Sigurd the head mage who was squatting like a statue finally awakened and the first thing he does is make threats.

He just told us to behave or else fate worse than death awaited us.

He made threats to us who were just 12-year-old brats with some of them still having their milk teeth in place. Despite how arrogant and misbehaved these 2nd tier exemplary candidates acted, they were still just a bunch of kids.

Despite the arrogance, these kids revered the head mage as a hero figure so of course they were disheartened.

The threat of the head mage fell in the kids' ears like war drums.

All the candidates suddenly fell silent like the dead. There were even some girls who were tearing up. Literally, everyone’s shoulders were trembling after hearing Sigurd’s warning.

Even Trisha and Hendrickson, who were always calm and composed, had worried expressions.

Sigurd glanced around at the silent scared kids with his condescending eyes. His glowing eyes made it rather hard to guess his emotion but he sounded a bit angry. He was still standing in the center in a squatting posture with his hands in the front. Still menacing as ever.

Yes, these 2nd tier candidates did act a bit arrogant… a little too arrogant but I think the head mage is equally guilty for making them arrogant in the first place.

The head mage placing the title of ‘Exemplary Candidates’ certainly bloated the egos of these candidates who had some petty gains in the Blessing Rituals. No wonder they started acting all proud and arrogant as they had some conceited reality in the back of their heads.

Young kids like these are gullible and can get a big head easily when they are praised even a little.

In the same manner, if you use a threat, they will easily be vulnerable and get scared as well. Especially if the head mage using a high spirit possession skill with glowing eyes makes the threat even scarier.

The worst thing is that he actually killed the whole vibe before the ascension ceremony.

Right now there was a heavy atmosphere and pin-drop silence.

Only the sound of our platform descending slowly downwards echoed in the chamber.

Suddenly a girl with long curly blonde hair stepped forward and stood before Sigurd.

“I apologize on behalf of everyone for our uncouth behavior.” saying so she bowed her head before him.

This girl was none other than Trisha Valencia, the knight apprentice.

Sigurd didn’t say anything, just stared at her.

Finally, one by one all the candidates followed Trisha and bowed their heads,

“We are all really sorry,” said everyone in sync.

Even I and Jason had to join the apologetic gang to please the upset head mage.

Jason even forced the sobbing Marcia to bow her head despite the tears and snot she was leaking from her orifices.

If Sigurd wanted, he could easily get rid of us kids by mere farting, that's how powerful mages are when they are in a divine spirit possession state.

Trisha knew the temper of an angry mage. If that wasn’t the case, there’s no way a knight apprentice would bow their head so easily.

Sigurd then finally looked around all the candidates and nodded with satisfaction.

A smile appeared on Sigurd’s face,

“Raise your heads. It's a good thing that you didn’t step out of the line. If you kids really had even touched those mana crystals on the walls, then there would have been serious repercussions. These were to be faced by all, I mean even the candidates who didn’t want the crystal would be equally guilty for not stopping them.”

As soon as the statement came, I could literally see a cold shiver running down the spine of those illegal mining candidates. They literally froze where they were almost reevaluating their life decisions. Even the candidates who didn’t participate in the mining were equally scared.

Trisha glanced at Hendrickson who was standing next to her.

He noticed Trisha’s gaze and turned his face away gritting his teeth. Although his brows were moist with a lot of sweat.

Trisha saved their arse, twice now.

Wait, I am on the same team as them.

I was also this close to losing my chance to get enrolled because of these dumb kids. Losing a seat in the royal academy because of some dumb glowing rocks is just bonkers.

I knew it, Sigurd was observing us the whole time.

The head mage then suddenly turned his head toward the direction of Trisha,

“Also infighting in the ceremony campus has been restricted. I did make myself clear before in the amphitheater,”

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Trisha and Hendrickson were surprised as Sigurd looked on their way.

They quickly lowered their heads and got on their knees.

“My deepest apologies for letting you see such unsavory behavior”

“I am sorry as well,” said Trisha and Hendrickson simultaneously.

Sigurd looked at them condescendingly,

“Well, it’s a good thing that you didn’t go all the way with your fight. If you two really had exchanged blows with your new profound abilities, that would mean immediate termination of your seats as mage candidates.”

Trisha’s head hung down to the floor filled with shame. Never thought I would see a knight apprentice in such a petty state.

Meanwhile, Hendrickson gritted his teeth as he lowered his head. His brows were sweaty and he was filled with fear to the point as if he would just want to run away.

Sigurd was quite satisfied with their apologies as he nodded,

“That’s enough, on your feet. I don’t want to expel the top two mage candidates from the exceptional list. That would also tarnish the image of the board of mage moderators who handpicked you from their list. So this one time, I’ll turn a blind eye,”

Hendrickson got up and let out a sigh.

