With Godfrey's performance out of the way, Linus looked over at Lyrian for a split second.
"You can go first," Lyrian quickly spoke. He didn't know whether Linus was going to speak, but he didn't want to risk it. Although he cared more about eating food right now, Lyrian was still interested in the hidden prize. He wanted as big a shot as he could get in winning this little contest.
Linus didn't say anything, simply turning his gaze forward as he stepped up.
As Linus moved to the center of the stage, a hush fell over the audience. He stood there for a moment, seemingly collecting his thoughts. Then, without any flashy gestures or dramatic movements, Linus began to channel his magic.
A soft, gentle light surrounded him, casting a warm glow that gradually intensified. It seemed as if he were creating a sphere of radiance, and the light continued to grow brighter until it was almost blinding.
As the spectators shielded their eyes and watched in awe, the light began to take shape. It coalesced into intricate patterns, forming what appeared to be a breathtakingly beautiful celestial display. Stars and constellations danced in the air around Linus, shimmering and twinkling as if they were real.
The audience was entranced, their applause turning into a collective gasp of wonder. It was a performance that transcended the mundane, leaving a lasting impression on everyone in the room.
Linus concluded his display by shaping the celestial lights into a stunning image of a soaring griffin, its wings outstretched in majestic flight. It was a symbol of rebirth and renewal, and it held a profound sense of beauty and grace.
As the griffin slowly faded into the ambient light, the room erupted into thunderous applause and cheers. Even Lyrian, who was eager to eat, couldn't help but be impressed by Linus's magical artistry.
Julius stepped forward, his excitement palpable. "An exquisite display of light magic! Linus has shown us a glimpse of the heavens themselves. A truly magnificent performance!"
As the applause continued, Linus stepped back, his expression composed and calm. Lyrian looked over to Godfrey, who had an impressed look on his face.
"Mmm-hahaha! I knew it! Young Lord Linus easily excels over the other two when it comes to impressive talent."
A voice burst out into a laugh from one side of the room. The person who talked was an old man, whose stature was tall for his age. He had a long beard, half of which was black, and half of which was white. His long hair followed this same pattern; it was split across the middle.
The table that the old, robed man sat at was near Linus'. This made Lyrian think that he was from the Yuun kingdom.
'Some sort of executive probably...' Lyrian said to himself. He looked at the other old men at the table as well, some fat and short, others a normal size.
Many heads turned to look at the old man as he laughed. A short silence met the room for a few seconds as Julius took a few steps in the direction of the old man with a smile.
"Oh? Making assumptions already are we? The confidence is high with the Yuun kingdom!" He said excitedly.
The old man heard Julius' words and couldn't help but laugh even more. "Well of course! Lord Linus' display was far superior to that of Young Master Godfrey. That, we all know!"
His table erupted into a laugh as he said this. "Silvus of Yaltas..." The old man suddenly switched his tone to a more calm one. "He would have proposed a challenge. But... he isn't here now."
Julius didn't waste any time in replying, "He is not, but the student who bested him is! We must not over or underestimate any contestant. Now, shall we continue?" Julius turned and glanced at Lyrian, signaling for him to start.
Seeing the back of Julius' head suddenly face him, the old man lost his smile. Instead, a slightly spiteful look took over.
As the show continued, he spoke to his table, "Does he really believe that boy will top our Young Lord after a performance like that?" He scoffed.
'That boy...' The old man gazed at Lyrian. 'A peasant like him should not have the ability to stand beside a grand royal. It's an insult to all three kingdoms.' He muttered under his breath, his tone filled with disdain.
As the crowd quieted down, Lyrian closed his eyes. As his head slowly spun around, he thought to himself, 'Hmm... impressive right?'
The atmosphere in the room quickly became slightly awkward, as no one knew what to say in response to the quietness. They began to whisper to each other small guesses, doubts, and other minor interactions; all about Lyrian.
"Do you think he'll win?" Geld whispered to both Alten and Leon.
The two looked at each other for not even a second before turning towards the boy, "Is that even a question?"
Finally, Lyrian opened his eyes and stepped forward. As he did, both Godfrey and Linus stared at him intently.
'A mysterious kid. No one knows where he came from, and no one knows what he can do,' Godfrey said in his mind with curiosity.
Linus was also just as curious, 'Hmm... what is his elemental affinity?'
This question was wondered by most in the room as well. Firstly, Lyrian raised his right hand in front of him, summoning a blaze of fire that quickly began to spiral all around him in a DNA helix.
Slightly impressed noises reverberated through the room. Linus imagined he got the answer to his question. 'Fire huh? It's not a bad one...'
Suddenly, his calm expression shifted to a more surprised one; his eyes widening as he witnessed a sphere of water also begin to swirl around Lyrian in the helix shape.
Just as before, even more gasps resounded from the crowd. This time, the surprised noises were doubled from the first time Lyrian showed an element.
"So he has two elemental affinities eh?" The old man at the table said, stroking his beard, "Not bad, but it isn't comparable to our Lo--" He was suddenly cut off.
He furrowed his eyes and looked forward with a bewildered expression as the entire crowd gasped loudly in astonishment. Lyrian had summoned a third element around him!
Earth.
Seeing this reaction, Lyrian couldn't help but smirk. 'That's not all...'
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