The morning sky had not yet fully brightened, but the entire training camp was already shrouded in an atmosphere of peculiar anticipation.
At the center of the training field, a clearing had been prepared. A long table stood there, neatly lined with dozens of dull, grayish crystals. Though unremarkable in appearance, their irregular shapes resembling ordinary stones, they exuded an indescribable, profound aura.
The training officer stood behind the crystals, his gaze sweeping sternly over the crowd.
"These crystals are a unique mineral of Elamiya, capable of resonating with the elements within you," he began. "They do not speak, but through light and form, they will answer whether you have been recognized by the elements."
"Some people may never resonate with any element their entire lives, while others may connect with multiple elements. And there are a rare few... who exhibit abnormal reactions."
He paused, his sharp gaze slicing through the crowd like a blade.
"Whatever the result, this is merely a part of your training. Do not belittle yourselves. Starting now, proceed in the order of the roster."
The trainees lined up in silence, the atmosphere tense and heavy.
The first to step forward was a tall, skinny boy. His hands trembled as he touched the crystal. After a brief moment, a faint blue glow emerged on the crystal's surface, rippling like waves on a lake.
"Water element, stable reaction," the training officer nodded, signaling him to step back.
The second was a quiet girl. The crystal emitted a weak red glow accompanied by a gentle warmth, revealing the presence of the fire element. One by one, others stepped forward, displaying reactions from wind and earth to light elements.
But when it was the turn of a particularly skilled yet hot-tempered trainee, the crystal not only turned pitch black almost instantly but also began to ooze a shadowy, ink-like substance. A nauseating pressure filled the air.
"Stop!" the training officer roared, immediately ordering others to pull the trainee away.
The crowd stared, wide-eyed, some even taking a few steps back.
"This kind of reaction..." Tario muttered under his breath, "It's similar to what we saw in those beastmen at the outpost."
"Could he be... connected to the shadow element?" Roddy frowned. "Is that a good thing?"
Kane said nothing, his eyes fixed on the crystal still marred with dark streaks.
Next up was Roddy.
Taking a deep breath, he placed his hand flat on the crystal.
At first, there was no movement. But as he focused, the crystal began to emit an earthy brown glow. The ground beneath them quivered slightly. Just as the glow stabilized, a faint green thread coiled around its edges, spreading like vines.
"Primary resonance with earth element... but there's also an extremely faint reaction to life element?" the training officer murmured, a trace of doubt in his voice.
"Life element?" Roddy froze, and for a moment, an image flashed in his mind—Aina tending to his wounds amidst the flames, her gentle voice, the warm green glow, and those eyes filled with determination and compassion.
He bit his lip, a flicker of frustration crossing his gaze.
"Even she... could leave her power behind? And I... I can't even do anything..." Roddy whispered to himself.
Next was Tario's turn.
He strode forward with enthusiasm, rubbing his hands together. "Alright, time for the grand show."
The moment his hand touched the crystal, a dazzling yellow bolt of electricity shot out. The crystal erupted with crackling thunder, its surface alive with dancing currents. The surrounding air trembled, and several observing trainees gasped audibly.
"Lightning element," the training officer remarked, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Exceptionally active reaction."
Tario's eyes lit up, and he nearly jumped in excitement. "This is amazing! I knew I couldn't be ordinary! This crackling, booming feeling—totally my style!"
As he stepped back, he turned to Roddy and Kane, grinning. "Hey, did you see that? You'd better watch out—I might zap you guys someday!"
"Let's hope you learn to control it first, Thunder Prince," Roddy retorted with a laugh.
"Don't worry, I'll master it for sure. I swear, lightning will obey me!" Tario declared, his grin as wide as ever, like a child who had just won a prize.
As the testing neared its end, the crystals continued to reveal the destinies of each trainee through their glowing responses.
By the sidelines, those who had completed their tests gathered in small groups. Some wore expressions of pride and joy, while others hung their heads in disappointment.
"I can't believe I'm a wind element! Did you see that moment when the crystal floated?" an outgoing girl exclaimed to her friends.
"Wow, that's incredible! Does that mean you'll be one of those people who can fly through the air? I'm so jealous..." her friend replied, eyes full of admiration.
