Aptitude

"No aptitude. Next!"

The same words came out a dozen more times causing dozens of people to come back to the corner of the room with disappointed faces. None of them had the aptitude to do magic. Apparently, Tristan did not either, at least according to the crystal and the man in charge. They thought that he had no aptitude.

Tristan once more checked his stats, this time thoroughly.

[Tristan]

[Battle Power – 100]

[Blood Elf Monarch – Second Stage]

[Spirit Aptitude: Fire Element, S rank]

[Spirit Force: Nonexistent]

The system implanted into his head clearly stated that he has an S aptitude in Fire element. But then he never really knows what an S means, it should have meant Superior or Special, which is above rank A. But now Tristan wasn't so sure.

The second possibility he can think of is that it could be an elf thing. Maybe elves have a different physique and the spirit crystal can't test him properly.

The words right at the bottom caught Tristan's attention.

[Spirit Force: Nonexistent]

Tristan believes this is most likely why the spirit crystal is unable to show his S aptitude. An object named Spirit crystal and words of no spirit force exists. That can't be a coincidence. Tristan believes that the crystal tests his aptitude through his spirit force.

There must be another way to make use of his fire element, and he remembers the notification he had before when he first used his ability.

[New source of power was found - blood essence]

Blood extraction, blood essence, blood elf… It doesn't take a genius to put all the pieces together. Tristan found himself wishing there was a manual book or something to help him understand his new body easier.

"Next!" said the man handling the test

Layla looked at her brother. It was now her turn. Before, she was eager, but now as she looked at the failed candidates, she could feel butterflies in her stomach.

Layla gripped her brother's clothes and bit her lip. "I'm nervous, Tris, this is like high school all over again "

Tristan patted his sister's head, smiled, and said. "Don't worry about it too much. You are my sister, after all, I guess you'll at least get a B aptitude, or maybe even an A." He attempted to reassure her.

Layla's worried expression was replaced with low mocking laughter. She laughed for several seconds and wiped her tears before saying. "Ah, brother, are you still sad you didn't have any talent that it hit your head and made you dumb"

"…"

Tristan really adores his sister, but sometimes, her foul mouth made him want to put tape on it so she shuts up just once…

"Thank you for brightening my mood though"

Layla walked towards the crystal. The other candidates only saw a plain-looking girl with equally plain clothes walk towards the device that will decide her fate, and they looked away in disinterest. No one there really expected anything. The last several candidates all ended up disappointed, and Layla seems to be no different.

With both her hands, Layla touched the crystal, and she felt the sparks gently tickling her palms. Slowly, the crystal started to shine in a bright golden light.

"Finally, someone with an aptitude." The man muttered under his breath, not loud enough for the others to hear but enough for Layla. He watched the crystal ball shine even brighter with a smile, a smile that was soon replaced with a gasp of excitement.

The crystal ball kept on getting brighter, until it became a miniature sun enveloping the room with its golden light. The shine attracted the attention of the other candidates, who all gasped in shock.

The two men sitting behind the desk stood up and leaned forward.

The girl with black hair and in plain clothes, the girl looked down on by almost everyone in the room, was the genius they were looking for

"I...it's… A aptitude! and it's the light element as well... That's rare!" The man holding the crystal ball said while staring at Layla with a completely different attitude.

Every other candidate, even those who had failed, stared at the glowing crystal ball in awe. Even Tristan was not immune from staring, and he barely kept himself from screaming.

His sister having a good aptitude for magic would be a huge boon for them, as it would help in their survival in this world.

Just like the other successful candidates, Layla received a vial full of sparkling potion, but unlike the other candidates who was allowed to leave, the two men stood up as Layla tried to leave and started to bombard her with questions. Layla seems confused and a little bit terrified, she was unable to answer and only managed to stare at the two.

Sensing his sibling's distress, Tristan walked by and stood between the two men and his sister. He nudged his sister to hide behind him and asked.

"Whatever questions you may have, you can ask me instead." Tristan said.

"I apologize, dear sir, who are you? Are you her…"

"She is my sister, yes." Tristan answered before the man could finish his question. From behind him, Layla nodded in affirmation.

"Ah, I see… I am sorry for saying this, sir, but you two look nothing alike." The man looked at Tristan and Layla from top to bottom, as if trying to find any similarity between them.

"Well…" Tristan looked at Layla and smiled before facing the man again. "That's because she's my adopted sister."

"Yeah, we get that question a lot." Layla chuckled.

"Thank you for your help, we'll be leaving now…" Tristan said and motioned for her sister to follow him to leave the place right away.

"Wait!" One of the men exclaimed. "I don't wish to pry too much into your personal matters, but it's a waste to see such an incredible talent being wasted away. Normally, we can only find half a dozen candidates with A aptitude each year, and considering her age, she took this test rather late, showing that both of you don't really understand much about magic." The man explained.

"What do you want to do?" Tristan asked and tried to hide his sister behind him. He sensed that something is amiss.

"Please, let her come with us to the capital so she could receive the training she deserves. All candidates with an aptitude are invited. With her A aptitude, The great Wizard and even King Callan himself would be interested to know more about her." Another man said.

Tristan didn't even ask his sister, he braced himself for a confrontation before answering.

"No she can't"