181. The Admission Test
A red-hair middle-aged man wearing black robes is currently standing on an open field as he assessed seventy three children all gathered in front of him. These children have ages between 8 to 12 and they all have excellent Mana Affinity making them candidates to become Mages. Unfortunately, not everyone will be accepted as resources are limited, but everyone will be given a chance. And today is a test conducted every two years.
Having confirmed that all participants are present, the man sent his Mana towards his vocal chords.
“Now listen up! The rules here are simple. Behind this mountain is valley and at the center is a giant tree. If you want to pass, then reach that tree before sunset. We’ll provide everyone weapons and if you are caught using items not provided by us, you will be disqualified. Again, all you need to do is reach that tree. Any questions?”
“What about Brewers, sir?” A nearby kid with glasses asked.
The man smirked as he looked at the kid. He is tempted to blow up the kid with Fire Ball.
“For those who are aspiring to become Brewers, there is a building if you follow that pathway to your left and to the right are for Inscriptionists. Any more questions?”
“No Sir!” A few kids murmured in unison.
“Great! And you may start!”
(We move as planned.)
(Wait for me)
(Don’t go too far.)
Clay is standing at the back as he watched everyone dispersed. Some move in groups and some just went straight towards the racks of weapons located not far from them and picked up a weapon then madly dashed uphill. And in about thirty seconds, only he was left.
Clay could not help but sympathized for his peers. As a grown man caged in a ten year old body, he noticed how almost every adult looked at them like expandable commodities. He does not know what awaits those children but to have them wield real weapons means they will be engaged in a life and death combat. When the test ends, he guessed only half them will continue. Maybe even lesser.
Clay tilted his head upwards then took a deep breath. It is not like he does not care but the world of cultivation is never kind. In fact he knew that even if this world advances after a thousand years, these kinds of practices will still exist.
Exhale!
Having cleared his mind, Clay focused on his current predicament. Right now his focus is to become stronger. As he opened his eyes, he looked at he looked at proctor standing on the stage.
In truth, he wanted to approach the man and observe the proctor closer.
Since coming to the area, he had already activated his Godly Eyes and observed everyone including a few adults scattered around the field. From his observation, except for him, all participants have at least 14 Mana Nodes opened and they all extend towards their hands and feet. And surprisingly enough, not one had opened more than one Node around the heart except the test administrator.
His guess has something to do with the flame-like object present inside the man’s mana heart. From his estimate, the man is a Level III Mage.
“I’ll worry about that later.” Clay muttered to himself and looked to his left. As an Alchemist during his past life, he is tempted to follow the path of Brewers as it sounded similar but having been trained with Inscriptions, he doesn’t really have much of an option.
And speaking about professions, he is confused that only one person went to the Brewers area and another to the Inscriptionist area.
“Do you wish to be disqualified?”
As soon as Clay heard proctor shouted at him, his feet started moving and turned towards his right and followed the same route where he saw a girl with a wavy blond hair took earlier.
Clay did not rush and maintained his pace. Although the assessment involves engraving Inscriptions, it does not hurt being careful when approaching the testing center.
After around fifteen minutes, Clay arrived before a huge cottage. He stopped and looked at his surroundings.
Just as he activated his Godly Eyes, Clay heard a whisper.
“Get inside if you want to pass.”
If Clay was normal, even as an adult, he would be scared witless and jump like a kitten if he suddenly hears voices in the middle of nowhere. However, someone who numerous life and death experiences, he could not think of anything that would frighten him.
As Clay reached the entrance, he saw the blond girl from earlier and another man.
“Impressive that you can inscribe them in less than five minutes but remember you will not get any far with this quality. What is your name?”
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“My name is Agatha Von Weiss. If this kind senior will allow, I will create another one but this time, better.”
“There is no need. You already passed. What about you, boy. Name?” A man who looked in his forties turned towards Clay who is standing at entrance.
“My name is Theodore Rosenthal. I have come to participate in the admission. May this respected Master allow me to demonstrate my abilities.” Clay greeted with a bow and with his fist meeting in the middle like an ancient martial artist.
The man looked at Clay from head to toe. Judging from Clay’s clothes, he can tell Clay is from the royal military. Setting aside that weird form of greeting, he could not believe this boy is a candidate. Prior today, he had already received news as to who will be participating.
Unlike Combat Mages where participants usually takes 99 percent of aspiring Mages, Runic Inscriptionists have little to zero applicants like Potion Brewers and usually have a hundred percent passing rate. And it is with this that they can read the applicant’s profile and familiarize what is needed to know without wasting time.
“At ease, boy. Using your Mana, form a number six above your palm.”
Clay did not dare lift his head and opened his palm and slowly released his mana and projected a number six.
At the same time, the man’s eyes squinted as he observed Clay. He thought the military was playing jokes on him but seeing Clay release his aura, he was stunned to discover Clay’s mana control.