Meanwhile, a pale-faced boy sat silently in the shadows, his fists clenched tightly. His crystal had shown no reaction—not even the faintest glimmer. He had dreamed of becoming a warrior resonating with the elements, but now it felt as though he had been cast out of his dream into cold reality.
"They said... everyone has potential... so why..." he muttered, his voice trembling.
"Don't lose hope. Maybe you were just too nervous today," an older trainee said, patting his shoulder. "When combat training starts, you'll have another chance to prove yourself."
"Th-thank you..."
Meanwhile, Tario was still parading around the field, boasting about his lightning element.
"I'm telling you, that 'zap!' sound was so satisfying! I almost thought I could control thunder already!"
"Enough already! You've said it three times!" Roddy groaned.
"Why don't you talk about your earth element, huh? And that little green tail of life energy—did it feel special or what?" Tario teased with a mischievous grin.
Roddy's expression turned complicated. "I don't know... but when I saw that green glow, I could only think of... her."
"Her? Who?"
"Aina."
Tario's grin faded slightly, and he nodded. "Yeah... I get it."
Roddy added quietly, "I don't know anything, yet she saved me twice... and now even her power lingers with me. I... don't want to just be someone who's protected."
Tario grinned again, this time extending a fist. "Then let's team up—lightning and earth. Let's get stronger together."
Roddy bumped his fist lightly. "Together."
As the test concluded, those who failed to resonate with the crystals returned to the ranks. Some maintained a facade of composure, while others broke into tears on the spot.
The training officer watched silently, recording each reaction with the cold precision of a seasoned soldier.
"Do not think that failing to resonate marks the end," he said, his voice steady yet commanding. "Some people are born without a connection to the elements, yet they still became great warriors. Your future performance will determine your fate."
The trainees fell silent. Some discreetly wiped away tears, standing straighter with renewed determination.
Finally, all eyes turned to the last person in line—Kane.
In this tense atmosphere, he stepped forward.
His pace was unhurried, but each step was steady. When his hand touched the crystal, the training field fell utterly silent.
...Nothing happened.
No light, no vibration, not even the faintest trace of elemental energy.
Kane lowered his gaze and quietly withdrew his hand.
The training officer spoke softly, "Remember, your worth is not determined by the crystal."
Kane nodded and stepped back into the crowd.
When he returned to the rest area, Roddy and Tario approached him.
"Maybe the crystal just ran out of power today. Don't take it to heart!" Tario joked.
Roddy patted his back. "We won't let you fall behind."
Kane smiled faintly. "I won't stop. I still have my path to walk."
He looked into the distance, but inside, his heart churned. He wasn't afraid of lacking power—he feared that on his journey to find his parents, he wouldn't even qualify to take the first step.
The crystals were collected and stored away after the test. However, the one Kane had touched was carelessly left by the edge of the training field.
As night fell and everyone dispersed, no one noticed the faint crack that appeared on its surface. From within the crack, a light flickered—neither fiery red, watery blue, nor shadowy black.
It shimmered quietly, as if waiting for something.
That night, the darkness deepened.
Kane sat on a rock outside his tent, gazing at the starry sky. Memories of a warm, blurry face, shattered fragments of the past, and his parents' retreating figures in the firelight filled his mind.
"Mom, Dad... can I really do this..."
His fists clenched as he sat in silence.
"You're still thinking about that dumb crystal, huh?" Tario's voice broke the quiet.
"What are you guys doing here?"
Roddy walked over and sat down. "You were too quiet. We were worried you'd start spiraling."
"You know, even though we resonated with elements, we're not anything special yet. The reason we've made it this far is because you've been the one pulling us forward," Tario said with a grin.
Kane blinked, looking at the two of them. The fog of doubt in his heart seemed to lift, little by little.
"We promised to make it to the Central Training Academy, didn't we?" Roddy said softly. "You're not allowed to fall behind."
"Doesn't matter if you're one of those 'chosen' people or not—we're not leaving you behind," Tario added, his tone serious.
Kane smiled and nodded. "Alright. The Central Academy... we'll go together."