The carriage jolted over the final ridge, wheels grinding against frost rimed stone with a sound like crunching ice. Fin pressed his face to the window, breath creating ghostly patterns on the glass, his unruly black hair tumbling into eyes that widened at the sight before him. Mount Veyra dominated the horizon, a titan of gray rock laced with quartz veins that caught the earliest hint of winter sunlight and fractured in into countless prismatic shards.
Haven Academy clung to the cliffside like a magnificent parasite, its towers and spires piercing the low-hanging clouds, architecture defying both gravity and conversational wisdom. Stone arches curved impossibly, supporting structures that seemed to float against the mountain face. Windows glinted like dragon eyes, watching, evaluating all who approached.
Below, the town of Havenhol sprawled across the valley floor, slate roofs and chimney smoke creating a patchwork of gray and white. But Fin’s gaze remained locked on the cliffs themselves, where something resonated with the mana in his chest, a distant harmony that made his core pulse with anticipation.
Seven days of mud-slicked roads, relentless rain, and endlessly creaking axles had frayed his patience to gossamer thinness. The journey west had been beautiful at first, autumn-painted forests and rolling hills, but the novelty had worn off by the third day of constant travel. Now, finally seeing their destination, Fin felt his exhaustion giving way to a nervous energy that made his fingers tap restlessly against his knee.
Cahira sat opposite him, her traveling cloak pulled tight around her shoulders, brown eyes tracking his every expression with the precision of a master cartographer. The journey had barely touched her, no matter how rough the roads or how poor their accommodations, she maintained a composed dignity that Fin secretly envied.
Donovan occupied the seat beside Fin, his broad-shouldered frame making the carriage seem smaller. The benefits of Tier Four cultivation kept him sharp and vital, his weathered face betraying only a fraction of his true age.
"Slow down, Marrel," Donovan called to their driver as the carriage joined a flood of others, hundreds of vehicles clogging the winding path that led to the academy gates. All around them, horses stamped impatiently, voices clashed in a cacophony of languages and dialects, and trunks thudded against cobblestones as families spilled into the courtyard ahead.
Cahira leaned forward, her voice dropping to a whisper despite the noise outside. Her eyes, normally warm, held a steely intensity that Fin had come to recognize as her most serious expression.
"Fin, initiation's today. The Resonance Orb will test your affinities, just like when you were seven. Keep Lightning at high level, exactly as we logged it. Don't let it show Embodied. Not here. Not now."
Fin brushed a lock of hair from his eyes, a familiar frown creasing his brow. "It takes focus to throttle it back like that. Especially when it's drawn out directly."
"It has to be done," Donovan said, his voice firm but not unkind. He leaned forward, elbows on knees, gaze steady. "We all swore an oath, me, Cahira, Marian, to hide that Embodied level. People would study you, use you, if they knew how deeply Lightning runs in your veins. Three high affinities are rare enough to draw attention, play it safe."
Fin's fingers unconsciously grazed the hilt of his tantō, the blade fashioned from black chitin. At seven, the Resonance Orb had revealed his natural affinities, Lightning, Fusion, Transfer, all officially logged as "high" by Marian under Donovan's strict orders. Three high affinities stood out clearly from the norm, most cultivators had one, some fortunate few had two, but Lightning's Embodied depth could draw a dangerous kind of attention, so they'd buried the truth beneath layers of paperwork and careful misdirection.
The Orb would glow again today, limiting Lightning to merely "high" meant choking its full spark mid-test, maintaining a tight leash on power that naturally wanted to surge forth. His core thrummed in response to the thought, Convergent Equilibrium holding steady at Level 10, balancing the flood of energy within like a perfectly calibrated dam.
The carriage halted with a final jolt, horses snorting clouds of steam into the chilly air as their driver shouted commands that were immediately swallowed by the ambient noise. Donovan straightened his travel-worn jacket, voice dry with understated humor.
"Haven's always been chaos, let's move before we're trampled."
Cahira adjusted her cloak, the outline of her concealed dagger visible only to those who knew to look for it, and pushed the carriage door open. Cold air bit through the opening like a hungry animal, sharp with the scents of pine, stone, and mountain snow.
