The Director's office was a cavernous chamber adorned with mahogany shelves, gilded portraits of distinguished alumni, and an imposing chandelier that cast fractured light across the polished marble floor. It was crowded with senior professors and affluent investors, their expressions oscillating between outrage and disbelief.
Professor Halvern: "HOW did that commoner display such overwhelming power?"
Professor Mirel: "I demand an immediate examination of his lineage and genetic composition. No ordinary bloodline could manifest such force!"
The air grew tense as murmurs rippled through the assembly.
Director Valen: "Enough. Compose yourselves. I will authorize a comprehensive lineage and arcane diagnostic as soon as the boy has recovered."
Meanwhile — Neison
A sudden chill coursed down Neison's spine as he lay in the infirmary.
Neison's Thoughts: What was that sensation…? It feels like someone is speaking ill of me.
A nurse briskly entered, her expression professional yet faintly apprehensive.
Nurse: "Neison, the Director is summoning you to the laboratory. Something about a lineage evaluation."
Neison's Thoughts: Damn it… have they already discovered it?
Neison: "I understand."
Despite the anxiety coiling in his chest, Neison rose and made his way to the laboratory, apprehensive that the secret of his anomalous power might soon be exposed.
The Laboratory
The chamber was sterile and illuminated by a pale, almost surgical glow. Arcane instruments hummed softly along the walls. At its center stood a crystalline orb mounted upon an intricate metallic apparatus—an artifact engineered to detect magical aptitude and ancestral resonance.
Mage-Scientist: "Place your hand upon the orb."
Neison complied, pressing his palm against the cool, luminescent surface. The orb flickered violently before stabilizing. Lines of golden script manifested midair.
RESULT: COMMONER DETECTED
MAGICAL AFFINITY: NONE
A stunned silence engulfed the room.
Gasps echoed. Even Neison's composure faltered.
Neison's Thoughts: None? So… my ability does not register as magic?
With no empirical evidence to sustain their accusations, the professors were compelled to retract their claims. Neison was dismissed.
The Training Grounds
Later, beneath the vast open sky of the academy's dueling field, Neison encountered Aric Dain, heir to the illustrious Dain lineage and a prodigy renowned for his Thunderous magic.
Aric: "What are you doing here? Planning to spar, commoner?" he said with a sardonic grin.
Neison, curious to explore the boundaries of his mysterious ability, accepted without hesitation. The decision only exacerbated Aric's irritation.
The duel commenced.
As anticipated, Aric dominated the early exchanges. His movements were fluid, augmented by crackling currents of lightning-infused mana. Neison struggled to defend against the relentless assault.
Then—
A sharp strike landed. A thin rivulet of blood slid from Aric's knuckles.
Suddenly, a translucent interface materialized before Neison's eyes.
Notice:
Repeated exposure to Source Signature may increase Compatibility.
Neison's curiosity eclipsed his caution. He reached forward and brushed his fingers against the blood staining Aric's skin.
The interface shifted.
System Notification:
Aric Dain's Signature Detected
Compatibility: 5%
Control Duration: 3.5 seconds
Use Special Skill — Stormstep?
Without hesitation—
Neison: "USE!"
In an instant, his body surged with unfamiliar energy. Lightning coiled around his limbs as he vanished from his position and reappeared behind Aric, executing the very technique that defined the Dain family's combat style. The sudden counterattack forced Aric to halt mid-assault.
Aric's eyes widened—then narrowed in amusement.
Aric: "So you finally revealed it… A distant relative, perhaps? This just became interesting."
Unaware of the true nature of Neison's ability, Aric concluded that the commoner before him must simply share a concealed branch of his noble bloodline.
And Neison, for the moment, allowed him to believe it.