Chapter 19: Magic's True Face

After being touched, the stone let out a red glow, then a white glow. It kept alternating between red and white glow.

As Nevan held it, the glow of the stone slowly started to pulsate rhythmically, like a heartbeat.

Nevan suddenly felt his heart beat. At the same moment the stone also beat with red light.

Another heart beat of Nevan. The stone shone with a white light.

Again a heart beat, again a glow of red light.

The stone's glow alternated between red and white light systematically along with Nevan's heartbeat. The two had reached a perfect synchronization. The stone glowed and his heart beat as one.

Nevan felt an unprecedented sense of awe. A respect towards something unknown. Something he doesn't know for sure. But for some reason he felt he should revere whatever it is.

Slowly Nevan lost track of time. A vastness opened its eyes and overlooked him. He felt minuscule. He felt tiny. He felt insignificant.

*Ting*

A sound rang and Nevan suddenly found himself kneeling still holding that hexagonal stone. No sound came out from his throat. He was utterly stupefied. What was that thing? Was it even a thing?

"Did you feel magic?" Nevan heard a voice. It sounded ethereal to him. After a while he processed what was said and understood.

"Tha.. That thing.. That was magic?"

"Yes, indeed. What did you see?"

"I don't know, I just felt so small in front of a grandness."

"I see. Most people who don't have an affinity towards magic will feel something along those lines. It's different for everyone though."

"Here's your verification paper, head to room 0103. There will be your next and final test."

Nevan grabbed the paper and took a look at it.

Magic Affinity: E (Not suitable for magician. Recommended profession engineer.)

Nevan already knew from before that he had zero chance of becoming a magician. After all, he never showed any phenomena related to magicians. So he wasn't particularly surprised about this.

What he was truly surprised about was what he felt back there. Was that truly magic? Is magic supposed to be so encompassing?

"Here, take my card, you can contact me from anywhere with this." Ernos spoke loudly, making Nevan break out of his reverie.

He gave a triangular card to Nevan which looked similar to a guitar's pick. It had some weird runes drawn on.

Thanking Ernos, he put the card in his pocket. Nevan currently had no intention to get chummy with this unknown over enthusiastic senior. It was better to wait and watch.

A female staff came in with strings of tea serving utensils. "Sir, it's your break time."

"Oh! It's already that time. So Nevan would you like to join me in a tea drinking session?"

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"No, No, I still have a test to take. I will excuse myself then."

"What a shame. Anyway, give me a call whenever you like."

"Yes I will certainly do that."

The staff had already skillfully set up the utensils in a tea table near the corner and started making tea. Ernos sat on a couch around the tea table while observing her make tea. He had a small happy smile as if he was appreciating art.

Nevan had almost crossed the door sill when he turned to look back at the sitting Ernos.

"Ernos, you said that everyone sees different things when they touch it right?"

At the sudden question Ernos was surprised but realizing where this was going his mouth curved up. A very wide grin.

"Yes."

"You said you are a magician."

"Yes"

"And you also took this test right?"

"Yes."

A continuous set of redundant questions and 3 'Yes'.

"Can you tell me what you saw?" Nevan finally asked the question.

A very delighted smile blossomed on Ernos face. He leaned back entirely on the couch and with a *whoosh* crossed his legs. His posture was the standard arrogant man of a way too rich family.

Nevan was surprised by his action. The staff wasn't.

Ernos relaxedly sunk down more into the comfy couch. The words he spoke that time, Nevan would never forget them as long as he lived.

"I can't explain what I saw, but-. You felt tiny. I felt like a God."

…..

"Was all that necessary for a mere student?" the female staff while brewing tea asked.

"I see you still haven't come out of that pride of yours, Reiyana." Ernos brought his leg down and sat with an even posture, returning to that cheerful and amicable person, a high contrast compared to that arrogant behavior.

"You are the heir of the Clawford family. That student, judging from his attitude and behavior, has no background of notice whatsoever. You even gave him your contact number?" Reiyana with a little bit of an agitated tone complained, her hand though never stopped.

"We humans are social animals. Each and everyone of us are incomplete. We rely on each other in many situations. It doesn't matter if you are a wanderer or non-wanderer, a government employee or a normal citizen. No matter what you are, you always need connection, relation. Only when we use our connection to the fullest that we can profit ourselves. Pride is a vain product of humanity. Learn to understand all and use all." Without taking any offense Ernos preached to Reiyana.

