The corridor stretched ahead, its silence broken only by the quiet echo of their footsteps. The pale stone walls gleamed under the soft glow of ethereal lighting, casting an almost dreamlike ambiance. Shawn followed Captain Alric, his hands subtly tense, caught between anticipation and unease.
This wasn't the usual path to the arenas or the bustling stands. This corridor felt different—quiet, almost reverent, as though it led to something beyond the ordinary.
"You've come a long way, Shawn," Alric said without turning, his voice steady but heavy with meaning. "But there's still more of you to uncover. Today, we begin that journey."
Shawn raised an eyebrow, confusion flickering across his face. "Another test?"
Alric's lips curved into a faint smile. "Not a test. A revelation."
They arrived at a silver-framed doorway, guarded by two silent figures in white. With a simple wave, Alric motioned for the door to open, revealing a large, circular room bathed in soft, otherworldly light.
The Room of Resonance.
At its center stood a pedestal, smooth and marble-carved into a stepped pyramid. Resting at the top was a silver sphere, about the size of a melon, floating just above the surface. The orb shimmered faintly, its surface rippling as if it were reflecting something far beyond the room.
Shawn stepped forward, his eyes drawn to the sphere, entranced by its subtle beauty. "What is this place?"
"This is where we measure Vitral affinity," Alric explained, standing next to him. "That sphere—the Vitral Sphere—responds to the essence within you. It gauges not only your connection to the elemental forces but also the strength and potential of your Vitral. It will show your rank… and the kind of power you hold."
"There are five known Vitrals," Alric explained, moving to stand beside him. "Each with its own color:
. Blaze – Which will glow red when you channel your Vitral essence.
. Ember– Which will glow amber when you channel your Vitral essence
. Vortex– Which will glow blue
. Phantom – Which will glow purple upon contact.
. Titan – Which will glow golden
Shawn's eyes widened slightly. "And how do I… interact with it?"
"Channel your essence into it," Alric instructed. "Let it feel who you are."
Shawn nodded and stepped closer to the pedestal. As he approached, the sphere pulsed ever so slightly, as if it sensed his presence. He placed his hand over it and began to focus, drawing upon the Healing Vitral he had long relied on—the same energy that had healed him and others in countless moments of peril.
The sphere responded immediately, a soft purple light spreading across its surface like the gentle lapping of ocean waves.
Alric nodded with approval. "Phantom rank," he said quietly. "Not surprising. You have surprised me enough. With this, you can enter even into top five schools known. It is a decent rank indeed. Your vitral capabilities, more so healing can rival the big families.
But Shawn wasn't done. Taking a steadying breath, he focused deeper, channelling not just his healing essence, but the wind essence he had honed through countless battles, the force of nature shaped by the pressure and struggle of his journey. The moment he poured it into the sphere, it flared—suddenly, it exploded with golden brilliance.
Gold.
The room was momentarily bathed in blinding light, as if a star had erupted in the middle of the chamber. Alric's eyes widened, and his breath caught. But before they could process the significance—
The gold flickered, then shifted.
White.
It wasn't fading. It was transcending—ascending.
The light transformed into a pure, radiant white, casting an almost celestial glow across the room. The Vitral Sphere glowed like a mirror to infinity, and the air seemed to still, vibrating with an eerie silence. It felt as though the room had become something outside of time and space.
Shawn instinctively stepped back, his heart racing. "What… what is this?"
Alric circled the sphere, his gaze fixed and unblinking. "I've only seen this once before," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "And that was in legend. The white state… it doesn't belong to any known rank. It's not just power—it's something beyond the structure of Vitrals."
Alric turned to Shawn, his eyes now filled with an expression that was a mix of awe and wariness. "What we just saw… this is something new. Something that even I don't fully understand."
The white light gradually receded, leaving the orb in its dormant, silver form once again. The room seemed to breathe again as the unnatural stillness faded.
Shawn pulled his hand back slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. "Did I break it?" he asked half-jokingly, though fear lurked beneath the words.
Alric chuckled—a deep, hearty laugh that didn't quite mask the awe in his tone. "No, you didn't break it. You just reshaped everything I thought I knew."
The silence between them was heavy, but not uncomfortable. It was a silence of reverence, as if they both understood the gravity of the moment.
Finally, Alric placed a hand on Shawn's shoulder. His grip was firm, but there was a gentleness in it, a connection between father and son. "You're not just a warrior, Shawn. You are something else entirely. The question now is, what path will you take with this… this gift?"
Shawn stood, his mind swirling with questions. His gaze flickered back to the now-silent Vitral Sphere. For the first time in his life, the answers didn't scare him. Instead, they intrigued him.
Alric's voice broke the silence. "Shawn, your wind Vitral surpasses even the Titan rank. The white state... it hasn't appeared in over a while. Not since the age of our predecessors where it was seen once in a while. If I remember, I only know like one person with such a talent, the previous Clan elder and ruler of Starborn Clan. Ades I think. But so far, maybe in this great schools, but its a rare talent that I did not bother on mentioning it to you. This means that both your vitrals are something to die for."
Shawn blinked, unable to comprehend the weight of Alric's words. "What does that mean?"
"It means…" Alric's voice grew more serious, "that people will come looking for you. Some will want to test you. Others will want to control you."
Alric stepped closer, his hands settling firmly on Shawn's shoulders. There was an intensity in his gaze—a father's concern.
"I didn't want this for you. Not like this. Not before you had the time to grow."
Alric's jaw tightened, his eyes briefly drifting away as though burdened by a long-hidden truth. When he looked back, his expression was solemn, resolved. "There's a rule in the academies. Before entering a formal school, every student undergoes a Vitral measurement. If they see what we just saw, your life will change in ways you can't even imagine. You won't be allowed to remain in the shadows anymore."
Shawn's hands clenched into fists at his sides, his thoughts racing. "So… what now?"
Alric sighed, his expression softening just enough for Shawn to see the weight he carried. "I have a contact. An old friend, brilliant but eccentric. We served together in the border wars. He developed a Vitral Suppression Cloak—a device that can mask your true rank. Not even the academy will see through it."
Shawn frowned, his mind processing the implications. "You want me to hide it?"
"For now," Alric replied, his voice firm. "Until you're ready. Power like yours will attract unwanted attention. Some will come to test you, to use you. Others will try to break you. We need time."
Shawn nodded slowly, trusting in Alric's judgment. "If you trust him, I trust you."
Alric gave a small, approving nod. "Good. I'll contact him tomorrow."
He turned once more to the Vitral Sphere, now dimmed to its silvered, silent state.
"You're more than I expected, Shawn," Alric murmured, his voice low with something approaching pride. "But the world… is a cruel place and will stop at nothing to gain your abilities."