Nightveil: The Forbidden Trait

Morning came swiftly, sunlight pouring in from the arched glass windows above. I cleaned up, my mind still tangled in the previous day's events. I opened the wardrobe—neatly arranged were the official academy suits for this phase. I chose the jet-black one with fine gold embroidery stitched at the edges. The fabric was smooth and dense, tailored for nobility.

I ran a hand through my hair, setting it carefully back, lifting the front a bit with a touch of class—sleek, yet carrying a quiet defiance. Just the way nobles do.

When I stepped out, Luci was already outside her room. I paused.

She was stunning.

Wearing a navy-blue formal noble dress with silver lining, her dark maroon hair was slightly curled and tied loosely to one side with a sapphire pin. The edges of her dress shimmered slightly as she walked. The air around her was composed and graceful—like a queen.

She noticed my stare and snapped, "Oi, what are you gawking at?"

I blinked. "Uh… nothing."

"If you don't want to go, I can just go alone," she said, rolling her eyes, but a slight blush betrayed her tone.

"Huh? No. I'm coming," I replied quickly.

Soon, Ritchi and Aerus joined us, walking down the hallway with casual grins.

"Well, well," Ritchi said. "Look at you two, dressed like the royal wedding's about to start."

"You're just jealous," Luci huffed.

We reached the central hall. The same grand space from the previous day—but it looked different now. Refined. Illuminated. Rows of chairs were aligned. Floating magical orbs lit the hall in soft hues of amber and blue. Banners of the five Guilds hung proudly across the vaulted ceiling.

An announcement echoed.

"Your attention, please. First, congratulations to the top 500. You've made it to the final round."

Gasps and whispers.

"Final? Already?"

"Wasn't this just the beginning?"

I too was surprised, but I didn't show it. Luci muttered, "Didn't think we'd jump this fast."

The announcement continued.

"This round will test something far more vital than brute strength—your Aura."

"Aura is your inner mana—your soul's force. The stronger the aura, the stronger the connection between your mind and heart. The deeper that connection, the more exceptional your magical potential."

We were told to line up according to our numbers. I stood as number 015.

And just behind me—016—stood Arceus.

I heard murmurs behind and ahead of me. "Ryan and Arceus… side by side? Is this a coincidence or fate?"

The announcement resumed.

"Now, close your eyes. Find the vein that links your heart and your thoughts. Once you've done that, prepare to unleash your aura when called."

All around, people followed the instructions. Calm. Focused. A moment of silence stretched across the room.

Then came voices.

"I found it."

"Easy!"

"There it is!"

It seemed most were ready.

The announcement continued.

"We'll call participants in batches of five according to ranking. Each will come forth, step into the central ring, and unleash their aura. Based on this, the Five Guild Lords will decide whether or not to recruit you."

A new voice took over.

"Please rise and welcome the Five Lords of the Guilds!"

Clapping thundered through the hall.

From the central grand staircase, five figures descended.

The one in the middle had a fierce presence—he wore a crimson overcoat with black flames etched across the shoulders, hair burning like molten copper. His gaze pierced the crowd.

"This is Purge Fire, the Lord of the Fire Guild," the announcer explained.

To his right stood a man with a calm demeanor, dressed in layered robes of moss green and earthy brown, his hair braided with vines, eyes deep and still as a forest lake.

"Ven Nature, Lord of the Nature Guild."

To Purge's left was a broad, muscular man, shirtless under a fur cape, his body marked with battle scars and tribal tattoos. A pair of beast fangs hung from his neck.

"Men Beast, Lord of the Beast Guild."

On the far right was a woman whose presence silenced the hall. She wore a long, flowing dress of velvet pink, and every step she took echoed charm. Her golden hair flowed like silk.

"Eriica Love, Lady of the Love Guild."

And lastly, on the far left, a woman in royal violet armor. Her hair was jet black, tied in a high knot, and she carried a tome that glowed faintly.

"Misa Realm, Lady of the Realm Guild."

They all sat, saying nothing.

The tests began.

"Ranks 500 to 496, step forward."

Five students walked to the center.

"Now, focus and unleash your aura."

The hall dimmed slightly. One by one, faint lights began to glow.

A dull pink.

An uneven orange.

Pale yellow.

I leaned toward Praller. "What are we looking at?"

Praller whispered, "Aura mages are ranked by color and class. Z-Class is rarest. Then S, A+, A, and so on."

"Z-Class?"

"White, black, flame-blue… ultra rare. Less than 2% of all mages."

"Then there's S-Class: red, brown, and regular blue. A+ has yellow, cyan, and purple. A includes dark red and rainbow."

"Anything below is… considered weak."

Back on stage, the aura display faded.

The announcer asked, "Any Guild Lords wish to recruit?"

Silence.

"Rejected."

The line continued.

Ranks 494 to 490.

Rejected.

Ranks 489 to 485.

Rejected.

An hour passed. The hall was quiet now. Rejections after rejections.

Until—

"Ranks 45 to 40, step forward."

A boy at the end of the line stepped forward, his hands trembling slightly. He looked up, exhaled, and focused.

And then—it exploded.

A dazzling burst of light.

Rainbow.

Even I flinched.

The audience gasped.

Misa Realm, silent until now, stood.

"I would like to recruit this student into the Realm Guild."

For the first time that day, there was clapping.

The boy nodded in disbelief.

"Agreed," he whispered.

We had our first recruit.

The silence had broken.

And the real test… had only just begun.

Slowly, students began getting recruited. Not everyone, of course, but every few ranks, one or two managed to impress the Lords. The anticipation in the hall continued to rise. We were all silently counting down to our own turns.

