“Perfect. You’ll sit here while I prepare the area.” Said Gabriel as he guided Bryn to his seat.

“What do I need to do, Mr. Gabriel?”

“There are different methods towards discovering one's affinities. We are going with the safest one and the most beneficial.”

If there is such a method, why would people do any other? Thought Bryn.

“This method is only possible if you have a mana geyser and one considerable gemstone from each element...” Said Gabriel as he walked around Bryn, placing four items on the floor.

Following Gabriel with his eyes, Bryn’s face changed as the first Item was placed.

That answers my question… Who would have such stones at hand?!

As Gabriel placed the ruby on the floor, the snow holding it in place started to melt visibly. Bryn’s eyes couldn’t stop looking at the gemstone. Bryn felt like he was looking at a raging wildfire contained by the vivid red rock. He could almost feel the stone pulsing with energy.

Gabriel walked to his right side, removing another gem from his spacial ring. This time, it was a sapphire, just as significant. The stone is even more blue than the sky. Looking at it, Bryn felt like he was facing a bottomless ocean. Unlike the previous ruby, the sapphire calmed his mind and offered a sense of control.

At this point, Gabriel had already reached behind Bryn, placing a Topaz, perfectly opposing the first stone. Bryn turned his head to see the yellowish gemstone, trying to get a feel for it. The stone emanated a different feel from the previous two. If the ruby was raging and the sapphire calming, the topaz was balance. Bryn felt his mind free from shackles as if it could analyze and create whatever he wished.

The fourth stone was placed on the ground on Bryn’s left side. Looking at it, Bryn instantly identified it as an emerald. The stone had the roughest impact at first glance. Even in its rough format, the gemstone radiated perfection. Bryn couldn’t find a place of the stone that seemed unbalanced, as if the millions of years since its formation had worked to stabilize it in the most practical form it could embody the earth element.

Gabriel removed a fifth and last stone from his spacial ring when all four stones were placed. The stone was much smaller than the previous ones. Unlike the others, this had already passed some lapidary process. Gabriel sent the stone flying above Bryn’s head. It shined and sparkled brightly as the sunlight hit it on the way.

“We are ready to start. Bryn, close your eyes. Focus on your breathing, as if inhaling gave you the energy of each gemstone, and the exhale returned a portion of it, allowing the flow to nurture yourself.”

Bryn’s eyes closed instantly. His lungs started to work to their total capacity.

“Imagine the fire from the Ruby heating your body with every breath. Its energy rushes your mana pathways to your mind and soul. Allow the energy from the sapphire to balance this raging fire, maintaining control…”

With each breath Bryn took, his body reacted. It was vibrating with tiny twitches throughout his limbs.

“The yellow topaz will help you guarantee that your mind is not overwhelmed by the magical forces running through you, and the emerald will harden your body to support this process…”

Bryn could feel his breaths sparking a part of him he didn’t know existed, as if his mind had discovered a new limb. He tried exercising it, but the reaction was not as expected. His face contorted in pain, and his body and mind were shocked at his first attempt.

“Do not rush the process. The longer you can absorb the energies of the stones and the mana geyser refilling them, the better for your future potential. The last stone is a diamond. It is the embodiment of magical energy, pure from elemental variations. They feed your soul and magical potential.”

Bryn stopped his attempts to control it. Instead, he turned his attention to the flow of energy within him. As the air came inside him, he felt energy leaving his lungs, using different paths to pass through every cell in his body and converging primarily in his head and stomach.

Gabriel watched the process closely. He could see the gemstones' interactions with the mana geyser and Bryn from the outside.

“At the end of the process, the energy representing the elements you are most attuned with will focus around your core. But don’t worry about that for now.”

A small stream of energy formed, linking each stone with Bryn. Reaching him, the flow from the ruby tried to overtake the others, almost breaking the balance between the five energy streams. It took merely an instant for the sapphire to react. Instantly battling and controlling the furious energy from the ruby.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

The blue energy from the sapphire formed a path for the energies to use. Wherever a new path formed, the torrent of energy got balanced and increased its flow.

Slowly, a second skin started to form around Bryn’s body. It was a mixture of red and blue traces. As Gabriel analyzed these changes, this membrane made of energy started to rearrange itself. Slowly, the red and blue brightness organized itself closer to Bryn’s abdomen. A tornado was swirling in his stomach. At that moment, Gabriel could hear an alliteration of knocking sounds.

Bryn’s hooves, shaking from the surge of energy, started to tap the rock he was sitting on.

Ahhhh, what is this pain?! Is this the least dangerous method for real?! It feels as if acid started to run through my veins!! What is happening!!

“Calm your mind, Bryn, and allow the energies to balance!” Said Gabriel, his face frowning.

“How?!” Bryn screamed.

Lugh and Flidais offer guidance on your magical awakening.

Do you accept?

Yes or No.

Anything to stop this madness! Yes!

Instantly, a whirlpool formed at the energy second skin on Bryn’s head. It started pulling energy from the topaz, emerald, and diamond. The topaz energy focused around Bryn’s brain, making the membrane around it change color to yellow.

Likewise, his body started to absorb the energy from the emerald and the diamond. The emerald focused on Bryn’s limbs as the diamond’s diluted the brightness from the blue and red tsunamis around his stomach. The film of energy enveloping Bryn found a new equilibrium.

