The morning air buzzed faintly with residual mana as streaks of lightning danced across the training courtyard. Logan's breathing remained calm, his body moving with instinct and purpose. He raised a hand, and another bolt shot from his palm, striking the wooden dummy dead center.
"Again," said Ardyn, nodding with approval. "You're improving—your casting time's almost halved since last week."
From the shade of a nearby maple tree, Rudeous observed quietly, arms folded as his sharp eyes tracked every motion. There was something refined in Logan's movements—unpolished, but intuitive. He didn't fumble like most novices. He flowed. His perception felt dangerously good.
Alice approached from behind, offering him a small plate of fruit. "He's relentless, isn't he?"
Rudeous didn't take his eyes off Logan. But what a shame… only one affinity, he thought. If only he had one or two more.
"When was his affinity test done?"
Alice blinked. "Affinity test?"
He turned slowly to her, one brow raised. "You mean it hasn't been done yet?" said Rudeous, shock lacing his voice.
"I assumed you or Lady Mirena did it. You were the one who decided the seal on Logan's core should be lifted."
"I assumed it was already done. The way he was advancing…"
They both looked at each other awkwardly—shocked. A bit embarrassed, too.
Alice groaned. "Oh, gods…"
They began walking toward the training ground, just as Logan finished his latest set. He turned, surprised to see them both coming forward.
"Logan," Rudeous called out.
"Father?"
"Have you had your affinity tested?"
Logan blinked. "Oh… um… no. I forgot. I was so excited about training, I just jumped right in," Logan said with a sheepish smile.
Ardyn barked a laugh from the side. "Told you he's got fire in his belly."
Alice shook her head. "I'll get the orb."
Just as she turned, a silk-robed figure arrived from the estate's main wing. Lady Mirena, regal as ever, stepped gracefully into the courtyard, a slight smile tugging at her lips.
"What's all the commotion?" she asked lightly, though her tone carried a subtle sharpness.
"Logan hasn't undergone the affinity test," Rudeous replied.
Mirena's expression flickered—just for a second. "Oh?" Her voice remained composed, almost amused. "Well, let's correct that. Let's test it now."
But behind her composed expression, a storm brewed.
Darius, watching from the upper veranda, clenched the stone railing tight. His lips were pressed into a thin line as he stared down at his cousin—his rival. The same cousin who'd once been pitied. Overshadowed. Powerless. And now?
Guards near the wall began murmuring.
"I heard he's been wielding lightning like a natural."
"Think he's got dual affinity?"
"No way. That's noble-tier stuff."
A few servants and kitchen staff, on break nearby, peeked from behind pillars, curiosity painted across their faces.
Alice returned hurriedly with the affinity crystal orb and placed it on a stone pedestal at the courtyard's center.
Rudeous turned to Logan. "Place your hands on it. Let your mana flow. Gently."
Logan stepped forward and pressed his palms to the cool, glassy surface.
At first, nothing. Then—a surge.
A deep blue hue lit up the core of the orb—sharp, vibrant, crackling with energy.
"Lightning," Alice said with a small nod. "No surprise there."
Then came a flare of red, blooming like a dancing flame beside the blue.
"Fire," Ardyn added, his tone growing more serious.
Moments later, white light streaked across the orb like wind slicing through the sky.
"Air," Rudeous murmured, his brows lifting.
Then—sky blue, soft and flowing, emerged from beneath the other lights, wrapping gently around the rest.
"Water," Alice whispered.
Before the group could fully process the combination, a deep purple glowed at the base of the orb, anchoring the others with quiet weight.
"Gravity," Mirena said softly. "Five."
The courtyard fell into stunned silence. Pin-drop silence.
Everyone had the same word written across their faces.
IMPOSSIBLE.
Even Rudeous's normally calm face tightened in surprise. Ardyn stared, mouth half-open. Alice gasped.
One of the guards muttered, "Five… That's not human. I already told you, he's a monster. See now?"
Another whispered, "Not even Darius had more than three…"
"What Darius? Not even Rudeous, the present lord of the Smith family, had more than three. And what's more! The prodigy, the myth, the legend of the Smith family—Lord Rudeous's grandfather, Rowan Smith—even he had four affinities."
High above, Darius gritted his teeth hard enough to draw blood from his lip.
And beside Logan, Lady Mirena stood still, eyes fixated on the orb. Her smile remained, soft and elegant. But inside, a bitter flame roared to life.
Five affinities? How is that possible? Is fate playing a cruel trick on me?
Her voice came out gentle. "Remarkable. Truly."
But her hands, tucked within her sleeves, trembled faintly. She didn't dare look up toward the balcony. She didn't want to see Darius's face.
This changed everything.
If Logan's potential continued to bloom like this, the talk of heirs—of inheritance—could shift dangerously.
Rudeous broke the silence. "Five elemental affinities. That hasn't been seen in generations. And not a trace of healing or earth magic. All five—pure combative elements."
"Is that… good?" Logan asked uncertainly.
"It's unprecedented," said Alice, still stunned. "Only one affinity usually grows into a dominant one. But five… it means your connection to the elements runs deep."
"Lightning still feels strongest," Logan admitted. "But I… I can sense the others."
Rudeous nodded. "In time, you'll know which is your deviant affinity. It'll come naturally."
From the far end, two of the elders who'd arrived quietly during the test stepped forward, whispering to one another.
"We may have underestimated the boy…"
"Could he be a candidate for the next heir?"
Mirena's head tilted slightly, hearing every word. Her smile remained.
"He's young. We shouldn't place such weight on a single test," she said sweetly. "Let him grow naturally."
But her heart seethed.
This wasn't part of the plan.
Logan, meanwhile, stood quietly as the orb's glow faded. He didn't revel in the attention. He didn't smirk or boast.
He simply looked down at his hands—calm, contemplative. Happy? Maybe. Excited? Beyond words.
"What happens now?" he asked.
"Now?" Rudeous said, eyes gleaming. "Now we train harder. We challenge your limits. But we keep this quiet for now."
Mirena nodded. "Absolutely. No need to alarm the noble circles. It would cause a huge commotion—and might even invite unwanted enemies."
Darius turned away from the balcony, face tight, heart boiling. His fists were already clenched. His status—his future—felt as if it had been sliced open in one glowing moment.
But Logan didn't notice.
To him, it was just another step forward.
Just the beginning.