Cultivation is Creation
Chapter 262: The New Saint/Saintess

The sensation of emerging from the Cerulean Spire was like breaking through the surface of water. One moment, I was surrounded by the intense blue light of the testing chamber; the next, I stood blinking in the relative dimness of the courtyard where we had first gathered.

My vision adjusted quickly, revealing Elder Sorrin standing by the entrance. But he wasn't alone. Several other elders flanked him, their expressions unreadable beneath ceremonial hoods that cast their faces in shadow.

To Sorrin's right stood Dorian, arms crossed tightly over his chest, a thunderous scowl darkening his features. Beside him was Bren, whose stoic expression betrayed nothing of his thoughts.

I released a quiet sigh of relief. Not the first out, but certainly not the last, exactly the middling performance I'd aimed for.

"Thank the Genesis Seed," I thought to myself. "With any luck, this whole ordeal will be over soon, and I can fade into the background as just another talented academy initiate."

The tranquility of this thought was immediately shattered by Elder Sorrin's words.

"The final three have returned," Elder Sorrin announced.

The words hit me like a physical blow. Final three?

My gaze immediately snapped to my sides, and sure enough, there stood Aric on my right, casually brushing dust from his ceremonial robes. Then to my left, where Laelyn was smoothing her hair back into place, her cheeks flushed slightly from exertion.

It seemed that the three of us had emerged at virtually the same time. This was not part of my plan at all.

"What happens now, Elder Sorrin?" Laelyn asked, her voice steady despite what must have been an exhausting ordeal. "Has there ever been a three-way tie before?"

Murmurs rose from the gathered elders. One of them, a thin woman with silver-streaked hair, leaned forward to whisper something to Sorrin. He nodded in response.

"In all the recorded history of the Selection," Elder Sorrin replied, his eyes sweeping over us, "there has never been a three-way tie for duration." A smile slowly spread across his face, crinkling the corners of his eyes. "But time isn't the only way to determine a winner."

With a flourish that seemed practiced for dramatic effect, he unfurled a scroll that must have been treated with some form of light manipulation technique. As it opened fully, an image projected above it, a blue leaderboard hanging in midair.

I stared at the projection, my heart sinking as I read the names and times:

(6) Amira Dawn - 65 minutes

(5) Dorian Velaris - 95 minutes

(4) Bren Heart - 100 minutes

(3) Aric Leminov - 101 minutes

(2) Laelyn Vareyn - 101 minutes

(1) Tomas - 101 minutes

The times explain Dorian's sour expression. But what made my blood run cold was that my name, or rather, Tomas's name, was at the top of the list, glowing with a brilliant golden light that separated it from the rest.

"As you can see," Elder Sorrin continued, "the three of you endured exactly the same duration within the Spire. But what you could not see was the quality of energy each of you absorbed."

He gestured to the scroll, and the projection shifted, displaying additional information beside each name. Complex glyphs and measurements appeared, most of which meant nothing to me, but the differences were clear even to my untrained eye.

Aric and Laelyn's almost identical readings were high, exceptional even.

Mine were literally off the chart, with several indicators simply showing the infinity symbol.

"The testing chambers are designed to adjust the quality of Blue Sun energy based on each candidate's resonance," the elder explained. "For most candidates, the energy remains at a standard level, pure, but well within the range that most talented candidates can process.”

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He paused, his gaze settling on me with an intensity that made me want to take a step back.

"For exceptionally gifted candidates, the chamber may increase the quality by increments, testing the limits of their resonance. In the history of the Selection, the highest recorded quality adjustment was 173%, achieved by Saintess Kiara over six thousand years ago." Another dramatic pause. "No candidate in today's Selection required any major adjustment... except one."

All eyes turned to me. I felt the weight of their stares like physical pressure.

"Tomas," Elder Sorrin announced, his voice vibrating with barely contained excitement. "The chamber adjusted to maximum quality for you, a full 300% increase, and still, your resonance never faltered."

One of the elders, a portly man with a magnificent white beard, murmured loudly enough for all to hear: "We haven't seen such high resonance in all recorded history."

Another, the silver-haired woman, added: "It's as though he is the personification of the Blue Sun itself."

