Chapter 35: Affinities

Jennifer stood completely still on the platform as the metallic structures surrounding her came alive once more.

Thin lines of pale light travelled across the floor beneath her feet, converging into a circular formation filled with dozens of symbols Frost couldn’t recognise.

Unlike the previous test, however, nothing happened immediately. Several seconds passed like that.

Frost waited.

Then several symbols began glowing.

Harod’s eyes narrowed as information rapidly streamed across the translucent screen before him.

Frost couldn’t understand any of it from where he stood. It seemed like the translation didn’t work unless he focused on the text, and the information was moving too rapidly for the system to translate for him.

Jennifer glanced toward Harod.

"Is that good?"

"Be patient."

Jennifer’s mouth snapped shut.

Eventually, the humming stopped.

The symbols surrounding Jennifer dimmed, leaving only a handful shining brightly beneath her feet.

Harod studied the results.

"Interesting."

Frost sighed.

’Why do people always say that before explaining anything?’

Harod manipulated the interface, causing several words to appear above the platform.

[Primary Affinities Identified]

[Light]

[Life]

[Purification]

A second collection appeared beneath them.

[Secondary Compatibility: Enhancement, Barrier, Restoration]

Jennifer stared upward.

"Light, Life, and Purification..."

"Yes." Harod looked genuinely impressed. "You possess three strong primary affinities with considerable compatibility between them."

Jennifer turned toward him.

"What does that mean?"

"It means you have options."

Harod enlarged the results.

"Your affinities are particularly well suited toward support and healing disciplines. Life naturally possesses countless restorative applications. Light is considerably broader than most inexperienced Evolvers assume, while Purification has applications against toxins, diseases, curses, corruptive energies, and various hostile effects."

Frost’s eyebrows rose.

’That’s actually ridiculously useful.’

"And because your secondary compatibility includes Enhancement and Barrier Runes," Harod continued, "you could potentially develop into a highly capable Support Evolver rather than specialising purely in healing."

Jennifer frowned slightly.

"So I’m basically the healer?"

"No." Harod’s response came immediately. "Do not make the mistake of treating affinities as professions."

Jennifer blinked.

"An affinity tells us what kinds of Runes your Soul Script is naturally receptive toward. It does not dictate which Runes you must learn, nor does it prevent you from learning others."

He pointed toward the three primary affinities.

"You could pursue healing. You could become a combat-oriented Light Evolver. You could specialise in barriers, enhancement, purification, or combine several disciplines if your capabilities permit it."

Harod paused.

"Your affinities open doors. They do not choose which door you walk through."

Jennifer slowly nodded.

Frost liked that explanation.

It also made this considerably more complicated than simply being assigned some convenient class.

They would actually have to build their own paths.

Jennifer stepped down, and Naomi immediately approached her.

"Eight-Star and three affinities?"

Jennifer gave an awkward smile.

"I don’t know if three is unusual yet."

"It is," Harod said. "Next."

Lois was called forward, and she nervously stepped onto the platform.

The machinery activated as Harod watched the readings. His eyebrows rose.

"Hm."

Lois stiffened.

"What?"

Harod didn’t answer immediately. Eventually, three results appeared.

[Primary Affinities Identified]

[Shadow]

[Spirit]

Beneath them came another result.

[Secondary Compatibility: Concealment, Perception, Binding]

Frost stared.

’Shadow and Spirit?’ That sounded considerably more ominous than Jennifer’s.

Lois herself looked concerned.

"Is... that bad?"

"No." Harod gave her a strange look. "Why would it be bad?"

"I don’t know. Shadow doesn’t exactly sound... good."

"Runes do not possess morality."

Harod folded his arms behind his back.

"A Flame Rune can warm a freezing child or burn them alive. Life Runes can heal flesh, manipulate biological processes, or be used in ways I doubt you would find pleasant. Shadow is no different."

Lois seemed slightly reassured.

"Your affinities lend themselves particularly well toward reconnaissance, stealth, control, and certain forms of spiritual manipulation. Depending on which Runes you eventually acquire, you could develop into an excellent Scout, Controller, or specialised combat Evolver."

Jason frowned.

"What does Spirit do?"

"Far too much for me to summarise in one sentence."

Harod’s answer made Frost snort quietly.

