CHAPTER 3
"What?!" Grey shouted in surprise.
His outburst was triggered because the First Mage had just informed him that he might actually possess an affinity.
"What do you mean, what if I had an affinity?" Grey asked, feeling quite excited at the prospect of becoming a mage.
However, he quickly remembered that magical prowess was usually hereditary.
To his knowledge, neither of his parents had been mages.
"But, neither of my parents were mages."
"It doesn't necessarily have to be like that, right?" the mage countered.
"What do you mean?" Grey questioned, his brow furrowed in confusion.
The mage simply sighed and then rose from his chair to stare at Grey, who found himself trembling under that piercing gaze.
"It is not an absolute requirement that your parents must be mages before you can become one.
Yet, you are also correct; typically, to become a mage, the gift must be hereditary. That was the specific restriction placed upon the humans."
"So how am I a mage?" Grey asked in growing frustration.
"Did I say you were a mage?" the elder asked pointedly. "I only hypothesized: what if you had an affinity?"
Grey's head felt as though it were going to explode at this circular logic.
The vein on the side of his temple was throbbing visibly, and he was gritting his teeth in silent anger.
"Well, you could actually be a mage since your granddad was one," the mage revealed casually.
"What?!" Grey cried out in total shock.
"Didn't you know?" the mage asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Even your father was a mage, but he wasn't able to unlock his latent affinity before he passed away. I couldn't save him either because it was already too late—and that is exactly why I couldn't sit by and watch you perish just like that."
Grey now felt like his mind was going to reel, though not from temper this time.
It was more because of the sheer volume of surprises he was receiving in rapid succession from the First Mage.
'My granddad was a mage? Even my dad? So if he had unlocked his dormant abilities, he would have survived,' Grey thought dejectedly, the weight of the missed opportunity heavy in his chest.
"I can practically perceive everyone's affinities and inner powers, but for some reason, I cannot discern yours," the mage admitted.
"Doesn't that mean I don't have one?" Grey asked, his skepticism returning.
"No! I can feel it. You definitely possess an affinity, but what its nature is, I do not know. Fortunately, there is a way to find out," the mage stated.
"Well! Let's get to work then." Grey smiled, his mood shifting instantly.
"How you have suddenly changed. Just a few moments ago, you were submissive and respectful; now you have suddenly started bossing me around," the mage chuckled.
With a swift motion, he clicked his fingers again.
A table materialized in front of them, followed by a huge, glowing orb.
The surface was so reflective that Grey could see his own startled reflection staring back from within the glass.
"Alright, now I want you to place your hands on this orb for me," the man instructed.
Grey hurriedly complied, driven by his immense excitement.
As his palms touched the cool surface, he suddenly felt a strange sensation, as if a small piece of his essence was leaving his body.
It surged toward his hands before flowing directly into the sphere.
Grey was about to pull his hand away in a panic when he heard the mage's steadying voice.
"Keep your hands still! It will only last a second."
Grey did as the man instructed and waited patiently until the mage finally signaled that he could withdraw his hands, which he promptly did.
Then, the elder leaned over to scrutinize the orb's surface.
After a few seconds of tinkering and low mumbling, the old mage suddenly fell silent.
He stared at the sphere with wide, bulging eyes—looking as if they might actually pop right out of their sockets.
Seeing the master's stunned reaction, Grey felt a cold knot of dread form in his stomach.
"Is everything alright? Are the results bad?"
At the sound of Grey's voice, the mage snapped out of his trance-like daze and glanced back at the boy.
"Kindly place your hands on the orb again," the mage requested, his voice uncharacteristically tight.
Grey simply shrugged and complied, although he was now quite worried about what the results might imply.
He experienced the same peculiar sensation as before; knowing it wouldn't harm him, he remained perfectly still.
After a few moments, he retracted his palms.
The mage rushed over to examine the device once more, and he couldn't help but be struck by a second wave of visible shock.
"Yup, it's definitely not broken. But how is this possible?" the mage muttered aloud, his surprise evident.
"What's wrong? Please tell me... you are starting to scare me," Grey said, his voice trembling slightly.
The mage quickly regained his composure.
With a sharp wave of his hand, he caused the orb and the table to vanish into thin air.
Simultaneously, a second chair materialized directly behind Grey.
The mage gestured for him to sit, and the boy obeyed, his heart racing.
"I don't know how this is possible, and I am honestly at a loss for words," the mage admitted while locking eyes with Grey.
"What is going on? Do I not have an affinity?" Grey asked, his spirit already beginning to sink.
"Who said you don't have an affinity? Kid, not only do you possess one, you could arguably become the strongest of mages soon enough with this power."
"So you mean I do have an affinity?" Grey jumped up in a burst of pure excitement.
He didn't particularly care for the title of 'strongest' or any such accolades.
As long as he possessed a useful talent to help support his widowed mother, he was totally content.
"Will you sit and let me finish?" the mage ordered firmly.
Grey quickly scurried back into his seat.
"As I was saying... what exactly do you know about mages?" the elder inquired.
"Nothing much, just that they have some pretty cool powers and they are treated like gods on Earth," Grey answered with a casual shrug.
"And you wanted to be a mage? What kind of mage wouldn't know the first thing about his own kind?" the mage asked rhetorically.
"Anyway, I won't divulge everything to you now. I will just give you a small explanation so you can further comprehend what I am about to say."
Grey was now perched on the very edge of his seat, his ears ringing with anticipation as he prepared to hear the truth.
The mage leaned forward, his voice dropping to a heavy whisper.
"Grey, your affinity isn't just rare—it's something I've never witnessed before. The world isn't ready for what you might become."