The hall still hadn't fully settled after Anna's result.
Whispers flowed through the room like a restless wind. Level Eight. Genius. Aetherion Academy. Kingdom of Valencrest. Those words kept echoing in every child's head, mixing awe and envy in equal measure.
Anna herself was still standing near Kael and Sophia, cheeks flushed red, hands clenched around the hem of her dress. She looked like she might float away at any moment.
"I can't believe it," she whispered. "Level Eight… Kael, Sophia… did you hear that?"
Sophia smiled softly and nodded. "You were amazing."
Kael smiled too, genuinely. Seeing Anna so happy made his chest feel warm. "I told you," he said. "You're special."
Before Anna could reply, the priest's calm voice carried through the hall again.
"Sophia."
Sophia stiffened.
That single word seemed to steal the air from her lungs.
"M-me?" she asked quietly, even though she knew.
"Yes," Priest Aldren said gently. "Come forward."
Sophia stood slowly, her hands trembling at her sides. She glanced at Anna, then Kael.
"You'll be fine," Anna said quickly, grabbing her sleeve. "I promise."
Kael nodded. "Just touch the ball. That's all."
Sophia swallowed and took a small step forward. Then another. The entire hall seemed to be watching her now, this quiet girl who rarely spoke and always stayed in the background.
She reached the glass ball.
Her fingers hovered over it, hesitating.
Then she touched it.
For a heartbeat, nothing happened.
And then—
Light bloomed.
Not a violent flash, but a steady, powerful glow, soft yet intense. It filled the room with a gentle white brilliance that reflected in everyone's eyes.
A collective gasp rippled through the children.
The light grew stronger.
Priest Aldren's eyes widened, his calm breaking for the first time.
"…Level Eight," he said slowly, almost as if he wasn't sure he believed it himself.
The room exploded.
Two.
Two Level Eights.
In a small orphanage in a forgotten village.
Sister Maren covered her mouth, eyes shining with disbelief. "Two…?" she whispered. To her, every child here was precious. Seeing two of them shine so brightly made her heart ache with pride.
Anna let out a small shriek and rushed to Sophia, grabbing her hands. "You did it! You did it! Sophia, that's amazing!"
Sophia blinked rapidly, stunned. "I… I did?"
Kael felt a wide smile spread across his face. "Of course you did."
Priest Aldren stared at the glowing ball, his thoughts racing. *Two Level Eights… in a place like this? What are the odds…?*
Anna and Sophia were beaming now, laughing together, their joy contagious.
Then—
"Kael."
The name made the room quiet again.
Kael's heart skipped.
He stepped forward, suddenly very aware of how small he was compared to the others. Compared to Anna's radiance. To Sophia's unexpected brilliance.
He stood in front of the glass ball.
*Please…* he thought, though he wasn't sure who he was asking. *Just a little. Anything…*
He reached out and placed his hand on the smooth surface.
Nothing happened.
No light.
No warmth.
No reaction at all.
The glass ball remained clear and empty, as if Kael wasn't even touching it.
A murmur spread through the hall.
Priest Aldren frowned. He lifted the ball, turning it slowly. "That's… strange."
He handed it back to Sister Maren. "Another one."
A second glass ball was brought forward.
Kael's throat felt dry. His small fingers trembled as he placed his hand on the new sphere.
Still nothing.
The ball stayed dull and lifeless.
The priest stared at it, then at Kael.
"…No response," he said quietly.
The silence was heavy.
Even the children seemed unsure how to react.
"This is the first time," Aldren continued slowly, "that I've seen this. Even those with the weakest talent still produce a flicker. But you…" His eyes softened. "…You have no detectable aptitude. Neither for magic, nor aura."
A quiet gasp.
Then whispers.
Some children looked at Kael with pity. Others, with curiosity.
And then laughter.
Mike's voice cut through it. "Haha! Did you hear that? He's got nothing!"
His lackeys joined in.
"A total nobody!"
"Not even level one!"
Anna whipped around. "Stop it!"
Sophia's hands clenched.
Mike smirked. "Why do you keep defending that freak, Anna? He's useless. Didn't you hear the priest?"
Sister Maren stepped forward sharply. "Enough."
Mike flinched slightly.
"Kael is not a freak," she said firmly. "Apologize."
Mike scoffed and turned away. "Whatever."
He stormed out, his friends trailing after him.
The hall slowly filled with uneasy murmurs again.
Kael stood there, staring at the floor.
No magic.
No aura.
Nothing.
Anna rushed to him. "Kael—"
Sophia followed, gently taking his hand.
"It's okay," Anna said quickly. "It doesn't mean anything. You're still you."
Sophia nodded, eyes wet. "We… we're still your friends."
Kael forced a small smile. "Yeah… I know."
But his chest hurt.
He had dreamed of this day for so long.
And it had slipped through his fingers without even shining.