The hall was draped in a suffocating silence.
The overwhelming aura released by Avath, the chief examiner, had only just faded, but its impact lingered like a heavy fog. Students who had collapsed or vomited during the release—whether from fear, pressure, or nausea—were now slowly recovering. Some were shakily sitting, while others struggled to stand upright again, their faces pale and drenched with sweat.
Only a select few had remained unaffected. Om, standing calmly like an anchored ship in a storm, was completely composed. Nearby, Aren and Aria—the prestigious youth from the Rakshakas Family—stood upright as well, their expressions strained but resolute. They hadn't fallen, but they certainly weren't unshaken.
Avath stood at the podium with a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He waited for exactly one minute. Once every student was back on their feet—some supported by others—he resumed speaking.
"Welcome, students of the Class of 2067," he said, his voice amplified by the microphone, now steady and commanding. "I trust you are having a memorable morning so far."
A nervous ripple of awkward chuckles and stiff silence followed.
"I won't take too much of your time. Allow me to explain how the Elemental Affinity Test will proceed. The process is simple—but make no mistake, today will determine your future."
A low murmur spread through the room.
Avath gestured toward a metallic box resting at the edge of the stage. "This box contains a set of number tokens. You will each draw one, which determines your order of entry. Only ten examinees will be tested at a time."
He pointed to the row of ten rooms lined up across the rear wall of the hall. "Once your number is called and displayed on the screen, head to the room indicated. Each door will have your number displayed clearly, so there should be no confusion. Inside, a proctor will assist you."
The students leaned in, listening with rapt attention.
"You'll also be asked if you consent to being recorded. The test will be projected in real-time to your fellow students, government officials, and family members in the observation hall. If you agree, your test results will be public."
A few students visibly tensed.
"Inside, you will see a table with a glass orb. After verifying your identity with the proctor, you will prick your finger and allow a single drop of blood to fall onto the orb. If you possess one elemental affinity, the orb will glow in a single color. If you possess two, the orb will split into halves, displaying two distinct colors. Three affinities—extremely rare—will display in three vertical columns."
Gasps of awe fluttered across the hall.
"For example," Avath continued, "if someone has Water and Wind affinity, the orb will display dark blue and light blue. A color code is displayed on the side walls for your reference. You may also consult your assigned proctor if you have questions during the process."
The side panels of the hall lit up, each showing color representations: Red for Fire, Blue for Water, Green for Wind, Brown for Earth, Bronze for Metal, Silver for Ice, Purple for Lightning, and Black for Darkness.
"And lastly," Avath added, "while most students will not receive a percentage rating, those with extraordinary potential will. Affinity above 0% is rare, but not impossible."
The room fell into a contemplative hush. The air was electric.
"Before we begin," Avath said with a sly smile, "we'll have a demonstration. Two students will take the test in front of you—to show how it's done."
All eyes turned toward the two figures rising from the front row.
Aren and Aria.
Om narrowed his eyes slightly. From beside him, Arun let out a soft chuckle.
"I expected them to get special treatment because of their status," Arun whispered. "But to turn the exam into a publicity stunt? That's shameless—even for the government."
Om remained silent, watching closely as the two siblings made their way behind the stage, disappearing into the testing chambers.
Thirty seconds later, two large monitors mounted high on the walls flickered to life. The feed from inside the testing chambers displayed clearly: one for Aren, the other for Aria.
The rooms were bare, almost sterile—like military dormitories stripped of personal touch. At the center of each chamber sat a metal pedestal with a large glass orb, nearly 15 inches in diameter. A single proctor stood silently in each room.
Aren reached into his pocket, took out a small safety pin, and pricked the tip of his index finger. A crimson drop of blood welled up. Without hesitation, he let it fall onto the orb.
The blood was instantly absorbed. For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—light.
The orb shimmered and slowly split into two distinct vertical columns—Red on the left, Bronze on the right.
A collective gasp filled the room.
"Fire and Metal," someone whispered.
Dual affinities.
Aria followed moments later. Her orb shimmered not with two—but three colors. Red, Bronze, and Blue—Fire, Metal, and Water.
Gasps turned into applause. Murmurs of awe filled the air. Some students clapped, others simply stared in stunned silence. Dual affinities were rare. Triple affinities? Virtually unheard of outside of ancient records and royal bloodlines.
When the two siblings returned to the hall, the students erupted into polite, restrained cheers. Some looked inspired. Others intimidated. Many had already decided in their hearts—I want to be like them.
Back on stage, Avath nodded approvingly.
"Aren, Aria—congratulations. Would you like to say a few words?"
Aren stepped forward confidently, flashing a dazzling smile as he approached the microphone.
"Thank you, Chief Avath," he said. His voice was smooth, practiced. "To all my fellow students—good luck on your tests. And one last thing…"
He paused, eyes sweeping across the silent crowd.
"Our family, the Ayodha Rakshakas, is always looking for new talent. We believe in nurturing strength, honoring legacy, and protecting the Dharma Kingdom. Our recruitment officers are outside the testing center. If you're interested in a future filled with purpose, resources, and power… we welcome you."
He bowed slightly. "Thank you all."
Then he stepped down.
Om watched, unmoving.
Arun exhaled sharply. "And there it is—the real reason they came here."
"A recruitment pitch?" Om asked quietly.
"Exactly," Arun said, crossing his arms. "Get the students while they're still dreaming. Offer them power before they've even figured out who they are. Classic Rakshakas move."
Om said nothing.
But his gaze lingered on the glass orb. Not out of envy… but anticipation