The Fifth
It was so mesmerizing, watching that glimmering white light floating and dancing with the bright green glow. The display of light element within the Element Orb was like a show of beautiful ethereal energy welcoming and complementing the other element. It gave off a refreshing and optimistic feeling you normally got after waking up in the morning.
'Yeah, it's weird how you're feeling a close connection to light element,' Magnus 2.0 remarked. 'Remember how we noticed the less mana consumed when we were doing our light show presentation?'
'I have a sneaking suspicion,' said Magnus, 'that perhaps…'
'…I wouldn't be so sure about that.'
'Why not?'
'I mean we've never heard any of such cases.'
"Magnus?" asked Summer, snapping him out of his daze. He had been staring dumbly at the Element Orb currently showing Summer's element affinities.
"Ah, sorry," said Magnus, shaking his head to pull himself together. "Light element's always kinda showy, you know. It's…enchanting."
Hearing his comment, Summer looked down at the Orb in her hand. The white and green glows had started to fade out since she'd stopped supplying it with mana. However, she could understand how the white light did seem like it would steal most of people's attention compared to other colors. "Is it also the same with the dark element?"
"It should be the same…" Magnus said, almost in a whisper. 'But for some reason, seeing the dark element in the Orb when dad was holding it didn't give me the same kind of connection.'
"Hmm," Summer hummed, seeing the confused expression in her boyfriend's eyes. "Anyway, you said the concealment against the gods' prying eyes wouldn't last long, right? It's my dad's turn now," she reminded Magnus.
"Ah, right. Mr. Murphy, please come forward."
Seeing his daughter stepping aside, Patrick furrowed his brows. "Aren't you going to give her an item?" he asked Magnus.
"Don't worry, dad. He's given me this already," said Summer, showing off the leather bracelet wrapped around her wrist. "It has increased my Mana by fifty points."
"Oh, but I'm gonna get her something more than that soon, Mr. Murphy," said Magnus with a smug grin on his face. "I already have another gift in mind."
At his statement, Summer raised one brow, obviously intrigued. She then gave him a thankful smile and a peck on the cheek before making way for her father.
Getting a warm and fuzzy feeling in his heart, Magnus couldn't hide his stupid smile even as he offered Patrick the Orb. Seeing him reacting that way, Patrick chuckled while grabbing the Orb. It then glowed green.
"Well, it's good to know she inherited my element affinity," the man remarked.
Staring down at the Orb, Magnus bit his lip and scratched his head. He then looked at Patrick apologetically.
"I'm guessing you've run out of earth-related items to give away?" Patrick asked. However, there was not a single hint of disappointment on his face.
Magnus sheepishly nodded. It felt kinda rude that he didn't have anything to give his girlfriend's dad.
A teasing grin then formed on the man's lips. "Ah, how could this be? My own future son-in-law won't give me any shiny toy," he said in a mocking despondent tone.
Hearing that comment, Summer blushed profusely, while Magnus's stupid grin showed his immense happiness for being approved by Patrick.
Patrick laughed lightly when he saw their reactions. He then patted Magnus' shoulder before meeting Markus' eyes. They both shared a look of agreement.
It was Mrs. Wang's turn to measure her affinities, and looking at the two colluding men, she could only shake her head. "Come on, Magnus. Get rid of that grin and give me the Orb," she ordered.
"Ah, sorry, Mrs. Wang," he said, soon recovering from his elation.
Mrs. Wang turned out to have affinity to the fire element. Magnus then gave her a ring called [Bringer of Order], which was one of the rare items that could control Aura. It might not have any stat boost or affinity enhancing effect, but the commanding Aura the wearer gave off was enough to slightly demoralize enemies. Especially the lower-level ones.
Magnus gave her that mainly because he'd run out of fire-related items. Besides, the effect of the ring felt like it suited the Chinese lady.
Up next was Lisa and Luna, who seemed to have come to a silent agreement that they would step forward together. "Can the Orb measure our affinities at the same time?" Luna asked.
"Umm, no. One at a time, please," answered Magnus awkwardly. He really wasn't good with kids.
Hearing his answer, the twins looked at each other and shrugged. "I'll go first then," said Lisa. "'Cause I'm five minutes older than her."
"Okay." Magnus handed her the Orb. He expected the twins to have slight difficulty controlling mana, since that was how it usually went with kids, based on what he'd seen in the past. They were rather slow in comprehending the nature of mana.
Surprisingly, though, the Orb activated just as fast as it did when held by the adults. Magnus tried to hide his surprise while observing the Orb turn completely grey.
"Oh! It's the color of wind element, right?" asked Lisa excitedly.
