Chapter 9: Silent Circle
The hall, once vibrant, was now a chasm of silence, swallowing every semblance of joy Darius had held. He was rooted in an unforgiving reality. Before him, the unlit magic circle lay, dull and unyielding—a reflection of his failure. A failure, not just of a test, but of his dreams of the Arcane Ascendancy System.
'This can't be right,' his eyes staring at the vacant symbol, a lump forming in his throat. 'I've prepared for this.' He felt as if the ground beneath him was pulling him down, a whirlpool of disbelief and disappointment. 'It can't end here.'
His mind drifted to Xue Feng, the formidable cultivator he used to be. A cultivator's path in Penglai was always a battle against the heavens, but in Gaia, the heavens didn't even appear to be on the field. The war he'd waged was against himself. His brows furrowed as he stared at the circle. Just an unforgiving circle, a cruel mockery of his efforts.
The sounds of cheers and excited chatter started around him. His peers, children basking in their successful trials, filled the hall with jubilation. The contrast only amplified his shock. 'I should be among them,' a bitter taste spreading in his mouth. He remained silent, drowning in a sea of unheard questions and doubts.
He was Darius Valdene, the heir to the Valdene family. He should hold his head high. And yet, his gaze was nailed to the ground, caught between the undeniable truth and his shattered aspirations.
'How did it come to this?' The Taiji Talisman Technique, his understanding of cultivation, his relentless effort—all seemed to have led him to this dead-end.
Rainslif Crowley, the Tier 5 Wind Adept, surveyed the hall with a sweeping gaze that settled on the happy faces of successful participants. A sense of satisfaction washed over him as he applauded their achievements. His intense grey eyes sparkled with an unusual delight as he directed his attention to a particular boy. "A young lad with tier 9 potential—what a remarkable find in my own tower!" He announced, an undercurrent of immense pride lacing his voice.
He then turned to Darius, his gaze uncaring, "For those with lower potential, you may stay for the knight's test." His words were like a tiny gust of wind, barely blowing away some of the disappointment that clung to Darius.
Rainslif's gaze landed on the burly mage who had brought the boy. The towering figure seemed to fill the space around him with his fiery aura, an intriguing addition to his kind demeanor. "Brundy, bring the lad to my study later."
Brundy's red eyes lit up with eagerness, and he responded, his voice bubbling with excitement. "Of course, Master Adept!" His booming affirmation lingered in the air, even as Rainslif, with the swiftness of a gust, disappeared into a self-conjured tornado, leaving only his words and the profound silence of his departure in his wake.
Darius's parents approached their small, disheartened son. Amara's emerald eyes, filled with concern as she knelt to his level. Wrapping him in a warm embrace, she whispered words of reassurance into his ear, "my dear Darius. Do not let this shake your spirit. Failure isn't defeat, it's a stepping stone."
Jarek stood by them, his eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions. He wasn't too upset; it stung to see his son disappointed, but the prospect of Darius following in his footsteps was stirring. He extended a hand onto Darius's shoulder, his voice firm yet comforting. "You are a Valdene, son," he reminded him. "This isn't the end, it's the beginning. The path of the Manaforged Knights awaits you."
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Darius's gaze met his father's, the spark of determination in his eyes gradually reigniting. "Knight..." He echoed. It was at that moment Darius shook off the shackles of his disappointment, the realization that all wasn't lost settling in.
He scolded himself inwardly, reflecting on his reaction to the situation. 'I'm acting like a true child, not the cultivator that I am. This isn't my end.' His thoughts were filled with a approach that was far beyond his years, 'The Taiji Talisman Technique is, at its core, a body refining technique, I shouldn't expect differently in this life.'
Jarek and Amara exchanged glances as they watched Darius straighten his posture and square his shoulders. His swift recovery from the initial disappointment washed over his features, replacing them with determination. Their faces lit up with shock and pride, reflecting the unyielding spirit of their son.
