St Chaos Healer

Ch 65 - An Unexpected Decision

The moment of the hour was upon us.

The chamber was abuzz with animated conversations as the candidates engaged in lively discussions, passionately debating the merits of each academy and why it was the best option. The room resonated with the chatter of eager voices, each candidate advocating for their favored academy with fervor. Amidst the constant chatter, the sound of twisting dials from the dial cards added to the commotion. Some candidates were visibly grappling with their decision, repeatedly turning their dial cards in contemplation.

The cacophony in the room made it difficult for me to focus and make a clear decision on which academy's invitation I should accept.

Nevertheless, amidst the bustling crowd, I noticed a few candidates who had already made up their minds and now stood calmly, patiently awaiting the end of the submission time. Trisha and Hendrickson were among them, and it came as no surprise since they were among the most popular candidates in the room. Their confident demeanor seemed to suggest that they had chosen wisely and were now simply waiting for the formalities to conclude.

Amidst the commotion, I noticed my fellow 1st tier candidates, Jason and Marcia, being swarmed by the other candidates. Their unique trial results had turned them into the center of attention, and everyone seemed eager to know more.

"Your mana color is so unusual. How did that happen?"
"Having two mana cores sounds incredible. How does it even work?"
"Do your mana abilities have different properties with two cores?"
"Dark energy? Does that mean you have a connection to evil?"
"Why do you seem so emotional? Is it related to having two mana cores?"

The barrage of curious questions seemed to overwhelm both Jason and Marcia. Marcia, in particular, sought refuge behind Jason, seeking some comfort and protection from the attention.

With evident frustration on his face, Jason responded, "I wish I had all the answers, but honestly, I'm just as clueless as everyone else. We're all trying to figure this out together. Can you guys please give us some space for a few minutes? We need to decide our invites in peace."

As I watched Jason and Marcia deal with the overwhelming attention, a sense of relief washed over me for not being in their shoes. However, I couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy at the spotlight they were basking in.

The only attention I got was nothing more than taunts and mockery for revealing my new abilities. It seemed like karma had caught up with me for being so boastful and showy during the trials. This experience taught me a valuable lesson – humility. I realized that I had learned it the hard way, and now I understood the importance of staying humble and grounded.

Understanding how I ended up with this unusual ability still baffled me. Ever since birth, I had been marked by my striking red hair, a color that set me apart from others. As I delved into books about mages and their anatomy, I stumbled upon fascinating information that hinted at my uniqueness. These books often pointed out how elemental attributes could influence the physical traits of young mages.

For instance, families with a long line of fire attribute mages might showcase characteristics associated with fire, like red or yellow hair, a moody temperament, and a passion for battle. Similarly, water attribute mages could have appearances and personalities reflecting the essence of water.

However, it wasn't as simple as these studies suggested. The chances of these traits manifesting were about 50-50, and many people looked and behaved differently from their attributed element. I came to realize that these studies weren't absolute, and my own experience had taught me the hard truth of it.

Similarly, the life energy or the healing element follows a similar pattern. Supposedly, those with an affinity for healing possessed certain traits like green hair, a caring and gentle nature, and a strong aversion to violence. Yet, I found myself devoid of any of these characteristics, which left me wondering why I had been chosen for the healing attribute in the first place.