Lucas advanced with assured steps toward the transparent orb placed on the table.

The crowd hushed, their whispers fading into a thick silence that enveloped the air with anticipation.

With a smug smirk, Lucas placed his hand on the smooth surface of the orb, expecting a spectacular display of light that would surely stun the onlookers.

"This will be a piece of cake." he mused inwardly, his eyes twinkling with mischief and superiority.

"They have no idea who they're dealing with."

Seconds stretched into what seemed like eternity.

The crowd pressed forward, a collective breath held in suspense, their eyes wide with a blend of curiosity and skepticism.

Seconds dragged like hours. Lucas's heart pounded—a stark, rhythmic counter to the silent stillness that enveloped the hall.

Silence fell—a heavy, oppressive silence.

The orb remained dark, unresponsive, and what began as a murmur soon swelled into a cacophony of disbelief and disappointment.

The orb's steadfast dimness was a silent rebuke to Lucas's confidence.

"Is it malfunctioning?" whispered a young girl to her neighbor, her voice tinged with curiosity and a trace of schadenfreude.

"He's got no affinity! Nothing at all!" a boy jeered, his voice slicing through the tense air with a hint of malice.

Rolf's mocking laughter erupted, boisterous and cruel.

"What'd I tell you? Lucas the Fatso can't even light up a simple orb!"

"That's utter nonsense!" Lucas's mind screamed internally.

His pride stung by the humiliating display. He pressed his hand against the orb with more force, as if willing it to respond.

"This must be some error, a glitch in this primitive device."

"Come on, show them." he muttered under his breath, his voice a mix of command and desperation.

Yet, the orb remained transparent, a beacon of his unexpected ineptitude.

Another few seconds ticked by, and still, no glow emanated from the orb.

Lucas's eyes darted to the examiner, a tall man with a stoic expression that seemed carved from stone.

"Uh, next, please." the examiner said dryly, his voice devoid of sympathy.

As the examiner coldly suggested moving on, Lucas felt a sting of humiliation but tried to mask it with a forced calm.

"Might there be a problem with the orb?" he asked, allowing a hint of skepticism to creep into his voice, more befitting his youthful guise yet tinged with his underlying authority.

The examiner's dismissive glance only added to the mounting tension.

"The orb functions as intended. Please step aside for the next candidate."

Lucas stepped back, his mind racing with indignation and a rapidly forming plan.

"What about the black orb?" Lucas gestured toward the obsidian sphere, a faint glimmer of hope in his eyes.

The examiner glanced at Lucas with a raised eyebrow.

"I don't believe that's necessary." he replied curtly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Lucas hesitated, his hand hovering uncertainly over the orb for a moment before withdrawing it, a mixture of disappointment and frustration evident on his face.

"Right." he muttered, his voice barely audible over the murmurs of the onlookers.

As the examiner moved on to the next candidate, Lucas couldn't help but feel a pang of defeat wash over him, the weight of his own inadequacy settling heavily upon his shoulders.

"Clearly, your device is defective." he mumbled, a flimsy attempt to salvage some dignity. Yet, his voice, usually commanding and sure, faltered, laced with disbelief and a simmering anger.

He turned away from the orb, unable to bear the mocking gazes any longer.

Ben moved closer, his face etched with a mixture of pity and concern, as he placed a gentle hand on Lucas's shoulder.

"Hey, Lucas, don't let this get to you." Ben consoled, his voice soft, almost a whisper.

"Everyone has off days.maybe this is just not your thing. But you know what? You're good at other stuff, right?"

Lucas nodded, his lips pressed into a thin line.

The reality of his failure was a bitter pill to swallow, made only more distasteful by the echoing guffaws of his peers.

HAHAHAHA!

their laughter boomed, each chuckle a needle to his pride.

"This is the second time I am being humiliated like this." he thought, his mind churning with a mix of ancient pride and newfound indignation.

