Chương 246: Unholy

My fingers twitched, already preparing to end this life before they could capture and torture me.

"Unholy?" Lady Laelyn's voice broke the stunned silence.

"Elder Sorrin, what exactly do you mean? Tomas saved my life. There is nothing unholy about him." The elder's face twisted with something between pity and disgust.

"I am not questioning his actions, Lady Vareyn. I am stating a simple fact: this boy has no connection to the Blue Sun whatsoever. He is..." he paused, searching for a more diplomatic word, "... mundane. Untouched by its grace." Relief flooded through me so powerfully I nearly staggered. Not exposed as a Skybound, merely identified as lacking a connection to the blue sun. I carefully regulated my breathing, forcing my racing heart to slow.

"Is that truly so unusual?" Lady Laelyn pressed.

"He's a village boy from Porvale, not a noble."

"It is not about social standing," Elder Sorrin replied.

"It is about purity of essence. The Academy permits entry only to those blessed by the First Light, regardless of their station. This has been our way since the founding." I kept my eyes downcast, the picture of humble confusion, while my mind worked furiously. The disgust in the elder's voice when he called me "unholy" was quite surprising.

In this world, as I had gradually come to understand, most people existed in a neutral state, neither touched by the red sun's volatile energy nor blessed by the blue sun's 'purifying' light. They lived ordinary lives, farming, trading, raising families, neither cultivating nor manifesting special abilities. Only a small percentage were born with or developed a natural resonance with either sun.

Those with blue sun affinity often became Lightweavers if they had sufficient talent, while those with red sun resonance typically joined the Skybound, willingly or otherwise. The vast majority of the population remained untouched by either. Which was precisely what the Genesis Seed was trying to mimic, a mundane human presence, unremarkable to cultivation senses. And now that very camouflage had become a liability.

"I mean no disrespect, my lady," the elder continued, "but Academy law is absolute on this matter. No one without Blue Sun resonance may pass beyond these gates. It is for the protection of both the Order and the individual, the concentrated energies within can be harmful to those not naturally attuned." Lady Laelyn's brow furrowed.

"I understand the rule, Elder, but surely exceptions—""There are no exceptions," he interrupted firmly.

"Not even for the companions of Saintess candidates." Beric placed a restraining hand on Lady Laelyn's arm.

"My lady, it is tradition. We must respect it." I considered my options, running calculations on risk versus reward. I could release a hint of the blue sun energy stored within my inner world, manifesting just enough resonance to satisfy their requirements. But no. That would be disastrous. If a Rank 7 Lightweaver had just scanned me and found no trace of blue sun resonance, suddenly manifesting such energy would raise immediate suspicion.

It would suggest I possessed the ability to conceal my nature from one of their most powerful elders, a far more dangerous revelation than simply being turned away. Better to accept exclusion than risk exposure. There must be some other way.

"Elder Sorrin." Lady Laelyn's voice cut through the tension.

"With all due respect to your technique, shouldn't we administer the official test for Blue Sun resonance? The Cerulean Orb would provide definitive results." The elder's eyes widened slightly.

"My diagnostic technique has served the Order faithfully for centuries, Lady Vareyn."

"Of course," she said smoothly, "and I would never question its efficacy. But you yourself have often taught that the Cerulean Orb reveals subtleties that even the most refined techniques might miss. Some affinities manifest uniquely, especially in untrained individuals." Elder Sorrin's brow furrowed, clearly surprised by her knowledge of his teachings. He stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"While my technique isn't as comprehensive as the official test, it is still highly accurate for detecting even the faintest resonance."

"Yes, but not completely accurate," Lady Laelyn pressed gently.

"My grandmother often mentioned cases of latent resonance that remained undetectable until formally tested." The elder's eyes lingered on Lady Laelyn for a long moment before he turned his penetrating gaze back to me.

