After the release of the test results, enrollees who had passed the exam were to use the weekend to prepare themselves for the second phase of Trials. The letter that accompanied the results informed us that our first test would focus on determining our Primal Affinity, specifically identifying which of the four Primal Sources is the most dominant for each of us. After identifying and recording our affinities, we would then move on to Power Gauging.
They wouldn't describe the second part of the test all too well, but all they would leave us with is a singular line of advice that sits at the bottom of the paper.
"Let your imagination lead, but let your instinct guide."
Attempts to understand this vague message were made, but unfortunately, I couldn't come close to deciphering what this piece of advice might mean. The interpretation was left to the reader, resulting in open-ended guesses and vague conclusions that ultimately led nowhere.
So I decided to visit a possible shortcut in understanding this mysterious piece of advice.
"No."
"But why?"
"Because it would be cheating. After all these months, I did not teach you to rely on cheating for progress, my specimen..." Miss Maryanne crossed her arms as she looked up at me before grabbing her chin in thought.
"Although, I could possibly tell you what it could lead to-"
Before I could even open my mouth to say something or react, she quickly extended her hand, palm facing my direction as she continued to speak.
"But I refuse to tell you anything else. Unfortunately, I am one of the proctors for the second trial, so this is already bordering on illegal," she added, crossing her arms as her eyes glanced towards the letter in my hand. It was like she was contemplating the words she wished to use, constructing the right phrases to both advise and keep the main objective shrouded in mystery.
She would close her eyes and let out a dragged sigh of surrender. "Review spell crafting. That can help." She'd speak out before turning around and walking off.
Her addition to the advice was vague for anyone else who might hear it, as spellcrafting can encompass many things, from the various types of magic derived from Primal to the enchantment of objects. However, given the right context, I could narrow it down to a few specific subjects.
Darting over to the library, I turned corner after corner, climbing flights of stairs and moving from floor to floor. I searched for any book, scroll, or note that might contain the clues I was seeking, particularly studies on lifeblood, and sigil crafting.
My research started on the concept of lifeblood. Miss Maryanne once mentioned that the lifeblood once came from the life Lady Enes surrendered to create the world around us. This study concluded that everything born of this world-- ranging from the tiniest ants that burrow underground to the majestic peaks of the Dragon's Claw Mountains-- shares connections to the threads of energy known as lifeblood. With this understanding, mages discovered that by manipulating these threads, they could achieve various feats once deemed impossible. However, lifeblood is simply energy, which raises the question: how do mages control and direct that energy into spells?
This led me to the study of sigil crafting. Sigils serve as the primary means to control and direct lifeblood, transforming the concepts of magic into its practical form. Vael Arcanists and Vael Historians once worked together to decode a set of ancient runes believed to be the language of the dragons, known as the Script of the Primals. Each figure dictates some sort of instruction or description such as a shape or size, with some appearing to have more detail in their instruction than others.
If lines of this script were used within the confines of a sigil border, a spell would be made following the script's commands. However, due to the size of the textbook, the words began to mix with each other in my time studying the book. Each part I read would only result in my eyes resetting back to the first word of the paragraph. Try as I might, I surrendered to the fog that filled my head and the weight that burdened my shoulders. As I slumped over the book and rested my head on the table, I closed my eyes and gave in to the mental fatigue.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to continue my studies on sigils the next day. By early morning, a familiar Lizardman and his upbeat attitude dragged me out to the forests. Despite still having the same clothes I had on the day before, Esshiek had brought me out here to fulfill his promise.
Standing a few feet away from me was Esshiek, and planted into the ground was none other than his signature weapon. It was yet another greatsword, but instead of the usual smaller make that supports practical use and durability, this sword was more...brutal in its design.
A large metallic rod with thick leather straps wrapped near the base of the body was seen as the handle. From this distance, the thickness of said handle seemed to be large enough that even two human hands would have trouble wrapping around it once. The handle would not support a pommel and instead would end on a thinner metallic loop, presumably for grip when swinging this behemoth of a weapon.
Looking further down the weapon, the body seemed to be a massive wooden block. At least I assumed it was from the brown coloration and the grain pattern that ran along its make. However, the runes crudely carved into the material seemed to suggest the body was more of a stone-like material instead. The block seemed to be cut into slopes around the sides to support a more blade-like structure, but that was not where the dangerous parts of the weapon rest.
