Chapter 23 - Affinity Check

Ash walked alongside the others, his steps steady, yet his mind in complete disarray.

Could it really be her?

The thought alone sent a shiver down his spine.

No… No, that's impossible.

But doubt had already taken root.

What if?

His fingers curled into a fist.

What if she really is Nancy?

A rush of memories threatened to resurface, memories he had long since buried.

The warmth of her laughter. The way she used to call his name. The way her presence had once been his safe haven.

But warmth and laughter were not the only things tied to that name. No, there was something else.

Something suffocating.

A weight on his chest.

A shadow that never left him.

The echoes of a past he could never change.

He swallowed hard, his jaw tightening.

If it is her… What then? Should I be happy? Relieved?

His breathing felt shallow.

Or should I be afraid?

His lips pressed into a thin line.

Do I even deserve to be near her again?

The words felt like poison in his mind, like something rotten clawing at the walls of his thoughts.

No. No, I shouldn't think like this.

He needed clarity.

With a sharp exhale, Ash abruptly slapped his own cheeks, earning a few odd glances from the surrounding students.

He ignored them.

Focus. First, I need to confirm who she is.

But how?

Would asking her outright work? No. That would be foolish. If she was Nancy, and she had even a fraction of her past memories, she would recognize him immediately.

And if she wasn't... Well, then he would only be making a fool of himself.

No. He required something more.

Some proof.

Some connection that only they would know.

But deep down, wasn't he just stalling?

I'm afraid to know the truth.

Because if it was her. If she was truly here. Then that would mean…

No. Don't think about it.

His fingers twitched, the phantom sensation of bloodied hands creeping up his skin.

He clenched his fists, forcing his breathing to remain steady.

If not for the Rune of Stability, his mind might have entered his previous depressed state.

The state that led him to play the VR game just to divert his mind from those thoughts.

It wasn't long before they reached the affinity testing room.

The students filed in, and Ash barely registered the grand structure of the place. The room was dimly lit, save for the ethereal glow of a large, crystalline orb in the center.

They stood in an arc around it, the air thick with anticipation.

Elva stepped forward, standing beside the orb with a knowing smile.

"Now, my students, come forward one by one. Let's see your affinities," she announced.

Her voice was calm, but there was an underlying sharpness to it, a weight that made Ash glance up.

Her eyes flickered over the students before settling on him.

"From what I know, there was no affinity test before the entrance exam. That means there may be some who have chosen to hide their affinities," she continued, her tone light, yet laced with something almost teasing.

"Let's see who that is."

She said the last part with clear emphasis, her gaze locked onto Ash.

He met her eyes, unreadable, before looking away.

Right now, he had bigger concerns than whatever game Elva was playing.

His mind was still tangled in thoughts of Elysia.

Of Nancy.

Of the past that refused to let him go.

If she really is Nancy…

The idea made his heart clench.

Then what am I supposed to do? Pretend nothing happened? Pretend that she didn't—

His mind was trapped, spiraling through the same thoughts.

He exhaled sharply.

He couldn't let his thoughts wander there.

Not here.

Not now.

He needed time.

He required answers.

"Let's start according to ranking, shall we?" Elva's voice cut through his thoughts like a blade.

She turned toward the students, a knowing smile still playing on her lips.

"Melissia, come forward."

"Yes, Miss," Melissia responded, stepping toward the orb with confidence.

At last, not being able to focus, Ash activated his skill Omni Thought for a fraction of a second—

And canceled it just as quickly.

Even then, the headache struck him like a hammer, but it was something he could bear.

This much pain was nothing to him.

After the skill activation, his mind snapped back to its usual calm.

All unnecessary thoughts vanished.

With a clear mind, he took a deep breath, his face returning to his usual blank slate as he thought.

Let's think about it after reaching the dorm. It does nothing thinking about it now.

He exhaled and watched as Melissa put her hand over the orb.

A vibrant red glow spread across its surface.

"You have Fire Affinity. Good. Stand behind me," Elva said to Melissa as she noted something on her holographic screen.

"Next."

Grace moved forward.

Here comes the rare attribute of Light. Ash though as he watched Grace put her hand on the orb.

The moment her hand touched the orb, a brilliant white glow erupted, causing the surrounding students to murmur.

"As expected of her"

"She looks like an angel."

"Hey, shut up, don't you know who she is?"

"I know that's why I am admiring her from afar."

Of course, she is beautiful. After all, she is half-angel,Ash thought as he heard the students murmur.

"Alright, move back," Elva said, unbothered. She jotted something down without even looking up.

Next.

Lyra moved towards the orb.

Unlike the others, there was no nervousness in her steps. She wasn't hesitant, nor was she arrogant.

The moment her fingers brushed against the crystalline orb—

A lush green glow erupted, swirling like vines stretching toward the sun.

Then something rare.

The sound of rustling leaves echoed in the room.

The students murmured in surprise.

"A Nature Affinity user…"

"I thought only elves had that?"

"What do you expect from the daughter of Saint Lydia?"

Lyra's gaze remained steady. She didn't react to the whispers, nor did she seem particularly impressed by her own result.

Elva, however, raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm, Nature… A rare affinity among humans. It must be nice, being connected to the world in ways others aren't."

For the first time, Lyra spoke. Her voice was soft but firm.

"It has its moments, Professor."

Elva's lips curved into a smirk.

"A modest answer."

The students chuckled.

She stepped back without another word.

"Next," Elva said.

A broad-shouldered boy with short, dark brown hair stepped forward.

Unlike Lyra, he oozed confidence.

His footsteps were firm. His stance unshaken.

Irvin wasn't just some nobody—he was the heir of the top Blacksmith Guild, one of the wealthiest guilds involved in artifact mining and weapon forging.