A cold sweat broke out across my back. This was the exact opposite of what I'd wanted. I'd aimed for mediocrity, for the comfortable safety of the middle ground, but somehow I'd achieved the worst possible outcome. I'd become remarkable. Noteworthy. The exact kind of anomaly that would draw Kal's attention immediately.

My mind raced through possibilities. Could I excuse myself? Feign illness? Decline the position? No, Elder Sorrin had already made it clear that the Orb's choice was non-negotiable. The Blue Sun had "chosen" me, and refusing would be tantamount to heresy.

What about more drastic measures? Could I simply flee? Or even... end things? The thought was dark, but in a world of time loops, death was sometimes merely a reset button.

But no, that wouldn't work either. I glanced around at the Rank 7 elders surrounding us. To their perception, my movements would be excruciatingly slow. They could stop a suicide attempt before I'd even channeled a technique. And even if I somehow succeeded, Kal would hear of this and in the next loop, he’d come looking for the not-so-ordinary village boy.

"And with that, the Selection is complete," Elder Sorrin announced, his voice cutting through my panicked thoughts. "Tomas of Porvale Village has been chosen as the new Saint."

Laelyn turned to me immediately, a genuine smile lighting up her face. She reached out, touching my arm gently. "Congratulations, Tomas," she said, and I could detect no hint of envy or resentment in her voice. "I always felt there was something special about you from the moment we met."

I forced a smile onto my face, hoping it looked more natural than it felt. "Thank you, Lady Laelyn. Your words... they mean a lot."

Inside, I was screaming. This was a disaster. A complete and utter catastrophe.

"Master," Azure's voice whispered in my mind, "try to remain calm.”

I took a deep breath, focusing on slowing my heartbeat. Azure was right, the last thing I needed was to appear nervous or guilty.

Around me, the other candidates had varying reactions to the announcement. Aric approached with that same genuine smile he'd worn throughout our brief acquaintance, bowing slightly.

"Well deserved, Tomas," he said, and somehow I believed him. "I look forward to serving alongside you in the Order."

Bren merely nodded, his expression unchanging, but there was something like respect in his eyes now.

"Heart acknowledges strength," he said simply before turning away.

I wasn't completely sure if he was referring to himself in the third person or if he meant his actual heart. With his stoic demeanor and minimal speech, it was hard to tell if this was just how he talked or if he was making a profound statement about inner recognition. Either way, his acknowledgment felt genuine.

Dorian, predictably, looked like he'd swallowed something particularly foul. His face had turned an interesting shade of purple, and he seemed to be physically restraining himself from saying something regrettable. After several seconds of visible internal struggle, he managed a stiff bow.

"House Velaris... congratulates you," he ground out, each word clearly painful. "The Blue Sun's judgment is... final."

With that, he turned sharply and strode away, his custom robes billowing dramatically behind him. I almost felt sorry for him, almost. His entire life had been building toward this moment, only to have it snatched away by a supposed village boy.

I glanced around the courtyard, suddenly realizing someone was missing. "What happened to Amira?" I asked. "Is she...?"

Elder Sorrin's expression darkened. "Candidate Dawn pushed beyond her limits," he said gravely. "She is currently in the medical quarters. The healers believe she will recover, though she may bear the scars of her imprudence for some time."

I winced at the news. I hadn't known Amira well, but her cheerful demeanor and genuine curiosity had been refreshing amidst the formality and ambition of the Selection.

“Tomas,” Elder Sorrin straightened his robes and adopted a formal posture. "As tradition dictates, it is time for you to meet the current Saint and have the mantle of sainthood passed to you."

My heart skipped a beat.

I had never considered who the current Saint might be. In all the discussions and preparations, no one had mentioned a name. I assumed it wasn't Kal, as he was typically referred to as a new elder rather than the Saint. The only thing I knew for certain was what Laelyn had mentioned during our journey to the Academy - that the current Saint was dying, which had accelerated the need for this Selection.

"Who is the current Saint?" I finally managed to ask.

"You will meet him soon enough,” Elder Sorrin’s eyes twinkled. “Come, the Ceremony of Transference awaits."