Fin stepped out, boots crunching frost-covered gravel, satchel slung over his shoulder. The courtyard stretched before him, a vast expanse of cobbled stone framed by ornate arches, mana lamps flickering with cool blue light along the walls. Hundreds of people swarmed the space, kids towering over Fin, parents hauling gear, teachers directing traffic, voices blending into a tangled roar that echoed off the cliff face behind them.
A girl with elaborate braids, perhaps fifteen, gripped a wooden staff inlaid with copper, her father barking instructions that she pointedly ignored. Two boys, taller and broader than Fin would likely ever be, wrestled with a massive crate whose contents rattled ominously, their mother snapping directions with military precision. Fin's breath hitched slightly, at thirteen, he was clearly the youngest here, two full years shy of Haven's usual starting age.
Cahira nudged him forward, Donovan hefting their trunk with effortless strength. They wove through the crowd, Fin's tantō tapping rhythmically against his thigh with each step, his messy black hair catching the mountain breeze. Equilibrium hummed beneath his skin, calming his pulse as mana brushed against his senses, raw, wild, but perfectly even, just as the stories claimed. No element dominated here; the balance was pristine.
Eyes turned as they passed, parents whispering behind cupped hands, kids staring with open curiosity or veiled hostility. As the youngest by far, Fin stood out like a spark in the gloom, his presence drawing attention whether he wanted it or not.
Near an ornately carved arch, a sharp laugh cut through the ambient noise, taunting, calculated to carry. Five third-year students lounged against the wall, their cloaks adorned with silver stars denoting their rank, weapons gleaming with the polish of regular use rather than mere display. One figure stood out from the group: tall, wiry, dark hair swept back from a narrow face, a longsword slung loosely across his back, Gregory Northwell, seventeen now and clearly not having forgotten his humiliation.
Fin recognized him instantly from that sparring match a few years back when, despite the age difference, Fin had floored him cold in front of witnesses. Gregory's crew, two girls with identical sneers, two boys with the bulky builds of pure physical cultivators, snickered as he pointed across the courtyard, making no attempt to lower his voice.
"Look, it's Kilian Aodh's little runt!" Gregory called, loud enough to be heard but safely positioned behind his friends. His smirk revealed perfect teeth, no doubt healed and straightened through expensive cultivation techniques. "What is he, ten? Bet he begged his way in!"
A blonde girl with a rapier chuckled, twirling a strand of hair around her finger while a stocky boy with a spiked mace nudged her, both enjoying the spectacle. Gregory's eyes flicked toward Cahira, registering her proximity and likely sensing the Tier that made her a silent wall between him and his target, but he stayed put, weasel grin fixed in place.
Donovan turned his head slightly, fixing the boy with a flat stare that contained multitudes of unspoken threats. The weight of a Tier Four's attention, even briefly applied, was enough to make Gregory's smile falter, his posture shifting subtly from aggressive to defensive in a heartbeat. The rest of his group shying away from the boy.
Fin glanced over, keeping his face deliberately blank. Equilibrium steadied him as mana flared in response to the provocation, but he held it in check, a distant part of him noting how much easier this control had become over the past two years. Cahira's hand tightened on his shoulder, a gentle reminder of what mattered.
"Northwell's still a coward, won't face you head-on after last time. Focus on what's important: the Orb."
"High Lightning," Fin muttered, nodding once. "Got it."Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
A bell tolled, deep and resonant, its vibrations seeming to shake the very stone beneath their feet. The crowd parted like water before a blade, a platform rising smoothly from the cliff face, mana lamps flaring to brilliant life around its perimeter. A figure stepped onto the raised dais, tall and lean, with gray hair cropped close to the skull, robes dark as midnight with intricate silver trim along the hems. Headmaster Elijah Torin's presence hushed the din instantly, his piercing gaze cutting through the crowd like a physical force.
"Welcome," Elijah said, his voice mana-laced and carrying clearly to every corner of the vast courtyard without seeming to shout. "Haven Academy stands as a crucible of perfect balance, mana bends to no one's natural favor here. You've come by promise or by belief. Today will prove which is justified. Royal, noble, or commoner. Doesn’t matter. Your name means absolutely nothing here."
Fin's core pulsed in response, Equilibrium humming as Elijah's words struck home. The hundreds gathered in the courtyard grew still, parents standing straighter with pride, prospective students tensing with anticipation. Even Gregory's group had fallen silent, their presence fading under the weight of the headmaster's presence.