'Though I stand ageless and these petty taunts should be beneath me, I find this... this mockery increasingly intolerable.'

He felt Rolf's piercing gaze on him, the boy's smirk like a red flag waving before his simmering temper.

"Look at him, He doesn't even have any affinity, what a trash!" Rolf called out, his voice loud and carrying. His cronies laughed, their voices grating on Lucas's nerves.

Ben stepped closer to Lucas, his voice low and urgent. "Ignore them, Lucas. They're just trying to get a rise out of you. Don't give them the satisfaction."

But Lucas was barely listening. His eyes locked on Rolf, and in that moment, his usual round, youthful face seemed to morph.

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His eyes, small and usually unassuming, narrowed into slits of cold, emotionless calculation.

The transformation was subtle yet chilling, a reminder of one of the most powerful entities in the universe lurking beneath the pudgy exterior.

Rolf faltered slightly under that gaze, a flicker of uncertainty passing over his face. But bolstered by his friends' laughter, he regained his composure.

"What's the matter, Lucas? Orb too high-tech for you?" Rolf taunted, stepping closer.

His lackeys echoed his laughter, a cacophony of scorn that filled the testing hall.

Ben, his fists clenched, shot back.

"Shut up, Rolf! At least he's trying. What's your excuse for being such a jerk?"

Rolf sneered, unbothered. "Facts are facts, Ben. He's a dud. Right, everyone?"

The crowd murmured their agreement, some more hesitant than others, caught between the spectacle and a growing unease at Lucas's unsettling demeanor.

Lucas stood aside from the jeering crowd, their laughter echoing like a bitter symphony around him.

"I thought this human vacation would be a playful escape." Lucas mused, his tone edged with scorn. "But this humiliation is too much. I won't be the laughing stock anymore. I'll use this human form to rise to the top here. Using my true form to obliterate this place would be beneath me—my pride will not permit such a display."

Ben approached Lucas cautiously, sensing the shift in his friend's demeanor. "Hey, let's just try the warrior's test, Lucas. Maybe it'll go better?"

Lucas shook his head, a grim smile playing on his lips. "No, Ben, it's unnecessary. I expect no different outcome, and I've had enough of this charade."

Ben nodded, though disappointment flickered in his eyes. "Okay, man. Whatever you say. Just don't let these jerks get to you too much."

Lucas turned, his gaze sweeping over the crowd one last time, his eyes cold and distant.

"Let's leave." he said firmly, starting to walk away from the testing area.

As they walked, Lucas's thoughts turned inward.

Despite the setback, a new plan began to form in his mind—one that didn't rely on the flawed measures of magical affinity or warrior prowess as defined by the academy.

As they settled onto the old wooden bench, the weight of the moment seemed to press down on them both. The square buzzed with the activities of the day, but in their small corner, a quiet tension hung in the air.

Ben looked at Lucas with a seriousness that belied his young age.

"Lucas, I've been thinking... I don't need to join the academy right away. Not if it means leaving you to face this alone. It wouldn't feel right."

Lucas turned to face Ben, his eyes widening in surprise. The offer, so earnestly made, touched something deep within him—something he hadn't realized was there. Emotions stirred, unfamiliar and confusing, yet profoundly moving.

Lucas struggled to find words, his usual eloquence failing him as he grappled with this new, raw feeling.

"Ben, I...," he began, his voice wavering with emotion.

"Your offer... it touches me deeply. But your path should not be dictated by my struggles. You have a bright future, and it should not be dimmed by my shadows."

Ben shook his head, his resolve clear. "It doesn't work like that, Lucas. You're my best friend. I won't just leave you to pick up the pieces alone. We'll figure this out together, whatever it takes."

Lucas stared at Ben, his expression a mix of awe and confusion. The simplicity of the gesture, the depth of the loyalty—it was unlike anything he had ever known. Where he came from, bonds were formed out of necessity or survival, not out of genuine affection or altruistic sacrifice.