"That's right."
"Luna! Here, let's see if we have the same affinity," Lisa carefreely said, handing the Orb straight to her sister without even sparing a glance at Magnus' demanding hand.
Luna snatched the Orb from her and quickly sent her own mana into it. It then glowed blue. "Ugh, it's water element. My least favorite," she said without trying to hide her displeasure.
"What?" exclaimed Magnus, slightly offended. "Why? What's wrong with water element?"
"It's lame," answered Luna instantly.
Magnus could only sigh. 'I mean, we used to think the same, didn't we?'
'Right,' Magnus 2.0 agreed.
"Anyway, since you both like doing everything together, I might as well tell you that combining water and wind elements can create ice. And ice makes a pretty good defense. After earth, of course."
"We'll remember that. Thanks for the info, big brother Magnus," the twins said at the same time, with Luna returning the Orb to him.
It was then Owen's turn.
'A.k.a adult TJ,' thought Magnus, knowing both father and son's elements were identical.
"Magnus, you're giving me your 'I know what's about to happen' smirk," Owen remarked after he took the Orb.
"Ah, that's because I do know what's about to happen, Mr. Haysmith."
Shaking his head at Magnus' response, Owen looked down at the Orb and not even two seconds later, it started to glow red, accompanied by swirls of darkness. Magnus had known the Orb would show such a sight, hence his knowing smile earlier. But he didn't expect the speed at which the Orb began glowing.
'Whoa! Others took four to five seconds to activate the Orb. He only took like what, two?'
'I guess talent runs in the family,' commented Magnus 2.0.
For Owen, Magnus had already prepared an item. He then pulled it out of his Inventory and offered it to the man.
For some reason, Owen looked surprise. Perhaps he hadn't expected Magnus to still have some items remaining to give away.
"It's a dark element-related item, sir. I already gave TJ the gloves, so this is for you," Magnus said, handing him a necklace with a pendant that looked to be made of obsidian.
Owen put it in his Inventory and frowned after seeing the name.
[Darkness User's Starter Pack: Necklace]
"Yeah, it's a weird name, isn't it Mr. Haysmith?"
"Sure is. Anyway, thank you, Magnus."
"No problem, sir."
It was then that Victoria came forward. "I guess I'm the last person," she said with a smile.
Magnus returned her smile with a weak nod, knowing he didn't have any item to give her. As he'd expected, Victoria showed an affinity to wind element. And just like how it had gone with Henry, his Inventory had no wind-related item left.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Haysmith," he meekly said.
"Don't worry about it, dear," the woman replied. "You've given my son and husband plenty enough."
With everyone's element affinities revealed, Magnus wanted to move on to training. He instructed everyone to form groups based on the element they wanted to learn a spell for first. But before he could put the Element Orb back in his Inventory, Matt suddenly asked, "Hey, can we take a look at your affinities?"
Magnus looked at the big guy and thought, 'Hmm, that might be a good idea. It will definitely confirm my suspicion.'
He then began to send mana into the Orb while everybody stared at it with growing interest.
Immediately, the Orb activated, much to everybody's—including Magnus'—shock.
Blue, green, grey, yellow…and white.
From the corner, TJ frowned. He recalled the day when Magnus told him he had four element affinities. Not five. At first, he thought his friend had lied to him, until he saw the shock written on his face. Magnus clearly hadn't lied. The presence of the white glow in the Orb was news to him.
"Dude! It's a whole fucking rainbow!" Matt exclaimed. "How did you gain five affinities? No wonder you're overpowered! Did you use a cheat?"
Matt's overreaction didn't register in Magnus' mind as he himself was lost in thought. 'Since when?' he asked himself.
It was then the system's voice rang in his head.
[After obtaining the system, the host died and was resurrected by the system under The Viewers' permission. The moment the host gained back his life, the host developed a small affinity to light element that has since been growing on its own. It is possible that the host's affinity to light element will keep growing until it overtakes the host's affinity to water element at some point in the future.]
Hearing the system's answer, Magnus was surprised. Pleasantly surprised. It definitely was a boon to gain a fifth element affinity. He could start imbuing some of his spells with light element attribute, branching out his healing abilities beyond [Big Spark] and [Rejuvenate]. Not that it would have many chances to be used at the current moment. But, well, one could never know what the future might hold. Anything could happen with the gods plotting some evil plan against him.
'That also reminds me,' he thought, 'I've been delaying this since I've heard about the term for the first time from Scoville. But maybe I can learn how to engrave magic inscriptions using this thing called Divine Essence. Since I apparently possess significantly higher Divinity than the common populace.'