Chapter 71: Affinity

Suddenly, a shock like a biting winter wind swept over William's skin. Opening his eyes, he found himself floating in a disembodied state—looking down at his own physical body standing motionless at the center of the formation.

​Before he could process the outer-body view, an intense sensory wave enveloped him. He felt the refreshing cool of water falling across his face, like a gentle rain. But the sensation rapidly intensified; the droplets grew heavy and sharp, pelting his disembodied form until the impact began to physically hurt.

​Just as the pain reached its peak, the rain vanished entirely.

​Instantly, a new feeling replaced it: the dense, sticky weight of wet soil clinging to his feet. The mud began climbing rapidly up his legs—coating his calves, wrapping around his thighs, and pressing heavily against his stomach. But the moment the earth reached his chest, it dissolved into nothingness, leaving him light and free.

​As the pressure cleared, William caught sight of faint, radiant wisps hovering around his form.

​’What are those...?’ he thought.

​Before the idea could fully form, a violent, massive pull jerked his soul backward, snapping his consciousness into total darkness as his thoughts vanished.

​A sudden, sharp pain deep in his chest forced William’s eyes open. It was a sensation he had never experienced before—like a cold needle stabbing directly into the center of his ribcage.

​“It is done. Exit through that door,” Professor Espara instructed flatly, holding a piece of parchment without looking up.

​Rubbing his chest to ease the lingering ache, William walked toward a small door set in the corner of the room and pushed it open. Stepping into the doorway beyond, he caught sight of a familiar face: Evelyn, one of the escorts who had accompanied his group on their long journey to the academy, standing behind a counter.

​Her eyes met his, and she pulled a small parchment slip from her desk. “William, right?”

​William nodded, still clutching his chest.

​Evelyn reached beneath the counter and produced a tiny glass vial filled with a clear, water-like fluid. She handed it over. “Drink this. It will help with the pain.”

​Carefully taking the bottle, William uncorked it and swallowed the liquid in one gulp.

‘​It tastes just like water—maybe a little sweet’, but that’s it, he thought.

​Yet within seconds, the sharp needle of discomfort and the deep ache inside his chest melted away entirely.

​“It’s a Soul Soothing Potion,” Evelyn explained, taking the empty bottle back as he handed it to her. “Having an out-of-body experience is immensely taxing on both the physical body and the soul—especially for an unawakened. The potion soothes your mind, body and clears the residual shock left behind by the array.”

Evelyn set the empty vial aside and looked up from her parchment. “So, what sensations did you experience during the ceremony? You don't have to share everything—just tell me what you can remember.”

​William paused, taking a moment to piece together the vivid outer-body memory.

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​“At first, I felt rain falling over my skin,” he replied, tracing a hand over his arm where the stinging cold had been. “Then... I felt heavy soil wrapping around my feet.”

​Evelyn scanned down the document in her hand, nodding in quiet agreement.

​“That aligns with the readings Professor Espara logged,” Evelyn said, marking a notation on the sheet. “According to the array's results, you possess a dual affinity for Water and Earth.”

William nodded slowly, processing the revelation.

‘​Water and earth... so these are the elements I can use,’ he thought, uncertainty creeping into his chest. ‘I don't even know if having two is good or not.’

​Looking back up at Evelyn, he voiced his doubt. “Are they good?”

​Evelyn set the parchment down on the desk and met his gaze. Without a word, she extended her right hand forward. In an instant, a small flame ignited above her palm while a chunk of dense stone materialized beside it.

​“Most people awaken with an affinity for two elements,” she explained, closing her hand to extinguish the flame and dissolve the stone. “I have a dual affinity for fire and earth myself. Fire, water, earth, and wind are considered common affinities simply because they represent the fundamental forces humanity interacts with every day. There are rare affinities out there, certainly—but remember this: there are no weak affinities, only weak mages.”

​“However, while your elements aren't rare, you do possess a larger mana capacity than normal,” Evelyn added, checking the notes on her parchment. “About one and a half times larger than the average.”

​“That’s a good thing, right?” William asked, eager anticipation leaking into his tone.

​Evelyn offered a calm, measured smile. “It’s a trade-off, actually. Mages with high mana capacity can cast more spells and unleash more raw power, but they often struggle with magic that requires delicate control or fine-tuned precision. You have more mana to burn, but controlling the spell will require far more effort.”

​William nodded thoughtfully, taking in the lesson.

​“Now go,” Evelyn said, motioning toward the door behind her. “Once you head down this hallway, you’ll find the rest of your class in the hall. It’s time for the next student.”

​William thanked her and walked down the quiet corridor. As he pushed open the heavy double doors at the end, he stepped right back into the main hall.

​“What did you get?!” Caleb shouted the moment he spotted William, rushing forward—only to get sharply kicked in the shins by Arya.

​“Let him breathe before you start interrogating him!” Arya scolded.

​Yet despite her strict tone, William couldn't help but notice the exact same intense curiosity gleaming in her eyes.

William calmly scanned the hall, noticing Edward, Tye, and several other students watching him with that exact same eager look.

​“I got Water and Earth,” William answered.

​“Same as me,” another student chimed in nearby, and William offered him a brief, knowing nod.

​“I received Water and Wind,” Edward added, folding his arms in quiet reflection.

​Caleb stepped forward, a broad grin on his face. “Both Arya and I got Earth and Fire!”

​Hearing William’s answer, Tye's posture visibly slumped. A bitter, disappointed shadow crossed his face, and without saying a word, he turned and quietly walked away from the group.

​Noticing the change in mood, William turned to Edward. “What happened to him?”

​Edward glanced over at Tye's receding back before turning back to William. “He only awakened a single affinity—Earth. He's worried about whether having just one is bad, normal, or puts him behind everyone else.”

William watched as Tye retreated to the far edge of the hall, leaning his back heavily against the stone wall. He had his eyes closed, folding his arms tightly across his chest—a clear attempt to put up a brave front while privately fighting with his inner worries. William thinks after staring hard at Tye ‘I don't think it's bad, after all there are no weak affinities only weak mages’