"What sort of benefit can a student of zero background give you?" Unconvinced, Reiyana retorted, her hand though kept moving without the least bit of imperfection.

"That guy earlier had Mathematical ability to join Sage's Academy and a Mental Endurance of the-"

"Here's your tea."

"Oh, thank you. As I was saying, he has a Mental Endurance of the highest level. Though he severely lacks in the physical department."

"If we want we can find many talents much better than him without any obvious weakness."

Ernos took a sip. His posture was very elegant, indicating that he was born of a high noble family with a strict regulation on body language.

"Do you know why we humans have come so far as a civilization?"

"Because of the discovery of magic." It was common knowledge.

"There's also that. But that is certainly not the true reason. The reason we truly stand where we are now is because we humans are weak."

"Weak?"

"Yes, Weak. A fragile body and short lifespan. In front of massive civilizations we were like lambs. Yet here we are, the blood of those civilizations on our hands. It's because we are weak. So we struggle. We struggle to overcome our weaknesses. That is what kept us pursuing greatness. That guy has strength as well as weakness. His weakness will always be a reminder to him, making him persevere. His weakness will make him walk."

"But-"

"There's no but. Those who haven't tasted failures will fall. This is the eternal truth, those who are talented in all aspects, they will NEVER achieve greatness."

Even after saying all these, Ernos saw the unwillingness to accept the truth in Reiyana's eyes. He suddenly recalled that quote- "Humans, each and everyone of them have their own point of view to which they stubbornly hold onto. Unless something drastic is experienced by them, they will not let go of their opinion. No matter how much anyone preaches to them."

'So she won't be able to improve just by my speech.' Ernos lamented and suddenly laughed.

"Why are you laughing so suddenly?"

"Nothing. Just thought of a funny thing. If speeches were enough to sway the mind of others, the world would be destroyed long ago. Isn't it so funny?"

"Is it?"

"It is." Ernos took another deep sip from the cup. It entirely did not matter how hot the tea was.

"You are very strong, Reiyana. The reason you are here working such menial jobs instead of not being sent to the discovery line is because your mindset is not suitable. Here's an order from your immediate senior. Remember every single student that came here. 4 years into the future compare yourself with them. You will see."

"Are you suggesting they will surpass me? That's rather rude."

Hearing Reiyana's voice that had a tinge of anger, Ernos smiled. He took a deep sip. 'You have no idea, woman.'

"Well, we will see it in the near future."

"Hmph, I am off then." She left, perhaps throwing a tantrum. Because her expression was too stiff it was unknown if she really threw a tantrum.

"What's this foolish girl doing? She left the tea pot and the rest of the utensils here. She needs to take them back." Ernos could only lament.

'If nothing drastic happens in between, she will only be of use to me after 4 years.' Is what Ernos thought as he thought of her actions.

….

Nevan walked absent-mindedly. He remembered that feeling of helplessness, the feeling of revering something. It was absolutely an enormous impact to him.

"Nevan that braggart was surely lying. He just wanted to tease the noob juniors." Black Nevan tried to appease Nevan. It was to no avail.

"Oi White. Say something." As the one who was the balance creator between them, it was White's responsibility to calm everyone from their unnatural state.

"Let's stop for a moment." White Nevan told Nevan to stop and continued,"Does it really matter what he felt and what we felt? Have we ever heard of a magician that has the feats of God? We are still just a normal civilization, if magic could make us God then we would be the number one civilization right now."

"So was he lying?" Nevan asked.

"It doesn't matter. The place where we stand now is the accomplishment of all the wanderers. Not just magicians. So what if we can't be magicians? Are magicians omnipotent? Of course not. That's all we need to know and strive for."

"That's right. What that boasting senior saw, we couldn't care less. We will use machines and technology to rival the magicians and eventually surpass them. Fuck magicians, fuck their mystique godly powers! We're gonna blast them with cannons!" A very passionate speech came from Black Nevan.

"Let's take the final test and enter a good academy." With a newfound resolution, the words of Ernos engraved in his heart Nevan started for room 0103.

"Eh?" Looking around Nevan saw room 0109 on the left and 0110 on the right.

Face-palming himself, he turned around and walked to 0103.