The corridor the interviewer led him to was, comparatively, empty. The other one had a constant, if sparse, line of people heading to it, while he was alone with his interviewer.
They only walked a short while before the man topped at the second door, labelled with a small plaque “Testing Room 2”, and knocked.
A woman, who looked a few years older than his interviewer, opened the door and greeted them.
“Please, come in,” she said, bringing them into the relatively small room.
It was roughly eight by ten metres with a ceiling that was surprisingly high at about five metres. There were two desks near the door and a large stone sitting on a marble pedestal in the middle of the room. One of the desks was occupied by a short and stout man with an epic beard.
Now, he knew that various species existed on Dovaynia, many matching those from popular culture and fantasy back on Earth. Heck, he’d even met a couple, like Megami the fox beastkin. But meeting one in person was still awesome.
If he had to guess, the awesomely bearded dwarf wouldn’t stand higher than five feet. Even then, the guy was broader than Joram, with slightly broader features than an average human would have. His hands were surprisingly large for his height, his fingers thick and strong, his booted feet looking similarly sturdy. That said, he looked like he could pick up a car. Then throw it at you.
“Hello, I am Lisette, one of you assessors,” she greeted Joram with a smile, her eyes also smiling behind her round glasses. “This is Warabec Onyxhand, your other assessor,” she said, motioning to the seated dwarf who responded by grunting as he turned to regard Joram.
“Please give us a moment to go over your information before we get to the assessment,” she said, then stepped over to Warabec so that he too could read the notes.
A moment later the dwarf snorted, managing to move his braided moustache with the air from nose. He looked over at Joram, brows drawing down slightly before turning back to the notes.
A minute later, Lisette stood straight again then took her seat as the second desk, motioning to Joram’s interviewer.
“Hugh, could you please take Joram to the testing stone?”
Hugh nodded, motioning for Joram to follow.
“You’ll need to place your hand here,” Hugh said, indicating a flat, round spot on the front of the tall stone. “Just concentrate on pushing in all your Mental Strength. The stone will display your results above,” he said, motioning vaguely at the top of the stone, three feet above where Joram’s hand would be placed.
“Sounds simple enough,” Joram said, placing his hand on the cool stone as Hugh stepped to the side.
Since he’d probably break the stone if he used psijic energy, he wisely reached for his psionic power, then focussed it through his hand and into the stone, making sure to hold back. He wasn’t sure what this stone was graded for, but since his reserves were… vast, he didn’t want to risk breaking it and having to pay for it.
* * * * *
Lisette usually enjoyed coming out for registration week, as it allowed her to see and meet new people. She was a people-person. She also liked meeting new talents and making their acquaintance, something that has been both useless and useful in the past.
This time, however, she’d been assigned to test Mental Strength with old Warabec.
She didn’t have anything against the dwarf. He was a very talented artifact refiner. He worked hard, studied hard, and that was about it. He didn’t talk.
Which made this week especially hard for her. Applicants with the talent for Mental Strength were practically non-existent to the number of successful academic applicants. She’d met two, TWO!, in the last week! And there were only two testing rooms!
When a knock finally came, it woke her from a half-sleep she’d slipped into, jarring her awake. Warabek just looked at her as he stored his book away, obviously wanting her to answer the door. It didn’t matter, though, because she was already halfway to it as she quickly checked for drool and straightened her blazer.
“Please, come in,” she said, bringing Hugh and the applicant into the room.
She’d known Hugh for several years now, mostly meeting at the yearly registration week. He was an average guy, of average height and looks, with slightly above average grades. But a nice enough fellow, all told.
The applicant, though, had her professionalism kick into overdrive to keep a natural smile on her face.
He was a bit taller than her, though he looked to be still young enough to have room for future growth. His hair was an amazing purple that almost matched lavender blossoms while his eyes were a vibrant green that reminder her of leaves in late spring.
Before her mind could get any more distracted, she introduced herself as she took the application and note from Hugh.
“Hello, I am Lisette, one of you assessors,” she said, directing it to the young man. “This is Warabec Onyxhand, your other assessor,” she said, motioning to the dwarf of few words who responded by grunting as he turned to look at the young man.
