When Adam first manifested his psychic power, the world around him transformed. His senses became enhanced, allowing him to see further, hear clearer, and feel the world beyond the confines of his skin.

It was a terrifying change at first, causing him to destroy his first home when he panicked after bending a spoon in anger. Thankfully for him and the world, his parents were more than prepared to calm him. They were there to guide him as he came to tame his power and control his emotions, allowing him to live a normal life.

Looking back, it wasn't so normal. It took him several months before he got used to his senses. And it took him years more to command his power without accidentally destroying anything. It was a long process, but they succeeded nonetheless. His parents were all he could ask for, and more.

That said, he never found the limits of his power. His parents taught him how to create a forcefield, how to move the air itself, and how to more effectively project his power against a target. However, there was a difference between guiding his telekinesis to be more precise and accurate to brute force and raw strength.

Adam did not know the full might of his raw strength, and he dreaded to know how far he could go. After all, he did destroy their house when he was just five years old. But none of that mattered as long as he hid what he truly was.

And now he was here, alone in a new world that was rife with more dangers than his own, and he was about to be tested for potential that he did not have.

Adam briefly pondered why he was suddenly reminiscing about his past. It caused him more pain to remember what he had lost, and yet it also spurred him on in a way. He promised to do good, and to do so meant living on to honor the memory of those he loved.

Clenching his fist, he sighed away a heavy chest and welcomed what was to come. The only way for him was forward, and Adam set forth.

Carnos unwrapped the seer stone from its silken dress, revealing a translucent sphere that churned with color from within. Adam felt himself drawn in by the sphere. It was like a mild pull that beckoned him to lean close and place a hand on its surface.

Adam exerted his will, pushing against the influence with little effort. It was not potent like his previous encounter with magic which was much more painful, but the power was there still. The seer stone was not to be underestimated.

"No need to be anxious, Mr. Adam, the process is painless and requires no other preparation," Carnos explained as he placed the seer stone on his desk. He made sure to place the silk cloth underneath the sphere to keep it from rolling off, "All you need to do is place your dominant hand on the seer stone, then we wait for the result. Are you ready?"

Adam raised his right hand over the churning sphere of color and gulped. This was it, he thought. Will his psychic power be considered magic or will he be outed as a fraud? As he looked through the translucent ball and watched the swirling colors, he hoped for the best.

"I'm ready." Adam confirmed.

With his confirmation, Carnos stood and Ruk did the same. Carnos then snapped his fingers. As soon as he did so, every torch and candle inside the room was snuffed while rolled curtains unfurled and fell over the windows. The room drowned in darkness for a brief moment before the soft glow of the seer stone illuminated the room.

Another spell, Adam thought. He felt more amazed than bewildered at that moment. His eyes focused on the sphere as it churned on the desk.

"I, Carnos of House Ravan, Branchmaster of the Phoenix Guild, hereby officiate the ranking of Adam of the Sun. "

"This Ruk of the Sandhammer Clan bears witness to his human's trial!"

"I, Dasha of the Tallwood, bear witness to the ranking of Adam of the Sun."

Their voices were strong and resolute, a reflection of the importance they placed on the ceremony at hand. Adam gulped as he glanced around, seeing the serious expressions on all their faces.

"May the gods grant us favor, and may the seer speak its truth," Carnos added before removing his gaze from the sphere and turning towards Adam, "You may now place your hand on the seer stone."

It was time. Adam did as he was told and placed his right hand on the seer stone. It felt cold to the touch. He expected the surface to be smooth like glass but found it rough like stone. The colors within swirled faster and brighter as the seconds passed, causing the room to be filled with a rainbow of churning light.

When he placed his hand on the sphere, he expected one of two things to happen. Either the sphere reacted, or it didn't. It looked like the former was happening, but not according to the expectations of anyone present. A swirling wind began inside the room, forming a vortex that blew around the sphere.

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Adam glanced around and saw the looks on the faces of Carnos, Ruk, and Dasha. They were all looking at the sphere with confusion, paying little attention to the sudden gust. Carnos himself looked concerned and his mind seemed poised to intervene.

Was something wrong? Did he do something wrong? Was this a mistake all along? These questions flashed inside Adam's thoughts as he grappled with releasing his hand from the sphere or keeping it in place. No answer seemed right.

Then the air suddenly stilled and the glow of the sphere dimmed. The churning colors coalesced into one, turning white and blank as they merged. Adam stood there, unmoving and unsure as everyone else watched the sphere with bated breath, waiting for something else to happen.

Nothing. The sphere remained as it was. A minute passed before anyone moved, and Carnos was the first to do so. He slowly leaned forward and brought his eyes close to the sphere, inspecting what it held within. Afterwards, he stood up straight and looked around the dark room before his attention settled on Adam.

