The beginning of trials(2)

"Granny I am very confused about the difference it sounds like the same thing if you ask me"

"Little one, I am barely 200 years old. I am no one's granny or even mommy... that sounds so wrong, but still.

You asked me to teach you about enchantment; I taught you the schematics and the process since you have the skill... leave shoo," said a merchant as she tried to Chase Aetheris away; the boy randomly entered her station and began to ask numerous questions.

Aetheris waited anxiously for his turn at the trials. Yuuki was preoccupied with matters related to Vedic, having chosen to pursue a path as a dungeon raider, unlike Aetheris, who had come to entertain himself at the academy. Left alone with clear instructions to wait and remain still, Aetheris felt a stirring of curiosity that began to gnaw at him.

'Hahhh, this kid is talented, but he is very blunt... he has no filter... I can confirm that he's no commoner or a lower-race individual due to the insane density of his Mana.

It's like staring into an endless abyss, and he's not even hiding it… no, he's not even aware. What kind of parent forgets to teach their child the basics, especially a higher race being... is this perhaps his training journey?' concluded the enchantress as she observed Aetheris who was freely practicing enchanting with her materials.

What she didn't know was that he was already doing his best to suppress what he could to avoid attracting unwanted attention. He wore a mask and a cloak to obscure his appearance, not out of a desire to be low-key but to evade unnecessary scrutiny.

For a boy of his age, he was nothing short of monstrous. The enchantress felt a chill as she continued to watch him, realizing that his mana wasn't just dense; it was a monstrous, overwhelming force, a churning void that seemed to devour the very essence of the space around them.

His aura was so oppressively vast that it felt like the presence of a primordial beast lying dormant, biding its time. Aetheris might have been young, but even in this intimate setting, his attempts at suppression barely made a dent; the darkness within him was too immense, too consuming.

He was a calamity wrapped in the guise of a child, utterly oblivious to the havoc his very existence could unleash as they practiced enchantments together.

"YOWHHHHH!!!!!, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN BIG MIKE HERE.... erghm, "Big Mike's voice echoed alerting Aetheris

"Granny I have to leave, there is a possibility of me being called for my turn, "said Aetheris as he packed his notes and prepared to leave

"As much you piss me off here is a goodbye gift," said the enchantress as she gave him a small box, Aetheris open the box and used [Systematic appraisal] on the item

<<Report:on analysis < em>

Name: Chameleon Necklace

Description: Crafted from Lunar Silver, a rare alloy that reflects light in dynamic ways, this ring contains a core imbued with the Colorflux spell. To activate its transformative abilities, the wearer must constantly channel mana into it, allowing for seamless shifts in hair and eye color based on the user's Desire.

Rank: Mortal Rank

Model: V2-Colorflux

Lifespan: 100 years (before deterioration).>>

"Ahhhh...I can't take this, but since you insist, who am I to refuse? "said Aetheris as he shamelessly accepted the Necklace and began to remove his disguise.

Although his appearance shocked the enchantress, she didn't say anything. He wore the Necklace and began to channel his Mana into it.

His beautiful noir hair shifted to a simple brown, and his golden neon eyes transformed into ordinary brown. Quickly, he crafted glasses using [Material Forge], completing his disguise.

With this new appearance, he looked good and charming, though inferior to his original form; it was still better than attracting unnecessary attention. Despite his elven-like ears hinting at his heritage, he blended in more effectively than before.

"Thank you, granny," said Aetheris with a bow before he disappeared leaving the enchantress bewildered and surprised

"Hmmm So this is the discipline of Lady Nemesis, the very fact that he came into this tent means he didn't notice the illusion but he simply saw things as they are," said the enchantress as she packed her things and disappeared, what Aetheris didn't know is that for other people attending the trials the tent of the enchantress doesn't exist

...

"As I was saying, ladies and gentlemen... IT'S TIME FOR THE SECOND PHASE OF THE FIRST TRIAL!" boomed Big Mike, his voice echoing over the crowd as he gestured dramatically.

Magical projections flickered to life above, displaying the censored rankings of the first participants. While details about the trials remained tightly under wraps, excitement rippled through the crowd as the thrill of competition ignited. Gamblers in the back eagerly began preparing to place their bets for future trials, eyes gleaming with anticipation as they assessed the displayed rankings.

The atmosphere buzzed with tension and excitement as everyone prepared for what lay ahead, the air thick with the promise of adventure and the allure of fortune.

At the beginning of the first trial phase, the crowd waited in hushed anticipation. Then, without warning, a colossal door began its descent from the sky, just as before. It touched down in the center of the gathering, ancient runes glimmering as if alive with purpose. As the door settled into place, hundreds of participant IDs materialized above, marking the start of the second call stage.

Aetheris's ID was among them, beckoning him forward. He took a step, but a sudden, familiar presence washed over him—something faint yet unmistakable. He paused, searching the crowd, but found nothing. With a slight shrug, he dismissed the sensation and approached the door.

Once again, smaller doors emerged from the giant structure, branching out like veins, each one waiting to lead the chosen participants onward. Aetheris stepped through without hesitation, disappearing beyond the threshold as the trials continued.

...

Thank you for reading 😊 🙏