The exams continued, but they were far more interesting now as everyone was curious about the participants’ Affinities. After all, if someone had a good Affinity, then these noble houses could invest in them even if their talent was poor. For more chapters visıt 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩·𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢·𝔫𝔢𝔱 And they certainly did find a few good ones, but most of them were ordinary. After all, while there was always a possibility that someone might awaken an Affinity with some bizarre and powerful concept, most people would still end up with something normal. The common Affinities were related to the elements, so many participants awakened Affinities with Fire, Water, Wind, Light, Shadow, and Lightning. Some even awakened similar Affinities linked to those elements, like Gale, which was basically a variation of Wind in a way. Only a few had Affinities with rare elements like Sound, Sand, and others. There were also participants with Twin or multiple Affinities, and they were instantly granted admission because those were the rules. Yet, the audience remained fixated on their seats as they waited for Aegon’s turn. There were certainly some eye-catching participants, but all of them were overshadowed by Aegon’s dazzling talent. If only they had participated any other year, they would have shined much brighter and attracted far more attention. Fortunately for the audience, the number of participants was small, so it didn’t take long before everyone had been tested except for Aegon. "Aegon, it is your turn," the examiner said, noticing that Aegon was still hesitating. "I think it’s better if I don’t," Aegon said after thinking it over for a while. "You did say it doesn’t matter what Affinities one has for admission, right?" "Yes, but..." The examiner looked confused, as this was the first time someone had refused to test their Affinity. There was no rule that forbade it, so he couldn’t reject Aegon’s decision outright. However, he also knew that everyone wanted to know Aegon’s Affinity, so he couldn’t just accept it easily either. So, he raised his head to look for guidance and found Amon smiling while staring directly at Aegon. "Do you really want to withdraw?" Amon asked. "If you have good Affinities, you’ll receive greater resource allotment." Aegon immediately understood his meaning. He had told the dean earlier that he intended to remain independent for as long as possible, and earning resources this way was certainly the best method. Sadly, there was a reason Aegon didn’t want to reveal his Affinities. "Yes, I’m fine with it," he said with a nod. "Are you perhaps scared?" Gabriel snorted at his words. "You have good talents in other areas, so perhaps you’re afraid the world will find out you don’t have any impressive Affinities." "Your Highness surely knows how to joke," Aegon chuckled, then stared straight at her, his expression turning sharp. "I’d like to ask you something, do you really see a coward in me?" Gabriel flinched slightly, momentarily forgetting how to respond. For some reason, those golden eyes reminded her of her grandfather who was the most terrifying man she had ever met. She found it ridiculous that this young man actually reminded her of him, so she scoffed and said, "I don’t have such good eyes. All I know is that I’ve heard the House Augustus is the definition of bravery. Then how could they have produced someone who doesn’t even dare to show his Affinity to the public?" Raphael glanced at his sister and chuckled to himself. ’This idiotic sister can be really helpful sometimes.’ Many others had wanted to say something similar but couldn’t for obvious reasons, so they were quite pleased to see the Princess taking that role for them. Of course, most of them knew it was just an act on the Princess’s part. Just as Raphael pretended to be kind and amiable, Gabriel often played the part of an arrogant fool. But in truth, she always thought things through before acting or speaking. ’Now, what will you do?’ Amon leaned back in his chair, amused as he watched the drama unfold. ’I know it’s a rage bait, but why am I still falling for it?’ Aegon laughed lightly, surprising everyone. "Well, if that’s what you want, then I’ll give you exactly that." He turned toward the Princess with a charming smile playing on his lips. "Princess heard it correctly. The House Augustus is the definition of bravery. Not a single one of my predecessors was a coward unlike certain people who just sit in their stone palaces and enjoy the freedom bought with the sacrifices of those brave soldiers." Everyone felt their hearts pound hard against their chests upon hearing those words. Every single thing Aegon said hit home. The House Augustus had always produced the most talented humans, but their numbers remained few for a simple reason, all of them were brave soldiers who gladly gave up everything to protect their homeland. That was why they were both respected and feared. Even the Emperor himself had to bow his head in respect before their ancestors. That same blood flowed through Aegon’s veins, so calling him a coward was a direct insult not only to him but to the entire House Augustus. Those who had shared the same thoughts as the Princess felt ashamed as they realized the weight of their words. Even the two royals were left speechless by his declaration. But Aegon didn’t stop there. He raised his hand and pointed toward the sky, where the scar of the heavens divided the twilight sky in two. His grin widened. "Do you honestly believe the heavens bled just so I could gain... what? A minor boost in my Body and Mage Pathways that puts me slightly above my peers? Really?" It was the first time Aegon had truly been angry since arriving in this world. All because someone had insulted his family, something he took immense pride in. He could endure insults aimed at himself, but never those directed at his family. His laughter made everyone realize just how foolish their assumptions had been. Indeed, Aegon might have been far above his peers, but it wasn’t enough to cause the phenomenon that had occurred a decade ago. Then... what had been the reason for it? What truly happened back then? "Let me show you the true reason why even the heavens burned on my awakening!"