"I had that dream again."
Snow lay still on his bed, staring at the wooden ceiling, his expression grim.
For the past few weeks, he had been plagued by a strange dream.
In it, he was no longer human, but had turned into a wolf.
Not an ordinary beast wandering the wild, but the leader of a pack navigating brutal political struggles between rival clans. The dream would mostly appeared murky and blurry but Snow how strange it was.
The first time he had the dream, Snow dismissed it as nothing more than a product of his imagination.
Just another strange creation of a restless mind.
But when the dream repeated itself four consecutive nights, he began to realize something was amiss.
As Snow pondered over the unsettling anomaly, a knock sounded at his door.
Before he could respond, it opened.
Edward stepped inside, already dressed and prepared for the day despite the early hour.
Snow clicked his tongue remembering that today was the day he was supposed to have his apitude tested.
"Why aren't you dressed yet?" Edward asked, frowning.
"I just woke up," Snow replied flatly.
Edward sighed.
"You know Lady Agatha has many responsibilities. The only time she conducts aptitude tests is at daybreak."
Snow rolled his eyes as his father launched into a short lecture about punctuality, respect, and opportunity.
After enduring several moments of pestering, Snow finally rose from his bed as he gave in.
"Fine. I'm going."
He washed up quickly, splashing his face with the regulated warm water that the town so carefully maintained. Afterward, he dressed in layered clothing before selecting a thick wolf-fur coat to wear over everything else.
The fur was dense and silver-gray its materials durable and warm, not that Snow needed the warm part.
Once ready, father and son stepped back into the frigid streets and made their way toward Lady Agatha's residence.
Or rather...
The abandoned church she had chosen as her home.
Lady Agatha was a powerful seer and was probably one of the most powerful figures in the Riffy Cliffs. Her mastery over observational magic was profound enough to place her at quasi C-Rank, making her the only person in Riffy Cliffs capable of conducting a magical aptitude test.
She did not own a house like the rest of the townsfolk.
Not because she lacked wealth, nor because the town had a housing shortage.
But because it was simply her preference.
She had refused property and instead made the long-abandoned church at the town's edge her humble abode.
The same church where magical aptitude tests were conducted.
When Snow and Edward arrived before the tall, frost-covered doors, they both coudn't help but inhale a sharp breath.
The former was stilling his resolve on putting up with the self proclaimed seer who he despised the most while the latter was nervous about what the results might reveal.
If Snow were to be revealed to be lacking in magical talent, then the young boy's future would be grim and hopeless.
After all, not having magical talent and not even being capable of mastering qi would leave him as nothing but a vulnerable boy for a dangerous place like Riffy Cliffs.
If the Riffy Cliffs had access to forgemasters or sorcerer's then things would be different. Or if they had access to at least a single powerful sealed artifact then Snow would rely on external power. But given by the small influence the town had, the possibility of coming into contact with a sealed artifact was almost rare if not non existent.
Also the town hadn't seen a sorcerer in ages. And as for forgemasters, it lacked the necessary information about the arts of manipulating qi in order to achieve weapon forging, to actually be able to raise one.
Edward released a soft sigh.
Sure Snow would be safe as long as he, Siana and Rolland were alive but, what would happen when the they died.
There was no one else in the town who go out of their length to protect him, especially given his sour relationship with the townsfolk.
Edward as he thought of this grim possibility coudn't help but sigh again in dejection.
'Let's hope that doesn't happen ' he inwardly muttered.
Without another word, they pushed open the church doors and stepped inside.
The interior was dim but warm, lit by faintly glowing mana lamps along the stone walls.
Lady Agatha stood waiting near the altar.
As if she had known the exact moment they would arrive.
"Happy fifteenth birthday, Snow," she said gently.
Snow's lips parted, ready to respond with something sharp—
But Edward shot him a warning look, which forced him to shut his mouth.
Agatha tilted her head slightly, as if sensing his hostility, and gave a small and resigned smile.
She then turned toward Edward.
"Good morning, Chief Edward."
"Good morning, Lady Agatha." Chief Edward returned the greeting.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"Well then," she said softly, "shall we proceed with the testing?"
Edward nodded. "Of course. Lead the way.."
His voice faltered slightly at the end, realizing the awkwardness of his phrasing.
Telling a blind woman to lead the way.
Agatha, however, seemed unbothered.
She had already turned and begun walking down the aisle, her steps steady and precise.
After several turns through narrow stone corridors, the trio arrived at the testing chamber.
The room had no door.
Instead, its entrance was concealed behind two thick red curtains.
Agatha stopped before them and turned slightly toward Edward.
"I will need to evaluate him alone," she said. "Would you mind waiting outside?"
Edward being the Chief of the Riffy Cliffs was well aware of her procedures. Lady Agatha's aptitude evaluations were often conducted privately.
He nodded.
"Of course. I'll wait here."
Although he tried to appear calm his voice betrayed a hint of nervousness.
As soon as she received his consent, Lady Agatha walked through the red curtains.
The air inside was colder.
At the center of the circular chamber stood a crystalline sphere mounted atop a stone pedestal.
It glowed faintly.
Ancient runes circled its surface, slowly rotating like drifting snowflakes.
Lady Agatha moved to stand beside it.
"Place your hand upon the Orb of Reflection," she instructed gently.
Snow approached, with his eyes narrowed.
This was it, the moment that would reveal everything.
As he extended his hand, his palm touched the crystal.
And for a split second—
Nothing happened.
And then, the orb's transparency color shifted.