"Very well. What say you, boy? Do you wish to undergo the formal testing?" Inwardly, I thanked Lady Laelyn's quick thinking. Coming from her, the request appeared as nothing more than compassionate concern for a loyal servant. It gave me a perfect opportunity to "discover" my supposed resonance with the blue sun during an official test, without arousing the suspicion that would have come from contradicting the elder's initial assessment.

"I would be honored by the opportunity, Honored Elder," I bowed.

"Though I don't wish to cause inconvenience." Elder Sorrin sighed, then gestured to one of the blue-robed figures flanking the gates.

"Bring forth the testing apparatus. We shall settle this matter properly." The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The Lightweaver bowed and disappeared through the crystal gates. A murmur rippled through the assembled group: servants exchanging glances, guards shifting uneasily, the Lightweavers watching with renewed interest. While we waited, I kept my head bowed, but my mind raced with preparations.

I would need to time this perfectly, initially showing no reaction, then gradually releasing just enough blue sun energy from my inner world to demonstrate sufficient resonance for entry, but not so much as to make myself a center of attention.

"This is exceedingly risky," Azure's voice echoed in my mind.

"If you miscalculate..."

"I know," I responded silently.

"But what choice do we have? I am one step away from entering the academy. Everything this iteration has been building up to comes down to this, I can't give up now."

"Just be cautious with how much energy you release," Azure warned.

"Remember, most initiates would show moderate resonance at best. Too strong a reaction will create more problems than it solves." The Lightweaver returned carrying a wooden box inlaid with blue crystal. He placed it carefully on a small stone pedestal that another Lightweaver had prepared, then opened the lid. Inside, nestled on a cushion of midnight-blue velvet, sat a perfect sphere of what appeared to be crystal or glass.

It was approximately the size of a small melon, transparent yet somehow containing swirls of the palest blue, like captured mist.

"The Cerulean Orb," Elder Sorrin announced, his voice taking on a reverent quality.

"Crafted from the tears of the first Saintess and infused with pure Blue Sun essence. It responds to even the faintest resonance with the First Light." He gestured for me to approach.

"Place your hand upon the orb, boy. If there is any connection between you and the Blue Sun, however small, the orb will reveal it." I stepped forward, conscious of every eye upon me. Lady Laelyn gave me an encouraging nod, while Beric watched with narrowed eyes.

"The test is simple," Elder Sorrin continued.

"Place your palm flat against the orb's surface. Allow your mind to clear. Make no attempt to influence the outcome, the orb responds only to natural resonance, not forced manipulation." This last bit was delivered with a warning glance, as if he suspected I might try to cheat somehow. If he only knew. I positioned myself before the pedestal, took a deep breath to center myself, and slowly extended my hand toward the orb.

Its surface looked cool and smooth, but as my fingers approached, I felt a strange tingling sensation, like the air before a lightning strike.

"Proceed," the elder commanded. I placed my palm flat against the orb. Nothing happened. The orb remained clear, its misty swirls continuing their lazy dance within the crystalline sphere. Elder Sorrin's expression shifted to something between satisfaction and pity.

"As I suspected," he began.

"The boy has no—" In that moment, I carefully, deliberately shifted the balance in my inner world. The Genesis Seed at the center had been shielding my blue sun resonance, keeping it hidden from detection. Now, I allowed a portion of that energy to emerge from behind that shield, not a flood, but a controlled trickle. The orb beneath my palm suddenly pulsed with light. A gasp went up from the assembled crowd as the once-transparent sphere began to glow with a steadily intensifying blue radiance.

The misty swirls within accelerated, forming intricate patterns that spiraled outward from where my hand touched the surface. I maintained my expression of shock and confusion, as if this reaction was as surprising to me as it was to everyone else. But inwardly, I monitored the energy flow carefully, intending to release just enough to permit entry without drawing excessive attention. Then something unexpected happened.

