THE CROWN THEY HID FROM ME
Something unpredictable.
Students stood one by one. Sparks, orbs, small flames, and shields appeared effortlessly. Whispers of admiration and envy rippled through the hall.
When it was her turn, Aera stepped forward, palms clammy. She closed her eyes, focusing on the sigil burning faintly in her mind. She remembered the relic, the murals, the whisper:
You are mine. Do not fail.
She extended her hands. A flicker of blue light appeared. At first, it seemed small, timid, like yesterday. Then it expanded. Her energy poured outward, forming a floating halo of light that spun and twisted, reacting to her emotions. The room went silent.