"This is a device designed to test the attunements. I believe some of you are already familiar with it, as you were tested by your families, but we will be repeating the tests just in case. If it is your turn the only thing you need to do is to place your palm on this plate. After a moment those spheres will light up with the corresponding element, starting from your strongest to your weakest. I repeat, ONLY put your palm on the plate, nothing more. DO NOT TRY TO CHANNEL YOUR MANA INTO IT! This is NOT a device designed to test your mana capacity and it will EXPLODE if you try to use it like some mana measuring device!"
With the distraction gone, the teacher explained while showcasing the device and pointing at the corresponding part while also giving a stern warning... And judging by how intense her voice got, certain mishaps must have happened in the past... more than once…
"Now then, if that's clear, student…"
After taking a deep breath, the teacher straightened her back and called the first person.
With everyone's attention on the device, a short-haired girl placed her palm on the designated spot. She seemed very tense and even started fidgeting as nothing seemed to be happening.
"Don't. It's just how long it takes."
"...!"
As the girl bit her lips in unease, the teacher closed her eyes and let out a tired sigh, making the girl flinch and blush in embarrassment.
A few seconds later, all five spheres began to light up.
Blue, dark green, black, yellow, and an extremely light blue, almost white with a blue hue to it.
"Oh! That's surprising! Water, nature, darkness , earth and… ice! Very rare!"
"~!"
The teacher let out an excited gasp, and the girl immediately perked up, now blushing from pride.
"Nature, healing, earth, i-… ice… and metal. Incredible!"
As one of the rarest elements showed up again immediately for the next student, the teacher couldn't hide her amazement.
"Wind, water, earth, metal… a-and, ice…?"
But when the bluish white light appeared for the third student in a row, the teacher couldn't help but become confused…
"No, no. That's amazing only… improbable…"
"?"
In response to the student's worried look, the woman shook her head and reassured, but not without hesitation, which got even Rotsard's attention.
"...but I tested it right before the lecture…"
"..."
Since he was in the front row, Rotsard easily heard the troubled teacher muttering to herself with concern, and furrowed his brows wondering why it felt that he was forgetting something.
Ice…
Ice element was showing time and time again despite being supposedly extremely rare.
"..."
Rotsard lowered his gaze onto his desk, or more precisely to his own hand he had on the desk…
Obviously, since his magic system was the Essence of Winter, he HAD to be attuned to it…
Did the story read to him by the deofol contained anything about…
"!!!"
Suddenly, as the context appeared in his mind, Rotsard flinched hard and turned pale!
His character in the story was late for class when they were testing their attunements!
He wasn't supposed to be in class when others were tested!
HE WAS CHANGING THE STORY WITH HIS PRESENCE!
"TEACHER!"
"Y-yes?!"
Rotsard stood up and exclaimed, startling the woman.
"I think that your device might be too sensitive and is picking up my Essence of Winter! You know how your attunements are, don't you? Can you please check if I'm right?!"
Since he had already messed up, he at least tried to come up with a reasonable excuse that would lead to getting the story on the right track.
…but seriously, a detail like that turning out to be so important…
"..."
For a moment, the teacher was just staring at the bleached-blond-haired boy and blinking, before leaning back squinting her eyes at the device in front of her.
After a moment of consideration, she leaned over and placed her palm on the device's plate and waited.
Soon enough, all spheres lit up one by one.
Gray, black, dark green… bluish white… and yellow.
Metal, darkness, nature, ice, and earth.
"...It's not just simply picking up on your element, student Vallhall. It seems that your element is actively suppressing fire. My attunements are for metal, FIRE, darkness, nature, and earth in that order specifically. Not this."
The teacher took back her hand and spoke up in shock without taking her eyes off the device.
"With your permission, teacher. I'm going to wait outside the classroom. Please check again and let me know if I have to completely leave the building instead."
"I will be much obliged."
Rotsard declared, already in the door, and the teacher nodded at his back as he was closing it.
The bleached-blond-haired youth walked all the way to the other end of the hallway, where he found a spot to sit down.
"...wait… why didn't I have my attunements checked before leaving? I wouldn't have to stay back and wait… Ughhhh…"
But the moment he actually sat down, he flinched and let out a pained sigh.
Well… at least what was happening was more aligned to how the story should go…