"First frost marks your arrival," Elijah continued, his tone neither warm nor cold, but precise as a surgeon's blade, "and also marks your initiation. Entrance testing begins now, affinities, core strength, skills, all will be measured and judged without sentiment or favoritism. The Resonance Orb begins the process, as always; the remainder of the tests shift yearly." A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "Can't have your older siblings spoiling the surprise, now, can we? Pass, and you stay. Fail, and you leave. There are no exceptions, no appeals, no second chances."
Murmurs broke out across the courtyard, nervous, edged with tension. The braided girl gripped her staff tighter, knuckles whitening; the boys with the crate froze mid-motion, exchanging glances that spoke volumes. Fin's fingers brushed his tantō's hilt in an unconscious gesture of reassurance, his heart kicking against his ribs despite Equilibrium's calming influence. High Lightning, focus hard. His three high affinities were known and documented, it was only Lightning's Embodied edge that remained the secret to be guarded.
Elijah raised a hand, the simple gesture silencing the crowd more effectively than a shout. "To those who remain after testing, Haven offers opportunity, not promises. The cliffs test as we do, in their own way. Prepare yourselves, the testing chambers will open at the next bell." He stepped back, robes swirling around him like liquid shadow, the platform's lights dimming as he departed.
The courtyard surged into motion once more, parents hugging children one last time, voices spiking with final advice and encouragement, footsteps scrambling toward assigned positions. Cahira turned to face Fin directly, her eyes fierce with protective intensity.
"You've got this. Just remember, High Lightning on the Orb, nothing more. Don't let your Embodied affinity show through, no matter what."
Donovan clapped his shoulder, the gesture firm and steady. "Stand tall. You've earned this place."
Fin nodded, satchel suddenly feeling heavy against his back, the tantō solid against his hip. His three high affinities would already mark him as exceptional; the Embodied Lightning would only isolate him further if discovered. Balancing that power during the test would require all his concentration.
The bell tolled again, a deep, final sound that seemed to reverberate through Fin's very bones, calling him forward to meet the cliffs of Haven and whatever fate awaited him there.

As families began separating, parents directed to observation galleries, students herded toward testing chambers, Fin found himself scanning the crowd with growing unease. Most prospective students stood head and shoulders above him, their fifteen and sixteen-year-old frames making his thirteen-year-old body seem childlike by comparison. He straightened his spine, refusing to be diminished by mere height.
"First-years, this way!" called a silver-robed instructor, her voice cutting through the chaos with practiced authority. "Testing groups of twenty! Form lines by the numbered archways!"
Cahira squeezed Fin's shoulder one last time, her expression softening briefly. "Remember everything we practiced. You belong here."
"We'll be watching from the galleries," Donovan added, nodding toward the cliff face where carved stairs led to observation platforms. "Show them what an Aodh can do."
Fin swallowed, nodding. "I will." Then, softer: "Thank you. Both of you."
He turned before either could respond, striding toward the nearest numbered archway with a confidence he didn't entirely feel. The tantō tapped against his leg with each step, a steady reminder of how far he'd come. Two years ago, he'd been a child with potential; now he walked toward Haven's testing chambers as the youngest candidate in recent memory.
The numbered archways led to a series of antechambers carved directly into the cliff face, each large enough to hold twenty students comfortably. Fin found himself in Chamber Three, surrounded by nervous fifteen-year-olds who stared at him with undisguised curiosity or dismissal. He ignored them, finding a stone bench against the wall and sitting with his satchel across his lap, fingers absently tracing the outline of his theoretical cultivation texts through the leather.
"You're Fin Aodh, aren't you?"
The voice came from his left, a tall girl with pink colored hair cut short around a freckled face. She carried a bow across her back, the wood worn with use rather than decoration. Her green eyes studied him with frank interest rather than the mockery he'd expected.
"I am," he replied cautiously, Equilibrium helping him maintain a neutral expression.
“Rebecca,” she offered, extending a calloused hand. “My brother was in the Eastern Reaches two years back. He told me about a kid who took down a bunch of Tier Two ants by himself.” Her eyes flickered to his tantō. "Said the kid made a blade from the boss's leg."
Fin accepted the handshake, noting the strength in her grip. "Your brother exaggerates. I had help."
"Not according to him," Rebecca said with a slight smile. "He said…"
Whatever her brother had said was lost as the antechamber door swung closed with a heavy thud, sealing them inside. The silver-robed instructor stepped forward, hands clasped before her.
