She placed her hand on the crystal.
The glow that erupted was immediate and brilliant, pure white light with hints of blue, bright enough that several people shielded their eyes.
The instructor's expression shifted to surprise.
"B-rank."
Gasps rippled through the crowd of waiting candidates.
B-rank. Only a handful of candidates had tested that high all morning.
And she was a commoner.
"Elemental Affinity: Light."
More whispers.
Light affinity was rare... usually associated with healing and defensive magic.
The control test had Emma create a sphere of light above the basin. It formed instantly, perfectly stable, and held without the slightest waver for the full thirty seconds.
"Excellent," the instructor said, genuine approval in her voice. "Well done, Miss Vale."
Emma bowed slightly and moved away from the circle, her expression carefully neutral.
But I caught the way some of the nobles were looking at her now, suspicion, resentment, a few with outright hostility.