Trisha suddenly got up and crossed her arm and bowed gracefully,

“Thank you for overlooking our terrible demeanor. I promise to mend my ways and never let you see this terrible behavior ever again.”

Hendrickson also followed suit,

“Yes, thank you for giving us this new opportunity.”

I just sneered from the side at these two kids.

They are said to be the top two candidates but now they are groveling their heads before Sigurd. Pathetic- Wait a minute.

Wait, Sigurd just said that Trisha and Hendrickson were the ‘Top Two’ candidates of the exemplary candidates. Doesn’t that prove that the rankings of the candidates are actually based on the order of the names called during the announcement?

If that's the case, wasn’t my name uttered the last? Doesn’t that make me the last candidate to barely make the cut?

I did such a wonderful job and I was still placed last, what a pathetic scoring system!

The head mage continued,

“ You don’t need to thank me. If anything the person you must thank should be candidate Benjamin Almond. If he hadn’t warned you, your little bout might have ended your career as a mage candidate then and there.”

As I was a bit convoluted with my ranking I suddenly heard my name being called out. I was surprised and looked in the front and suddenly everyone was staring right at me.

There was the head mage Sigurd, Trisha, Hendrickson, and Jason, and everyone just started looking in my direction as if I was some saint savior or something.

“Huh?” I muttered confusedly.

Why am I being the center of attention again?

Sigurd tilted his head and stared at me,

“I was just curious, how did you notice that I was monitoring the candidates despite being in a deep unconscious state? This is a high-tier skill and shouldn’t be noticed even by the most high-level sensory mages. Somehow you saw through and warned your fellow candidate. Perhaps you have gained peak sensory abilities, maybe you are a psychic mage who already reached 2nd tier,”

I just blankly stared at the head mage.

“Eh?”

What the fuck is the guy talking about?

Sensory abilities? Psychic mage?

I did say - ‘Oi, head mage Sigurd is watching you’ as a mere joke to prank those two arrogant brats. I also did say it was just a trick, didn’t I?

But now if I say that was all just hullabaloo on my part, won’t that paint Sigurd’s own judgment in a bad light? His big assumption if I say it is just dead ass wrong, would surely infuriate the head mage even further. He would surely kill me on the spot for disagreeing with him.

It would be wiser to play along for now,

“Oh, that! I-I~ I actually really wasn’t sure but,” I started scratching my head, “it's just that the surrounding mana in the air spoke to me. It said there was a powerful master of mana art currently monitoring us and we should behave to the best of our behavior to not lest anger him. At first, I wasn’t sure because the voice was a bit choppy and hard to understand. But when it said powerful master of mana art, there should be no such powerful mana art master other than yours truly, the head mage. So I quickly warned the two not indulge in combat,"

Soon the candidates broke into gossip,

“Wow! He converses with the mana?”

“I didn’t feel like anyone was observing us.”

“Is that some kind of sixth sense?”

“Doesn’t that make him a powerful psychic mage?”

“But isn’t he just a 1st tier mage?”

Sigurd nodded with a smile,

“The power to converse with the mana, now that's an interesting ability. I wonder what powerful abilities you might gain. I have high expectations from you, Benjamin Almond.”

Oh crap, he bought it.

I just humbly bowed my head,

“Thank you, sir! I hope to meet your expectations and certainly become a mage that you could be proud of.”

The 2nd tier candidates who were giving me the rotten attitude and cold shoulder now looked at me in a new light.

Although Jason looked at me with strange eyes. It was like he had some doubts, hence why he was trying to distance himself from me. What’s his deal? Nevermind him.

Even Trisha, the knight apprentice was looking in my direction followed by a sweet smile. It seems the knight apprentice was genuinely smitten by prowess. Never seen her smiling ever before.

Beside her stood Hendrickson who was ferociously glaring at me, as if he was out for blood. I don’t know what got into him but he should be genuinely thankful for saving his bacon.

Hendrickson stepped forward,

“Benjamin! Didn’t you say that it was just a dumb trick back then?”

I just scratched my ears,

“Oh, I never said that. I spoke the truth-”

*Rumble*

There was a sudden jolt as our bodies moved.

To our surprise, the platform that we were standing on came to a halt. We almost tripped on our toes. We had almost forgotten that the platform was descending down the chamber hall.

Sigurd's little talk just shocked us and we all forgot that we were inside a chamber.

“We are here,” said Sigurd, “This is Underground Grand Basilica Chamber, the place where we shall be holding your ascension trial”

There was just silence.

“...”

This place?

We strolled our eyes through this place and all we could see… was pitch-black darkness.