"Welcome to Haven," she said, her voice neutral but carrying. "I am Instructor Vera. In moments, you will enter the testing chamber one by one. The Resonance Orb will measure your affinities, both type and strength. This is not a test you can study for or fail; it merely reveals what already exists within you."
Fin's fingers tensed around the strap of his satchel. High Lightning, nothing more. He drew a slow breath, feeling Equilibrium smooth his racing thoughts.
"After affinity testing, you will demonstrate your current skills to a panel of instructors," Vera continued. "Be honest about your capabilities, exaggeration helps no one and is easily discovered. Haven accepts a wide range of talent levels, but deception is grounds for immediate dismissal."
Murmurs rippled through the chamber, students shifting nervously. Fin remained still, eyes forward, mind already rehearsing the careful throttling of his Lightning affinity.
"When your name is called, proceed through the inner door," Vera said, gesturing to a smaller arch on the far wall. "The testing sequence has begun in the other chambers already. We proceed alphabetically." She unfolded a parchment list. "Aodh, Fin."
A ripple of surprise ran through the chamber, whether at his name being first or his obvious youth, Fin couldn't tell. He stood, adjusting the tantō at his hip, and walked toward the inner door without looking back. Rebecca gave him a slight nod as he passed, a silent gesture of acknowledgment.
The inner door swung open at his approach, revealing a circular chamber lit by mana lamps that pulsed with soft blue light. In the center stood a pedestal of polished black stone, and atop it, the Resonance Orb, a perfect sphere of clear crystal that seemed to gather the room's light and concentrate it at its core.
Three instructors stood behind the pedestal, their silver robes marked with varying patterns that likely denoted rank or specialty. The central figure, a woman with steel-gray hair and eyes like flint, gestured toward the Orb.
"Fin Aodh. Approach and place your palm on the Resonance Orb."
Fin moved forward, each step measured and deliberate. His core pulsed with anticipation, Equilibrium working overtime to maintain his balance. As he extended his hand toward the crystal sphere, he focused intensely on the mental exercise Cahira had drilled into him, the careful damming of Lightning's true depth, allowing only a high affinity to shine through.
His palm made contact with the cool surface of the Orb.
The crystal flared to life, light blooming within its depths like a captured sun. Fin felt the pull instantly, the Orb drawing on his affinities, calling forth his elemental resonances one by one. He allowed Fusion to manifest fully, its orange-red glow spiraling through the crystal. Transfer followed, a deep purple light intertwining with the orange-red.
Then came Lightning, blue-white and eager, surging up from his core with the force of a tidal wave. Fin clenched his jaw, focusing hard, building mental barriers as Cahira had taught him. The light brightened, threatening to overwhelm the other colors, then stabilized at precisely the level of a high affinity, no more.
The strain of maintaining that control made sweat bead on his forehead, but Fin held steady, his expression betraying nothing as the three instructors made notes on parchment. The Orb continued to glow for several more seconds, the three colors swirling together in a rare harmony, before gradually fading back to clear crystal.
The central instructor raised an eyebrow, making a final notation. "Three high affinities. Highly unusual."
"Lightning, Fusion, Transfer," the instructor to her left murmured. "Perfectly balanced. Consistent with his records from Allsfern."
Fin withdrew his hand, suppressing a tremor of relief. The secret remained safe, his Embodied Lightning hidden beneath the façade of merely high affinity. His core settled, Equilibrium humming contentedly as pressure eased.
"Proceed to the skill demonstration chamber," the central instructor said, gesturing toward another door that had appeared in the wall. "Your tantō is permitted. Any other weapons or focus items?"
"No, Instructor," Fin replied, voice steady despite the lingering strain.
She nodded once. "Then continue. Your guardians await in the observation gallery."
Fin bowed slightly, then walked toward the indicated door, back straight, tantō tapping against his thigh. The first test was complete, his secret preserved for another day. Now came the demonstration of skills, where he would need to show enough to impress without revealing too much.
As the door swung open before him, revealing a large circular arena ringed with observation balconies, Fin drew a deep breath. Haven's cliffs loomed behind glass walls, mana thrumming in the stone, calling to something deep within his core.
The bell tolled once more, marking his entry into the true testing grounds of Haven Academy.