“Please give us a moment to go over your information before we get to the assessment,” she said, then stepped over to Warabec.
She leaned over so that he could read along, slowly going through Joram’s information.
She was shocked to see that he was only fifteen years old but was mollified when she saw that he also practiced body cultivation. Which would explain his robust physique.
They skipped ahead to the page that contained his Mental Strength and crafting experience. She noticed Warabec’s eyes widen as he read Joram’s level of Mental Strength, feeling her eyes do the same as shock jolted them wide.
Then Warabec snorted and turned to regard Joram for a moment after reading what he’d written there.
She couldn’t blame him. Not only did he claim to be a 3rd Tier Alchemist, but also a 3rd Tier Artifact Refiner. Well, given that Joram claimed to be in the 3rd Tier Mentalist, a practitioner of Mental Strength already, that really shouldn’t have surprised her. If you were going to claim that at such a young age, may as well go for broke.
She looked at Warabec and got a slight nod before standing and making her way to her chair at her own desk.
“Hugh, could you please take Joram to the testing stone?” She asked, keeping her tone casual.
It was rare that someone would try to claim that their ability was higher than it was, but it did happen sometimes. Though, it was usually for an older applicant, hoping to sneak their way into the Academy in an effort to finally advance their skills. So it was a bit surprising to see what looked like a promising and upright young man do so.
“You’ll need to place your hand here,” Hugh told Joram as they stopped in front of the Testing Stone, indicating where he should place his hand. “Just concentrate on pushing in all your Mental Strength. The stone will display your results above,” he said, motioning at the top of the stone three feet above the activation plate.
“Sounds simple enough,” Joram said, placing his hand on the activation plate as Hugh stepped to the side so that they could clearly see the results of the test. The Testing Stone was turned slightly so the assessors could also watch the applicant’s face, enabling them to spot any signs of stress or overexertion.
Lisette glanced over at Warabec, getting a slight shrug. It seemed that he wasn’t expecting much either.
The testing stone had a relatively simple design. Once Mental Strength was pushed into the activation place, it would measure the force it was pushed through with, giving an accurate reading of the person’s Tier. The number that was displayed would then appear above the stone, rotating for all to see. The size of the number would give an idea of how far along the person was in that Tier. At the same time that the number was displayed, that number would then fill with colour to give an indication how much Mental Strength was pushed into the Testing Stone, giving a relatively accurate estimate of the person’s reserves of Mental Strength.
The number would start of white, indicating a very low capacity. It would then change to red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, then violet, each colour indicating a different level of that person’s capacity.
She and Warabec watched, and felt, as Joram pushed his energy into the activation place, causing a number to flicker into view above it.
It started off as a small “1”, which wasn’t too surprising since he’d claimed to be 3rd Tier. It would have been too far a stretch to get away with otherwise. What shocked her was that the number went from white to violet almost instantly as the digit grew to its maximum size, then morphed into a small “2”.
The colour didn’t change, but the digit soon reached its maximum size again and morphed into a “3”. That, too, quickly grew in size until it abruptly stopped just before it could once again reach its maximum size.
Eyes wide, she looked over to Warabec and saw that he was also astonished, his eyes a bit wider than usual as his moustache seemed to rise just a little bit at its tips. She quickly turned back to look at Joram and noticed that he seemed to be sweating a bit as he looked at the number floating above the Testing Stone.
Hugh looked like he’d been smacked by a fish that had stood up from a chopping block.
“So, how’d it go?” Joram asked, scratching the back of his head, looking nervous as could be.
It had been a very long time since an applicant had astonished her so. There were many people who applied every year, from children taking their first steps in studying mana all the way to old fossils wanting to try to get that last bit they needed to make a breakthrough to the next Tier that would extend their lives. She’d also seen many people gifted in Mental Strength come to either learn how it use it or to refine their existing skills.
Of the latter students, those wishing to study Mental Strength were generally a good decade older than those wishing to study mana, as that talent usually didn’t appear until near adulthood.