The orb seemed to recognize the blue sun energy within me and began to draw on it, not just accepting what I offered, but actively pulling more from my inner world. It was like opening a small hole in a dam only to have the pressure widen the breach. I gasped, genuinely startled. The orb's glow intensified rapidly, the blue light becoming so bright that it illuminated my face from below. The crystal began to sing, a high, clear tone that rose in pitch as the illumination increased.

Threads of blue light extended from the orb, wrapping around my fingers and wrist like luminous vines. I tried to withdraw my hand and cut off the flow, but the orb held me fast, continuing to pull blue sun essence. It was like being caught in a whirlpool, my careful control rendered useless against the orb's hunger. Elder Sorrin's face drained of color.

"Impossible," he whispered, the word barely audible over the orb's crystalline song. Finally, after what felt like an eternity but was likely only seconds, the orb seemed satisfied. The light began to recede, the singing faded, and the threads released their grip on my arm, allowing me to step back from the pedestal. A profound silence fell over the gathering. Elder Sorrin stared at me as if seeing me for the first time.

"In hundreds of years of administering this test, I have never..." he trailed off, then gathered himself.

"How could such strong resonance escape my detection technique?" I lowered my eyes, playing the part of the confused village boy.

"I don't understand what just happened, Honored Elder."

"What happened," he said slowly, "is that you demonstrated Blue Sun resonance of exceptional strength, the kind typically seen only in those born with the Cerulean Vein, like Lady Laelyn." Beric stepped forward, his hand resting meaningfully on his sword hilt.

"Or the kind seen in someone deliberately concealing their nature." His eyes bored into mine.

"Was it all an act? Did you deliberately insinuate yourself into Lady Laelyn's company, knowing she was bound for the Saintess selection?" The implication was clear, he suspected me of being a rival candidate who had engineered our meeting to gain some advantage. In a way, his suspicion was a relief; far better for him to think me an ambitious schemer than a Skybound. I shook my head vigorously.

"No, Captain Beric! I swear on my parents' graves; I had no idea. In my village, no one ever tested for sun resonance. We were just... people. Farmers. Millers. Merchants."

"Then how do you explain—" Beric began.

"Actually," Lady Laelyn interrupted, "this explains quite a lot." She moved to stand beside me, her presence a shield against Beric's suspicion.

"His survival when the rest of his village perished. His intuitive warning that saved me from the first assassination attempt. The strange circumstances of our meeting." She turned to Elder Sorrin.

"These are the hallmarks of untrained resonance, are they not? Instinctive manifestations in moments of danger?" The elder nodded slowly.

"It is not uncommon for those with natural affinity to unconsciously draw upon the Blue Sun's protection, especially in life-threatening situations." His suspicious gaze had not entirely dissipated, but curiosity was beginning to replace it.

"Though resonance this strong typically manifests more... obviously."

"Perhaps the trauma of witnessing his village's destruction affected his connection," Lady Laelyn suggested.

"Grandmother spoke of cases where shock temporarily suppressed resonance." I seized upon this explanation eagerly.

"The raiders, when they came, I saw terrible things. Sometimes I still see them when I close my eyes." Elder Sorrin studied me for another long moment before sighing deeply.

"It appears we have found ourselves an unusual situation indeed." He straightened, his formal demeanor returning.

"Regardless of how or why your resonance manifested as it did, the Cerulean Orb's judgment is final. You are permitted to enter the Blue Sun Academy." Relief washed through me, but it was quickly tempered by his next words.

"Furthermore," the elder continued, "given the exceptional strength of your resonance, protocol demands that you be registered not as a servant..." he paused, his glowing eyes fixed on me, "... but as a candidate."

"A candidate?" several voices echoed at once.

"For what position?" I asked, though I already feared the answer.

"For Lightweaver initiate, at minimum," Elder Sorrin replied.

"And potentially, given your level of resonance..." he glanced at Lady Laelyn, his expression unreadable, "... for the position of Saint."