Chapter 13: Muta’s Selection Test
"Next up, Muta Sterner!" When Muta heard his name being called up by the announcer, the young boy's heart started to beat faster. Currently, the enclosed area in the city square had diminished in the number of people. Many of them came to see their family members attain their auras and weren't actually interested in the others. Only a few curious individuals had stayed behind to see what are the remaining few's one.
Taking a deep breath, the boy placed down the sleeping Rak in his father's arms and started to walk to the stage. The once sleeping phoenix opened it's eye slightly as it observed the young individual heading towards the podium. There was a small spark that lit up within the fledgeling's eyes and Rak slowly went back to sleep again.
Muta briskly stepped in front of the table. He stared into the orb and started focusing on it. The orb had a clean white marble aesthetic and as Muta placed his hands on the sphere, the cold touch was absorbed by the youth. There was a momentary chill that ran through his body, which caused Muta to reflexively pull back. Slightly frightened, the boy looked down the stage and looked at his father. He saw him give his iconic warm smile and the boy instantly felt safe again, even though he was quite a distance away from his father.
Muta once again placed his hands on the orb, but this time, he closed his eyes. The chill emanated again and travelled into Muta's thinly built body. It slowly travelled around the youth's body, moving up the arm to his chest, making a turn, heading towards his lower body and down his legs, Slowly but surely, it moved towards his head. This process took a rather long time for Muta and lasted for five minutes. Comparing with Gord, Muta's selection was twice as long as his.
It was only after another thirty seconds before a bright blue light started emanating from the orb. The playful wisps rolled about the boy's arms and the brilliance of the light had illuminated the entire stage. "An excellent affinity… Water aura!" The announcer shouted out as he watched the aura unfold before him.
Nevertheless, the origin of the light didn't stop coming and started to change colour, this time, it was a strong pulse of green. The aura felt like a heartbeat as it continued to grow stronger and faster. It looked like it had a life of its own. "Flawless affinity of the wind aura!" The reporter screamed out at the top of his lungs.
This time it had caused everyone around the city square to stop their movement and witness the scene on stage. Everyone did not breathe a word as they admired this once in a lifetime scenario play out before them. The stubby-bearded man from the Guardian sector opened his eyes wide and stood up immediately. The guy was shocked at the youth's innate ability as he thought deeply. What level can this boy reach when he grows up? I am sure that he is definitely one of the most promising youth to appear in the entire Cellamis!
However, the craziest part of this selection was that the drama did not stop there. The strong and fast beating of the aura started to slow down and transform into a firmer and more secure feeling. Additionally, the aura started to change colour once again and discharged long wisps that danced around Muta. The now bright yellow ball, looked like a sun and it brought forth a radiance not seen in public in a very long time.
"This…this is…a flawless affinity earth aura!" This time the announcer's voice had started to turn hoarse as he couldn't express how he was feeling in any other way. It was rare enough to see a tri-aura user, but an Elementalist that possess two flawless affinities and one excellent affinity aura, that was truly unprecedented.
Down the stage, Gavin had witnessed the entire process with his own two eyes and was absorbed in every little aspect of his son. The way his son stood firmly on the earthen grown and held the orb with his fingers spread out around it. The way he closed his beady azure eyes and was focusing on the object he was holding. The way his auras had changed and evolved from one to another. The way his aura resembled his mother's. His wife. The man loved his wife and truly cherished her. Their adventures they had together back when they were young adults. Their memories of travelling and living together. They were all comparable to the event that was occurring right now. They were all magical and truly unforgettable.
The man felt a strong rush of deja vu as he looked fixedly at his son. His eyes started to get blurry as tears started formulating around it. The man had not cried since the day his wife had died and was determined to not shed a tear ever since. However, what was happening now was a day worth shedding a few tears for.
My dear wife. My beautiful wife. Our son has inherited your earth aura and not only that, has also acquired the flawless affinity. He has lived on to be just like you. Not only that, he has both of my auras too, with one being an excellent affinity and the other a flawless affinity. I have seen and done many things in my life, but today, it has got to be one of my most grateful moments yet. Firstly, I am grateful for the fact that I am alive to witness this spectacle for you. Secondly, I am grateful for the fact that my son is able to attain your aura and that your sacrifice was worthwhile. Lastly, I am grateful for the fact that Muta is my son, our son. Gavin ruminated deeply as he wiped away his tears.
The man was truly proud of his son for the first time in the last seven years. He had thrown away his regrets that he had developed over the years. He had many regrets regarding on the months that led to Celia's birth of Muta. He regrets leaving his wife's side when she needed his love and care the most. He regrets not rushing home as soon as his wife had spoken about him having a baby through a letter. He regretted not being there to stop her from devoting all her aura to the baby. Despite everything, the man now held no regrets.
Currently, the boy on the stage had no idea what had just happened and was still in a state of tranquillity. He was in a domain that was unlike the world he was just in. The boy was actually in the temple of his head. In front of him was another aura apart from the previous three. The aura was dark purple in colour and gave off a cold feeling. The familiar sensation felt like deja vu as he knew he had experienced this before. But where? Was there ever such a strong but forbidding aura? Is this… the evil aura?
Muta was feeling rather confused as he had heard stories from his father back when he was still in Centriole. Gavin told him stories about warriors, in the land of Centriole, having to defend against bad guys that had the evil aura. They were the ones that wreaked havoc in this land and killed multitudes of innocent civilians. Am I one of them? The boy had a rather conflicted expression on his face, but he was slowly pulled back to reality. He opened his eyes and looked around. Seconds later, the remaining crowd erupted with loud cheers as they welcome back the legendary youth that had "attained" an astounding three auras!
It took a while for Muta to understand what was going on, but he realised that the evil aura that he saw in his head had not been revealed to the public. He heaved a sigh of relief and started walking off stage. The boy had not even wait for the company leaders to call forth their interest and started walking towards his father. Gavin instantly dashed towards his son and picked him up easily. He tightly hugged his boy and tears once again started to come out. "My dear son, thank you. Thank you!"
"Father. Why are you crying? What are you thankful for?" Muta had a confused expression on his face.
"Thank you for having a part of your mother in you. Thank you for having a part of both of us in you." Gavin spoke to his son with his kindest regards. The man had been waiting for this day ever since his wife had passed on. He had not been let down.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Over_The_Horizon
Over_The_Horizon This chapter was probably the hardest to write so far. I had injected in a lot of emotions and thought into this scene. I hope you can feel it too as you read through Muta's selection test.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone