Acemore Lance POV

I quickly jolted awake and felt a cold breeze surround my body. As I regained consciousness, I began to recollect my thoughts.

“My clothes?” I checked under the covers and noticed I still had my pants on, whereas I had nothing covering my chest. As I inspected my body, I noticed all the injures on my arm had completely vanished, including the pain I felt earlier.

The room was a pale white with a candle-lit chandelier lighting up the entire space. To my left was an empty bed stand, and the door was close to the foot of the bed. The room seemed to be a repurposed space rather than a bedroom.

I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath as I heard a creak from the doorway. “Ace! You’re finally awake!” I opened my eyes to see Martin standing at the doorway; his clothes had changed entirely, and he now wore some black pants and a brown garment covering his chest.

“How long was I out for?” I groaned; my head began to ring in pain as I tried to stand up.

“Only about thirty minutes, I would try to rest your head on the pillow you may have no injures, but you nearly depleted your mana.”

“Right. The fight,” I grumbled as I rested my head on the pillow. 

“Indeed so, I never knew you could use wind Ace.”

“I learned wind magic with my grandfather when I was younger, once I turned fifteen they were easy to apply to actual usage."

“Makes sense, if you were more trained in spell casting, I believe you would’ve easily won the duel,” Martin chuckled as he fixed his spectacles.

I chuckled and brought my hand into my gaze, “Anyways. Did you determine my authority?”

Martin smiled, “You were unconscious seconds after the physical test. I wanted to let you rest up a little bit before we continued.”

“I’ve rested so we can continue,” I remarked. Martin sighed and brought a chair over to the side of the bed, where he sat down.

“The rest of the examination can be done while you lie in bed, so please relax,” Martin pulled out a small blade from a pocket, “Don’t be alarmed. I’m just taking a small amount of blood.”

I nodded and felt the sharp blade slide against my thumb. The swift movement caused a slight numbing sensation. Martin squeezed the blood from my body.

Momentarily later Martin let out a sigh of relief, “That should be a perfect amount. Let me just get some luxamine!”

“Luxamine?” Despite my grandfather educating me, there were some things he simply he never taught. 

“Oh, it’s a type of crystal that contains a high amount of mana, when placed with blood on an enchanted bracelet, it allows us to see your stats.” Martin smirked as he pushed his glasses further into his nose. “I’ll be right back, so just relax.”

“On it,” I patiently waited for Martin to return to the recovery room. A couple of minutes passed, and Martin returned, holding a small bag in his right hand; he placed it on the table and opened it up.

“I felt as if you wanted to see the process,” Martin chirped as he pulled out the items.

“Thanks.”

Martin chuckled as he pulled out a pure white crystal. It glowed and twinkled under the chandelier. “Luxamine,” I looked in awe.

“Indeed so! Using this small vial of blood I took from you, a part of the process will be completed.” Martin carefully splashed the blood on luxamine; it started to make a humming noise increasing in brightness until suddenly it returned to its normal state.

“Now. Using this bracelet,” He pulled a leather band with a small clip to hold the crystal, “It’s been enchanted with a vision spell to display text in the air once attached to a user.”  Martin carefully placed the crystal in the clip and placed it around my hand. The bracelet itself was nothing fancy; it was smooth leather with some light blue yarn cross-stitched into the design.

“Whoa,” As the crystal rested on my skin I felt a huge surge of mana flow across my body. 

“To allow your stats to appear, you must use the spell name, Status!” Martin smirked as he placed the materials back into the bag, “This will truly determine your potential.”

I took in a deep breath and let out a sigh, “Status!” The bracelet began to slightly glow as I felt a charge of mana surround the luxamine.

The bracelet glowed, and a small beam started to emit from the crystal itself, casting the spell. Slowly my stats started to appear in the air.

Status:

I took in a deep breath as the rest of the letters slowly appeared, the blue text glowed in the air, brighter than any candle in the room.

Strength – F 

Stamina – E

Agility – F

Intelligence – E

Magic – E

My excitement was short-lived; as the words shined brighter, I felt my body become frail. My dreams of being an SS champion truly nothing but dreams.

“A short-lived dream,” I sighed. I tightened my grip as I got out of the bed. Martin’s face seemed incredibly dumbfounded, almost confused with the results.

