Kaen stood silently before the orb, its polished surface glowing faintly beneath the crystal chandelier overhead. The room was eerily quiet, the low hum of arcane relics embedded in the walls the only sound.
Riven gave him a reassuring nod. Neriah, the guild receptionist, gestured politely toward the glowing sphere. "Place your hand on the mana orb and remain still," she said with practiced calm. "It will read your elemental affinity and latent strength."
Kaen took a breath, then another. He didn't know why his hands were trembling.
He had no idea what would happen.
No idea what would show.
He pressed his palm to the orb.
At first — nothing.
Just a flicker of warmth beneath his skin, like sunlight trapped in a bottle.
Then, a pulse.
And suddenly, the orb ignited.
A deep crimson-red glow bled into its core, dark and unnatural — like blood spilled over dying embers. The room dimmed. The relics on the walls flickered. The air thickened as if the entire guild had been dropped underwater.
Gasps rippled through the hall outside. Adventurers turned. Some stood. Others dropped their tankards mid-sip.
Inside the evaluation chamber, Neriah staggered back, wide-eyed. She clutched a scroll and scribbled rapidly, trying to stabilize the readings.
"It's… fire element," she announced, voice shaking, "Rank… A!"
"A?!" Riven blinked, surprised. "That's incredible! You skipped the entire testing gauntlet!"
Kaen turned to her, confused—he hadn't done anything. But before he could say a word—
Crack.
The orb hissed. Fine hairline fractures split its surface. And then it screamed—a long, resonant screech of magic unraveling from within.
The crimson light grew darker—dimmer at the edges, hotter at the core.
Mana leaked out in long tendrils like smoke made of liquid flame, curling into the air, crawling along the floor, and coiling around Kaen's legs, waist, chest—climbing him like a living thing.
Outside, adventurers began collapsing.
The stronger ones buckled to their knees.
The weaker ones fell flat—gasping, eyes wide in panic.
Weapons rattled against the stone floor.
A shield hanging on the wall split down the middle.
Some ran from the building entirely.
Inside the room, Kaen's crimson eyes flared, his body trembling as if possessed. The mana didn't burn—it consumed, dragged at him, whispered to him. And the orb—cracked and bleeding magic—began to float inches off the pedestal.
Then—
Boom.
The door burst open.
A tall man with streaks of gray in his black hair and a commanding presence stepped in.
"What the hell is happening in here?" he roared, aura rippling.
The Guildmaster's boots echoed like thunder as he stepped into the room, his cloak fluttering behind him under the weight of the surging mana. His eyes immediately locked onto Kaen—whose body was now engulfed in spiraling tendrils of dark red energy, his eyes glowing like twin embers.
Neriah struggled to keep her footing, clutching the desk for support. "Guildmaster!" she choked out. "He… he just touched the orb. It turned crimson… then cracked. I ran the standard test—he registers as an A-ranked fire user but—this isn't normal mana. This is something else entirely!"
The Guildmaster's expression darkened.
"This isn't fire…" he murmured.
He took a cautious step toward Kaen. The red aura pushed back against him like a wall of compressed air. A lesser man might have been thrown across the room. But he stood firm.
"You," he said, voice heavy. "What's your name?"
"Kaen," he replied quietly, his voice distant, as if hearing it for the first time.
"I see," the Guildmaster said, narrowing his eyes. "I'm Veylor, master of Asheron's Guild."
The moment he extended a hand and shook Kaen's, his entire body jolted, like something ancient had just passed through him.
Veylor's eyes widened.
This kid… this mana… it's not just strong. It's terrifying.
Without another word, Veylor turned to Neriah. "Lock down the orb chamber. No one else is allowed in until it's sealed and purified."
He looked back at Kaen and Riven. "You. With me. Now."
⸻
Inside the Guildmaster's Chamber
The heavy doors closed behind them, cutting off the noise outside.
The room was dimly lit by flickering enchantments, old books, and relics glowing faintly in locked cabinets.
Veylor gestured to the chairs.
Kaen sat, trying to steady his breath. The red energy had vanished. But the mark it left in the air still lingered.
Veylor folded his arms. "So. Where are you from, Kaen?"
Kaen hesitated. "A small village. North continent. I… I worked at a restaurant in Elvoreth."
"You don't strike me as a cook," Veylor said dryly.
Kaen smirked faintly. "Neither did most of the people there."
Veylor's gaze sharpened. "How long have you had this kind of power?"
Kaen looked down. "I didn't know I did."
The Guildmaster studied him for a long moment. Then sighed.
"Well… unfortunately, the orb can only classify adventurers between ranks D and A. For anything higher, you'll need to enter the national tournament."
"A tournament?" Kaen asked.
Veylor nodded. "It's held once every few years. Two months from now, in the capital. Only those who believe they've surpassed A-rank can enter. The strongest compete. SS-ranks are born there."
Kaen blinked. "What happens if someone exceeds even that?"
Veylor stared at him. "No one has. Not since the last God-Demon War. But if you're asking… then you might just be the first."
Riven leaned forward. "Can he still get a temporary guild card?"
Veylor nodded. "You're an A-ranked adventurer. Your endorsement grants him that… but he won't earn full rewards until his true rank is verified."
Kaen nodded calmly. "That's fine. I don't need much. I'll survive."
Riven smirked. "We make enough. You'll live more than fine."
The Guildmaster stood. "Then it's settled. I'll register you for the tournament. Until then, try not to destroy another orb."
As Kaen and Riven stepped out of the chamber, a small crowd outside parted instantly — wary eyes fixed on Kaen.
He looked down at the new guild card in his hand.
Name: Kaen
Element: Fire (Provisional)
Rank: A (Unconfirmed)
But deep down… he knew something was wrong.
He wasn't fire.
And this power… wasn't his alone.