For entry level mages to cast spells, they need at three to five seconds to successfully cast a spell since their mana control had yet to be polished and it is for this reason they require external assistance like wands to shorten the incantation yet the boy before him looks like able to cast spells faster than he can.
And what is more, from his experience, anyone can control and limit their aura as long as they are conscious of it but to completely hide it, it is a feat mostly seen for Mages who had survived countless battles.
“Just how did the military raised this boy.” The man muttered to himself. Sadly, the boy had no Elemental Affinity. In the end, this boy may not even make it after two years but still a good seedling to protect the secular world.
“You can relax. From now on, you are considered Official Mage Apprentice. My name is Kendricks. As for you girl, consider yourself lucky but if you idle and don’t improve, you will be kicked out.”
“I thank his lordship for giving me this chance and...”
“Enough with the formalities and follow me.” Kendricks interrupted Agatha and walked towards the door.
Meanwhile, Clay was confused Kendricks did not need to have him inscribe what he was supposedly should display.
When he entered the cottage just now, he was conflicted if he should inscribe a 3RD Level Runic Pattern or a 2ND Level. His plan is to display his abilities without being deemed a genius. He may not be aware how this world works but he reckons that those who have better talents will be favored and receive preferential treatment just like the sects in his previous lives.
But to his disappointment, he will have the same status as Agatha.
“I may be a teacher but when we get to the School, I will have limited time interacting with you. If you have any questions, asked them now.” Kendricks spoke.
“May I ask teacher when are we allowed to see our families again?” Agatha immediately inquired.
“If there is mission that is close to your hometown, you will be allowed a small break. If not, wait until you become a 3RD Circle Mage.
Clay was absorbed in his thoughts as he is observing Kendricks from behind. The reason he had been very respectful earlier is because of the faint fluctuations of aura released by this man. From his estimate, Kendricks is a Level IV Mage, the strongest he had met so far.
And similar to the overseer who gave out instructions at the open field minutes ago, Kendricks has the same flame-like object within his Mana heart. Clay is itching to know what that object is. Nevertheless, he decided to remain silent and thought why he passed without inscribing a thing. As for Kendrick opening up and willing to be asked questions, he did not feel any sincerity on the man’s tone which could be interpreted to zipping one’s mouth.
“Teacher, is it true that those who become Combat Mages early on will have better Spell Casting rate in the future?” Agatha asked again.
Kendrick almost snorted. When he said, they can ask anything, it was actually a test. He had encountered all sorts of people wanting to make a good impression and it usually ends up asking for a favor. He can already tell that this little girl from Nobility is not entering the school to pursue cultivation. For a moment, he wanted to consider taking the girl under his tutelage.
But he is still a teacher and it is his duty to entertain questions regardless of their motives.
“What you said is true. We humans have what we call growth period. The more we cast spells during this period, the lesser the Spell Casting Speed will be in the future. But that does not mean that Inscriptionists or Brewers are less powerful.” Kendricks answered briefly. He would like to elaborate on battle instincts and muscle and meridian memory but he will not waste time on someone with half-assed dedication.
In an attempt to keep Agatha from talking, Kendricks diverted his attention to Clay who has been starting at his back without uttering a word.
“What about you, Theodore. Do you have questions for me?”
Clay was caught off guard. He thought Kendricks was just being polite but it looks like he is wrong. There are indeed several things that he would like answered but he is in no rush. Like for example, the flame-like object projected using his Godly Eyes or the levels of cultivations between Mana and Spiritual Qi users or cultivation techniques best suited to him but if there is one thing he truly needed answered, it is whether or not Dao exists in this world. After all, he needed to cheat again to climb his way up.
The problem is, if it does indeed exist, he does not know how people would call it.
Clay did not know how to begin but upon remembering Agatha’s second question, he came up with his own without sounding like an adult.
“Teacher, if two Combat Mages of your level, of the same Mana Pool, same number of years of training and guided under one teacher, if they fought head on without any underhanded methods, I’ve been pondering who would come out victorious?”
Upon hearing Clay’s question, Kendricks stopped his tracks. For a second, he felt like he was being tested but upon looking at Clay’s innocent face, his suspicion vanished. A normal mage would just say, it will be a tie or will come up with a silly answer like the guy with better luck but for someone like him, the obvious answer is the level of Spells one has mastered.
Many Mages would not even go past 4TH Circle but Mages who are capable of casting Level VII Spells like him, they will forever be stuck on this level if they do not completely resonate with their Beast Spirit Essence and manifest it.
*Sigh!
Kendricks exhaled slowly. Even a prominent Mage like him is required to supervise admission tests in exchange for resources. While he is doing it for the sake of appearances, he can’t help but feel like he was made fun of.
“When you have time, search for Beast Spirit Manifestation and Awakening within Erindal’s Repository.” Kendricks replied and started walking again.
Clay on the other hand knew that Kendricks was not referring to the power of Dao he is familiar with.