounded by smaller, constantly turning ones, all intricately interlocked and in motion. Its personality is adaptable, understands fate, recognizes patterns, and navigates change effectively.
Following that is 'The Star', an eight-pointed star casting eight beams of light below it. Its personality is hopeful, inspiring, connected, guides others, and renews spiritual essence.
Finally, in this class, we have 'The Sun', a miniature, self-sustaining solar system where a central orb radiates pure, brilliant light, illuminating smaller, orbiting motes. A line connects the planets to form a constellation. Its personality is joyful, radiant, brings clarity, embodies success, and is vibrant and optimistic."
Aina's pointer shifted to the Cognitive Class.
"These Traits delve into the intricacies of thought and perception.
First, 'The High Priestess', its symbol a crystal shard shattering through a grid-like glass, the fragments momentarily suspended. Its personality is intuitive, secretive, insightful, seeks hidden truths, and possesses deep inner wisdom.
Next, 'The Justice', depicted as a perfectly balanced scale bisected by light and dark with the pan in the dark holding a star and the pan in the light holding a black orb. Its personality is objective, fair, truthful, analytical, and seeks balance and righteousness.
"Then there's 'The Hermit', a lantern with spiraling flames, casting long, moving shadows around it. Its personality is introspective, wise, solitary, guides others through inner knowledge, and seeks profound truths.
Following that is 'The Moon'. Its symbol was the moon with a crescent, making it two colors. The smaller crescent was silver while the bigger one, partially hidden by a cloud, was red, with three smaller clouds floating below it. Its personality is illusory, intuitive, mysterious, plays on perception, and explores the subconscious.
Lastly, 'The Tower ', a lightning-struck obelisk, fractured but still standing tall, emitting sharp, revealing flashes of light from its cracks. Its personality is disruptive, revelatory, forces change, exposes truth, and is unpredictable."
Her pointer moved to the Existential Class.
"These Traits directly affect the essence of reality.
First, 'The Empress' , its symbol a rose, its thorny spine forming a triquetra behind it, encased in an orb. Its personality is nurturing, creative, abundant, protective, and fosters life and development.
Next, 'The Emperor', depicted as a spiky crown with two swords piercing through it to form an 'X' shape within it. Its personality is authoritative, disciplined, controlling, protective, and establishes order.
"Then comes 'The Hanged Man' , a silver drop of liquid frozen mid-fall, caught in an eternal pause while its black inversion was reflected below it. Its personality is sacrificial, insightful, philosophical, and gains wisdom from unique viewpoints. Following that is 'Death' , a skull with a cross on its forehead and fangs, a tilted scythe hanging under its jaw. Its personality is transformative, accepts change, brings about endings for new beginnings, and is powerful in cycles.
Finally, 'Temperance', a cup of spilled liquid which formed what looked like a flowing Möbius strip, continuously blending and reforming its colors without truly mixing. Its personality is balanced, adaptable, harmonious, skilled in blending elements, and fosters healing."
"Finally," Aina indicated the Soulfire Class.
"These Traits deal with the very life force. First, 'The Hierophant', its symbol a hand holding an open book with stars manifesting out of its pages. Its personality is traditional, spiritual, dogmatic, guides others, and possesses strong conviction. Incidentally, this is Father's trait."
Elias glanced at her, and she nodded.
'Dogmatic, huh?' he scoffed internally.
"Next, 'The Lovers'," Aina continued.
Its symbol was a heart with four wings and a lightning bolt at its center.
"Its personality is connective, passionate, driven by choice, and seeks harmony and union."
"Then there's 'Strength', a shield emitting a soft glow with two double-bladed swords crossed behind it. Its personality is courageous, compassionate, possesses immense inner strength, and controls wild energies.
Following that is 'The Devil', chains forming two interlocking rings. In the left chain was the symbol 'alpha,' and the right was the symbol 'omega,' with an inverted pentagram at the center where both rings intersected, all within a bigger circle, like a crown of thorns. Its personality is manipulative, binding, tempts others, and thrives on control and dependency on them.
Lastly, 'Judgement', a giant hammer smashing into a stone block. Its personality is awakened, reflective, calls to a higher purpose, and brings about spiritual rebirth."
"Now," Aina continued, snapping him back to attention.
"Understanding your Trait is only the first step. Ascending to a higher level of Flow mastery would let you unlock a newer aspect of your Trait, a deeper understanding of how it works, what it truly is."
She held out her hand, a small, controlled spark of electricity arcing between her fingers.
"For instance, when I first awakened one of my Traits," she said, and Elias's ears perked up.
'One of her Traits? She has two?'
"I could only give off small bolts of electricity. Childish zaps, really." The lightning danced, then dissipated.
"But after reaching a newer level of understanding, I could now use my electromagnetism to affect and control metal as well."
She picked up a small metal quill from the desk, and with a subtle twitch of her fingers, it floated into her palm, then rotated precisely.
Elias pondered this for a moment.
'She has more than one trait? That's… exceedingly rare, isn't it? Even among powerful Flow-users? Is that why her father called her special?'
The thought slowly dawned on him, clicking into place like tumblers in a lock. His eyes widened.
"Big Sister," Elias said, a deliberate emphasis on the new title, "you said 'one of your Traits'?"
Aina looked out the window, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes.
"I'm special," she said simply, her voice flat.
Elias rolled his eyes, a familiar exasperation rising within him.
Just as he pondered making a sarcastic remark, she looked back at him. He quickly slapped on his innocent, wide-eyed facade again, a picture of innocent curiosity.
Aina seemed not to have noticed any changes and, opened her left palm. There, swirling just above her skin, was a tiny, perfect anti-clockwise rotation of pure Flow. It wasn't electric. It was… a void. The air around it seemed to shimmer, to subtly bend inwards. Then, with a silent, effortless shift, the mini-vortex morphed into a pinprick of intense density, a singularity, and the smaller objects in the room – the metal quill, a decorative paperweight, a potted plant on the window, even the chair Elias was perched on – began to float, ever so slightly.
Elias stared, utterly stunned.
'She can manipulate gravity!'
That's… that's got to be a Cosmic Class Trait, right? And her earlier electromagnetism should be... uh... yes, an Existential trait! That's insane!'
Elias knew that having even one Trait was rare and powerful. Having two, especially from different major classes, was almost unheard of.
Aina lowered her hand, and the objects gently settled back onto the desk. Her expression was perfectly neutral, betraying no pride or effort.
"I'm sure you've deduced that I can use both Cosmic and Existential classes. Now, your first assignment, Elias," she said, her voice dry, "would be to find out what my exact Traits are, based on my personality."
Elias stared at her, an inward groan escaping him.
'Her personality?'
He looked at her perfectly composed, almost stone-cold face.
'She's like a block of ice! Inexpressive, cold, and utterly unreadable! Trying to ascertain her personality and therefore her Trait would be like trying to find a shadow in a dark room, or dissecting a ghost! '
This was going to be an impossible assignment.