The footsteps of Kealen's team echoed through the academy corridors, alongside other teams heading toward the training hall. Noctis was at the front of the group, walking steadily, as if protecting them from everything around them.
Kealen and his team arrived at the training hall. It was extremely large, and its floor gleamed as if freshly polished. Kealen entered the hall to the sound of students talking and discussing enthusiastically.
Janero stepped forward and said with a brave voice:
"Don't be afraid. The second level is easy. We just need to make the Aether Stone merge with our bodies. It's a simple thing."
Noctis chuckled slightly and said:
"Yes, it's easy… but for you, it will be difficult. You'll understand when the teacher brings many stones and asks you to sense the one closest to your thread."
Leora said hesitantly:
"So the first attempt will be difficult? Not easy?"
Noctis nodded, confirming that she was right, and that gaining the second level could not be done easily on the first try.
Kealen took a deep breath. He was afraid of being late in gaining the second level of his magic.
At that moment, the teacher entered, carrying six boxes floating in the air.
He then lowered them into the middle of the hall. They were filled with Aether Stones.
The stones were circular in shape, shining, as if pulsing with hidden energy.
The teacher rose into the air and said in a powerful voice:
"Welcome to the first exam: Aura Training."
He continued:
"Each team goes to one box, senses the stone suitable for them, then takes it and goes to a distant place to begin the ritual process."
Then he smiled and added:
"Good luck, and don't forget… failure means death."
Silence fell over the entire hall upon hearing these words.
Then the teacher quickly said in a joking tone:
"I'm kidding. Don't be afraid."
The students breathed a sigh of relief.
Kealen and his team headed toward their box, feeling afraid of failure.
Noctis said calmly:
"Take a deep breath first, then close your eyes. Don't think about anything, and let your hands touch the light when you feel it."
Elthra asked in a fearful voice:
"Is there a chance of failure?"
Janero quickly interrupted and said:
"We'll do exactly as Noctis says. He knows better than us."
Kealen's team closed their eyes, as did all the other teams.
Complete silence filled the hall.
The teacher was watching the students, but his eyes shone with a purple light, like a mysterious aura, as he examined everyone.
Kealen's team began taking deep breaths.
Leora saw a faint light that then disappeared, but she gathered her strength and the light began to return stronger.
She moved her hand very gently, lifting it little by little, until she grasped the light.
She opened her eyes to find that she was holding one of the Aether Stones. She almost screamed with joy, but Noctis stopped her at the last moment and signaled for her to stay silent.
The other teams began to rise one after another, each person holding their Aether Stone.
At that moment, all members of Kealen's team had taken their stones—except Kealen.
Kealen tried to relax, but he couldn't.
His thoughts began to scatter. He remembered the old man, old things, then recalled Hanabi's words when he had acquired his Aether Thread.
Kealen began to tremble under the shocked gazes of his team.
Janero tried to stop him from continuing, but Noctis stopped him and said calmly:
"If you stop him now, he won't be able to sense the stone suitable for him."
He continued:
"He's the last one, and everyone is silent just so he can focus."
Kealen looked around. The entire hall was watching him.
At that moment, Kealen began to forget his excess thoughts.
A faint light appeared, and he slowly moved his hand.
Everyone was waiting for Kealen to finish the exam.
Kealen grasped the light with his hands, then opened them to find that he was holding his own Aether Stone.
The hall erupted with the students' cheers, celebrating Kealen's success and his passing of the exam.
Kealen stood up from the ground, and his friends began praising him.
Noctis said to him:
"Congratulations. You passed the test."
Kealen formed a small smile and thanked Noctis for his help.
At that moment, the teacher began clapping and said:
"Congratulations on passing the first exam and identifying your stones."
Then he added in a serious tone:
"And now… the harder exam: merging the Aether Stone with your bodies to unlock the second level."
Noctis said to his team:
"You need to know something important. If you fail, you may be afflicted with a disease called Aether Backlash."
He continued:
"So follow the steps I'm about to tell you."
"Sit in a place far from others, in a state of complete calm. Hold the Aether Stone in your hands, and let the thread collide with the stone's energy."
"It's simple—just complete calm until the process is finished."
Then he asked them:
"Understood?"
All members of Kealen's team answered in unison:
"Yes."