They followed the three elders down a quiet side corridor, their footsteps echoing softly against polished marble.
The room they entered opened wide and circular, almost like stepping into another world. Soft light filtered down from high stained-glass windows, spreading across everything in a gentle glow. White stone pillars formed a ring around the space, each one carved with flowing patterns that seemed to move if you stared too long. The floor beneath them was pale quartz, smooth and seamless, reflecting their figures like still water.
At the very center stood a massive stone basin which was large enough for several people to stand inside. It was filled with a strange silver liquid, glowing faintly from within. Its surface remained perfectly still, not a single ripple disturbing it.
Azrean and Sumi stepped in and slowed to a stop, eyes wide. They turned slowly, taking everything in.
Dean cleared his throat, his deep voice breaking the silence.
"Sir Haimen. Are you upset about us taking over the church like this?"
Haimen waved his hand lightly, almost amused.
"Not at all. You and your families have done more than enough for this city." His lips curved into a small smile. "Even if you claimed the entire church for the day, no one here would object."
Kumi let out a short laugh, grinning.
"Guess all the good deeds finally paid off."
Near the entrance, Invanne remained where she was, arms folded behind her back. Her gray eyes kept drifting toward the corridor they had just come from. Every few seconds, she glanced over her shoulder again.
"Who is it…" she murmured under her breath. "I can sense the presence… but it's spread everywhere. It's hard to pinpoint where it's coming from. How is it possible to feel the same presence from multiple places at once? Could it be an original magic?"
Her gaze narrowed.
"But… this presence is… very similar to…"
She turned her head slowly until her eyes locked onto Azrean with a cold, piercing stare.
"Lord Azrean."
Not long after, the elders returned, carrying small items—clear crystals, thin silver rods, and a few rolled leather scrolls. They moved without hurry, placing everything neatly around the basin, each piece set with careful precision.
Behind them, the adults spoke in low voices. Dean and Kumi exchanged a few quiet words with Azrea and Memei. Azrea let out a soft laugh at something Kumi said, while Memei gently smoothed Sumi's hair back into place.
When everything was arranged, Haimen turned toward the children and lifted his hand slightly, beckoning.
"Azrean. Sumi. Come here."
They stepped forward together until they stood at the very edge of the basin, the faint silver glow reflecting in their eyes.
Haimen's voice deepened, turning solemn as it carried through the chamber.
"The Goddess who gave her life for this world… the one who blessed it with magic."
He paused, letting the silence settle around them.
"Today… you will come to know her blessing."
Sumi clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest, shoulders drawn in, voice soft and trembling with excitement.
"I'm so excited…"
Haimen stepped forward and handed each of them a sheet of thick, cream-colored paper. The surface felt smooth, almost warm to the touch.
"Read this first," he said calmly. "It shows the possible magic aptitudes based on blood type."
Azrean and Sumi leaned closer, shoulders nearly touching as their eyes scanned the page.
The list read:
B+ = Flame
AB- = Ice
B- = Water
AB+ = Nature
C+ = Wind
C- = Sound
O = Lightning
O- = Light
Haimen snapped his fingers once. The words on Azrean's paper shimmered, the ink shifting like liquid before rearranging itself.
"Your mother is B+, and your father is C+," Haimen said. "These are the types you may inherit."
The list changed:
B+ — Flame
C+ — Wind
B- — Water
C- — Sound
Haimen turned his attention to Sumi. Her paper flickered next.
"Your father is AB-, and your mother is AB+. These are your possibilities."
The text reformed again:
AB- — Ice
AB+ — Nature
A- — Water
A+ — Flame
Both of them stared at the lists, eyes wide, silently reading over each line again and again.
Then, without warning, the papers dissolved in their hands—fading into faint light that vanished into the air.
The silver liquid in the basin stirred. It rose. Slowly at first, then smoothly, like something alive. The glowing mass lifted into the air and began circling them, forming wide, lazy spirals that glimmered softly in the quiet chamber.
Haimen's voice rang out, firm and clear.
"Raise one finger. Call upon the Goddess together."
Azrean and Sumi exchanged a quick glance. Then, at the same time, they lifted their right index fingers.
"All mighty Latila."
The moment the words left their mouths, the silver liquid surged forward.
A tiny cut opened on each of their fingertips—so fine they barely felt it. A single drop of blood rose from each wound, suspended in the air for a second before slipping into the swirling silver.
The liquid pulsed. Then it turned toward Sumi first. A steady glow built around her, bright and focused.
"It's beginning with Sumi," Haimen murmured, eyes narrowing slightly. "Her mana capacity appears to be higher."
The light gathered above her head. Letters formed—clear and sharp in glowing silver.
AB-
Kumi's face lit up instantly, a wide grin breaking across it.
"She's just like me!"
But the glow didn't fade. It shifted again. The letters dissolved, reshaping into a symbol—sharp, delicate, crystalline. Frost edged every line, forming a perfect emblem of ice.
"That symbol represents her magic aptitude," Haimen explained, his voice steady but his eyes didn't leave the light. Then—another shape began to form. Right beside the ice.
The room went still. Every gaze locked onto it. The second symbol completed itself—a jagged bolt, bright and crackling, alive with energy. A Lightning.
"What—" Haimen's voice broke. "This… this is impossible. How can this be happening?"
Sumi stared up at the glowing symbol, her breath caught in her throat. The lightning flickered softly, reflecting in her wide blue eyes.
'Lightning… that belonged to type O…'
Her thoughts stumbled, then sharpened all at once.
'That was… my blood type in my last life.'
Azrean stood there, completely still, eyes wide as everything unfolded in front of him.
'What is going on…'
His thoughts started racing, one crashing into the next.
'What does this even mean…? Two aptitudes? And that blood type… C? Shouldn't it be A?'
His brows tightened slightly.
'This world doesn't follow Earth's system… right? But earlier… it clearly said C where A should've been. But when we read in the text book last time there was nothing like blood type C. Why? Why is it like that here…? None of this makes any sense…'
Across the basin, Kumi and Memei exchanged a quick glance, confusion written all over their faces. The elders leaned forward, their calm composure cracking for the first time.
"The silver water has only ever shown one blood type," Haimen murmured, his voice low and strained. "Why does she have two aptitudes…?"
Before anyone could process it—the silver liquid shifted again. This time, it moved toward Azrean. A glow began to build around him. Letters formed slowly above his head.
B-
For a brief second, everything seemed normal. Then the light twisted. It started to condense into a symbol… but instead of stabilizing, it trembled—then shattered outward like breaking glass.
A sharp burst of light filled the space. And then—everything appeared at once.
Flame.
Ice.
Water.
Nature.
Wind.
Sound.
Lightning.
Light.
Eight glowing symbols hovered above him, each one distinct, each one shining with its own energy. They began to spin slowly, circling over his head like a storm.
No one moved. The elders stared, eyes stretched wide, mouths slightly open, frozen in pure disbelief.
Azrea's hands flew to her lips. Memei did the same, both of them unable to speak. Dean stood rigid, his massive frame locked in place. Kumi's usual grin disappeared completely, his eyes fixed upward.
Even Invanne stood still, her face pale, gray eyes locked onto the spinning symbols without blinking.
From the side, Sumi whispered, her voice barely audible.
"What the hell…"
Azrean lifted his head slowly, staring up at the eight glowing symbols above him. His hands began to shake. His chest tightened.
In a quiet, unsteady breath, the words slipped out— "What the fuck."