Chapter 14 : The Blossoming Anomaly

[ Flashback ]
 
The gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers through the open window of my room. Mother sat across from me, her eyes sparkling with warmth as she spoke playfully.
 
"You've been more serious than usual lately, Aren. Lighten up, or you'll turn into your father," Selene teased, her laughter filling the room.
 
I maintained my usual calm expression. "Someone has to keep things balanced, Mother."
 
Her playful retort was cut short by a faint, distressed sound outside. We both turned toward the window, the source of the noise drawing our attention.
 
"Is that...?" Selene's brow furrowed.
 
We stepped onto the balcony, peering down into the garden. Sylvie was kneeling beside a small, injured creature—a rabbit-like being with soft silver fur marred by a gash on its side.
 
Sylvie's expression was filled with concern, her brows furrowed as if in deep concentration. Then something remarkable happened. Small green tendrils sprouted from the ground around her, wrapping gently around the creature. The plants pulsed with a soft, verdant glow, and within moments, the wound began to close.
 
Selene's eyes widened. "Healing magic...?" she whispered. "But that's..."
 
"Rare," I finished for her.
 
Selene nodded thoughtfully. "I've practiced healing magic myself, but this is... different. Normal healing magic draws mana to restore wounds directly, but Sylvie's magic seems to channel nature itself. The plants respond to her will."
 
Her words lingered in my mind. Healing magic was already a rare ability among humans, mostly wielded by fairies. But this—this was something entirely unique.
 
My gaze remained fixed on Sylvie, who seemed unaware of what she had done. She stood up, oblivious to the magic she'd just wielded.
 
"Is this truly healing magic?" I murmured. A slow, calculating smile tugged at my lips. If it is, I must ensure that she's on my side. Such a gift is far too valuable to waste.
 
Selene placed a hand on my shoulder. "Aren, take her with you to the mana affinity rite. Perhaps we'll learn more about her abilities."
 
I hesitated for a moment. Taking a commoner to such a prestigious event would be seen as a burden and an affront to noble traditions. But Sylvie's potential was undeniable. I met Mother's gaze. "Very well."
 
---
 
Later that evening, I stood before Father in his study, the room dimly lit by a flickering heart.
 
"I want to take Sylvie with me to the Celestial Sanctum," I stated coldly.
 
Father raised an eyebrow. "A commoner at the rite? That's unheard of. You know the nobles will be outraged."
 
I met his gaze without flinching. "Do you remember the promise you made? To fulfill one wish of mine without question?"
 
Father's expression darkened. "You're using that now?"
 
"I am." My voice was steady, resolute.
 
He leaned back in his chair, scrutinizing me. "Are you certain?"
 
"Yes."
 
A tense silence followed before he finally relented. "Very well. But be prepared for the consequences."
 
"I always am."
 
---
 
[ Return to Present ]
 
The sanctum was silent as Sylvie walked toward the ritual field, her steps hesitant but determined. The priest gestured for her to stand at the center, his expression serene but watchful.
 
"Focus your mana," he instructed gently. "Let it flow through your body and manifest in your hand."
 
Sylvie took a deep breath, raising her trembling hand. The nobles watched with barely hidden disdain, some whispering among themselves. For a moment, nothing happened.
 
Then, faint motes of light flickered around her, shimmering like fireflies. The glow intensified, filling the air with a gentle, harmonious hum. Green hues spread across the field as flowers and vines emerged from the ground, their growth natural yet inexplicably vibrant.
 
The nobles gasped in shock.
 
"What kind of affinity is this?" one murmured.
 
"I've never seen anything like it," another whispered, eyes wide.
 
The priest's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the scene unfold. "This... appears to be a rare harmonic affinity," he declared calmly, though his voice carried a hint of disbelief.
 
The nobles exchanged skeptical glances.
 
"Harmonic affinity? Nonsense," one scoffed.
 
The priest's voice remained steady. "It is not a common occurrence, but the ritual does not lie."
 
Sylvie lowered her hand, breathing heavily. Her face was pale, yet her expression showed resolve despite the murmurs around her.
 
Father’s calm but authoritative voice cut through the tension. "The rite has been spoken. That is all that matters."
 
The nobles quieted, though suspicion lingered in their expressions.
 
I watched Sylvie intently. Her mana had resonated with nature itself—something unprecedented for a human. My curiosity deepened, and I knew Father shared my thoughts.
 
As the ceremony concluded, Father and I exchanged a brief glance. There were questions that needed answering, and I would ensure we got them.
 
The priest's troubled gaze lingered on Sylvie as he approached Alaric and me. His expression was composed but hinted at the weight of what he had witnessed.
 
"Lord Alaric," the priest spoke in a low voice, "we must discuss this in private later. There is... something unusual about this child's affinity."
 
Alaric's eyes briefly flickered with intrigue, but his stoic expression remained unshaken. "Very well," he said curtly.
 
However, the nobles had not quieted. Whispers of disbelief and skepticism filled the sanctum, their voices rising louder with each passing moment.
 
"A commoner with an unknown magic type?"
"Preposterous! This must be a mistake."
"There's no place for anomalies among noble children."
 
Sylvie's face paled, her small frame trembling under the weight of their scrutiny. My eyes narrowed at their ignorance.
 
Before I could step forward, Alaric raised his hand, his commanding voice cutting through the noise. "Silence!"
 
The sanctum fell into tense stillness.
 
"Priest, call the next participant," Alaric ordered firmly. His gaze flicked toward me, sharp and deliberate. "Aren Wolfhart, step forward."
 
The nobles turned their attention toward me, the atmosphere immediately shifting from disdain to anticipation.
 
I met Alaric's gaze with a cold, calculating smile. He had deflected the chaos skillfully—but I knew it was also his way of testing me in front of the empire's elite.
 
Without hesitation, I walked toward the center of the field, my footsteps steady and deliberate. Every eye in the sanctum followed my every move, the weight of their expectations palpable.
 
The priest gestured for me to stand in position. "Focus on your mana, young master."
 
I raised my hand, feeling the familiar surge of mana coursing through my veins. The nobles waited with bated breath, eager to witness my display.
 
And I would not disappoint them.