I had already figured it out—this wasn't random. It was by strength ranking. I was number 2, meaning I'd be in the final five, alongside Arceus, Kaiser Jr., Praller, and Aerus.

After a while, Eron was called forward. He stepped up and unleashed a strong green aura—B-ranked, with thick vines swirling at his feet. It suited him perfectly. The Nature Guild Lord, Ven, offered him a place almost immediately. Eron accepted with a proud smile. Luci clapped for him, genuinely happy.

Then came the group ranked 6 to 10. The hall fell into silence.

"Rank 10: Leon."

Leon stepped forward, nervous but proud. As he concentrated, a dark red aura burst from his body, cloaking him in a crimson flame that pulsed like a heartbeat. Gasps echoed.

"An A-Rank?"

"From Leon?!"

Next was Angel Aqual. She raised her hands and focused. A beautiful purple hue emerged, sharp and focused like a blade of light.

"An A+! The first of its kind today!"

Rimu D. Kaiser came next. Her movements were graceful, and when her aura revealed itself as a brilliant yellow spiral, the guilds leaned forward in interest. A+ again.

Then came Ritchi. He smirked, closing his eyes briefly, and his cyan aura erupted in a wide burst, filled with sparkling motes of light. Another A+.

The commoner crowd erupted in cheers. Aerus watched from behind, smiling.

Then came Luci.

She took a deep breath and stepped forward, calm but fierce. The hall went quiet.

Her eyes closed. Her fingers curled slightly.

A wave of red exploded around her—a full S-Rank. The air shimmered with intensity as her aura wrapped around her like a protective storm. Her feet lifted slightly off the ground from the sheer force.

"An S-Rank! From the sixth-ranked student?!"

Even the Lords were taken aback. Some leaned toward one another and whispered urgently.

The Fire Guild Lord finally spoke. "I offer you a place in my guild."

Luci looked stunned. A moment passed. Then she nodded, cheeks blushing as she stepped back. The Fire Lord smiled.

Eron met her with a hug. "You did it!"

Luci looked over at me.

She was smiling.

And I couldn't help but smile back.

She's been smiling a lot lately. That made me... happy.

The announcement rang again.

"Now, welcome the top 5!"

The entire hall hushed.

"Rank 5: Aerus. Rank 4: Praller Fire. Rank 3: Kaiser D. Kaiser Jr. Rank 2: Ryan Elenoir. Rank 1: Arceus D. Diamond."

The applause and cheers returned with renewed force—mostly for Arceus and Kaiser Jr., of course. Girls swooned. Some screamed. Arceus, expressionless, stepped forward. Kaiser Jr. waved dramatically.

"Let's proceed one by one," said the Fire Lord. "Let's savor this."

Aerus was first. He stood tall, calm as ever. When his aura burst out, it was a searing red, darker than Luci's. Fire-like tendrils danced across the floor.

"Another S-Rank," said the Beast Lord, pleased. "He's mine."

Next was Praller.

He closed his eyes, his breathing slow and deliberate. His body glowed, and then a deep blue light surged upward—shimmering like water touched by lightning. It resembled a stormy sky at dawn. The aura pulsed, balanced and contained.

"Super Saiya Blue in human form," Luci whispered beside me.

The Lords nodded in respect. "A powerful A+. We offer him a seat."

Kaiser Jr. stepped forward next. Everyone applauded.

He grinned, lifting his hand confidently. Blue flames erupted from his body, spiraling outward in a whirlwind.

"S+!" someone screamed.

He stood proudly as the flames danced around him. Most guilds clapped and congratulated him. The Fire Lord and Nature Lord were particularly impressed.

Then… it was my turn.

"Ryan Elenoir."

I stepped forward.

A heavy silence fell.

I looked toward Luci, who mouthed, "You can do it."

I smiled.

Turning to the Lords, I bowed. "It's an honor to stand before you."

The Fire Lord nodded. "Likewise, Ryan Elenoir. Let's see it."

I closed my eyes.

Darkness.

Calm.

And then—

My aura erupted.

A thick shadow spread from my feet. Black tendrils curled outward, swallowing light around me. The darkness flickered with a soft silver sheen—powerful, silent, and full of weight.

Gasps.

"Another S+!"

The Realm Lord leaned forward. "That's stronger than Kaiser's…"

Even the Fire Lord, now leaning back, grinned.

His inner words was

"As expected… Nightveil."

Luci watched, stunned. "He's not just powerful… he's terrifying."

I walked to the side, breathing slowly.

And that's when Arceus stepped forward.

Our shoulders brushed as we passed. For a moment, time slowed.

Arceus turned ever so slightly to glance at me.

His eyes narrowed—not in anger, but confusion. Like he had seen something he hadn't expected.

That black aura… it was different. Too different.

For the first time, a single bead of sweat slid down Arceus's cheek.

He muttered quietly, "Who is he?"

Then he moved to center stage.

Everyone erupted.

"GO, PRINCE!"

"SHOW THEM!"

He ignored them all.

He closed his eyes.

The moment felt frozen.

And then… light.

Pure, blinding, absolute white light.

His aura bloomed like the sun. The hall bathed in his power. A pressure settled over us—not choking, but overwhelming. A divine presence.

"The White…" someone whispered.

The Lords stood. All of them.

They bowed.

And above us, floating in the air, a new presence emerged.

A towering figure with muscles forged like iron, a long blade strapped to his back. His presence shook the hall.

Even the Lords bent lower.

Luci gasped. "That's… the Great Lord. Shodou D. Kaiser. The right hand of the King."

Ryan looked up. He saw the shadow and felt it too.