As soon as Gin's name escaped Aira's lips, den with hatred, Liora and Rael appeared silently beside her, their tension palpable. Rael didn't meet her gaze, but his voice was low and firm, cutting through the air like a bde.

  "Hold yourself together."

  His fists clenched tightly, knuckles white, as if holding back the weight of their shared trauma. The man before them was the root of their nightmares—a monster cloaked in authority.

  Tall and imposing, Gin stood before them, his silver hair spiked like shards of ice, reflecting the coldness in his pale, almost luminous silver eyes. He wore a long, dark blue coat with white accents, resembling the robes of an old-world professor. Though his lips often curled into something that resembled a smile, there was no warmth in it—only a frigid detachment.

  Gin's voice, cold and detached, echoed through the hall. "Welcome to the test for the Order of Materializers."

  He moved among the candidates, his gaze piercing, as if he could see beyond their flesh. His words were sharp, devoid of warmth. "Soul materialization. It's not a choice, but a birthright. A spark of your soul escapes through your eyes, reflecting who you are. But that light means nothing if it’s weak."

  Silence hung heavy in the air, a tangible weight. Some candidates shifted uncomfortably, eyes downcast.

  "Some create weapons, others shape their bodies. But having a materialized soul doesn’t mean you belong in the Order."

  Gin turned, walking to the center of the testing grounds. "The difference between an ordinary materializer and an elite one isn’t brute strength. It’s potential. A true warrior shapes their power as an extension of themselves."

  His gaze swept over the crowd, a predator assessing its prey. "We’re here to separate those with a future from those whose paths have ended. Today, we decide who belongs to the Order and who is relegated to the Support Squad."

  He paused, letting the words sink in. "The Order has five divisions. The elite warriors, the Support Squad, and three superior houses: the Divergent Order, the newly created Veiled Order, and the Elemental Order—led by myself."

  A murmur ran through the crowd as Gin continued. "The test is simple: a battle against one of our warriors."

  The doors at the back of the arena creaked open, revealing a man whose presence was a physical force. His golden eyes gleamed under the dim light, sharp and unyielding. His bck attire, accented with gold and green, spoke of authority. But it was his aura, suffocating and monstrous, that silenced the room.

  Gin smirked slightly. "Let’s begin."

  He reached into a box, drawing a slip of paper. "Aurun. Step forward."

  A boy with sky-colored hair and golden eyes rose. His white coat swayed as he moved, revealing a dark outfit beneath. Kai stood beside him, arms crossed, smirking. "So that’s your name."

  Aira stepped forward, eyes locked on Aurun, her voice a challenge. "Do you think you’re strong enough?"

  Aurun smiled, confidence unwavering. He adjusted his coat, meeting the gaze of his opponent. "I am the strongest."

  The room was silent, the tension electric. Aira's heart pounded, her mind racing with anticipation. The battle was about to begin.