Chapter 2:Affinity - Zero
Grey nervously stood up from where he was seated and slowly walked towards the platform.?When he got there, he couldn't help but look at everyone staring at him intently.
"Huuu" Grey breathed heavily trying to calm himself down.
"Step forward and place your hand on the stone" the Elder in charge looked at Grey with a smile.
Grey carefully observed the stone. It was quite an amazing thing as it was what was used to check the elements people are compatible with and also it checks their talents. Grey calmed his mind and stepped forward, he looked at the stone before gently walking closer to it and placing his hand on it. The stone felt cold when he placed his hand on it.
The moment he placed his hand on the stone, he felt something moving out of the stone and passing through his hand into his body. Grey was slightly surprised by the feeling and instinctively wanted to take his hand off the stone.
"Don't move, it will be over soon" It was like the Elder could read his thoughts and quickly whispered to him before he could take his hand off the stone.
Grey stilled himself and let the strange energy run freely in his body. The energy moved from his hand, before making a circle around every single part of his body. After circling 3 times, he felt the energy leaving his body the same way it came.
When the energy left his body, he finally loosened up. The Elder looked at Grey for some time before walking closer towards the stone. He stared at it profoundly before taking a look at Grey again.
"Place your hand on it one more time," He said to Grey
Grey was surprised by what the Elder was doing. All the kids who had taken the test before him only did it once and the Elder would announce the result, how come his case was different.
He couldn't refuse the order, so he placed his hand on it again. The audience was quite surprised on seeing Grey placing his hands on the stone again.
"What is going on, why is that kid doing it again"
"Is there a problem with the stone"
Martha just watched on without any emotions, like she knew this would happen already. Although deep down she felt sad, there was nothing she can do about it. He told her to make sure she took Grey to the test, and she couldn't refuse him, so she did.
The process repeated itself, the Elder got close to the stone again to look at it and was stunned again. He looked at the stone, then at Grey again before sighing.
Sympathy could currently be seen in his eyes when he looked at Grey. Grey was taken aback by the way the Elder was looking at him, he suddenly had a bad premonition.
"Senior, what is the result?" Grey asked with a slightly shaky voice.
"Grey, affinity, zero" The Elder announced the result loudly
*BOOM*
It was like a bolt of lightning struck Grey, he stood there dumbfounded and just stared at the Elder.
"What, zero affinity"
"How can he not have an affinity"
"Yes, he said I should never give up on myself. Even when the world does, he said I should always stand tall and stay strong" Grey replied but without much firmness in his voice.
"I know my son is the greatest, " Martha looked at Grey lovingly
Grey knew his mother was trying to cheer him up but still, whenever he thought of how he was going to live without any elements, he felt sadder.
"Grey, remember this. What makes you different, makes you special. You are unique from the rest of the world, I'm not saying this just to cheer you up, I'm saying this because I know the child I gave birth to was not meant to live an ordinary life. You will reign above all, only you shall be at the top, and no one shall be your equal" Martha looked at her son in his eyes and said with all seriousness.
'What makes you different, makes you special' That statement kept repeating itself in Grey's head, and he started seeing the light in the darkness which he had fallen into. Although a little, it was something that will help him leave his current state.
Martha was happy when she noticed he had some reactions to her words.
She went over to her room and dropped on the bed crying, she was only being strong in front of her son as she wanted him to pull himself together soon.
"I know you said it was for his future, but why must you make him through this," She said angrily while looking out the window. No mother wanted to see her child downcast, she felt bad on seeing his reaction when the result was announced.
************
Somewhere far away
On an open field, a man could be seen standing gallantly in the air, ahead of him, there were over eight thousand soldiers, yet, they were filled with fear when looking at the man who was standing before them.
The man had striking white hair, yet he only looked to be in his early thirties, with a handsome face which had a somewhat sad smile on it.
He looked at the army cold, before stretching out his hand.
"Retreat!" One of the leading figures in the army yelled in fright.
Even though he was scared of the man before him, he had to make sure his soldiers escaped first before he left as well.
The white-haired man standing in the air smiled wryly before flying away to stand at the top of the city walls not too far from the field, looking at the army retreating back to their camps some kilometers away.
"Why didn't you kill them?" A slightly older man came over to question the white-haired man.
The white-haired man looked at him without replying. After confirming that the army had returned to their base, he turned around and left the city walls.
He walked to a building not too far away from the city walls, and was greeted along the way by everyone he passed on the way. He soon got to a small bland looking building which looked worn out, before disappearing inside.
Inside the building, there were no chairs, only a bed and a small shelf that was beside it, on top of the shelf, a painting could be seen.
In the painting, the white-haired man could be seen smiling, accompanied by a beautiful lady who held a little cute boy in her arms. The boy had a somewhat naughty expression on his face.
The white-haired man picked up the painting and traced his hand over it.
"*Sigh* He must have reached 12 by now. Time sure does fly fast, I wonder how he would react after finding out. I hope Martha can talk him out of his bad mood." The man said with a sad smile.
"I really miss them." He said with a voice filled with longing.