She was short, still carrying the unmistakable innocence of childhood in her eyes.
Stepping up to the table, Heya placed her hand on the mana stone.
For a few seconds, nothing happened.
Then the sphere reacted.
And the entire throne hall fell silent.
One half of the stone turned light green.
The other burned crimson red.
A wave of shock swept through the room.
Everyone stared at the mana stone in stunned disbelief.
Wind and fire.
Even when someone possessed dual affinity, one element was almost always weaker than the other.
That was considered natural.
Balance was a myth people liked to tell themselves.
Reality preferred hierarchy.
But not this time.
Both colors shone with equal brilliance.
Neither yielded.
Neither dimmed.
Both blazed as brightly as the other.
In that moment, my younger sister became something far more valuable than a princess.
She became a rarity.
A unique talent for the Kray Empire.
Heya slowly removed her hand from the stone and lowered herself onto one knee, bowing her head.
After a moment, she looked up at the Emperor and Empress.
They studied her for several long seconds.
Then both nodded.
Permission granted.
She rose gracefully and returned behind the throne, taking her place beside Nreu.
Which meant—
I was next.
The realization sent a cold knot twisting through my stomach.
Trying not to show how badly my nerves were unraveling, I took several slow breaths and clenched my fists before walking toward the mana stone.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
I could feel every gaze in the hall fixed on me.
By the time I reached the table, the upper half of my clothes was already damp with sweat.
I placed a trembling, sweat-slick hand against the cold surface of the mana stone and closed my eyes.
I had no idea what this was supposed to feel like.
No idea how long it normally took.
The stone was cold.
Unnaturally cold.
Several seconds passed.
Nothing.
Slowly, I opened my eyes.
And looked down.
The mana stone remained white.
Pure.
Empty.
No color.
No reaction.
Nothing.
For a moment, my mind went completely blank.
Then my heartbeat slammed violently against my ribs.
I pulled my hand away so fast it was almost embarrassing.
Stepping back from the table, I turned toward the throne and lowered myself onto one knee, bowing my head.
I was afraid to look up.
Afraid to meet anyone's eyes.
Even without seeing them, I could already feel it.
Disgust.
Contempt.
A kind of quiet satisfaction from people who had expected exactly this outcome.
Eventually, forcing myself to move, I raised my head and looked toward the Emperor and Empress.
Their expressions were unreadable.
No anger.
No disappointment.
No disgust.
No emotion at all.
Which somehow felt worse.
I stood and returned behind the throne to stand beside my siblings.
Eyes followed me the entire way.
Among the countless stares directed at me, I could almost physically feel the contempt.
And the hatred.
The Emperor struck the floor three times with his sword.
The sound echoed sharply through the hall.
Everyone straightened, attention once again fixed on the throne.
"The magical talent assessment has concluded," Emperor Dray announced.
His voice was as calm as ever.
Cold.
Controlled.
Empty.
"As Emperor of the Kray Empire, I order the mana stone removed."
Not a trace of anger.
Not even irritation.
Just indifference.
The silver-haired servant stepped forward once more and dropped to her knees.
After lowering her head, she touched the ring on her finger and stored the white table away.
Taking the mana stone back into her hands, she exited through the same door she had entered from.
The guard closed it behind her.
"In accordance with the treaty, all those who completed today's assessment shall be sent to Arkin Academy within the Kingdom of Arkin for further education and development of their talents."
A short pause.
"All may leave, except those who underwent testing."
This time, his voice carried unmistakable command.
Not a request.
An order.
The nobles bowed and gradually began leaving the throne hall.
Before long, only the three of us remained.
Me.
Heya.
Nreu.
We stood in silence before the throne, waiting.
Neither my brother nor sister said a word.
The Emperor and Empress studied the three of us.
Then their attention settled on me.
I forced myself not to look away.
"As previously stated," the Emperor began, "Eighth Princess Heya and Sixth Prince Nreu will be sent to the academy within the Kingdom of Arkin."
His tone did not change.
"As for you."
A brief pause.
"Aluric, Seventh Prince of the Kray Empire—you will also be sent to the same academy."
For half a second, something dangerously close to relief surfaced inside me.
And then he continued.
"But under a different name."
The words hit harder than any blade.
"You will not attend as a prince of the Kray Empire, but as one who has renounced his claim to the throne."
I felt my throat tighten.
"You are forbidden from interacting with your brother and sister. Not within the academy walls. Not beyond them."
Each sentence stripped away another piece of me.
"Upon completing your studies, you are forbidden from returning to the Empire without direct imperial decree."
His gray eyes remained fixed on me.
"From this day forward, you are no longer Aluric, Seventh Prince of the Kray Empire."