“Hup! Hup! Hup!” Kori was in his yard, practicing his sword. His personal trainer, Gabriel Williams, had assigned him 950 sword swings. “Higher! Faster!” he says.

”Yessir!” After just a few more swings, his arms felt like lead, just about to fall right out.

“Alright that’s enough! Hyoga! I’ll be expecting 1000 swings tomorrow at least!” Gabriel left the yard with no other words to say, no farewell. He's been like this for the 7 years he’s trained Kori.

Kori gripped his magical gloves. Just one year after he had awakened his curse… For that year Kori had been taking regular visits to Dr. Hamilton.

He gave him these magical gloves on the first visit. He personally enchanted it to suppress magical powers, but it froze as soon as he put it on. The same thing happened the next day, and the next, and the next.

The gloves Kori had on now had 27 enchantments on it, laced with iron, a common magic conducting element, and could probably go for at least 1 gold coin.

1 gold coin was worth about 100 silver coins, or 10,000 copper coins. Kori's house was worth 4 gold coins for comparison.

Good thing Dr. Hamilton was nice and rich enough already that he only charged 10 silvers. However, it was still quite expensive.

Ever since then he’s never been allowed to take off these gloves. Not when he bathes, not when he sleeps, not when he was training with Gabriel. Dr. Hamilton even has to wash his hands with magic since water would just freeze as soon as his fingers so much as grazed them.

That's how potent and strong Kori's curse was. And even to this day he still doesn’t know who cursed him or how he was cursed in the first place.

Curses can be removed with dispelling magic or killing the caster. If the caster no longer has the intention to curse you then the curse won’t take effect.

After washing himself of his sweat after training, he went to go see Elizabeth. She was currently in training for medicine so she can take over the family business.

As Kori arrived at the Hamilton house, he took in the scene. The house was bigger than before, housing more medicine, magic stones, catalysts than he could ever imagine.

Because of this, merchant have started visiting this poor town more often, and causing the town to prosper. Gabriel himself was a retired soldier from the Imperial Capital.

Kori knocked on the glamorous door with the heavy door knocker. It was so loud Kori thought it would break the door.

Their butler James opened it and greeted him. “Good morning Master Kori. I assume you’re looking for Lady Elizabeth?” “Yeah, tell her I want to take the Elemental Affinity Test with her. And thanks, as always James.” “It is my pleasure.”

The Elemental Affinity Test was just what it sounded like. Children of age 16 are eligible to take that test that shows what of 12 elements they are compatible with.

The 12 elements are, Water, Earth, Wind, Fire, Ice, Lightning, Dark, Light, Psychic, and the 3 Elements of Existence, Time, Space, and Creation. They say there are gods and goddesses governing each of these elements and they bless humans with magic.

Some people, however, have more than one affinity. 60% of the population had one affinity, 20% had two, 15% had three, and 5% had four.

But there are exceptions. The affinities you were born with are obviously the strongest, but with enough training and patience, other gods can grant their blessings.

People with multiple elements also have one distinct advantage. With enough control, they can combine elements, resulting in almost 770 billion possible different combinations of elements, assuming they had all 12 elements and are able to combine all 12 at once

“Kori!” Elizabeth’s beautiful voice snapped Kori back into reality.

“Good morning Lady Elizabeth. How are you this fine morning?”

Elizabeth giggled as she said, “Kori~ I told you not to call me that! Just Elizabeth is fine.”

“Fine, then don’t call me cold for killing a two-tailed squirrel.”

“NEVER! That little Beast was so cute! And you mercilessly killed it for stealing your Moonflower seeds!” They both busted out laughing from the memory. “Anyways, my butler tells me you want to take the Elemental Affinity Test.”

“Correct. Do your parents know about this?” “Yep.”

“Perfect. Shall we get going then?”

“Of course.”

Kori and Elizabeth were on their way to the Great Church. The Great Church worships all twelve gods and goddesses that govern the 12 elements.

The Great Church was even bigger, taller, and radiant than Elizabeth’s house. As the two of them opened the massive door, Elizabeth exclaimed, “Kori look! It’s the Twelve Gods of the Elements!” In front of us were 12 massive statues, each depicting an Elemental God.

Luvenalis, the God of Earth, Zephyr, the God of Wind, Anala, the Goddess of Fire, Diondra, the Goddess of Water, Lusamine, the Goddess of Light, Markandeya, the God of Darkness, Damini, the God of Lightning, Millicent, the Psychic Goddess, Eira, the Goddess of Ice.

Then three even larger statues that depicted the Three Great Gods of Existence. Athaliah, the Goddess of Time, Alduin, the God of Space, and finally, Akean, the God of Creation.

The High Priest of the Church welcomed us. “Welcome my fellow children. Here for the Elemental Affinity Test I presume?”

Kori answered, “Yes. We would both like to take the test. And yes, we are 16.”

“Then follow me.” The priest led us to a small blue sphere, floating above a pedestal at the center of the statues. “This here is a precise Magic Detector. It will detect traces of magic within you and determine the potential and the type. Just hover your hand above the ball. Oh, and one at a time.”

“Elizabeth, you want to go first?”

Elizabeth shyly answered, “Ehm, yeah sure. Let’s do this.”

“Whoever has more magic or affinities buys the other dinner!”

“Deal.” As Elizabeth stretched out her arms above the ball, the ball responded. It started glowing, all kinds of colors. Then it shined a bright light, displaying Elizabeth’s affinities.

She was compatible with Earth, Water… and Light. Three affinities. As expected from the Hamilton family‘s long line of healers.

The Light element can provide moderate healing, but when combined with Water and Earth, it becomes much more potent.

It was Kori's turn now. Kori took off his magic suppressing gloves, ready for the test. He had gotten permission to take it off during the test from Dr. Hamilton.

Elizabeth already had a beaming triumphant smile on her face. Looks like he’s buying dinner tonight. Kori walked up to the pedestal and hovered his hand over the ball. Just like with Elizabeth’s, it started shining a multitude of colors. Then a blinding light hit, and Kori's affinities were up for display.