As Jiho put his hand into the glowing ball, we all watched in tense silence. At first, nothing seemed to happen, but then a dark, almost shadowy light began to pulse around his hand. It wasn’t like anything I had expected—more like a soft flicker of black light, swirling around his fingers before shifting to a weak, brownish glow. The light flickered between these shades for a few moments before finally fading back into its original white. Jiho pulled his hand out, blinking in surprise as Narkul gestured for him to sit back down.

“Next,” Narkul said, his tone measured but with a hint of curiosity.

Isak, always ready for his moment, stood up confidently. He grinned at us as he slid his hand into the ball, looking like he expected something grand. The white light around his hand grew larger almost immediately, its brilliance filling the room. We all watched, stunned, as it quickly shifted to a deep, mellow black that felt as if it were swallowing the brightness. The orb seemed to hold that dark hue for longer than Jiho's had before eventually reverting back to its original state. Isak withdrew his hand, still smirking but with a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.

“Alright, Isak, you’re done. Abel, you’re next,” Narkul instructed.

Abel, ever calm and collected, approached the orb with no hesitation. When he placed his hand inside, the ball instantly reacted. A bright, vivid red light exploded from it, filling the room with warmth and intensity. We all leaned forward in awe as the red quickly cooled into a soft, calming blue. The transition was seamless, but it left us all on edge as the light then faded back to white.

“Good,” Narkul nodded. “Haru, you’re last.”

It was finally my turn. I didn’t know what to expect as I walked up to the ball, but as soon as I placed my hand in it, I felt a rush of warmth. Not heat, like something burning, but a kind of radiant warmth that made my skin tingle. It was like being close to a light bulb when it's turned on—pleasant, not painful. The sensation wasn’t just physical either; it felt like the ball was assessing something deep inside me, searching for something beyond just what my hand touched.

Suddenly, the orb erupted into a bright yellow light, so vibrant that I had to squint. The glow was intense, flooding the room in its warmth. I could see a flicker of shock on Narkul's face, and even Anastasia seemed momentarily caught off guard before they both regained their composure.

The light shifted again, this time to a muted grey, though this one didn’t shine as brightly. It lingered in that color for a few moments, as if contemplating something, before the light receded back into its original white.

“That’s it,” Narkul said, his voice betraying nothing as he gestured for me to sit down.

I returned to my seat, my mind racing with questions about what just happened. What did the colors mean? Why did my result seem to have such an effect on Narkul and Anastasia?

We all sat there in silence, waiting for Narkul to explain. Whatever had just happened, it was clear that our lives had taken yet another unexpected turn.

Narkul sat us down after that whole light show, his expression serious but calm, as usual. He leaned forward slightly, clasping his hands together before he began to speak.

"I've assessed your affinities," he said, his tone even. "In this world, there are seven primary elements that individuals can manipulate to create magic: Dark, Light, Water, Air, Earth, Fire, and Electricity. These elements are the foundation of magical abilities."

He paused for a moment, letting that sink in before continuing. "The further down the list you go, the rarer the affinity. Most people develop their first and strongest affinity early in childhood, but as they grow older—around your age—they begin to develop a second affinity. This is called your Type and Subtype."

As he spoke, Isak leaned back in his chair, a smirk forming on his face. He held up his hand, cutting in with his usual cheeky tone. "So what you’re saying is… it’s like a famous game we had back on Earth? Y'know, where we capture creatures, train them to use their affinities, and make them fight until they faint?"

For a second, there was silence as the rest of us stared at him. And then, all at once, we cracked up. Jiho doubled over, Abel shook his head with a grin, and even I couldn’t help but laugh. Isak had managed to perfectly sum it up in the most ridiculous way.

Narkul, on the other hand, blinked, clearly not understanding the reference. His face remained serious, completely unfazed by our laughter. "I do not understand the reference, but I ask for your composure."

We all tried to rein it in, stifling our laughter as best we could. It took a few moments, but eventually, we composed ourselves again, ready to listen to what he had to say next.

Narkul, still unamused by the interruption, continued once the room was quiet again. "As I was saying, your Type and Subtype determine the kinds of magic you’ll be able to use. These affinities are unique to you and can shape your future abilities. You must understand the weight of this information. Your magic, once developed, will be a core part of your identity in this world."

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Narkul leaned back in his chair, his eyes scanning each of us as if making sure we were following along. "Not every affinity is the same," he began, his tone careful and deliberate. "Even though two people may have the same element, their connection to that element often specializes into a specific version of it."

I frowned, trying to process everything. "So, you're saying even if two people have, let's say, Dark affinity, they might not have the same abilities?"

Narkul nodded. "Exactly. One might manipulate shadows, while another might specialize in weakening the mana or senses of others. It's not just about the element itself but the way your connection to it manifests."

Abel, ever the curious one, raised an eyebrow. "Could you give us an example?"

Narkul’s sharp eyes flicked to Abel before settling on all of us. "Let’s take Dark as an example. There are three known forms of Dark affinity. The first is Spacial, which allows the manipulation of space—things like teleportation or creating voids. The second is Debuffing, where one can weaken the senses or mana of their opponents, making them less effective in combat. The third is Shadow, which grants control over shadows—both creating and manipulating them as extensions of oneself."

We sat there, absorbing his words, the gravity of the situation settling in. The possibilities seemed endless, and it became clear that magic wasn’t just a one-size-fits-all situation.

"The reason for this?" Narkul continued, folding his hands. "We don’t fully understand it yet. It’s currently being researched by the Nexus Academy of Techno-Science. They're working to comprehend why some people are drawn to specific types of affinities, even within the same element."

Jiho looked like he was about to ask something, but Narkul pressed on, his voice steady and clear.

