Duke Alden looked at Julian and said, "You seem to have finally reached the peak of Apprentice Mage though you're two years late." His tone was calm but carried a hint of expectation.
Augustus laughed and said, "Go with your father Julian and figure out your element."
Eva with excitement in her eyes leaned forward and asked, "What element do you think our brother will get?"
Her curiosity was clear as she glanced around the table eager to hear everyone's thoughts.
Eleanor grinned and replied, "Maybe fire, How cool would that be?"
She flicked her hand as if imagining flames bursting to life clearly entertained by the thought of her brother wielding such power.
Regina shook her head and said, "No, fire is boring. Imagine light, angelic power for my angelic son"
She smiled proudly picturing Julian glowing with divine energy.
Julian smirked and jumped in, "But I want dark. I want to be cool"
He leaned back in his chair as he crossed his arms with a playful grin enjoying the idea of having a more mysterious and edgy power.
Eva rolled her eyes and teased, "You're so edgy, dear Julian."
She smirked as she shook her head at his dramatic reaction amused by his desire to seem dark and mysterious.
Everyone laughed and Alden as he smiled, said, "Remember it's not about the element but rather your discipline and hard work."
His tone was firm but encouraging that reminded Julian of the real path to becoming a powerful mage.
After finishing their meal, everyone rose from the table and left the grand hall. Julian followed closely behind his father eager to discover his elemental affinity and what the future held for him as a mage. The large hallways echoed with their footsteps as they made their way toward the mage testing chamber.
As Julian walked behind his father, he couldn't help but think to himself, What element will I get?
His mind raced with possibilities, would it be something powerful like fire or mysterious like darkness? The anticipation made his heart pound a little faster.
What if I get a dual element? Julian thought his excitement bubbling inside him. The idea of wielding two powers was thrilling, imagine the possibilities and the uniqueness it would bring!
Or maybe even triple or quadruple, Julian thought with his imagination running wild. The thought of mastering three or four elements sent a rush of adrenaline through him.
He envisioned himself as a legendary mage who harnessed the forces of nature in ways no one else could. The possibilities seemed endless and he couldn't help but smile at the idea of being truly extraordinary.
Julian excitedly asked, "Father what is your element?"
Alden smiled and replied, "Julian when you reach a certain level and advancement on the path of a mage your element becomes nothing more than a tool. You can use and master any element and there are no limitations. If your level allows it you can wield dual, triple, or even all of the elements. It all comes down to your mana and sea of consciousness.
The better developed your sea of consciousness is, the more power you can wield."
Julian frowned in confusion and asked, "Father, why don't lower level mages use multiple elements?"
Alden explained, "Julian, remember that the sea of consciousness is like a heart for mages. In the lower realms you do nothing more than nurture your fragile sea of consciousness with the element you have the highest affinity with. If you try to overload it with multiple elements, that fragile sea can break apart and explode resulting in death."
Julian felt enlightened by his father's words and quickly dismissed the idea of using multiple elements.
They soon reached the hall where mana testing was conducted. Julian's eyes widened as he spotted a large and crystallized ball at the center of the room which was glowing with a radiant light. The sight filled him with anticipation as he approached the testing crystal ball eager to discover his own magical affinity.
Alden turned to Julian and said, "Go near the crystal ball and let it absorb some of your mana."
His voice was calm and encouraging which signalled that it was time for Julian to take the first step in discovering his elemental affinity. Julian nodded feeling a mix of excitement as he approached the glowing orb ready to channel his mana into it.
Julian stood in front of the ball. He watched in awe as his mana was absorbed by the crystal. The orb began to grow in size and glowing and pulsating with energy.
As it absorbed more of his mana, the color shifted to a deep purplish hue that swirled with sparks of light dancing around the surface.
Alden watched with a broad smile as the crystal transformed recognizing the signs of the lightning element.
"This is incredible!" he exclaimed.
Lightning was a rare and powerful element which was known for its speed and ferocity in battle. He felt a surge of pride for Julian knowing that this affinity would open up many possibilities for his son's future as a mage.