A single, beautiful carriage could be seen coming down the dirt path. Everybody stood up and at order, awaiting the carriage.

  "Hey, Haruki, you're ready for today, aren't you?" Orien approached Haruki and stuck out his fist.

  Haruki smiled and fist-bumped him, "You bet I am. We haven't seen each other much, but I feel like we've grown closer after all this struggling together. After today, let us refer to each other as brothers. Good luck with the evaluation, my friend! By the way, what was the commotion back there?"

  Haruki wore a silly smile and seemed quite energetic, a lot like his usual goofy self.

  "Nothing, nothing, must've been a small scuffle,” Orien’s words trailed off.

  Orien quickly changed the topic, but he felt warmth hearing those words. For the longest while, his closest and only friend was Hubert. He was pleased to acquaint himself with Wisp, and now even Haruki had acknowledged him as a friend.

  ‘What a turnaround, I wonder what Hubert is up to… I'll be seeing him soon,’ Orien thought.

  The carriage came to a halt just inside the school gates, and the curtain was drawn. To Orien's slight pleasure, it was Ling Yun. The ancient-looking old man wasn't around this time.

  ‘Perhaps he wasn't expecting any more good seedlings,’ Orien pondered briefly.

  All bowed and greeted Ling Yun, Orien included. She gave a curtsy and smiled, lighting up the area.

  "Sorry to keep you all waiting, I'll be the one administering today's evaluation. The same rules apply, but this will be the last chance until our next recruitment, one year from now,” Ling Yun said.

  She waved her sleeve, and a big stone stele shot out and appeared in front of everyone. The deep golden bands around it shined as the sunlight glistened on it.

  Orien clenched his fist and had a slight grin.

  'I can't wait until my turn…' he thought.

  He watched as the first youth went up to the stone and stretched his hand outward. The youth was obviously nervous, but like most people here, there was a certain resolve in his eyes.

  The stone lit up briefly.

  Low affinity body refinement, low affinity "other."

  He hung his head in shame and disappeared into the crowd.

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  Orien was quite eager to go, but he waited for his turn. As the crowd formed lines, it would seem that Haruki would be going before him.

  Whistle.

  The wind whistled as it blew by. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

  Ling Yun continued to smile and gently call on those who were next, and she was probably the only person easing the atmosphere. So far, there were no successes. A lot of individuals were depressed and hung their heads low.

  "That's to be expected," said Wisp, "They probably haven't trained or identified their weaknesses in the time that has passed. While talent is a factor, hard work is an even bigger factor. Oh well."

  He spoke from within Orien, but he was able to clearly see what was happening.

  Orien subtly agreed as he wasn't sure where he would be without Wisp's help.

  Haruki's turn got closer and closer. However, Haruki seemed a lot calmer than the first test.

  Before he knew it, he was next.

  Haruki stood there, not very imposing given average his small stature. It wasn’t that he was scrawny or short. His height was average. His build was average. He was just much more composed than every student before him.

  A smile crept up on Ling Yun 's face.

  'This one is different. He's not scared like the rest. Let's see if I'm right,’ she thought.

  Haruki wasted no more time. He raised his hand and pressed onto the stone.

  WOOONG.

  A low hum sounded for the first time.

  Medium affinity wind, low affinity lightning.

  "WAHOOOOO! Passing grade baby!" Haruki threw his hands into the air after receiving his results.

  "He sure is celebrating over there,” Orien laughed while Haruki leapt up and fired off a kick to the side out of sheer excitement. He looked back with a smile, piercing the crowd and locking eyes with Orien.

  ‘I'll see you there, brother.’ Haruki thought.

  The crowd was clamoring and looking at Haruki with envy. The first passing grade was bound to generate an effect like this.

  Ling Yun clapped for him and congratulated Haruki, who was practically swinging his upper body left to right with shyness and infatuation toward the beautiful lady.

  'This damn guy… his seriousness has completely disappeared already. I am glad that he's back to his usual self, though…' Orien thought and then smiled because he knew it would soon be his turn.

  “Orien, when you do your test this time, I will do mine through you. Don't act suspiciously. There aren't any old monsters here that might sense me. I didn't get to do it last time, but this old man wants to see if anything's changed compared to when I was alive,” Wisp said.

  Orien nodded his head, and before he knew it… he was next.

  "Kid, go put on a show, you earned it. I'll be able to discern what my affinity is and what yours is once I see the results, so free your mind and fret not,” Wisp let go of the reins, letting Orien put on as big of a show as he wanted.

  Orien moved forward, his black robes blowing in the wind. He felt at ease, considering he had been through so much in the past month. Wisp had really put him through the gauntlet, but here he was.

  It was time to show the fruits of all his labor.

  He was a bit upset he couldn't show off in front of Mila, but he would have to settle for showing off in front of Ling Yun.

  His curly black hair blew in the wind for a moment, and one might even see sparkles in his eyes. He flexed his muscles and got in stance with a somber expression.

  He made a motion as though he was going to touch the stele but then pulled his arm back like has was charging up something.

  After the second time, many people got the idea he was deliberately putting on a show.

  A few of the male students started to get annoyed at this point because it looked like he was showing off or about to make a fool of himself in front of Ling Yun.

  His palm stretched out toward the stone…

  WENGGGGG…

  The crowd was stunned by the loud hum and even more stunned by the result.

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