"Now, there’s something else you should know. If you have two affinities that are similar, they may fall within what we call a natural range. These three ranges are: Water and Fire, Dark and Light, and Air and Electricity. When your affinities fall into these ranges, they often complement each other, allowing for unique powers. For example, someone where their Types are Air and Electricity with both Wind and Lightning as their affinities in their type, could have the ability to control the weather if their mana reserves are strong enough."

We all sat there, stunned by the sheer scale of what Narkul was telling us. The idea that someone could control weather—or even bend shadows or space—was overwhelming. I glanced around at my brothers, each of them processing this in their own way.

Abel leaned forward, clearly interested in the possibilities, while Jiho just stared off into space, probably imagining what kinds of crazy things we might be able to do. Isak had his usual grin plastered on his face, but even he seemed a bit more serious now.

I sat back, my mind buzzing with all the new information. The possibilities felt endless—and dangerous.

Narkul leaned back, his sharp eyes studying us before continuing. "Now, I must clarify something. Just because someone has two affinities in a natural range doesn’t mean they can automatically use abilities that blend the two. It’s not guaranteed. But the potential is there, and with training, you can unlock it."

He then waved off the importance of the glowing lights from earlier. "Also, don’t put too much stock into how much the orb glowed. That was simply the orb’s way of assessing your mana. It doesn’t determine the strength of your abilities. We will be testing the full extent of your affinities soon."

Narkul paused, giving Anastasia a slight nod, clearly testing her memory recall as she stood up straight. "Jiho, your Type is Dark and your Subtype is Earth," she said, turning toward him.

Jiho, while trying to hide it, looked slightly frustrated. I could see the gears turning in his mind—he wasn’t in the natural range, and that clearly annoyed him. Still, I could tell he was thinking about how to make the most of what he had. He was always the one to turn a challenge into an opportunity.

Anastasia moved on. "Isak, your Type is Light and your Subtype is Dark."

Isak’s grin faded slightly, clearly disappointed. Light and Dark were both fairly common affinities, though he at least had a natural range. I could see the frustration on his face, but knowing Isak, he’d probably joke about it later.

Next, Anastasia turned to Abel. "Your Type is Fire, and your Subtype is Water."

Abel smiled confidently. Fire and Water—rare elements, and in the natural range. He couldn’t hide his satisfaction, and I couldn’t blame him. He’d hit the jackpot with two of the rarest elements and an opportunity to control a wide range of abilities.

Finally, Anastasia’s gaze landed on me. "Haru, your Type is Electricity, the rarest of all," she announced, and I couldn’t help but cheer aloud, a grin spreading across my face. I had always liked the idea of being a little different, but this... this was beyond what I had hoped for.

But then, Anastasia continued. "And your Subtype is Air."

Electricity and Air—a perfect natural range. It was like the universe had handed me exactly what I needed. My grin only grew wider as I processed it all. I had the rarest Type, and with Air as my Subtype, the potential to do things that few could even imagine.

Narkul nodded, pleased with the results. "So there you have it. These are your affinities, your connection to the elements of this world. It’s up to you to train and unlock their full potential."

As I glanced around the room, I could feel the energy shift. Each of us, in our own way, was beginning to understand just how big of a deal this was. Our lives were about to change—again—but this time, it felt like we had a bit more control over it.

With the rarest Type and a natural range, I couldn’t help but feel that my journey in this world was only just beginning.

Narkul’s expression turned more serious as he leaned forward, locking eyes with each of us. “Before we proceed with the full extent of your abilities, there’s one key thing you need to understand about magic: Mana.”

He paused for a moment, letting the word hang in the air before continuing. “Mana is the lifeblood of all magical ability. It’s what powers everything—every spell, every manipulation of your affinity. It flows through your system every single day, and just like any other energy source, it refreshes daily.”

We all listened carefully, and I could tell my brothers were taking it in. Mana—it was the engine behind everything we could do in this world.

“Some people,” Narkul continued, “are born with a much higher natural mana pool than others. It’s just like having a larger tank of fuel. But that doesn’t mean those with smaller mana pools are at a disadvantage. It simply means you’ll need to work harder, train, and gradually build it up. Mana is like a muscle—the more you use it, the more it grows.”

I glanced at my brothers, seeing them all nodding, thinking about how that applied to them. Isak, of course, was the first to break the silence. “So it’s basically like training for a marathon, but for magic?”

Narkul gave a slight smile. “In a way, yes. The more you use your abilities, the stronger your mana pool becomes, and the more magic you’ll be able to control. But be warned—pushing too hard too fast can drain you, and once your mana is depleted, you’ll be vulnerable.”

Jiho leaned forward, his face serious. “So what happens if someone runs out of mana? Are they just... done?”

Narkul nodded. “Yes, for a time. Running out of mana leaves you in a state of exhaustion. You won’t be able to use any more magic until you’ve had time to rest and recover. In some cases, overuse can even damage the body, especially for those who aren’t used to pushing their limits.”

Abel crossed his arms, already thinking ahead. “So it’s about balance. Training mana and making sure not to push too far beyond what we can handle.”

“Exactly,” Narkul confirmed. “But remember, your mana pool will grow with training and experience. What may seem impossible for you now may become second nature in the future.”

I sat back, processing everything. Mana. It was the key to all of this. Understanding it, training it, mastering it—that would determine just how powerful we could become in this new world.

Narkul stood up, his expression shifting to one of anticipation. “And now, it’s time to test the full extent of your abilities. We’ll see how much mana you can control, and just what you're capable of.”

I could feel the energy shift in the room as we all stood up. My brothers exchanged glances, a mix of excitement and nerves passing between us. This was it. We were about to find out what we were truly capable of.

As we followed Narkul out of the room, the weight of what was about to happen settled in. Our journey had only just begun, and now it was time to see where it would lead.