The air in Whistlehollow shimmered with celebration. Colorful banners flapped between trees, and tables were lined with food made from the freshest autumn harvest. Children ran barefoot through the soft grass, some laughing nervously, others practicing the poses they'd seen older warriors use in mock battles.
Today was the Aptitude Ceremony—the day children across the land learned their fated path.
Aleron stood near the edge of the gathering, arms folded, face calm. Inside, he felt confident. He had trained in silence, studied his inner mana flow, meditated endlessly. His knowledge of magical theory was decades ahead of the average instructor, thanks to his previous life.
He knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he was meant to be a mage.
"Do you think it'll glow from my stomach or my heart?" Eira asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"You'll punch the crystal before it reacts," Corvin muttered with a grin.
"I'll punch you if you jinx me."
Aleron smirked. "It'll glow from your mouth. Too much fire there already."
They laughed, and even Aleron chuckled, masking the anticipation bubbling under his skin.
The Mana Convergence Crystal sat atop a carved pedestal in the village square. Smooth and pale-blue, it gave off a soft, rhythmic hum. Around it stood a middle-aged examiner from a C-rank city—his robes were deep brown, marked with silver edges that shimmered in the light.
"This crystal is designed to detect the formation of a core in your body," the man explained, raising his voice over the excited murmurs. "If your head glows, you are a Wizard. If your chest glows, a Martial Artist. If your stomach glows, you are a Summoner. If nothing glows… well, your path may lie elsewhere."
He gestured to the crowd. "Step forward when your name is called."
One by one, children approached. Some glowed. Some didn't. Some cried. Some beamed.
"Eira."
She marched forward like she already knew the answer. She slapped her palm onto the crystal.
A flash of red light burst from her chest.
Gasps. Applause.
"Martial Artist," the examiner confirmed, scribbling the result.
Eira turned, grinning. "Told you."
"Corvin Hale."
Corvin hesitated only a second before stepping up. He touched the crystal gently.
A gentle, steady glow lit up from his stomach.
"Summoner," the examiner said with a raised brow. "Strong one."
A few villagers clapped politely. Rina nodded in approval.
Then came the name that silenced the crowd.
"Aleron."
He walked forward without hesitation, his face unreadable. Internally, he was already imagining the glow forming at his head, picturing the confirmation he had longed for.
He touched the crystal.
For a second, nothing happened.
Then—a clear, unwavering glow pulsed from his stomach.
"Summoner," the examiner said.
There was a moment of stunned silence. Then, slowly, claps began to rise. People whispered, not out of suspicion, but surprise.
"The quiet one…"
"He never even spoke until recently…"
"Rina's boy? A summoner?"
Rina said nothing, but her eyes lingered on Aleron with something softer than pride.
Aleron stepped away slowly, his mind reeling.
That's wrong, he thought. I was a mage. A scholar. A theorist. My mind was tuned to spells, my logic grounded in the arcane.
But the glow had come from his stomach.
This body already had a path… I didn't choose it. I inherited it.
He sat down under a tree and opened God's Whisper silently.
[Path Registered: Summoner]
[Secondary Path Confirmed: Wizard — Core Active]
[User Decision: Conceal Secondary Path — Logged]
[Summoning Catalyst Required — Countdown: 8 Months]
[Alert: Divine Observation Detected]
- Solanar, God of Order
- Myrien, Goddess of Arcane Truth
- Valtrax, The Binder of Souls
- Unknown Presence Observing...
He exhaled through his nose.
"I see. So even the gods are watching now."
He glanced over to Corvin and Eira, who were being playfully scolded by the examiner for wrestling near the crystal.
Aleron closed the system window.
He smiled.
Let the world see one path. The other… he would guard in silence.