The Main Hall of Ignis Arca stood majestically like a hot, beating heart at the center of a black stone mountain. Giant obsidian pillars soared high, carved with tales of war and victory of the Valerius family dating back to the era of their founder—Ignist Valerius, the "Mad Sun" of Solara.
The hall's ceiling reflected the golden-red glow of the flowing lava core deep beneath the fortress. The air felt heavy, hot, and filled with an invisible pressure—a reminder that in this place, only strength is respected.
Today, that pressure felt stronger than usual.
The tiered stone benches were filled with members of the Valerius branches. Red, gold, and black robes shimmered in the firelight. Sharp whispers slithered like snakes among them.
"This is the day of reckoning," muttered an old man from the Pyrel branch.
"It's not just those children… but the future of the Kaelen line," replied the woman beside him softly.
In the front row sat the family elders. Their faces were stern, their eyes sharp and appraising.
On the other side of the hall, a group in white-and-gold robes stood apart.
The Royal Inspectorate.
The emblem of Helios, the sun, was pinned to their chests.
"This ceremony is being directly supervised by the kingdom," someone whispered.
"If the main line shows weakness…"
"...then Kaelen's position could be called into question."
Above it all, a giant portrait of Ignist Valerius gazed down into the hall. His eyes seemed alive—wild, fiery, as if challenging each of his descendants to prove themselves.
In the center of the hall stood three children.
Naivre. Iggo. Ariven.
They stood side by side, dressed in the family's formal attire. Yet their auras were different.
Iggo is restless, shifting his feet from time to time.
Ariven stares sharply at the crowd, clearly displeased by the stares of the people.
Naivre… is silent.
His eyes were calm, observing everything.
Every movement. Every whisper. Every hidden intention.
His *Clarity* worked even without him realizing it.
On the upper balcony, a man stood with his hands behind his back.
Kaelen Valerius.
His face was hard, like carved stone. His gaze was fixed straight ahead, yet anyone could sense the pressure he was holding back.Beside him, Lady Serene gently clutched the hem of her cloak.
"They're still children…" she whispered.
Kaelen did not answer.
"In this family," he finally said softly, "no one is truly a child."
—
"The Element and Talent Affirmation Ceremony begins!"
Elder Argus's voice echoed throughout the hall.
The old man stood near the Testing Stone—a dark red crystal monolith as tall as an adult's chest. Its surface pulsed faintly, as if alive.
"Each participant will channel their mana into the Testing Stone. This stone will reveal their element, qualities, and innate talents."
He paused for a moment, gazing at the crowd.
"And… their standing in the eyes of the Valerius family."
Some people smiled faintly.
Others glared at Kaelen.
—
"Step forward, Corvus Valerius!"
Footsteps echoed.
A boy stepped forward with confidence.
Corvus.
His hair was bright red, his eyes sharp, his chin slightly raised. He wasn't just walking—he was *strutting*.
Behind him, Borin Valerius sat with a broad smile.
"Watch closely!" he called out without holding back. "This is the future of the Valerius family!"
Several members of the branch family nodded in agreement.
Others glanced at Kaelen, waiting for his reaction.
Kaelen remained silent.
Corvus stopped in front of the Testing Stone.
Elder Argus stared at him coldly.
"Channel your mana."
Corvus smirked.
"Of course."
His hand touched the stone's surface.
For a moment, silence.
Then—
**BOOOM—!**
A blue light flared from within the stone, not the usual red.
Blue fire.
Pure. Intense. Pulsing like a small sun.
Gasps echoed throughout the hall.
"Blue fire…?"
"Impossible…"
"At this age?!"
The fire blazed in Corvus's hand, swirling like a living creature.
His face twisted into a satisfied smirk.
His gaze swept across the entire hall… then settled on Naivre.
Contemptuous.
"Fire Element," said Elder Argus.
He paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Rank B."
Whispers immediately erupted.
"B at nine years old?!"