And it showed.

The moment his hand touched the orb—

A deep metallic sheen pulsed outward.

The next moment, a dull brown light flickered beneath it.

"Metal and Earth Affinity," Elva noted.

The murmurs started once more.

"Figures. His family is famous for their metalwork."

"Dual affinity, though? That's pretty damn good."

"Duh, he is the son of a Saint after all."

Irvin smirked, clearly pleased. He turned slightly, casting a glance toward the others—particularly toward Ray and Ethan.

He wants to see their reaction.

Ash noticed it instantly.

Cocky bastard. He already thinks he's top-tier.

But his arrogance wasn't unfounded.

A few students rolled their eyes. Others whispered among themselves.

But there was no denying it.

Irvin Blackstone was strong.

As he stepped back, his gaze lingered on Ray for a fraction of a second—just enough to send a message.

A silent challenge.

Ray, however, didn't react. His expression remained composed, unreadable.

"Next," Elva called.

And then—

The moment she stepped forward, Ash felt his entire body tense.

Her silver hair shimmered under the light, strands reflecting like molten moonlight. Her red eyes, swept over the crowd before settling on the orb.

She placed her hand on it.

And in an instant—

A brilliant blue glow spread across its surface.

Then—

Silver.

Like the moon casting its glow upon an endless sea.

The whispers returned, but this time, they carried a different weight.

A hushed awe settled over the room, an unspoken reverence mixed with something else—fear

"Moon Affinity…?"

"A blessing from the Moon?"

Even among the elite, it was rare.

Almost mythical.

Elva's smirk deepened, though there was a sharp glint in her eyes now—a mix of intrigue and scrutiny.

"Interesting," she murmured. "You didn't mention the Moon Affinity in your form. Why?"

Elysia hesitated, her fingers twitching slightly before she spoke.

"I didn't know how to control it," she admitted. "I thought it wasn't important."

Elva chuckled, the sound soft yet laced with something knowing.

"Dear, a Moon Affinity is never not important."

The murmurs only grew louder, a tide of hushed excitement sweeping through the students.

Same as the novel.

Water and Moon.

He knew that traits are connected to souls, and sometimes traits also influences the Affinity of the person.

Everything is same, there is a high chance she is not Nancy

Ash exhaled through his nose as he thought with relief,

"Next," Elva called.

The students continued, one after another.

Then came the turn of the protagonist of the novel.

He stepped forward, unbothered, casual as ever.

His black hair swayed slightly as he placed his hand on the orb.

And then—

The world exploded in color.

Every shade imaginable burst outward, glowing brighter and brighter, consuming the room in a radiant spectacle.

But two stood out above the rest.

Red. (Fire)

Dark blue. (space)

The colors pulsed, alive, almost defiant.

Elva's expression flickered.

For the first time, genuine shock crossed her face.

The students went deathly silent.

Then—

Chaos.

"Holy shit—"

"An All-Affinity user?! That's—"

"That's impossible!"

"Wasn't that a myth?"

One girl clutched her chest as if she'd just seen a god descend.

Ray himself took a step back, staring at the orb as if it had betrayed him.

"I-I thought I only had two—"

Elva recovered quickly, but her tone shifted.

"An All-Affinity user… Isn't it interesting?"

It was playful.

But beneath that playfulness was something sharper.

Something dangerous.

Ray swallowed. His hand clenched slightly at his side.

Ash, however, merely smirked.

Blame your system if you want to blame. The moment you got it, you had All Affinity. It's just that they were locked.

Too bad Ray had no idea what kind of hell he had just walked into.

The murmurs continued, but by now, something had changed.

The students looked… overwhelmed.

Excitement? Sure.

Shock? Absolutely.

But now, the bar had been raised so high that even rare affinities seemed ordinary in comparison.

The tension refused to settle.

Until—

"Alright, alright, calm down. There are still students remaining. You can talk after everyone has had their turn."

Elva's voice, though light, held a commanding edge.

The students quieted, but their eyes still flickered toward Ray, toward the orb, unable to shake off the weight of what they had just witnessed.

Yet, Ash's gaze was elsewhere.

She looks like an adorable puppy, watching in admiration.

Melissia's eyes sparkled, her small hands clenched tightly in excitement. Awe shone on her face, her entire focus glued to Ray as if he were the sun itself.

Ash exhaled.

So much for her engagement.

"Next," Elva called.

The assassin stepped forward.

Ethan Nightshade.

His face remained unreadable, his movements precise, calculated.

Ash watched closely.

He already knew what was coming.

The moment Ethan touched the orb—

A deep black mist curled around it.

Then—

A dark purple hue pulsed outward, rippling like the very essence of night.

"Shadow and Darkness," Elva murmured.

Some students gasped.

But after Ray's result…

No one reacted as strongly.

It was as if everyone had been numbed.

A bitter twist of fate.

Ethan, however, was not amused.

His eyes flickered toward Ray, just for a second.

Ethan's jaw tightened. His fingers twitched as he clenched them into a fist, but he said nothing.

Ash chuckled internally.

'I was thinking that the plot would change because of me, But as things are going, aside from the interactions between the main casts, nothing is going to change.'

'I hope nothing changes about the demons who are in the Academy.'

Ethan stepped back, his expression carefully neutral.

"Next," Elva called.

And finally—

Students came and went.

Until the moment arrived.

Her gaze flickered to the last name on her list.

The one she had been waiting for.

"Ash."

The moment his name was called, silence fell once more.

Elva's gaze bore into him, sharp and knowing, as if she already had the answer.

And Ash?

He stepped forward.

His expression was unreadable.

But his mind was in turmoil.

I hope my trait is not related to affinities.

{A/N: What do you think? Will he have another affinity besides Lightning?}

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