"Of course there is something we can do. Young man, become my disciple."

Galivan looked at the ancient man. Then he looked at his father. His father looked at the ancient man. Everyone looked confused. Finally Galivan's father asked the ancient man his question, "Why would you want a cursed existence as a disciple? Are you able to cure him?"

Galivan had not yet fully adjusted to everything that had happened since arriving in town. But he had certainly latched on to the way the man who brought him to be tested stared at him like he was a demon, the somber tone of the ancient man when he called him a genius but also a cursed existence, and finally told him he would never cast magic on his own. His emotions had been overdrawn as surely as his mana during the affinity testing. Now he was being offered to take this ancient man as his master and possibly overcome the curse fate had laid at his feet. He couldn't even think straight, let alone speak.

The ancient man considered the question from Galivans father while watching Galivan's expression. Suddenly, without any warning, he began laughing. It was a deep booming laugh, one that shook his entire body and brought a smile to everyone in the room despite everything else going on. "It seems that I wasn't clear a moment ago. While you will never be able to cast a spell on your own, you are perfectly suited towards the study of magic and group spell casting. I am one of the teachers at Jackal Academy and my specialty is group casting. While your situation may discourage many in your position, I encourage you to look at it as a boon! The reason my disciple brought you to me to be tested was originally due to your answers to his questions. I'm assuming you mentioned something about casting magic together with others?" His rising inflection turned the final statement into a question as he looked at his disciple.

In response, the man clarified, "Actually it was his response to which element was strongest. He said they are strongest when combined."

The ancient man's eyes gleamed when he heard this explanation. "You sound particularly suited for group casting magic, young man. What do you think, will you accept this old man as your master?"

Galivan looked at his father for guidance. Everything seemed to be happening so fast. He wasn't sure what to expect. He didn't know what he should do. Everything he studied in preparation for this day was so structured, so organized. He was supposed to unlock an affinity and join the freshman class of Jackal Academy so he could learn to become a mage. Now he had a teacher from Jackal Academy who wanted to be his personal master and he unlocked not one affinity, but nine.

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Looking over at his son, Galivan's father smiled encouragingly. If this was fate, then so be it. He only wanted what was best for his son. This ancient man did not seem to be a bad sort of person, and he was even a teacher at Jackal Academy. Surely that would assist his son's future. Seeing his son floundering, he gave him a gentle nudge as if to assure him everything would be okay.

Galivan took a deep breath and bowed to the ancient man. "I accept your offer to become your disciple, sir". Uncertain and anxious, Galivan waited for some sort of response before ending his bow to the ancient man. Luckily, he wasn't waiting long before he heard the man laugh anew.

"Sir is such a distasteful word. Call me Master Osiris. Greet your senior brother Horus." Osiris grinned at his new disciples as they properly greeted one another. Then he turned to Galivan's father and arranged for Galivan to arrive at Jackal Academy the following day with his personal disciple token. He was given the rest of the day to relax with his father and uncle before travelling to the academy.

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Galivan's uncle was still at the stalls when the two of them found him. Most of the gifts available were more suited towards warriors than mages, resulting from the great majority of those testing being on the warrior path. Fortunately, he had found two gifts he thought suitable for Galivan, but was unable to choose between them so he gave Galivan the choice between a water flask that refilled whenever it emptied and a book that copied other books by touching their spines together. Of course, Galivan chose the reusable book.

The three of them spent the evening relaxing around the town before going to a local restaurant for dinner, Galivan's uncle seemingly forgetting his supposed fast from earlier in the day. After dinner, Galivan explained to his uncle that he was now a personal disciple of one of Jackal Academy's teachers and that he had unlocked all of his affinities. Luckily for everyone involved, and those few close enough to overhear, Galivan had not specified exactly how many affinities he had, or else there may have been a bit of trouble before they found a room to rent for the night.