A test of strength, wits or a combination of both is fine with me as long as it is more interesting than a cool backdrop and more of the same spell books. It could be anything an added percentage to that elemental resistance, a shiny new item, skill or access to the elementals people are naming. It would be over the top on the side of excellent for me if they could tie it in to the story as you have said. Right now it just seems so boring compared to everything else in the game.