“Ace. No, it doesn’t make sense,” Martin grabbed my shoulder, “Please let me explain.”

“I have some of the lowest stats possible for a champion,” I gritted my teeth, “There’s no way I’ll become a champion.”

“Ace. I don’t believe this is it for you. Sit back down on the bed.” Martin's voice became stern, “Your grandfather didn’t raise you to give up like this.”

I sighed and slowly sat back down, too defeated to not comply with his orders.

“During our duel, you were using wind spells, something that is hard to summon quickly , especially for someone who’s a rookie.” Martin took off his glasses and sighed, “Most people awaken their authority during their battle, but I was unable to detect anything from you during the duel.”

“What about the wind? My grandfather had the authority of wind; perhaps I have it too?” I still had a chance to retake my dream, desperately holding on to the possibility.

“Unlikely, most people, whenever they unleash their authority, it feels like first nature. They burn only a small amount of mana. That wind casting spell burned your mana and it was clear it was a trained movement from you rather than natural.” Martin sighed, “Ace. I have no idea what your authority.”

I gritted my teeth, “How does this even help me. You might as well say I was born a weak authority.”

“Ace. I have no idea what it could be, but your casting of a spell could be a key to understanding. In terms of stats, you may be low, but we have no idea if your authority is strong or weak. Without the ability to determine if you are an anomaly.”

“Do you have any ideas?” I wanted to know if there was at least some silver lining from the situation.

“I’m not too sure, but I believe you have a high mana affinity regardless of your authority however, because your magic stat is low, you have a weaker mana percentage. I believe it means you still have a possibility to use that weak mana percentage across your body to become a champion nonetheless.”

I felt my body tighten. Weak mana amount, how the hell will I ever go far without being able to do large spells.

“Your grandfather had one wish, become a champion. There is still hope, so use that brain of yours and think about the situation.” Martin smiled as he rested his arm on my shoulder.

Martin’s right. Sulking about the cards, I was dealt would get me nowhere. My dad would’ve probably known that best. I let out a chuckle.

“I’m sorry you’re right, Martin. Perhaps my anomaly of authority will be an advantage.”

I recollected my thoughts and began to think about my next course of action.

“Is there any way to make the cost of today less?” I asked.

“Yes, that bracelet you have on is worth a lot, by not taking it with you, the fee lowers to about five silver coins instead of ten.” Martin gazed at the ceiling, “I can just write down your stats on paper so you can prove your stats once you leave Urna.”

“Five silver, that’s five hundred copper coins, right?” I looked down at my palm, “That’s almost all of what gramps left me when he passed.”

“Precisely,” Martin let out a chuckle, “Keep his wish alive, Acemore.”

I nodded and took off the bracelet and placed it on the stand next to the bed, “I’ll go get the money from my place and bring it here right now.”

As I placed my feet on the ground, I felt my weight shift dramatically; it seemed that despite being healed, my body was still tired.

“Ace you think you’ll be fine going home by yourself?” I looked back to see Martin with a concerned look across his face, “You still seem tired.”

I let out a chuckle, “You’re talking to a future champion. I’ll be fine.”

“Good to see you regaining your spirits,” Martin chuckled as he walked out the door, “Your clothes are all here, so just change and come back once you have the copper coins.”

I grabbed my clothes from the seat that Martin placed them and quickly threw on my shirt and jacket. Leaning onto the chair was my sword, “Good to see you,” I chuckled as I strapped it around my back.

I walked out the room and down the pews, despite being indoors, I could hear the wind and rain spitting on the stainless glass.

I pulled open the door leading to the outside world and chuckled at the thought, the rain was spitting down, and the occasional thunder echoed across the village. To avoid my hair from becoming soaked, I threw on the hood of my jacket and let out a sigh.

I don’t care if my stats are shitty or if my authority is unknown. I’ll fight. No matter how long it will take, I will fight to become a champion. The cards are dealt, the hand is mine, and now the die is rolled.

“Watch carefully gramps,” I tightened my grip, “This is the true start of my story.”

I walked out into the village with a newfound sense of pride. Even if the rain poured endlessly and the wind caused my body to freeze, the burning sensation in my chest would never die down.