The atmosphere in the Hall of the Sun had not yet fully settled.
Laughter still lingered in the corners of the room. Venomous whispers continued to flow, all centered on one name—Naivre Valerius.
Yet, like embers that had not yet died out, attention slowly shifted back to the center of the hall.
Elder Argus tapped his staff against the stone floor.
"Silence."
The voice echoed, carrying a weight that forced everyone to hold their breath.
"The ceremony is not yet over."
His eyes swept across the entire hall, pausing briefly on several members of the branch families who had been too vocal earlier—including Darius Pyrel and Valtor Ashborne.
They fell silent immediately.
On the other side, one of the royal representatives stepped forward half a step.
A woman in a white-and-gold robe, her silver hair neatly tied back.
Inspector Luminara Helios.
Her eyes shone dimly like the morning light.
"We from the Royal Inspectorate are still taking notes," she said calmly, yet every word felt like a subtle pressure.
"Please continue, Elder Argus."
Argus nodded briefly.
"Next—"
He paused for a moment, then called out the next name.
"Iggo Valerius. Step forward."
—
Iggo stepped forward with a gait vastly different from his older brother's.
Restless.
Impulsive.
He walked with slight jerks, as if holding back excess energy.
But this time—
No one underestimated him.
After what happened to Naivre, everyone was waiting.
Has the Kaelen line truly failed…?
Or is there still something that can be saved?
—
"Don't be nervous," whispered someone from the Ignivar branch.
"He's the second child… usually weaker," replied another.
"Not necessarily," Lyra Ignivar interjected softly, her eyes sharp.
"The Valerius children… are rarely ordinary."
—
On the upper balcony, Kaelen finally stirred slightly.
His hands, which had been clenched all this time, slowly relaxed.
Lady Serene turned to him.
"He… is different from Naivre," she whispered.
Kaelen didn't answer.
But for the first time—
There was a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
—
Iggo stopped in front of the Testing Stone.
He glanced briefly at Naivre.
"Don't worry, bro," he murmured softly, almost inaudibly.
"I'll shut them up."
Naivre didn't reply.
But his eyes… softened slightly.
—
"Channel your mana," said Elder Argus.
Iggo grinned.
"Ready!"
Without hesitation, he pressed his hand against the testing stone.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
WOOOSH—!
Red flames erupted with a powerful burst.
Several people jumped in surprise.
"Fire!"
"Finally!"
But—
Something felt off.
The fire didn't spread.
It wasn't wild.
It didn't blaze in every direction like Corvus's.
Instead—
The fire… condensed.
Shrunk.
Gathered.
Then—
TURNED INTO A LINE.
A straight, thin, yet incredibly bright line of fire—floating from Iggo's hand like an arrow ready to be fired.
The entire hall fell silent.
"...what is that?" Fenric Ignivar muttered.
"That's not a normal form of fire…" Elira Solen added, her eyes sparkling with interest.
Iggo, on the other hand—
Chuckled softly.
"Wow… this is cool."
He moved his finger slightly.
The line of fire moved with it—sharp and precise, as if following an unseen target.
—
Elder Argus stared at the Testing Stone.
For the first time that day—
His expression changed.
It lifted slightly.
"Fire Element."
He paused, then continued:
"Rank… B."
The crowd reacted immediately.
"Again?!"
"Two kids with B-rank?!"
"Kaelen's line hasn't fallen yet!"
But Argus wasn't finished.
"Specialization: Pyrokinesis—high-compression fire control."
He lifted his head, gazing directly at Iggo.
"Innate Talent: Gunner."
The whisper's tone shifted instantly.
"Gunner…?"
"A rare talent…"
"That combination…"
Inspector Luminara even narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Interesting…" she murmured.
—
Argus explained, his voice now heavier.
"A natural instinct for high accuracy. Perfect synchronization with energy projection."
He pointed at the line of fire.
"Your fire… isn't meant to spread."
"But rather to… pierce."
As if answering those words—
ZZZT!
Iggo's line of fire shot straight forward several meters before vanishing.
Fast.
Precise.
Deadly.
Several people unconsciously swallowed.
—
"HAHA!"
Iggo laughed smugly.
"Did you see that?!"
He turned toward Naivre, then gave a thumbs-up.
"Easy!"
—
On the balcony—
For the first time that day—
Kaelen smiled.
A small one.
But genuine.
"That…" murmured Lady Serene, her eyes slightly glistening.
"He… is extraordinary."
Kaelen nodded slowly.
"Long-range combat potential," he said.
"Rare… even among the Valerius."
—
But not everyone was pleased.
On the other side of the hall, Borin narrowed his eyes.
His smile hadn't faded—
But now it felt sharper.
"Interesting…" he said softly to Corvus.
"Your younger cousin… isn't bad."
Corvus snorted.
"Still no match for me."
But his eyes weren't entirely relaxed anymore.
He looked at Iggo with a slightly more serious expression.
—
Darius Pyrel whispered to Selene:
"If even the second child is like this…"
"What if the Kaelen line isn't as weak as we thought?" Selene replied softly.
—
Elder Argus raised his staff again.
"The assessment is complete."
He looked at Iggo.
"Promising. The right training will make you a highly valuable military asset."
Iggo grinned widely.
"Did you hear that, Bro?"
He turned toward Naivre again.
"I'm going to be the best shooter!"
Naivre merely gave a small nod.
But this time—
No mockery.
No laughter.
At least… not for Iggo.
—
Iggo pulled his hand away from the Testing Stone.
The flame went out completely.
But its trace lingered—
Like an invisible line splitting the hall.
—
Elder Argus took a short breath.
Then, for the third time that day, he raised his voice.
"Next—"
The entire hall held its breath once more.
The last name.
The youngest.
The most unexpected.
—
"Ariven Valerius. Step forward."