"Crazy…"
"He's a monster…"
Elder Argus continued:
"Medium-Grade Blazing Blue Fire. Highly synchronized with innate talent… *Combustible Mana*."
There was a moment of silence.
Then—
"HAHAHAHA!!!"
Borin stood up, laughing loudly without restraint.
"Excellent! Amazing! This is the true blood of Valerius!"
He pointed at Kaelen with a sharp smile.
"Look at that, my brother! This child—my child—will take this family to greater heights!"
Several members of the branch family immediately chimed in:
"Corvus is worthy of being the heir!"
"A talent like that must not be wasted!"
"The Borin line might be better suited to lead…"
The atmosphere began to shift.
Tense.
Politics began to stir.
Kaelen remained silent.
But the pressure on him… was mounting.
—
"Of course," Corvus said casually as he extinguished his flame.
"The Valerius flame… must continue to burn brightly."
He turned around.
His steps were slow… deliberate.
As he passed Naivre, he stopped.
"Be careful, cousin," he whispered loud enough for those nearby to hear.
"Don't end up being… just a servant who keeps my belongings."
A small laugh was heard.
Iggo clenched his fist.
Ariven immediately took a half-step forward.
But Naivre remained silent.
His eyes were simply… observing.
Analyzing.
—
"Next," Elder Argus's voice cut through the silence once more.
"Naivre Valerius. Step forward."
All eyes were on him.
No cheers.
No expectations.
Only… judgment.
Naivre stepped forward.
His steps were calm. Steady.
Unlike Corvus, who was all show, Naivre's movements were… efficient.
He stopped in front of the Testing Stone.
His hand rose.
For a moment, he stared at the crystal's surface.
In his mind—
Structure. Patterns. Energy flow.
Everything was crystal clear.
*Clarity.*
He touched the stone.
Silence.
No explosion.
No blinding light.
Only—
**a subtle vibration.**
The air around his hand was slightly… distorted.
As if the space itself were pulsing.
Some people frowned.
"What is that…?"
"No fire?"
"Don't tell me…"
Elder Argus touched the stone, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Faint symbols appeared on the crystal's surface.
He read them.
Then he announced, his voice flat.
"No fire element detected."
The entire hall erupted in a commotion.
"What?!"
"Impossible!"
"Valerius's son without fire?!"
Elder Argus continued emotionlessly:
"Power: *Spatial Inventory*."
A moment of silence.
Then—
Laughter began to be heard.
"…storage?"
"Is that… a walking warehouse?"
"Hahaha…"
"Rank E."
This time, the laughter truly erupted.
Corvus immediately laughed the loudest.
"HAHAHAHA!!"
He slapped his knee.
"This is even worse than I imagined!"
He pointed at Naivre rudely.
"A 'Valerius'… with the power to store items?!"
He stepped closer, his voice full of mockery:
"With a talent like that, you don't even deserve to stand in this hall."
Elder Argus continued:
"Innate talent: *Clarity*."
He paused, then added:
"High cognitive ability. Above-average analytical and structural comprehension."
Corvus grinned.
"Oh, that's wonderful!"
He patted Naivre on the shoulder—a little too hard.
"You could be my personal accountant someday!"
Laughter erupted once more.
"He can't even produce fire…"
"Embarrassing…"
"This is a disgrace to the main line…"
On the balcony, Lady Serene looked down.
Kaelen… remained silent.
But this time—
His gaze shifted.
Not anger.
Not disappointment.
But… something deeper.
—
Naivre pulled his hand away from the Testing Stone.
He didn't look down.
He didn't respond.
Her eyes remained calm.
But within her—
Something began to stir.
Not fire.
Not rage.
But rather… boundless space.
—
Elder Argus raised his staff.
"Next—"
The tension eased once more, though whispers continued to flow like poison.
Everyone knew.
Whatever happened next…
Today had already left a wound.
And perhaps—
The beginning of something far greater.