Ceremony – A Shadow of Potential
The grand hall of Aethel Academy was a breathtaking spectacle, a testament to the power and prestige of elemental mastery. Sunlight, fractured into a kaleidoscope of colors by the enormous
stained-glass windows depicting legendary elementalists of the past, danced across the
polished marble floors. The air thrummed with a palpable energy, the collective anticipation of
hundreds of young aspirants on the cusp of discovering their inherent connection to the
elements. Their nervous excitement manifested as faint flickers and sparks of elemental energy
– miniature flames, wisps of wind, droplets of water, and motes of earth – swirling around them
like nascent auras.
Nat stood amongst them, a knot of anxiety tightening in his chest. He smoothed down the
simple, unadorned tunic that marked him as just another hopeful, a stark contrast to the more
elaborate and magically enhanced attire sported by some of the wealthier or more magically
inclined families. He had arrived at Aethel with a scholarship, earned through rigorous academic
achievement in his small village, a place where elemental affinities were rare and often viewed
with a mixture of awe and suspicion. Magic here was not a birthright but a carefully nurtured
flame, and Nat desperately hoped his own would be strong enough to survive in this competitive
environment.
The procession began, students called forth one by one to stand before the ancient Affinity
Crystal, a towering structure of shimmering, obsidian-like material that pulsed with latent
magical energy. As each student placed their hands upon its smooth surface, the crystal would
flare with color, revealing their elemental affinity and its initial tier, ranging from the coveted
SSS+ to the almost unheard-of F-. Gasps of admiration and murmurs of disappointment rippled
through the hall with each revelation.
Nat watched, his palms growing sweaty, as a young woman with noble bearing displayed a
vibrant B-tier water affinity, earning her polite applause. A boisterous young man with fiery red
hair ignited the crystal with a powerful C+ fire affinity, drawing impressed whistles. The pressure
mounted with each passing student, the weight of expectation pressing down on Nat. He knew
his family had sacrificed much to send him here, pinning their hopes on his potential to rise
above their humble circumstances.
Finally, his name was called. His legs felt like lead as he walked towards the proctor, a
formidable woman named Headmistress Valerius. Her silver hair was streaked with crackling
arcs of lightning, a constant reminder of her formidable power. Her gaze was sharp and
assessing as Nat placed his trembling hands on the cool surface of the Affinity Crystal.
A hush fell over the hall, the collective breath of the students held captive in anticipation. The
crystal shimmered, its depths swirling with a faint, almost reluctant glow. Then, the light settled,
displaying a meager flicker of red, so weak it was barely visible against the dark surface. Below
it, stark and unforgiving, the tier appeared: F+.
A wave of absolute silence descended upon the grand hall, heavier and more damning than any
jeers could have been. Then, it broke. A ripple of snickers started at the back, spreading like
wildfire through the ranks of students. Disbelieving whispers of "F+? Is that even possible?" and
"He must be mistaken" filled the air. Some openly laughed, pointing at Nat with undisguised
mockery.
Headmistress Valerius's expression remained impassive, though a hint of disappointment
flickered in her eyes. "Affinity: Fire. Tier: F+," she stated, her voice carrying across the hall,
amplifying Nat's shame. "You may take your place."
Nat's face burned with humiliation. He felt the weight of hundreds of judging eyes on him as hestumbled away from the crystal, the laughter and derision echoing in his ears. His shoulders
slumped, the initial hope that had carried him to Aethel Academy crushed under the immense
weight of their ridicule. He found an empty spot at the back, his gaze fixed on the floor, wishing
the very ground would swallow him whole. The vibrant energy of the hall now felt oppressive, a
stark reminder of his own perceived inadequacy. This was not the glorious beginning he had
envisioned; it was a public declaration of his weakness, a shadow cast over his future before it had even begun.