“Incredible…” said Gabriel, looking at Bryn with his hand covering his mouth.

Bryn’s head glowed a yellow light; as Gabriel’s eyes lowered, the yellow became greenish around his entire body. The clash of energies at his core stabilized and formed two droplets—one resembling the color of the ruby and the other from the sapphire, constantly revolving around one another. Bryn would recognize the ying and yang symbols if he could see them.

Gabriel was mesmerized by the ritual. He heard about cases in the royal family that using this method of awakening could have rare side effects, but he never heard about it on Demi-humans. Disturbing the process with any other energy signature could worsen the balance between Bryn and the natural forces, but he had no idea what it might cause.

Wow, the pain is finally over… I feel like I did infinite days of training in a minute! Could I use appraisal? I shouldn’t… Let’s wait until Gabriel calls me out.

With the newly established balance, each of Bryn’s breaths filled him with vigor. His muscles, still a bit contracted from his pain, were now relaxing. As air came in, the membrane made of mana increased its opacity and the colors became more vibrant. As he exhaled, part of the energy flowed back towards the gemstones, but some got absorbed by his body, making the energy covering himself slightly thicker.

Gabriel looked at Bryn, his eyes were still closed, but his expression had changed entirely. He now had a smile on his face and a relaxed posture. Sitting with his legs crossed over the other, he slowly started to change the rhythm of his breathing.

Bryn used his memory from Earth to capitalize on yoga breathings. The energy he could maintain inside his body increased as the techniques were employed.

The sun flowed in the sky as time passed. Gabriel kept by Bryn’s side during the process, protecting and observing. Hours had passed since Bryn accepted guidance from Lugh and Flidais, but Gabriel didn’t know. All he could do was notice the changes on Bryn’s outside.

His muscles trembled as they started to change, redefining the fibers on the inside. He didn’t increase in size, but Gabriel felt Bryn had become more feral. His hair and fur started to lose some of its color, becoming grey. Droplets of blood appeared on the top of his forehead as four small horns shredded the skin above them. Two on each side. His hands had increased in size a bit, his fingertips becoming more clawlike. Hooves and nails also changed their colors; they darkened, almost pitch black.

As the transformation stopped, the energy flow slowed down a lot. “Bryn, how are you feeling?” asked Gabriel.

“I’m ok! It was terrible at first, but soon it became revigorating. Can I open my eyes now?”

“Yes, you can…” said Gabriel.

Bryn’s eyes opened. In front of him was Gabriel, looking him straight in the eyes. The man didn’t have his usual bearing; his arms crossed and tense expression told Bryn something had gone different than expected.

Startled by Gabriel’s demeanor and silence, he quickly asked, “What is it, Mr Gabriel?! Please tell me I can learn magic.”.

“You certainly can…”

“Then what is wrong?” asked Bryn, looking around and at his body.

What is going on? Why did my fur change color? My hands as well. They look almost like werewolves from movies! As he examined his body, Gabriel collected the gemstones from their positions. As the flow of energy completely stopped, Bryn heard a notification.

“Mr. Gabriel, what happened to me?”

“Bryn, opening oneself to magic is a process your soul affects. Status helps dictate one’s capacity and strength, but what about natural talent? Dragons are better magical users than humans…”

“I don’t understand…”

“Whenever people learn magic, there usually isn’t enough magical energy for them to transform and match their soul’s current potential. This is my fault. The mana geyser and the gemstones forced a transformation on yourself… Humans can benefit from this type of awakening, but I didn’t know that demi-humans had side effects; I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry? I was never human, to begin with… So, are you telling me the elements I’m most attuned with?”

Gabriel was still hesitant about the situation, but he answered since Bryn didn’t seem to mind.

“During the ritual, the disposition of energies was easy to read. Air energy focused on your mind, earth around your body and limbs, fire and water were battling for your core. That means you’re most attuned with fire and water for magic.”

Hell yeah, fire is excellent for damage output, and usually, water is highly versatile! At least, that was the situation in games.

“Nice! When do we start practicing?”

“Are you sure you are feeling ok?”

“I told you I’m fine!”

Gabriel finally smiled, letting go of the subject.

“Well, you should have seen a new skill, Magic Perception… Could you confirm you unlocked it?”

“I did!”

“Good. Since we are in winter and snow is all around us, let’s start with water magic… Pay close attention to my moves and words. Here is the incantation for a water ball.” Gabriel started to move his stance in a fluid motion.

His legs opened more than his shoulder width, one foot forward and the other perpendicular. His arms turned clockwise, one starting above his head, the other low. As both arms completed a half circle, his palms came close to his core, turning around each other.

As he made the movements, his mouth mumbled a few words, and water particles in the air and around the floor slowly converged between his hands. As a perfect sphere of water formed, he positioned himself as if to throw a punch. Instead, a palm attack launched the water ball at the nearest tree.

Bryn tried to follow the water projectile with his eyes, but its speed was too much. As his eyes reached the tree trunk, it had a round hole going through it. Looking inside the hole, Bryn could see that the spell had crossed other obstacles behind it.

His lips curled upwards as he looked back at Gabriel.

“Your turn…” said the man.