When he awoke the void remained unchanged except for the fact that the corrupted star was gone yet the ever-present whispers remained, giving promises of forbidden wisdom, knowledge that mortals were never supposed to know.

The more he heard the more his head started to ache and with it, the visions came fragmented images worming their way into his head foreign emotions that were not his appeared as well.

He tried to ignore it but he could not like this another eternity passed until something finally changed, he had grown accustomed to the absence of all within this dark void. In front of him a massive eye opened, giving a feeling of familiarity it was golden in color it had a slit pupil that was a void in and of itself.

"Kin...one...of..us..yet..not...here...yet..not" it spoke in a fragmented manner each word was like a nail being driven into his skull.

"Wha..what are you?" he spoke a tremble in his voice whatever this creature was it was ancient and powerful he was like a single grain of sand compared to a continent.

"We..are..you...we..are...everything...yet..nothing...we..are..VOID" it spoke again its words not making any sense it screamed the last word he shivered if he had hair they would be standing on end.

"Spawn...of..void...child..of...Daevon...your...dream...is..over...Awake" it spoke before he was slingshot away from it in a mere instant he was far away moving at impossible speeds before he awoke.

(POV Priests of Adronei)

A few minutes earlier...

Three priests were standing over the body of Cornelius he was shaking violently, black runes were flickering between existence and non-existence a ghastly black energy surrounded him giving off an air of dread and madness.

(the priests speak telepathically)

{It has been a long time since a challenger was sent to the void} The priest to Cornelius's left spoke he was the youngest of the three.

{Thirty years to be exact but even he only went to the edge of the void it wasn't even a physical manifestation} The priest to his right said.

{Whatever brought this young man to the very heart of the void is ancient and immensely powerful we must be prepared to extinguish this young man's fire if need be for now we observe} the oldest priest stated in a solemn tone {May the gods have mercy on his soul}

(Cornelius POV)

He felt extremely groggy when he awoke, when he opened his eyes it took a while for his eyes to adjust he had grown accustomed to the absence of light so it took longer than usual, The first thing he noticed was three priests standing over him.

Looking around he noticed besides the priests he was the only one left in the underground level of the temple "Wha...what happened?" he asked still feeling weak, he did not expect an answer from the old priests he was thinking out loud.

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{You have passed the trials} he heard a voice in his head shocked he turned his head looking at the priest to his left he did not know how he knew it was him speaking he just knew.

"But I didn't do anything?" he asked confused by his answer.

{Anyone who can return from the void with their mind intact is more than worthy of being a champion} the priest to his left spoke.

{The gods test us in many ways young one even if it does not seem like you did much the fire blazing in your soul is unmistakable} The priest paused before continuing {Come we before it is too late} he said before the priests turned and started making their way out.

He was still a bit dazed but did not wish to be left here alone he reluctantly followed them to the main hall of the temple.

When they arrived at the main hall he saw the rest of the challengers their chatter filled the hall some had dejected looks on their faces while others seemed excited, they seemed to be waiting for the High priest to speak.

As he made his way to the crowd the three priests went to their positions behind the high priest "Welcome back to the waking world young ones" he said with a kind smile.

"To those who have succeded congratulations are in order and to those who have failed" his kind smile faded "You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting, you can make your way to the door" he paused giving a chance for the youths to leave and put emphasis on his words.

After the last of the stragglers left there was only about thirty out of the two hundred left. "To those who remain the gods have put you through a test and you have been found worthy of the mantel of champions but this is merely the first step on your journey to becoming a true magus"

he took a breath before continuing "From here you will be given a runic mirror that will help you on your journey it will show you your affinity, show you the progress of your cores and record the spells you have mastered so please form an orderly line and we will begin shortly"

The youths formed a line in front of a table where a priest was sitting, Cornelius was still a bit dazed by the fact that he had succeeded so he was late falling in line and found himself at the very back he wasn't bothered because it gave him time to observe the process.

The youth that was first in line made his way to the table where the priest proceeded to prick his finger with a needle and let a drop of blood fall on a small handheld mirror with runic symbols on its frame when the blood fell on the mirror the runes lit up with a red light.

"Stephen Douglas Affinity Flame of the howling wind" the priest announced, the youth held his head high in pride before making his way to the back of the hall.

There wasn't anything special after that until a young woman made her way to the priest she was wearing haggard clothing she had black hair with piercing blue eyes, for a second his heart sunk she reminded him of his mother.

When her blood fell on the mirror the runes lit up a turquoise color, there was a look of surprise on the priest's face before saying "Talia Affinity of the Nurturing Depths"

Now Conrelius understood the priest's surprise a healing affinity was exceedingly rare and one appeared in his Barony he had to secure her at all costs.

Only Common affinities appeared after that such as fire, wind, water, and earth soon it was his turn, he walked up to the table stuck his hand out, and let the priest draw his blood when it fell on the mirror something strange happened the runes first lit up an abyssal black then shifted to a corrupted white.

"Impossible" he heard the priest whisper under his breath "Cornelius von Amydros Affinity Star of the Twilight Abyss" shocked Cornelius looked at him with an incredulous expression.

The silence was deafening for the first time in his life he realized how loud silence could really be it was only broken by the high priest "Wondrous not one but two Rare affinities in a single day the gods smile upon us this day" he said with a bright smile.