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That Joram appeared to still be in his mid-teens and had actually reached the 3rd Tier before coming here, not to mention his ludicrous reserves, was a once-in-a-lifetime-or-nine kind of event. She was no expert, as she wasn’t particularly talented with Mental Strength and thus hadn’t really studied the history around it, but she was certain that Joram was beyond abnormal.
“Um, hello?” She heard Joram pipe up, snapping her out of her thoughts. “Did I pass?”
Lisette took a moment to calm herself before speaking.
“Yes, please follow Hugh. He’ll take you to where you need to go next,” she said, managing to sound only faintly out of breath.
Hugh snapped out of his own stupor then. “Yes, please follow me.”
As they were about to pass by, Joram stopped and smiled at them.
“It was nice meeting you,” he said with a quick bow before hurrying after a stiffly walking Hugh.
She managed a nod which she heard a soft grunt from Warabec. The door closed, leaving them in silence.
The silence stretched out as Lisette slowly turned to regard the old dwarf. They stared at each other as the dark violet 3 above the Testing Stone slowly faded away. Another indication of Joram’s abnormality.
“He’s a monster,” Warabec drawled out, his deep voice sounding like gravel grinding together. “I’ve got dibs.”
Lisette’s jaw dropped as she stared at the Tier 4 Artifact Refiner in shock.
“Wh-, No!” She spluttered out, her brain finally catching up to what he’d just said. “The Alchemy Department will fight tooth, nail, fang, and claw for him!”
“I’d like to see them try,” he grated out, a small smile touching the corners of his mouth. “Who do you thing makes their cauldrons and pill furnaces?”
There really wasn’t anything to say to that.
* * * * *
Joram was pretty sure that he’d screwed up.
When the “1” that had appeared above the rock had gone from white to blue in the blink of an eye, he quickly choked back how much psionic power he was pushing into the stone. He was just in time for the stone to stabilize at a dark violet as he watched the number grow in size, then morph to the next one in sequence.
When it reached 3, he started to ease the pressure with which he pushed his psionic energy, managing to stop the growth of the number before it could max out.
He was so nervous that he was sweating.
If this rock worked like the ones he’d read about, then violet was as high an evaluation as these things would go before breaking. He didn’t want, or need, to make a ridiculous display here that attracted too much attention. His goal was to study for a few years, growing as much as possible in that time while avoiding getting head-hunted and tied down.
Joram glanced over at Hugh and knew that he’d botched it.
The man’s mouth was hanging slack as he looked up at the number displayed above. He then glanced over to Lisette and Warabec and found their states to be similar. Well, Warabec’s face hadn’t changed that much, but he had that faraway look in his eyes of someone who’s mind was elsewhere.
“So, how’d it go?” He asked, trying hard to keep his voice steady. He was very pleased when it didn’t crack on him.
After a minute of waiting, and his stomach sinking further towards his boots, he spoke again.
“Um, hello? Did I pass?” He asked, still proud that his voice didn’t crack.
That finally seemed to get through to wherever their minds had gone, because Lisette’s mouth closed as she took a breath while Warabec’s focus came back.
“Yes, please follow Hugh. He’ll take you to where you need to go next,” she said, sounding as though she had a hard time getting a full breath.
Hugh snapped out of his own stupor then. “Yes, please follow me,” he said, then strode towards the door, collecting Joram’s application as he passed Lisette and opened the door.
He reprimanded himself again for nearly botching it as he followed Hugh to the door. Before he followed Hugh out, though, Joram stopped and smiled at his assessors.
“It was nice meeting you,” he said with a quick bow before following a robotic Hugh out the door and into the hall.
Hugh didn’t say anything as he led Joram further into the building, slowly regaining a more natural posture as they went.
Joram wasn’t terribly surprised to note that there were only two examination rooms for Mental Strength. As the hallway turned to the left, he realized that the lion’s share of space was taken up by magical examination rooms. Their lone hallway finally met up with the other one in a small reception-like room with a few more desks.
As he suspected, only a few applicants stayed in this room while almost everyone else exited through a door on the north wall opposite to where he and Hugh had exited their hallway.
