"Perhaps I was wrong… perhaps fate will reveal him in time."
The ancient voice faded into silence. Two white eyes slowly closed.
—
Zei quickly followed his mum and Selene, who were a step ahead. Loud murmurs could be heard from the door as they approached the temple.
"Wow," Zei muttered in awe, his eyes widening. "Mum, are you seeing this?"
Lyra chuckled softly. "Yes, Zei, I can see," she said calmly, gazing at the temple.
Nobles in fine clothing filled the hall from end to end. Some children looked tense and scared. Others looked calm and confident.
Blue flames hung at the four corners of the temple. The walls were pure white and shone with different symbols written upon them.
"Mom, look… are those the gods?" Zei said loudly, pointing.
Seven idols stood in the center of the temple, each radiating a distinct color of light.
She looked toward Selene with a smile and tugged her hand. "You have to listen too, dear."
Selene nodded, tearing her eyes away from the scene.
"Those are the gods. Each of them controls a distinct element. The affinity of any person is based on the god who chooses them."
She paused, looking at each of their faces to ensure they understood.
Selene spoke slowly. "B-but I heard there are eight gods?"
Zei turned to look at her in shock, then slowly looked at his mother's face for an answer.
Lyra's eyes widened slightly before she relaxed her face. "This is expected from you, since your elder sister is a Rune Mage." She paused. "And yes, there were eight gods. But he is a fallen divinity. Only little is known about him. The only thing we know is that his affinity signature is eerie and brings death. His color is dark red."
She smiled gently. "Now let's hurry. We've kept your father waiting."
—
They slowly approached the crowd. Zei spotted his father.
"Look, Father is there," he said in a reserved voice, unable to look straight at him.
A man with black hair and cold amber eyes glanced at him. He wore a dark tunic with a green cloak. He nodded toward his wife, then turned his attention back to the ceremony.
Suddenly, Zei heard a shout.
"FIRE AFFINITY! BLESS THE GODS!"
A man in a white cloak shouted the announcement, his face hidden beneath his hood. A boy with blue eyes and hazel hair stood with his hands toward the metallic stele, which was covered in unknown inscriptions.
Gasps were heard as the metallic stele hummed, then turned red.
"Wow, I can't believe this. The Dwight family has always been blessed with fire mages," a voice muttered.
"Fire mages aren't common. Maybe with this, their numbers have grown," another said.
"A fire mage," Zei muttered under his breath, watching the scene.
He slowly clenched his fist.
"Don't dream about it," a voice said slowly with mockery.
Zei's face darkened.
Zoan.
He said it under his breath.
A hand touched his shoulder and squeezed tightly. "Don't dream of fire or anything like that. In fact, it's better if you don't even try the Awakening test at all and save us time, because we know what you are." He leaned closer, his breath hot against Zei's ear. "A child born of a whore is a whore."
He sneered, then without warning, he left, saying, "I pity that Selene girl. You don't deserve her."
—
"THE BRAVENHEART FAMILY!" the man in the white cloak shouted.
Selene slowly looked at her sister—a girl with green eyes and brown hair, wearing a cloth over her head—who smiled at her.
"You will make us proud," she said as she led Selene to the front.
Selene turned slightly and saw Zei waving at her. She blushed, her eyes lighting up, then moved confidently toward the man in the white cloak.
"The gods bless you, child. Your fate is great. Place your hand on the stele," he said calmly.
Her hand shook slightly but steadily touched it.
Suddenly, all the inscriptions lit up with a blinding white light.
"SHE IS BLESSED BY THE GOD OF WHITE FLAME! PRAISE BE TO THE GODS!" the man in the white cloak shouted.
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
"This is the first Light affinity user in years," someone muttered.
"The Bravenheart family has always produced something beyond the ordinary in every generation," another replied.
Selene stared at the stele with widened eyes before snapping back to reality. She turned to her sister, who looked at her with a smile.
"I told you. You would make the family proud," she said under her breath.
Selene's smile slowly faltered. I wish Dad and Mom could make time to be here too… she thought, looking at Zei's mother. I wish I had his mother instead.
"Selene, that was amazing!" Zei said as he held her.
"I don't know why the gods blessed me… I want to see yours too."
Zei smiled even brighter. "Of course. I can't let you beat me."
—
"THE GOVE FAMILY!" the man in the white cloak shouted.
"Make the family proud," Lyra muttered as she straightened Zei's collar.
"Yes, Mum," he said under his breath, calming his shaking hands. He turned and looked toward Selene. She simply smiled back at him.
He slowly moved to the front under the eyes of the crowd, approaching the man in the white cloak.
Suddenly, the air became heavy.
"I can't breathe," Zei gasped as his chest tightened. Then it lifted.
The man in white tilted his head. "I can't see your fate, child. I feel something is not right with you," he said in a low tone.
Lyra shifted uncomfortably as she watched.
"Place your hand on the stele," the man in the white cloak said in a croaked voice.
Silence.
The stele stayed blank. Zei pressed harder against it.
"O great gods, bless me, please," he muttered under his breath.
An eerie voice resounded in his ear.
I shall grant your wish.
Gasps were heard throughout the hall.
"CURSED! YOU'RE A CURSED CHILD! THAT'S WHY I COULDN'T SEE YOUR FATE!" the man
in the white cloak shouted as blood burst from his hood.
Zei slowly opened his eyes and looked straight at the stele.
It glowed a deep red.