"The term encompasses interactions involving souls, astral bodies, spiritual energy, incorporeal entities, and numerous related phenomena. She’ll learn more if she chooses to pursue it."

Lois stepped down, staring thoughtfully at her hands.

Frost watched her for a moment.

Seven-Star, shadow, and Spirit affinities. The quiet girl was turning out considerably more interesting than he’d expected.

Naomi went next.

Her results appeared considerably faster.

[Primary Affinities Identified]

[Wind]

[Body]

[Secondary Compatibility: Speed, Enhancement, Impact]

Naomi’s face immediately brightened.

"Oh, I like that."

Harod nodded.

"Unsurprising."

"What does that mean?"

"You mentioned during registration that you were an athlete."

Naomi blinked.

"Oh."

"Your body is already conditioned toward physical activity. That does not create an affinity, but it may make certain paths easier for you to adapt to."

Frost nodded to himself.

’Yeah. That fits almost suspiciously well.’

"Depending on your Rune choices," Harod continued, "you may be suited toward a high-mobility combat path, possibly as a Striker, Scout, or Berserker variant."

Naomi grinned.

"Definitely sounds better than healing."

Jennifer gave her a look.

"What’s wrong with healing?"

"Nothing. I just want to hit things."

Frost snorted.

"Honest, at least."

Adam followed.

[Primary Affinities Identified]

[Earth]

[Metal]

[Secondary Compatibility: Barrier, Reinforcement, Weight]

Harod barely needed to explain before everyone understood the obvious direction.

"Tanker?" Adam asked.

"Potentially."

Adam nodded, seemingly satisfied.

Ryder was next.

[Primary Affinities Identified]

[Fire]

[Secondary Compatibility: Heat, Explosion, Enhancement]

Ryder’s grin became enormous.

"Oh, fuck yes."

Harod looked at him.

"Control your excitement."

"Sorry."

He wasn’t sorry.

Frost could see it all over his face.

Ryder stepped down, looking happier than anyone had any right to be after learning they possessed the potential to create explosions.

Cassie followed.

[Primary Affinities Identified]

[Water]

[Secondary Compatibility: Ice, Flow, Perception]

Cassie studied the result.

"Water."

"You sound disappointed," Naomi said.

"No. Just thinking."

Harod nodded.

"As you should. Water possesses enormous versatility. Do not underestimate an affinity simply because it sounds mundane."

Next up came the two Two-Star talents. No one really expected anything from them at this point.

Their affinities were relatively ordinary, at least according to Harod.

One possessed a weak Earth affinity with Reinforcement compatibility.

The other possessed Wind with minor Perception compatibility.

Harod nevertheless reiterated that neither result prevented them from pursuing Evolution.

Their progress would simply be considerably more difficult, and they would likely have to specialise carefully rather than spreading their efforts across multiple disciplines.

Jason stepped onto the platform next.

’Alright, pretty boy. Let’s see what bullshit you get.’

The formation activated, and several symbols lit beneath Jason’s feet.

[Primary Affinities Identified]

[Lightning]

[Body]

’Oh, come the fuck on.’

[Secondary Compatibility: Speed, Enhancement, Destruction]

Jason stared at the results, with a thoroughly irritating, self-satisfied smile on his face.

Harod nodded.

"Excellent affinities for direct combat. Combined with your Seven-Star talent, you have considerable potential as a Striker or Berserker-type Evolver."

Jason glanced toward Frost.

Frost looked away.

"Lucky bastard..."

"What was that?" Jason asked.

"Nothing."

Finally, it was Frost’s turn. His irritation vanished remarkably quickly. He walked toward the platform and stepped into the centre.

’I hope I get something decent at least!’

Frost looked down as the circular formation illuminated beneath his feet.

The machinery hummed as light travelled across his body; symbols began rapidly appearing around him.

A few seconds passed.

Harod leaned closer to the interface. Another few seconds passed, and Harod hadn’t said anything.

Frost frowned.

"Is something wrong?"

Harod didn’t answer.

Frost’s stomach lurched.

’Don’t tell me I have no affinity!’

After getting perfectly average Five-Star talent, that would just be cruel! The machine chimed, and a result appeared.

[Primary Affinities Identified]

[None]

"..."

Jason made a noise behind him that sounded suspiciously like a laugh.

Frost slowly closed his eyes.

’Well... Shit!’