Lucas looked at Ben, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "So, when do you have to go to the academy?"

"In few hours." Ben replied, his voice tinged with reluctance. "I'd stay right here if you needed me to, you know."

Lucas managed a small, appreciative smile. "Thanks, Ben. But you should go. It's important. And don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

Ben chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "There you go again with your fancy accent. You always make things sound so grand."

Lucas laughed softly, realizing how out of place his words must sound.

"I guess some habits are hard to break. But really, go. Make the most of it."

"Alright," Ben said, standing up. "But this feels weird, like it's the last time we're going to see each other before I head off."

"It's not like it's going to be the last time we will be seeing each other. I'm sure we we'll meet again in the future.'" Lucas reassured him, trying to lighten the mood.

"See you later, then." Ben agreed, giving Lucas a final hug.

"And remember, if you ever want to visit me , you should come to Valor academy."

"I will." Lucas replied, watching as Ben walked away. his figure slowly disappearing into the crowd.

"Just me now." he whispered, the words light but laden with a hint of solitude. The square, alive with the evening bustle, suddenly seemed too vast, too filled with the lives of others.

The sounds of the town square, the laughter and the closing stalls resounding in his ears.

As he started walking, Lucas's steps were slow, reflective. He paused by the fountain at the center of the square, the water reflecting the twilight sky.

He leaned against the cool stone of an ancient fountain then looked up at the sky.

'In all my eons.' he thought.

'I wielded powers that can shape the galaxies, yet here, I struggle to influence even the simplest object. Is this what it means to be human? To feel so... limited?'

His gaze drifted from the sky to the bustling life around him.

Families sharing meals, children playing with simple toys, couples walking hand-in-hand, all bound by mundane but meaningful interactions.

'Maybe this isn't about power.' he thought, a new realization dawning.

'It's about understanding, about seeing the world through their eyes. Maybe, just maybe, I can find a friend, someone who sees the world a little like I do.'

Just as he was lost in his thoughts, a young boy ran past him, chasing a fluttering piece of paper caught in the breeze.

Lucas watched the child's unrestrained laughter ripple through the air, the sound like a balm to his bruised spirit.

As a genuine smile spread across his face, a rare feeling of lightness bubbled up within him, surprising him with its intensity.

"Hey, do you need a hand?" Lucas called out, stepping forward to help.

"Yeah, thanks!" the boy shouted back, his grin wide as Lucas helped him catch the elusive paper.

"Got it!" Lucas handed it back to him. "You should be more careful with your treasures."

The boy laughed, "It's just a drawing, but thanks for helping, brother!"

As the boy ran back to his friends, Lucas felt a warmth he hadn't expected. He looked around, now seeing the square not as a place of his failure, but as a stage for new beginnings.

'This isn't so bad. Not bad at all.' he thought, his gaze lifting to the stars peeking out from the evening sky.

'This isn't so bad. Not bad at all.' Lucas mused, allowing himself a moment of quiet reflection.

As he lifted his gaze to the first stars twinkling in the deepening twilight, he pondered the strange twists his life had taken.

'Perhaps, in these simple, unexpected joys, I can find a new way to be mighty.' he thought, a sense of peace settling over him as the stars blinked silently above."

"See you around, Lucas!" a voice called out. It was Ben, at the edge of the square, hesitating before he'd fully depart.

"Lucas raised his hand in farewell, the cool evening breeze tugging at his sleeves.

"See you, Ben! And show them how it's done at the academy!"

"I will!" Ben waved back and then turned to leave, this time for good.

Lucas watched him go, then turned his face up to the emerging stars.

The night was coming alive, and with it, Lucas felt a part of himself reawaken—not the cosmic entity he once was, but the person he was becoming.

'Alright, let's see what adventures await you here. Who knows? It might just turn out to be the best vacation ever.'

With a final look around the now quiet square, Lucas started walking towards his new home, ready to face this new life with a heart open to whatever came next.