The silence lasted for over a minute, and then finally someone said what was on all their minds.
"She is a level six mage with three affinities?"
The words of that person acted like the trigger for everyone, their voices exploded out, everyone began speaking.
Many great mages peaked in their life when they made it to level six, they were considered powerhouses. Right now she had just awakened as a level six, but she didn't stop there, she awakened fire, lightning and spirit magic.
Not only were two of those extremely rare, the spirit magic was something highly coveted and even a level one spirit mage had a high level of importance.
What Elena just did now was reach a level of genius that would cause people to go to war.
Even Elena was stunned, her eyes were fixed on the orb, she couldn't believe it.
'She awakened three? Elena, you really are a genius,' Elias thought as he looked at her, the surprise he felt while looking at her was beyond what words could explain.
"Elena Grimhorn, level six mage, fire, lightning, and spirit affinities."
The man announced, and immediately there was a blatant and unhidden change to her name. The man didn't even try to hide how shameless he was, he added the family name to her without even thinking twice.
This action made Elias frown, the blatant change, this was disgusting, he hated it. The family only saw them when they had something to offer to them.
'I hate this place, hate this family, using us like we are nothing but tools.' Elias screamed in his mind, he clenched the chair tight, trying to control himself. He was pained that Elena would be forced to serve this place, give her life to their ridiculous causes, he wished that somehow he could help her find a better life somewhere and get away from here.
Maybe she could follow him and find his mother, maybe that way she would be safer, happier, more free.
Elena ran down the stage, her excitement showed on her face, she radiated like the morning sun, her eyes burned with excitement.
She got to Elias, and without even sitting down, she grabbed his hands, "Did you see? Did you?" She asked, her tone as high as her excitement.
Elias normally never smiled, but this was her special moment, this was her happiest moment, so he allowed a bright smile to form on his face, "I definitely saw, bro that's awesome." He said.
Hearing him say that acted as more fuel for her excitement, but before she could say anything else.
"Elias Grimhorn."
That name alone pulled the attention of everyone, it was the very person that everyone was waiting for, it was the main event.
Elias, the son of the concubine, the genius, the one many wanted to see fail.
'Me? It's my turn.' Elias felt the panic rising, he looked at the stage and it seemed to morph in his mind, twisting into something that greatly resembled a gallow with glowing red eyes, ready to have his head.
Elias swallowed hard, he rose from his seat and began walking. Elena looked at him eagerly, wondering if he would rise like her, she prayed in her heart.
The bar had been set for Elias, and it had been set extremely high due to Elena. He had to come close or surpass her if he wanted to be considered good.
He walked onto the stage, his feet planted firmly after every step. He looked at the orb, and swallowed hard.
'This is it, the moment that can make or break me, the moment I can rise and gather the strength to one day see my mother, to break free, to get the peace I want.
Whatever happens after here, my life will never be the same, it can't. I can never go back to the kid that walked up here, so to myself, goodbye, and to whichever version of me stands beyond this stage, I'll see you soon.'
He walked and without hesitation placed his hands onto the orb.
Instantly a bright light shone, and the magical circle activated. Everyone watched eagerly to see what would happen next.
But just when the wisps were to be summoned, Elias suddenly heard a voice in his head.
[Unknown power attempting to enter host, system lockdown, power negated]
The sound was fast and robotic, and in the next moment, the magical circle that had formed vanished, the light from the orb died down. Nothing was summoned.
Elias stood there, frozen, hands over the orb, shock and fear written all over his face.
Everyone had seen this, everyone had watched, everyone saw that the genius of the family did not awaken, he got nothing at all.
The quiet was as long as that of Elena, but unlike hers, this was different, heavy, oppressive.
Elias could feel the eyes pinned on him, looks of disgust, shock, and pity.
'I didn't awaken?... No that's not possible, no, this can't be happening, everything I've planned till now, I can't lose it all.' Elias's normally calm mind fell into turmoil, he turned to look at the crowd and he could see all the eyes, he could hear their voices.
"Hahah, he was meant to be a genius? He didn't even awaken."
"What a joke, he is a complete failure."
"Haha, can't believe we expected better."
The words came like a flood, they got louder with every single second. Elias stood there, the realization of what this was slowly settled.
He took a deep breath, turned around, and without another word, he walked off the stage. He got to where he was sitting, Elena was there, she looked at Elias, she didn't know what to say, she tried to say something, but Elias didn't stay long enough to hear, he walked past.
"Haha, so you the trash," Watson mocked as Elias walked past. Elias turned off his mind as he walked, he could hear the words coming from these people, everyone was mocking or either saying something derogatory at him.
He kept his eyes forward as he walked, holding everything in, keeping that same calm face that he is known for.
"Look at him, acting like he didn't fail the family just now." One person said as he walked past.
"Tch, what a waste, he should have left with his mother."
"Trash."
"Useless."
"Waste."
The words came in like an avalanche, slamming into Elias, but he kept his head forward.
The doors opened and Elias walked out, leaving the hall behind. He knew that everything had ended the very moment that he failed to awaken.
"Elias!"
Elena called out to Elias, she stood outside the door, breathing heavily, she had chased after him and managed to reach him before he got far.
Elias stopped and turned around, he looked at Elena and then cracked a shaky smile, "Hey, whatcha doing here? They'll be looking for the star of their show." He said, doing his best to sound normal.
"Don't do that." Elena said.
"Don't do what?" He asked.
"Don't, don't act like you're fine when you aren't, you can hide it from everyone but not me." She said, her eyes pleading with him.
"What are you talking about? I'm absolutely fine," Elias said, "I might not have awakened but that doesn't chang--"
Elias couldn't finish what he had to say before she ran up, wrapping her hands around him.
"Stop, just stop." She muttered, her voice shaky, "you don't have to be strong every moment, you deserve to cry, you deserve to complain, you deserve to be unhappy." She said as tears poured from her eyes.
Elias looked at the sky above, he drew a deep breath, then placed his hands on her shoulders, he pushed her away. She looked at him, shocked, wondering why he would do that.
"Elena, as of today, you and I can't be friends." Elias said, he did his best to control his emotions, "forget about me, because our paths will probably never meet again, the family would never allow me and you to stay together, you are their prized possession now, and I'm the trash amongst trash." Elias said.
Elena's eyes widened when she heard that, she grabbed him, "What the hell are you saying?" She asked in anger, "you can't expect me to--"
"ELENA!" He barked her name, she looked at him, frozen. "You know what the truth is, you know the reality of the life that we live here," Elias said.
Elena looked at him, her face twisted from sadness to anger.
SMACK!
She slapped him clean across the face, then wiped the tears from her face and then turned, she didn't say anything else, she walked back into the hall.
Elias watched her leave, his heart ached, the tears in his eyes welled up. He turned around and slowly walked away, not looking back.
He made it past the main manor and was about to leave the compound when suddenly a shadow was cast over him, he looked up and standing before him were two guards decked in full armor from head to toe with the family crest on their chest.
"Elias, the head of the family has called for you," one said and then grabbed Elias, each one on either side, they pulled him along.
Elias understood what was happening and he didn't fight it, he had expected it, but for it to come this soon, that was shocking.