The system window hovered before Melaina, steady and undeniable.
ELEMENTAL AFFINITY TEST AVAILABLE
Proceed?
She stared at it for only a moment this time.
Then—
"Yes."
The world responded instantly.
The throne room faded—not disappearing, but dimming, like it had stepped back to make room for something else. The runes along the walls brightened, their glow soft but watchful.
"Sit," Able Colosseum said.
Melaina nodded.
She moved to the center of the polished floor and lowered herself down, crossing her legs slowly. Her hands rested lightly on her knees as she adjusted her posture.
Lotus position.
It felt… natural. Like her body already knew what to do.
"Close your eyes," Selena said gently.
Melaina did.
Darkness took her.
—
"Breathe."
Able's voice wasn't heard—it was felt.
Melaina inhaled slowly.
Then exhaled.
At first, there was nothing.
Just silence.
Then—
A spark.
Not outside her.
Inside.
It flickered faintly in the void of her awareness, like a distant star.
Melaina focused on it.
Fire.
It burned—hungry, restless, alive. It didn't wait. It didn't ask. It consumed. The moment her awareness brushed against it, the flame surged slightly, eager to spread.
Her breath hitched.
Too fast.
Too wild.
She pulled back instinctively.
The flame didn't follow—but it didn't fade either. It lingered, waiting.
Melaina steadied herself.
"Not like that…" she murmured softly.
She let it be.
And moved on.
—
Another sensation emerged.
Cool.
Fluid.
Water.
It didn't rush her. It flowed around her awareness, gentle but deep. When she reached for it, it shifted—responding to her thoughts, her intent.
Soft.
Then stronger.
Then still.
Melaina exhaled slowly.
"This one listens…"
The water didn't resist.
It adapted.
—
A whisper followed.
Light. Almost nothing.
Air.
It was everywhere.
She hadn't even noticed when it arrived.
It brushed against her thoughts, slipping between them, weightless and free. When she focused, it gathered. When she relaxed, it scattered.
Effortless.
Too effortless.
A small smile touched her lips.
"I see…"
—
Then—
Stillness.
Heavy.
Grounded.
Earth.
It didn't come to her.
It was there.
Constant. Immovable. Patient.
When she reached for it, nothing happened at first.
She pushed—
And felt resistance.
Not rejection.
Expectation.
Melaina adjusted, focusing more carefully. Instead of forcing it, she aligned with it.
Slowly…
The weight shifted.
Just a little.
Her breath deepened.
"It takes more…" she whispered.
But it was stable.
Safe.
—
Then—
Warmth.
Gentle.
Radiant.
Light.
It bloomed within her like a quiet sunrise.
Unlike fire, it didn't surge.
Unlike water, it didn't flow.
It simply… was.
When she touched it, it responded—not to her will, but to her intent. There was a softness to it, an awareness that made her chest tighten slightly.
Comfort.
Healing.
But beneath it…
Power.
Melaina's expression softened.
"…You don't want to hurt anything."
The light shimmered faintly in agreement.
—
And finally—
Darkness.
It didn't appear.
It waited.
At the edge of her awareness.
Watching.
Melaina hesitated.
Every instinct told her to be careful.
Still…
She reached for it.
The moment she did—
It moved.
Not outward.
Inward.
A cold, consuming presence that didn't burn like fire—but erased. Quiet. Absolute.
Her breath faltered.
It didn't rage.
It didn't lash out.
It simply… ended things.
Melaina's focus trembled.
Too much—
She pulled back sharply.
The darkness receded instantly, returning to stillness like nothing had happened.
Silence filled the space again.
—
Melaina sat there, breathing slowly.
One by one, she had felt them all.
Fire. Water. Air. Earth. Light. Darkness.
Six forces.
Six truths.
She exhaled.
"They're all real…"
"Of course they are."
Her eyes snapped open.
The throne room returned fully.
Selena stood nearby, watching carefully.
And Able Colosseum stood directly in front of her.
His gaze was sharper now.
More focused.
"What did you feel?" he asked.
Melaina swallowed, then answered honestly.
"Fire wants to spread. Water adapts. Air moves freely. Earth resists but holds. Light responds to intent…"
She hesitated.
"…and darkness consumes."
Able studied her.
Then nodded once.
"Accurate."
A new system window appeared.
ELEMENTAL AFFINITY RESULTS:
Processing…
Melaina's heart began to pound.
Selena leaned slightly forward, curious.
The air itself seemed to pause.
Then—
The results flickered into existence.
Melaina stared.
And for the first time since arriving—
She didn't know how to react.