Carnos' face twisted slightly into a slight frown as he looked directly into Adam's eyes. There was judgment behind that gaze, and hostility.

"Adam of the Sun..." Carnos finally spoke, breaking the silence that choked the air, "You are no mage. You are a blank. But..."

Dasha gasped as she held her mouth while Ruk turned to Adam with an incredulous look. Carnos then snapped his fingers once more, causing the curtains to roll up and the candles and torches to reignite. Light returned to the room, but there was now tension in the air.

They now knew that he wasn't a real mage. However, the fact that the seer stone reacted at all before settling down into a white and blank slate felt odd to Adam. Carnos also left his words incomplete, letting the simple 'but' hang in the air. There was something amiss.

Carnos cleared his throat before returning to his stoic expression. He eyed Adam with a renewed interest, for his mind now displayed curiosity alongside the confusion he already had.

"Adam, what abilities do you really possess?" Carnos asked, "And please be honest, or else we might have to reject your application despite your recommendation."

Adam looked around the room again and saw the expectation in their eyes, and the doubt that had risen inside their minds. Dasha looked at him with a neutral gaze, but behind it were feelings of distrust. Ruk, on the other hand, had a frown on his place, but it wasn't one of anger or confusion. Instead, he was curious as well.

Adam then thought that doing the same trick he showed Baran and Fred wouldn't suffice. Therefore, if he was to realize his goal of becoming an Adventurer, he needed a proper proving ground.

"Is there an open space outside where it's safe to demonstrate?" Adam asked. He was tempted to say his excuses and justify his lie, but he realized that such efforts would only be in vain.

"There is," Carnos said, "Dasha, run over to the training grounds and make sure it's clear. We'll head there shortly."

Quickly bowing, Dasha sprinted out of the room and towards wherever the training grounds were. Adam turned towards Carnos and pondered what to say.

"I'm sorry," Adam settled for an apology, "I thought that, by your standards, I'd be a mage."

The branchmaster did not reply. Instead, he grabbed a blank piece of parchment and went to write with his quill. After a minute, he stamped the parchment with his personal seal and rolled it up before tying it with a ribbon. At a glance, it looked to be a message for someone, but to whom?

Carnos afterwards picked up the blank seer stone and wrapped it again with its silk cloth. He then cradled the magical item around his arms alongside the rolled up parchment and walked towards a chest besides one of the bookcases. With a wave of his hand, the chest sprang open and rays of light streaked from within. He placed both the seer stone and the parchment inside the chest before closing it normally with his hands.

"You haven't exactly answered my question, Mr. Adam. What sort of talent do you really possess?" Carnos suddenly asked. His neutral tone betrayed the curiosity and confusion within his mind. Peering closely, Adam could feel the sting of rising stress.

Adam knew that no answer could satisfy the branchmaster, nor would it make any sense even if he were to tell the truth. Psychic power did not rely on this so-called mana and neither did it manifest through invocations, incantations, or magic circles scribbled on the ground. He used no spells and wielded no staff. Psychic power was its own thing. His thing.

"It's better if I showed you, Mr. Carnos. No description of mine will do it justice." Adam said.

Carnos sighed, "From the moment you entered, you have been under the gaze of a truth spell. It informed me whether you were telling me the truth, half of said truth, or a lie. You have been giving me truths and half-truths, but not once did you utter a complete lie."

The reveal that Adam had been under the influence of a spell the moment he stepped inside this room sent a shiver down his spine. He realized then that some spells did not need to breach his mind to conduct what they were designed to do. It was a terrifying vulnerability to have.

"Why are you telling me this now?" Adam asked. It was counterintuitive for the branchmaster to reveal his cards and take away his advantage in the situation.

"Because you've once again told me the truth. I may not be as powerful as my peers back in the mainland, but I am still a rank 6 geomancer and the branchmaster of this branch. Magic is something I have dedicated most of my life to studying and practicing. That and much more. I do not just summon the earth to swallow my foes. So to say that you're certain of my ignorance to whatever talent you might have is a bold claim. Very bold."

The room fell silent as Adam and Carnos stared at each other. Ruk, meanwhile, found the entire thing amusing.

"You're still gonna be my partner, human, you'll see!" The orc claimed.

Dasha soon returned after a few minutes and informed them that the training grounds were ready. The long-eared woman did not sweat nor did she breath heavily despite the fact that she had been running to and fro.

Carnos was quick on his feet and led the way, with Dasha, Ruk, and Adam quickly falling behind him. Adam's heart began pounding inside his chest as they walked. Anxiety wrapped his mind. He was about to prove himself, but the circumstances did not look to be in his favor.