With newfound determination, he turned to his parents, his face full with resolve. "Don't worry," he reassured them, his voice steady and brimming with conviction. "I'll become a powerful knight, just like father."
The hall slowly started to clear out, the noises of laughter and excited chatter gradually dying down. All that remained were Darius, his parents, the boy with an overflowing potential, and Brundy.
Brundy stepped forward, his burly frame filling up the space around him. His aura flickered like a warm fire, offering a reassuring presence amidst the pressing silence. He turned to Darius, his intense eyes radiating a paternal sense of warmth.
"I will be conducting both parts of the knight's test. The first test will be a physical, this course will test your bodies capabilites." His usual kind demeanor had been replaced with a stern, determined one, befitting his role as a mentor.
The boy with god-like potential glanced at Darius, a radiant confidence lighting up his features. He watched Darius, a satisfied grin spreading on his face, as if observing an amusing spectacle.
As Darius's pulse quickened with resolve, a chilling term echoed in his mind—dud. 'Stripped of the ability to touch the arcane, confined to the drudgery of a mundane existence." He shuddered at the prospect. Such a label didn’t just imply the absence of mana; it marked one as an outcast, irrelevant of one's birth or status.
Taking a deep breath, he shut his eyes for a moment, willing away the trepidation. 'This is not my fate,' he repeated to himself, steeling his mind against the rising wave of anxiety.
His resolve, now cast in iron, was clear on his face. With a single-minded focus, he launched himself into the physical test that manifested before them.
Every muscle in his small body moved with an ease that showcased his expertise, each movement honed from countless years of experience. His actions were precise, a perfect blend of speed and strength.
The sight was captivating, a spectacle that left even the seasoned Brundy stunned. Darius Valdene, a mere child, was transforming before their very eyes, guided by an indomitable spirit and the fear of becoming a dud.
Pride radiated from Darius, his azure-blue eyes sparkling with triumph as he finished the course. He was a body cultivator, this was his path. The path of a Manaforged Knight.
Still awestruck from Darius's performance, Brundy was already extending a small shield towards the young aspirant. His face glowed with a warmth similar to that of an affectionate grandparent watching their grandchild's first steps.
"Hold it," Brundy instructed, his eyes twinkling with anticipation. "This here is the Aegis Shield. It's more than just a symbol, it's a beacon of your potential, as well as your elemental affinity within the Manaforged Knight System."
Darius's gaze shifted towards the Shield, the shining surface drawing his attention. As he cautiously reached out to grasp the shield, the icy touch of the metal sent a shiver racing up his spine. Anticipation swirled in his stomach, a whirlpool of nerves threatening to explode from him.
Brundy continued, his deep voice echoing through the hall. "After you place your hand against it, the Aegis will slowly react to your potential. It will emit a color that reveals your elemental affinity. The number of runes that glow, on the other hand, shows your potential within their System."
Darius's hand trembled slightly as he held it against the shield. His heart pounded in his chest, the drumming beat echoing the anxiety that pulsed in his veins. He watched the shield, his breath hitched as he waited for the color and runes to reveal his fate.
Time seemed to stretch into an eternity, the silence pressing against him. Brundy finally broke the silence, his words echoing through the hall, “A dud.” The words, spoken with an unwavering kindness, but his hate filled eyes struck Darius like a knife, severing the last strings of his hope.
His hand dropped from the shield, its surface as blank as his heart felt. Darius's mind reeled, struggling to comprehend the reality of his situation. A whirlwind of emotions took hold, his thoughts ricocheting from frustration to rage, then plummeting into the depths of disbelief. His skin paled under the weight of his failure, his exhausted mind a chaotic storm.
"I'm just a kid," the words tasted bitter. "I'm a dud."
His world collapsed around him. His vision blurred as he looked around, the world spinning. His parents' horrified gasps echoed in his ears, their voices distant and faint. He was Darius Valdene, the heir of the Valdene family, and he had failed. Again.