At the edges of the body-- separated by spaces in between-- were stones cut into blades. Looking closer at the blades, the stones seemed to sport a soft glow along their shape. A glow that was very familiar to anyone who has spent their time underground as long as I did. This was no regular stone for crude tools or weaponry. Esshiek had Reinforced Enesial for blades.
As I stared into the weapon with awe, Esshiek cleared his throat, pulling me out of the trance. As much as I wanted to ask him how he managed to carve that stone into blades, I doubt he would give me the time to answer anyway. He dragged me out here for one purpose, and I intend to keep that promise.
"Congratulations on passing the first exam, Young Pebble! Although you barely passed, it was still satisfying seeing a common man succeed!" He spoke with his usual proud, and booming voice as he ends his congratulations with a hearty laugh. "You know what this means-"
He'd use his tail and foot to kick the weapon up. Using the momentum to swing it to his side where his other hand would catch on to the loop, stopping the blade entirely and resting into a battle stance.
"You are rewarded with a warrior's fight!" Esshiek added as he grows a confident and intimidating smile. His tail whipping with excitement as he awaited my reaction to his call for battle.
Seeing how much power he wields in a single blade, as well as Esshiek's enthusiasm for the thrill that follows, I gulped down a ball of saliva that caught itself in my throat before growing a wide grin myself. I readied myself, swinging Obsidian into my grip as I dragged my foot into a better stance. After all, why would I decline such an invite?
The following battle was brutal and quite literally earth-shattering. Esshiek's strikes with the heavy club-like weapon were heavy enough to knock the wind out of my lungs whenever I blocked any hit. The stone blades were sharp enough to lodge themselves into the body of Obsidian, and I was honestly lucky enough to have a weapon that could withstand such a blow, as the blades-- although sharp-- only made way for the weight that followed. Any missed swing against nearby trees would result in the bark being shattered into an explosion of splinter and sap.
Unlike before, however, this was more of a fight than training now. I met Esshiek's aggressive advance with equally as violent strikes. Although he had a heavier weapon, my strength-- thanks to Esshiek's training-- was enough to stand at equal to, or even surpass, the strength of his blows. With the added advantage of a versatile weapon with the blunt and sharp sides of Obsidian, I was able to attack and break his block when necessary. I could finally stand my ground.
The fight that went on continued to be more violent than we anticipated. We shared blows as cuts, stabs, and bruises continued to grow in number across our bodies. Trees were left shattered and toppled over in the wake of our battle. Craters of shattered soil scattered themselves in place of where we once were. We had been so lost in the thrill of the fight that it took Miss Maryanne's protective magic to knock us out of our trance. After which, we took a lengthy and well-deserved scolding due to the damage we caused both to ourselves and the scenery around us.
The fight only took us two minutes, but it felt like ages with how lost we were in the duel.
The next day arrived, and it was time for the Magical Trial. I was still unable to prepare for the upcoming trial due to the injuries I had sustained. I had been explicitly instructed to rest after receiving first aid-- both physical and magical. As a result, I was confined to my room for the entire night.
Luckily enough, enrollees were able to observe the participants that came before them when attempting the trial. However, that still left the question as to where this trial was held.
Those who had passed the first test were instructed to gather around the fountain within the gardens on the south side of the academy. The venue itself was large enough to hold all the remaining enrollees, but as we waited for everyone to gather, only a few proctors stood to guide us. Even Miss Maryanne was a no-show.
That was until the last of the remaining enrollees joined the group and the proctor assigned to oversee the group blew into a whistle. Although it made no sound, the ground reacted to the instrument as it sank into the floor. The ground close to the fountain was another floating platform, but larger and slower this time.
Controlled by the proctor with the whistle, the group slowly descended into a part of the academy that-- judging by the reactions of everyone around-- no one had been to before. It was a large room settled underground with massive lanterns that sat at the corners with glowing crystals inside of them hanging from above.
Within the room and stood in a line, were Miss Maryanne and the old man from the written exams. Beside them were more proctors who seemed to be holding various clipboards with quills on their hands, ready to observe.
Once the platform settled into the ground, we were guided towards this stadium-like testing area to take a seat along the sides of the room where chairs sit in staired rows. Once everyone was settled, Miss Maryanne clapped her hands together and began to speak.
