"Mom, hurry up. The test will begin soon."
A calm boy, wise beyond his twelve years, tugged gently at his mother's hand as they hurried down the dusty road. His hair was split into two striking colors, black on one side, deep red on the other making him stand out even in a crowded street.
It was a world ruled by strength and systems. In the northern city of Frostveil, everything changed once a child reached the age of twelve. That was when they stood before the testing altar to awaken their system.
Among the many paths, the most common and easiest to awaken was the Elementary System, and those blessed with it were called Elementalists. Each year, the test was held to find new awakeners. Those who succeeded were sent to the prestigious system academies far away in the Wetlands.
DON—DON—DON.
The sound of the bell shook through every street, echoing across the city like a heartbeat before something important. It was time.
"The test is about to start! Where are my kids?!"
A man's voice rang out as he rushed through the crowd, looking for his twelve-year-olds.
DON—DON—DON.
The bell struck again, clear and heavy. People began to gather, carrying stools and baskets, eager to watch the ceremony.
Everyone was born with the potential for a gift. Some awakened the elementary system. Others became mages. But two systems had vanished for thousands of years—Necromancer and Voidmancer.
Once feared and revered, they disappeared after the long war.
The only way to obtain one of these two systems was through blood, ascension, or curse. And even then, it was said to be impossible.
"Mom, quick. We're almost there."
Kerry, the boy with black and red hair, finally reached the entrance where the registration lines stretched down the street.
The testing ground bustled with nervous children, proud parents, and excited onlookers. For every twelve-year-old, this day was a doorway to the future.
There were about twenty participants waiting to take part in the test. It was rare for the number to ever pass twenty in a single year. As the line moved forward and registration continued, the elders and academy representatives took their seats, their faces calm and focused. The audience settled down around them, buzzing softly with excitement.
At the center of the grounds stood the altar. Every participant had to place their hand on it when their turn came, then wait for the outcome.
The line grew shorter one by one until Kerry was the only one left registering.
"How may I help you, ma'am?"
The man behind the desk pushed his glasses up and looked up from the register.
"Oh please, isn't this the registration block? So why would you ask something like that?"
Diana's voice was sharp as she pointed at him with her index finger.
"S-sorry, sorry, let's just get this done,"
the man stammered, ducking his head to scribble into the logbook.
*Name: Kerry Fireborn
*Age: 12
*Blood Type: O+
When they finished registering, Kerry and his mother walked inside and sat quietly on the right-hand side of the stands.
As the test was about to begin, the elders and academy representatives rose, standing in unity for a brief moment before sitting again.
"It's time!"
one of the elders called out.
The testing officially started when the senior elder announced the names of the participants.
"Thomas Vale,"
the elder shouted, calling the first name.
The entire place burst into noise, cheers, shouts, and the excited chatter of parents. Everyone wanted to see if this year's candidate would awaken a rare system.
A skinny boy with a sharp face stepped onto the altar, his hands clenched at his sides. His heartbeat quickened at the thought of failing.
"Place your hand on the altar,"
the elder instructed.
Thomas slowly reached out and pressed his palm against the cold surface. The crowd went silent. All eyes, including the elders', focused on the altar.
The stone began to tremble faintly. A soft glow formed beneath his hand, then shot upward in a beam of bright blue light.
"Not bad,"
one of the seniors muttered, his gaze fixed on the glowing column.
He rose, floated toward the altar, and faced the crowd.
"This young boy has awakened the Elementary System—Water Element."
In the Elementary System, the color of the light showed which element was awakened: blue for water, red for fire, white for air, and snow for ice. These were the common elements, while metal was considered a rare one.
In this city, Elementalists usually possessed only a single element. Having more than one was almost unheard of.
The crowd exploded with cheers. A woman jumped up from the stands, tears shining in her eyes.
"That's my boy!"
she screamed proudly.
The senior guided Thomas to the front, where the academy representatives waited to decide which school would take him in.
The representative from Ironvale Academy stood from his seat and lifted his hand, signaling his decision. Thomas had officially been chosen.
"Thomas Vale has been selected to join Ironvale Academy,"
the senior elder announced clearly.
Once a representative made their choice, they had to meet with the parents afterward. It was tradition. The chosen participant would leave for the academy soon after the year's test ended.
The ceremony continued.
"Elementalist…"
"Elementalist…"
"Elementary System."
The announcements echoed through the grounds, one after another.
Out of the twenty participants, seventeen had awakened the Elementary System, their names called and results confirmed. Only three remained now—Kerry Fireborn, Lina Ashcroft, and Darius Wren.
The crowd's attention sharpened. These final moments always carried a different kind of tension.
The last three participants were asked to sit aside with their parents for a short discussion.
Darius Wren, however, had no family waiting for him. He came from the orphanage, and today, he stood here for one reason, to awaken.
During the break, the crowd whispered among themselves. It had already been three years since anyone awakened a rare system or became a multi-elementalist. The entire city seemed to be holding its breath.
When the short pause ended, the field grew quiet. All attention locked on the altar.
The senior called out,
"Lina Ashcroft!"
A girl with soft yellow hair walked forward. Her steps were steady, her gaze firm. She raised her hand and pressed it against the altar. In the next heartbeat, the ground trembled beneath her feet. A burst of light shot upward in two colors, ash-gray and green, swirling together.
Gasps echoed across the stands.
The senior elder rushed over, briefly losing his balance before steadying himself. His voice carried over the silence,
"After three years… finally, a metal elementalist."
The elders exchanged surprised looks. A rare smile crept across their faces as they nodded at Lina. She was special, she would be allowed to choose her academy herself.
The test continued.
Darius Wren's turn arrived. The boy walked toward the altar without hesitation. His silver hair glinted under the light, and there wasn't a trace of fear in his eyes. For someone who had nothing, he carried himself with quiet strength.
He pressed his hand onto the altar.
The ground cracked not enough to shatter, but enough to draw sharp breaths from the audience. Curiosity spread through the stands like a spark. Then, without warning, four colors burst out at once—blue, red, white, and snow piercing the sky with raw power.
Everyone froze. Representatives stood in shock.
"Impossible…"
The senior elder rushed to the altar, landed beside Darius, and examined it closely. His voice rose with excitement,
"An extremely rare system… This boy has awakened a multi-elementary, every element at once!"
The crowd erupted. Darius was led to the side of the altar to wait. He would choose his academy after the final test.
Murmurs swept through the stands.
"I've never seen anything like that before."
"He's from the orphanage, right?"
"Silence!"
One of the seniors raised his voice, quieting the restless crowd.
"And now, our last participant of the year—Kerry Fireborn!"
Kerry's name echoed in the air. His heart clenched at the sound. His hands felt cold.
"Relax, my son. You'll do just fine,"
Diana whispered beside him, forcing a calm smile.
Kerry didn't want to disappoint her. He took a deep breath and stepped forward, each step feeling heavier than the last.
The possibility of him awakening should be high… He carries his father's blood,
Diana thought, pride and worry twisting inside her.
The senior elder addressed him gently,
"Young man, place your hand on the altar."
Kerry's mind felt distant, but he obeyed. His palm touched the cold surface.
Seconds passed. Nothing happened. The silence grew sharp.
Then, without warning, the altar shuddered. This time, it wasn't just the ground but it was both the altar and the earth beneath it that began to rumble.