Chapter 73: Different

Before Mark can elaborate further, a sharp voice interrupts him from the back row. “What is the long answer?”

​Everyone in the classroom turns to look at the student from the East, who meets Mark’s gaze directly before continuing, “You told us that was the short answer. I want to know the long one.”

​Mark stares at him for a long moment, the quiet in the room growing heavy before a slight smile returns to his face.

​“The actual nature of affinity is one of the greatest research topics and fierce debates among mages, and has been for thousands of years,” Mark says, placing his hands on the lectern. “However, if there is one fundamental truth that every archmage and scholar agrees on, it is this: an affinity is not merely a biological trait. It is a harmonious agreement between your will, your body, your soul, and the world itself.”

“Now, the lecture ends right here,” Mark says, scanning the quiet classroom. “If anyone has any remaining questions, you may ask them now.”

​After a tense moment, Tye slowly stands up. His hands are clenched tightly at his sides, and a nervous, conflicted look darkens his face.

​“I want to know... if having a single affinity is a problem,” Tye asks, his voice barely cutting through the silence.

​Mark looks at him, pausing for a moment as a thoughtful expression softens his features. “You awakened with an Earth affinity, right?”

​Tye nods silently in agreement.

​“Tye, an affinity is an affinity,” Mark replies gently, his tone firm and reassuring. “It doesn't matter which one you have or how many you possess. What truly matters is what you choose to do with it. After all, 'there are no weak affinities, only weak mages'—those are not empty words spoken to comfort you. It is a historical truth, proven time and time again by the deeds of the mages who came before you.”

After a brief moment, Mark replies, looking straight at students. “From now on, spend at least an hour every evening meditating until it works. I won't give you a specific method or technique, because the path is different for everyone. My only advice is to stop looking outward and try to look deep inside yourself.”

​Edward raises a hand, his brow furrowing. “How will we know when it actually works?”

​Mark smiles, a subtle, knowing glint in his eyes. “Believe me... you will find out.”

In the evening, William decides to sit alone in his room, eliminating all distractions to attempt meditation.

​So I need to close my eyes, clear my mind, and concentrate, he thinks to himself, crossing his legs on the floor.

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​He sits in stillness, but after a short while, his focus begins to falter. What am I actually supposed to concentrate on? And what does 'looking inside yourself' even mean?

​William wrestles with the meditation for a full hour before giving up. Deciding he has had enough of sitting motionless in a quiet room, he steps outside to join the rest of the students on the training grounds. It seems many of his peers have grown equally frustrated and restless, gathering to burn off energy with their regular physical workouts.

​After sweating through more than an hour of intense physical exercise, William feels both mentally and physically spent. Following a quick dinner, he retreats straight to his bed, completely bypassing Caleb—who is currently embroiled in yet another petty argument with Arya. Drained to the bone, William collapses onto his mattress and immediately drifts off into a heavy sleep.

The next morning, the students head into the classroom, but this time Mark is already present, waiting for them at the front.

​Once everyone takes a seat, Mark waits a brief moment before asking, “How many among you have a Fire affinity?”

​Out of the whole cohort, five students raise their hands—including Caleb and Arya.

​Mark nods, examining them. “So, all five of you share the exact same Fire affinity, correct?”

​Despite a slight hesitation from a few, all five nod in agreement.

​Mark smiles, a knowing look in his eyes. “That is where you are completely wrong.”

“As I told you yesterday, affinity is one of the most thoroughly studied topics among mages,” Mark says, pacing slowly across the front of the room. “And if we hold to the principle that an affinity is a harmonious agreement between will, soul, body, and the world—well, every single person’s will, body, and soul are inherently unique. So how could two people ever have the exact same affinity?”

​Mark pauses, scanning the five raised hands before pointing toward one of the boys who had raised his.

​“Tell the class: what did you feel during the Soul Shock Ceremony?” Mark asks. “And what did you do before arriving at the academy?”

​The student fidgets nervously under the gaze of the entire room before standing up. “I... I felt intense, suffocating heat during the ceremony,” he admits, swallowing hard. “It felt like I was literally going to melt. Before coming here, I worked as a cleaner in the capital forge where my father is a blacksmith.”

​Mark nods and turns his gaze to another student—a young girl sitting near the middle row.

​She stands up before Mark even asks, her voice quiet but steady. “I felt a soft, gentle warmth—like a hearth fire that wiped away the cold. My family owns a roadside inn, and I helped run the hearth and handle odd jobs.”

​“Do you see?” Mark says, gesturing between the two students. “Both of them manifested a Fire affinity, yet their lived experience of fire couldn't be more different. For one, fire is a destructive, intense heat capable of melting iron. For the other, fire is a gentle comfort that drives away the winter chill and restores warmth.”

​Mark turns to the chalkboard, placing his hands on the lectern.

​“The first will naturally manifest flames capable of raw destruction and searing heat. The second will manifest flames attuned to purging poisons, soothing exhaustion, and mending harm. It works the exact same way for every element. To one mage, Wind is a soft morning breeze that relieves fatigue. To another, Wind is a roaring gale that uproots trees and tears down stone houses. Your magic relies entirely on your personal comprehension of your affinity. And that comprehension is not static—as your understanding deepens and evolves over time, your magic will change along with it.” Mark scans the room once more before concluding, “And that very diversity in personal comprehension... is the source of secondary affinities.”