"Welcome to Solus Arena! We brought you all here for the second phase of the trials, not only for the showmanship-" Miss Maryanne winked at the crowd before continuing.
"but also for your safety. This arena is reinforced with protective barriers that protect against any sort of damage you might cause with your magic. Yes, that includes you yourselves! This allows any student the ability to rise to their limits without holding back while also keeping those same students alive and well." Her eyes dart at me for a second. I could feel the heat from her gaze towards the bandages still covering my body as I simply tucked myself into the crowd out of reflective shame.
"In this trial, we will first record your affinities and connection levels. Master Oribus has so generously crafted a new line of Primal Analyzers for you to use so we can safely and accurately record your Primals." Miss Maryanne added as she turned towards the old man, who slowly nodded in response.
With a tap of his cane, a massive sigil forms within the center of the arena where four large metallic instruments were slowly assembled in a line from each other. Within a handful of minutes, the machines were finished and the proctors immediately stood in between the machines.
"By four enrollees, you will be called to stand in front of the Primal Analyzers and press your hand on the crystal, as so-" Miss Maryanne would then walk up towards one and press her gloved palm against the crystal in front of these metallic constructs.
In a couple of seconds, the crystal lights up in an array of browns, blues, reds, and whites before settling on one color. Once the crystal settled into a color, the crystal would then get dragged into a central chamber before it glows ever so brightly before settling down.
"The color is your affinity. The glow is your connection. The brighter the glow, the stronger the connection. All you have to do is focus on the crystal. Channel your lifeblood. Good luck students!" She waved off before walking back to the old man, assumed to be Master Oribus.
Enrollees would then be called in groups of four, but the order would soon be in disarray when some would finish quicker than others. This resulted in each enrollee having a variety of tactics to calm themselves or chat about what affinity they would possibly get.
Based on my studies, anyone can use all the elements from the Primal Sources. However, the affinity system was discovered when some mages demonstrated greater power in casting spells related to specific Sources compared to others. Some studies suggest that research on the affinity system aimed to categorize and teach students according to their respective affinities, thereby creating a more conducive learning environment for them.
Unfortunately, I had already known what my affinity was thanks to Miss Maryanne's impatience; however, I did not know what my connection level was like. Which called me back to the Tear of Enes back at Greystone. The thought worried me so, which caused dark thoughts to form.
It was here that I felt a pat on the back.
"You look like you're about to shit yourself friend." A man with short messy black hair spoke out. His arms now resting on his side, one by his hip. He seemed to be quite the muscular individual.
"S-Sorry. Just nervous about all this." I replied. Still looking at the machines. The dread now tucked away at the back of my mind.
"Don't sweat it. Everyone's nervous here. Hell even I am. Name's Mick." He extended a hand.
"Torin Valen. Just Mick?"
"For now" He says as he crossed his arms. "You're a goliath aren't you? You're not as big as I thought you would be." He added.
"Yeah. I uh- I'm a half-breed. Mother's a Goliath." I replied, now turning my gaze back to the man.
"Damn, your dad got to have the blessing of Enes herself to have gotten that..." He shakes his head in realization.
I raised a brow at him in confusion.
"I mean to have a Goliath as a wife. Aren't they usually super secretive?" He clarified.
"As I'm told..."
"Torin Valen?!" The proctor yells as I dart my gaze over at the man, the nerves immediately flushed out by the small talk. I took a deep breath as I turned back at Mick who simply gave me a double thumbs up.
As I approached the machine, I realized how large these things were now that they were up close. I gulped down the nerves that climbed up my throat again before pressing my palm against the crystal.
The swirling colors began to change the crystal until it landed on the color I expected: orange or brown, the hue of Enesial Primal. However, something felt off. Within the glow, I noticed a strange white strand, like a thread intertwined with the orange energy contained in the crystal. As the crystal retreated into the machine, the glow didn't manifest immediately. It wasn't until the orange light erupted into a blinding white radiance, as intense as the morning sun, that the atmosphere shifted.
The brilliance was enough to stun anyone nearby, and as the light reacted violently, I could hear the machine creaking and bending. The crystal inside swelled to a perilous size, then jutted outward, transforming into a chaotic mass of unstable Enesial energy. Fortunately, it eventually stabilized when the light faded, but the machine was left in ruins.