"...I want to think this through before deciding."
"That’s understandable. But if you wish to enroll normally, you will need to go through the selection process and obtain a special admission ticket. Usually, you can get them after the traditional awakening ceremonies that will be held across the world. If they think you meet the criteria, then they will give you one of those tickets."
She paused, her expression becoming more serious.
"However, I should warn you, most of the candidates will be eliminated during this selection process. The academy only accepts the most exceptional individuals, and they’re quite ruthless in their screening."
I raised an eyebrow. "How ruthless."
"Let’s just say out of thousands of applicants worldwide, only about fifty to a hundred are accepted each year. And even those thousands are selected out of millions. And once the time comes, the tokens will serve as guides to the academy itself. You’ll have to go through difficult trials, which are also part of the entrance exam, just to arrive at the academy."
"So the test will start the moment you get the token, huh?" I muttered.
This was a cliché type of admission, the classic ’earn your way in through suffering’ type, but the process will certainly be difficult.
I should’ve seen it coming.
"Can you tell me what kind of trials will be given?" I decided to ask just in case she knew.
"That varies each year. Sometimes it’s survival challenges, sometimes combat tests, sometimes puzzles that test your mental aptitude. The academy believes that the journey to reach them should be as challenging as the education itself."
"...Do applicants die in the process?" I asked again. I just wanted to know the academy’s attitude.
"This..." Lady Nisha looked hesitant. "...Yes. There will be cases like that."
She was hiding something. But I decided not to probe further. I could already guess what she was hiding.
The applicants would be either watched over by the academy’s personnel, or the token might serve as a one-time life-saving item. If it gets activated, you lose the chance to enter the academy.
Though there may be more rules and cases I might not know of.
"You don’t have one of those, right?"
"Alright, I’m gonna apply the traditional way then. If I decide to enroll there." I added at the end.
"Mm. Then take this," She handed me a black feather. "If you burn it, I will know you have made your decision and come to find you. But it only reveals your location to me. So don’t treat it as some kind of life-saving item."
"Then, our conversation ends here." She muttered. The darkness surrounding us instantly dispersed, revealing the place we were in.
Surprisingly, it was the library.
"I will take my leave then. It was good talking with you." Before I could say anything, she vanished right in front of my eyes.
"...I had something to ask," I sighed in disappointment.
Suddenly, she popped back into view right in front of me, as if she’d never left.
I stared at her with a deadpan expression. "So, were you going to ’watch’ me again?"
Her calm demeanor cracked slightly as she realized her mistake. She quickly shook her head, looking almost embarrassed. "I couldn’t help but hear your voice since I wasn’t that far, that’s all. It wasn’t what you think, I swear. I’m gonna take my leave for real. Watch-"
"No, please wait!" I held up a hand to stop her. "I actually did have something to ask."
She paused, composing herself again. "Alright, you may ask."
"Um... If it’s not trouble for you, can you help me check my affinities? And... teach me how to use them properly along the way?"
She tilted her head in curiosity. "Huh? Didn’t your master teach you that?"
"Well..." I explained. "We didn’t have time to do it yet. And there are still many days before I can meet him again. Figured I might as well make use of the opportunity."
She considered for a moment and nodded. "Alright, I can help with that."
With a casual flick of her fingers, darkness swallowed us both. The sensation was brief but disorienting, like being pulled through thick liquid.
When it cleared, we stood on what appeared to be a solid platform suspended in an endless void.
Strangely, it gave me a chilling deja vu.
I hope the stars won’t attack me this time. Hmm, thankfully, there seems to be none.
"Is this your domain?" I asked, glancing around. The floor beneath us was smooth and dark, almost mirror-like. I didn’t know how I could see this clearly despite being surrounded by nothing but darkness. Guess it must be a special feature or something.
"Something similar, a pocket dimension I created for fun," she smiled. "Much safer than accidentally destroying the library once when we discover what you’re capable of. Don’t you think?"
That was a fair point. I had no idea what my other affinities were or even had, or just how powerful they might be.
"So, how do we start?"
"Well, since I don’t have the traditional tools, we’re doing it the simple and crude way."
"Crude way?" That didn’t sound particularly reassuring.
"Hmm, but before we begin, can you tell me what you know about them?" She crossed her arms. "And if you sensed something yourself."
I nodded and started talking.
"From what I understand, Aura Affinities are basically what your soul naturally resonates with. They can be tied to personality, environment, bloodline, alignment, and so on."
I paused, organizing my thoughts.
"There are the basic elemental types like Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Lightning, Ice, Shadow, and Light. Then there are the more abstract essence-based ones like Time, Space, Gravity, Emotion, Memory, Decay, Life, and Void."
Lady Nisha nodded approvingly, gesturing for me to continue.
"There are also personalized affinities that are more unique to individuals-things like Blood, Glass, Threads, Chains, Echoes, Sound, Storm, or even Ash. But they are very rare and difficult to discover."
"And, some people can develop hybrid affinities that combine two or more base elements. Like Ash mixed with Fire to create Decay for slow-burning destruction. Or Phantom being Wind plus Shadow for intangible movement and so on."
"Impressive, you’ve done your research." She praised me. "And what about yourself? Have you sensed your affinity on your own yet?"