Hugh didn’t waste any time as he strode to a desk, sat down, and motioned for Joram to do the same. Having done so, Hugh then activated the privacy ward before he continued.
“Thank you for your application,” he said, nodding. “The Grand Waeryn Academy gladly accepts your enrolment. The fee for a first-year, Tier 3 crafter is ten High-Grade Tier 2 Crystals. This includes a set of uniforms, room, board, and a courseload consisting of up to five classes per term for your first year. Basic supplies for your chosen Trade will be provided, but any rare materials must be purchased or acquired by yourself.
“If you would like non-standard accommodations, you have the option of upgrading for an additional fee. Study materials, such as textbooks, are also an additional fee.”
“Ah, does that mean that I can only study one Trade for what I paid?” He asked, a slight sinking feeling forming in his stomach.
“Although I would not recommend dividing your studies, you can certainly do so. For each additional Trade you wish to study, an additional fee of seven High-Grade Tier 2 Crystals is required.”
The sinking feeling turned into a pit.
“And, ah, how much would it be to get an upgrade that would accommodate three servants?”
Hugh blinked at him, then retrieved a small book from one of the drawers in his desk. After flipping through it for a second, he stopped and looked up at Joram.
“Anywhere from an additional ten High-Grade Tier 2 Crystals to an additional eighty-seven,” he said, his poker face doing itself proud.
Joram just about choked, but kept his cool.
He certainly had enough money to pay for that given how well his [Mend Body] topazes had sold. But he was also helping fund the reconstruction of his Clan. He very much wanted to make sure that everything was built with high-end construction materials. He didn’t want anything to fall apart a few decades after it was all built.
That said, he would likely have to send M3 or M4 to help with construction and materials gathering while he studied here.
His thoughts turned back to the present as he noticed Hugh giving him an expectant look.
“Say,” he said, a thought occurring to him. “Does the Academy deal with a particular bank? Is it possible to arrange for automatic withdrawals?”
Hugh nodded. “Yes, that is indeed possible. The Academy also has its own bank that you can deposit funds into. You’ll get more of an explanation of it during orientation, though.”
“Ah, then are you able to make a deposit here, or do we have to go to the Academy first?”
“We have a teller stationed here for just such an occasion,” Hugh replied, motioning to a clerk standing behind a chest-high desk with what looked like force screens in place of windows.
“Get much trouble?” Joram asked, quirking an eyebrow at the sight.
“It never hurts to be careful,” Hugh replied cheerily. “So, would you like to look through the available spaces for rent?” He asked, sliding the book across the table so that Joram could see.
Every listing came with a pleasant-looking courtyard, complete with a pond and gazebo. Some looked fancier than others, the buildings sporting different architectural themes. Some seemed to be in higher demand based on their style. But mostly the increased costs revolved around the mana gathering arrays listed.
The two listings that would cost a total of ninety Crystals had high-end arrays that would help anyone cultivating there immensely. He knew that the Trio would need all the help they could get in their cultivation, especially Bai Lian and Wentian, as they both needed to regain their previous Realms.
It would also make things more comfortable for him as he also continued to cultivate mana.
After a few minutes he came to a decision, choosing the residence that had the Chinese theme he was used to having grown up in his Clan.
“Good choice,” Hugh said with a nod. “I’ll arrange it immediately if you could make your way to the clerk, who’ll set up an account for you. Once you’re done, please return and we’ll complete the registration process.”
Joram nodded, stood up, then made his way over to the clerk.
She looked to be about middle-aged with a kindly countenance. He noticed that she was also much shorter than him as he realized that she was standing on a small stand to be able to speak with him at eye level.
“Hello, how may I assist you today?” She asked with a smile that would make anyone think of a welcoming mother as she served food to her family.
Joram blinked at that weird thought, then shrugged.
“I would like to open an account, please,” he said, giving her his second best smile, causing the clerk to blink a few times before continuing.
“Then, please provide…”
* * * * *
Macey kept on smiling as the young man, Joram, made his way back to Hugh to finish his registration. Once the privacy screen went back up, she let her smile slip back down to her standard pleasant expression.
