Max’s Elemental Affinities

With a wave of his hand, Thorne motioned for Max to place his palm on the orb. "This is an elemental orb. It will help determine what is your elemental affinity and will shine in a corresponding light." Max extended his hand, a mixture of anxiety and excitement welling up within him. The moment his palm met the cool surface of the orb, the colors within surged and swirled, finally settling into a mesmerizing dance of aquatic blues, blueish white, and radiant gold.

Max's breath hitched as he watched the orb change colors, not fully knowing what elements they represented.

Headmaster Thorne's brows shot up as he watched the colors settle. His eyes widened in obvious surprise, and he pulled his gaze from the orb to study Max with renewed interest.

"Well, well, Max," he muttered, leaning back in his chair. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, his piercing gaze never leaving the young student. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"

He was quiet for a moment, apparently collecting his thoughts. Then, his expression morphed into a smile, filled with an odd blend of pride and intrigue.

"It is water, air, and light." he finally stated, his voice radiating a deep reverence.

Max could hardly believe what he was hearing. He'd hoped for a good affinity, of course, but to hear that he had one of the rarest affinities, light magic, he was shocked and happy.

"Headmaster, didn't you say that only mages at Adept realm are able to use light magic? What am I supposed to do then?" Inquired Max with an important question.

"Max, that is true. Only mages at Adept rank have enough mana and control over it to be able to use light magic. My recommendation is to never tell anyone that you have an elemental affinity with light. Because of how rare it is it will make you a target of greed and hostility. You cannot use it anyway until you become an Adept mage, so it would be better to stick to only sharing about your water and air elements. It is not too rare for people to possess affinities to two common elements, so it would still put you above a lot of other people. In the future, when you reach an Adept realm, you can use the light magic as an element of surprise, since your enemies would not know you possess it. This secret could help decide a moment between life and death. I will not disclose about it either." Proposed Headmaster.

Hearing the advice from Headmaster, Max's heart could not help but warm up. He knew that his talent was great and that he had an opportunity to reach the epitome of power, but that would be impossible if he died halfway. Although Max was smart and talented, he lacked advanced understandings about humans and this world. He understood that this was the advice that he should not forget.

"Thank you, Headmaster, I promise not to reveal it to anyone." Said Max while giving a deep bow showing his gratefulness.

"Good. I knew you would not be narrow minded and seek glory when there is none to be found. This is not a bad thing either. In fact, you might not only be limited to using a water and air elements until Adept rank. After you reach an Apprentice rank, you will gain a deeper understanding of magic, and a higher control over elements, so you might be able to create develop some sort of a derivative element. That would be left for you to explore, since it is not common knowledge and requires an extremely high talent and understanding to succeed." Praised Headmaster.

The headmaster cleared his throat, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Now, Max, because of your promising talent and elemental affinities, there's something I want to propose. Every year, we hold a tournament for all the students who've awakened their magic, a sort of celebration of the blossoming of new abilities."

He paused, letting the words sink in. "I believe, given your potential, you would be an excellent addition to the tournament. It's an opportunity to demonstrate what you've learned, and a chance to test your skills against your peers. Plus, the experience you'd gain would be invaluable for your growth."

Max listened attentively; his interest piqued. A tournament would be an excellent opportunity to gauge his abilities and progress. "What about the prizes, Headmaster?" He asked, figuring there must be more to this event than just participation and experience.

Headmaster Thorne chuckled, "Ah, right to the point, I like that. Well, the prizes are indeed quite enticing. The top three participants each receive a number of mana crystals, which can greatly aid in mana cultivation and are often used for currency. These crystals are not easily obtained outside the academy, making them quite a coveted prize. First place will also receive a treasure to improve meridian strength, therefore increasing a consumer's foundation."

Max's eyes sparkled with eagerness, the stakes of the tournament suddenly seeming even more worthwhile. "I'd be honored to participate, Headmaster," he said earnestly.

"Excellent, Max! Although you will be the youngest to participate, you have until the end of the year to improve yourself." Thorne gave him a warm smile, his eyes reflecting his faith in the young student. "Remember, it's not just about winning, it's about the growth, experience, and lessons learned along the way."

Max nodded, understanding the weight behind the headmaster's words. He thanked the Headmaster for the opportunity and, with a new sense of purpose, left the room, his mind buzzing with thoughts about the upcoming tournament, and how he could best prepare for the challenges ahead.

"Here is your new schedule," Thorne handed Max a parchment scroll, the ink fresh and the script elegant.

Max unfurled it and scanned the contents, his eyes widened as he took in the additional classes. The days were packed, but it was to be expected; he was on the path of an Awakened now.

"Thank you, Headmaster. I will put my best effort into these classes," Max declared, rolling the scroll back up. There was a noticeable shift in his demeanor, a newfound determination that hadn't been there before.

"Very well, Max. I look forward to seeing your progress." The headmaster nodded with satisfaction. "Dismissed.

*****

The next day, Max walked around the academy grounds with the scroll clutched tightly in his hand. The sun was just beginning to rise, painting the sky with hues of pink and orange. The campus was already buzzing with students, some practicing spells, others sparring with wooden swords.

His first class of the day was the advanced battle training. Stepping onto the training field, he could feel the stares from the other students. He was the youngest among them, but Max held his head high, determined to prove himself.

The teacher for the class was still Instructor Brunt, making the training grueling, and the battles intense. Every opponent he faced was stronger than the last, and although he ended up with several bruises and scratches, Max never gave in. His determination earned him not only respect but also precious experience.

Next came the advanced Mage theory class, held in a grand lecture hall filled with hundreds of students. The topics discussed were complex and thought-provoking, stimulating Max's curiosity and challenging his understanding of magic.

Finally, the Magic combat class was the most challenging yet exhilarating. Here, Max learned to intertwine his physical combat techniques with his magical prowess. It was like learning a new language, one where the body and the mind had to work in harmony to express the magic's true power. Despite this, Max managed to create a water ball by the end of class.

At the end of the day, Max was exhausted but content. He was on a path he had dreamed of since he was a child. He knew the journey would be hard, the challenges many, but he also knew he had the potential to rise to the occasion.

Every sore muscle, every drop of sweat, every moment of frustration, they were all steppingstones on the path to his dream. And Max was more than ready to walk this path, to grow, to learn, and to fight.

This was just the beginning. The world of the Awakened awaited him, and Max was eager to explore it.