The sun had not yet risen, but the air around the Academy of the Five Currents was alive. The marble towers glowed faintly, their veins of light shining with the five elements — Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, and Ether. Today was Trial Day, the most important day for every student. It was the day they would show their power to the masters and prove they were worthy.
Among the students stood a quiet boy — Yohan. He wore a simple black robe, no bright runes or marks like the others. His eyes were calm, grey like storm clouds. He didn't look at anyone.
"Everyone wants to shine," he thought.
"But no one asks what it costs to burn."
A deep bell rang. The sound spread through the air like a wave. The Master of Currents stepped forward — tall, with robes that shimmered like wind.
"Children of the elements," he said, his voice echoing. "Today you will be tested. Your element will reveal who you are. Remember — power is not given, it is earned."
The crowd cheered. Only Yohan stayed silent. He could feel the energy around him — the hum of each element in every person nearby. Fire burned hot. Water flowed calm. Earth stood firm. Wind sang free.
Ether… few had Ether. It was quiet, almost empty — but Yohan could feel something deep within it. Something calling to him.
Inside him, though, there was only stillness. No hum. No glow. Just silence.
"Next! Yohan of the Outer Sanctum," the examiner called.
The students turned. Some whispered.
"That's him — the boy with no element."
"They say his master disappeared."
"Maybe he's cursed."
Yohan walked up to the glowing circle in the center of the arena. Five orbs floated around him — red, blue, green, white, and black. The examiner nodded.
"Place your hand on the center. Let the elements see your soul."
Yohan took a slow breath. He pressed his hand to the sigil.
For a moment, the light shone bright. Then — everything broke.
The orbs cracked. The runes shattered. Wind roared through the hall. Flames flickered out. The ground trembled.
And from the ruins, a new light appeared.
It wasn't fire or water or wind.
It was something else — dark and bright at the same time, twisting like a living shadow.
A mark formed above Yohan — a glowing, ancient symbol that no one had seen for centuries.
When the light faded, Yohan stood in silence. The trial platform was destroyed. Everyone stared.
In that silence, for the first time in years, Yohan felt something — a voice. Faint, fading.
"Yohan… don't fear what they cannot understand…" It was his old master's voice. Then, it was gone. Like it had never been.
"Null affinity," one elder whispered.
"No… that wasn't null. That was—" He didn't finish his sentence.
Yohan looked up, meeting their eyes. He didn't look angry. He just looked… tired.
"If this is what truth looks like," he thought, "then maybe I was never meant to belong."
He walked away as whispers followed him. Monster. Cursed. Dangerous.
Yohan didn't reply. He only gave a faint, bitter smile.
Because deep inside, he knew — the trial hadn't rejected him. It had chosen him.