It wasn’t unusual to have a rich young kid come in and create an account with the Academy’s Heavenly Trove, their bank. Nor was it unusual for them to make arrangements to pay for tuition and an upgraded residence.
What was unusual was Joram’s reaction.
She was used to making men blush and gush over her, making it easy to slip in some extra services for additional fees, thus making the bank more money, and getting her a few more commissions. No, Joram had just looked at her like they were speaking with their granny. As though her active illusion spell hadn’t affected him in the least.
On the contrary, she was the one put on the back foot. Between his reaction and his dazzling smile, she had nearly forgotten how old she was. With her imagination whirling in overtime, she’d missed out on selling the additional packages, and thus the extra commissions.
What especially intrigued her was that she felt no magical cultivation from him at all, but instead a profound depth to his Mental Strength.
She wasn’t unfamiliar with Mentalists; she was one herself. She was intimately familiar with their ins and outs. How strong they tended to be at each Tier, how deep their wells went, as it were.
This Joram is going to be someone worth watching, she thought with another smile.
* * * * *
Hugh watched as Joram left through the Eastern Door to meet up with his servants. He’d made sure to send a message to one of the attendants in the main lobby to gather up Joram’s entourage to have them meet Joram.
He tapped his desk, thinking.
He was fairly sure that Joram was as young as he claimed, perhaps as much as a couple years younger, but it was hard to tell with Body Cultivators as that cultivation method messed with such estimates.
No, either way, Joram was a prodigy. But the question was whether or not he was a natural prodigy or a Reincarnator.
If he was the former, then the boy had a lot to learn yet. If he was the latter, then he wondered what old things might be brought back into the public eye.
He wasn’t familiar with Mental Strength, so he wasn’t going to try to make any guesses regarding that. But he was quite familiar with Lisette, and her reaction to Joram’s testing was more than telling. He’d never seen her as shocked as she’d been after seeing Joram’s results in all the years he’d managed to work with her during Registration Week.
He sighed, the thought that Lisette wasn’t interested in him once again running through his mind. Just as he got up another interviewer came out of the Mentalist assessment hall followed by a stunning youth.
All thoughts of Lisette immediately fled his mind as a strong wind would clear away the morning fog. Not only had another Mentalist been accepted, judging by the excited look on Jin’s face, but a new entry into the Goddess Ranking as well.
* * * * *
Joram saw the Trio waiting for him once he was out the back door, accompanied by a young man dressed in the same style uniform as the attendants from the lobby. Avi had already let him know that’d she’d gone off to do her own thing, so he wasn’t surprised at her absence.
“If you would follow me, I’ll take you to where you can stay the night,” he said, all professionalism, then turned back to the city and led the way to a small high-rise.
After passing through the well-made, if a bit gaudy, doors they were greeted by an employee (?) who then directed them to the front desk. Joram was shockingly reminded of a modern hotel in how everything was laid out. They even used various artifacts, what he would have called “Wondrous Items”, that could have passed for a tablet back on Earth.
Well, in function if not so much in form. They looked to be made of a thick sheet of some sort of crystal with a thin metal backing that wrapped around the edges to the front where it joined seamlessly to create an entirely smooth surface. Aside from that physical similarity, the “display” wasn’t as high resolution as tablets back home, but was just as vibrant without the need for a backlight.
As he was introduced to the receptionist, a young woman with a pleasant smile, Joram watched as she quickly inputted his information, using his newly acquired student card to complete the process.
The student ID card reminded him of the VIP card he’d received from the Heaven’s Bounty Auction House. The difference between the two was that his student card looked to be made from a clear crystal that had white metal border. Well, that and they’d somehow etched his face inside the crystal portion of his card.
The receptionist looked up at Joram once she finished registering them, then nodded to their escort.
“Thank you, I’ll take it from here,” she said, turning to Joram and company. “You’ll be in one of then penthouse suites, room 1402 on the fourteenth floor. Breakfast will be at dawn, so please come on time. After that, someone will bring all students to the port for transport to the Academy,” she said, laying it out clearly and concisely in a pleasant and professional manner. “On behalf of the Grand Waeryn Academy, we hope you enjoy your stay.”