Chapter 75: Talent Evaluation
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Princess Qamari restrained her displeasure, looking indifferently at the two men. This time, she could not push them away. They were specifically assigned by the Great Magician to guide them through the academy and help get settled in. As such, she might as well go and get over with the matter.
Teng Wang saw the girl frown at the sound of his voice. Without a doubt, she was not taken with him. A self-mocking simile appeared on his face, his bright eyes becoming overcast.
'And here I was getting over confident in my looks. Just because the little apprentices adore me, does not mean she will as well.'
Dejected, he lowered his head.
It was one thing for him to fall in love. It was another to obtain it. How was he going to obtain the love of a girl who seemed to dislike his very presence?
As he wallowed in sadness, lost in thought, Rong Li spoke.
"Every year, freshmen's get their talent evaluated in the testing hall to determine their elemental ability and talent level. This will mark the start of their training as a magician. We need to go to the hall before the courses you will be taking can be determined. Let us go." He nodded to Princess Qamari and turned, taking the lead towards a giant crimson glass palace.
"Finally, I will be able to know my talent level!"
"I want to know what my elemental magic is. I hope it is fire or water. They are very useful for attack or defense."
"I want mine to be wood or earth. Then, I will not have to worry about food or shelter."
"What level do you think our elemental magic will be at?"
The female apprentices fell into step behind, excitedly whispering among themselves as they pointed towards the crimson glass palace.
Sighing in defeat, Princess Qamari stood and walked past the dazed Teng Wang who snapped back to his senses the moment he sensed her movements. Not even sparing the scrambling guy a glance, she joined the proceeding throng.
Teng Wang hurried after Princess Qamari, his heart beating in nervous thrill. Felling into step beside her, he repeatedly opened and closed his mouth to say something, anything.
However, for the first time in his life, Teng Wang felt too nervous to open his mouth. The girl's ice-cold countenance did not help the situation.
'How could speaking to a girl be so difficult? I have been unsuccessfully trying to open my mouth for the past few minutes!' He thought with frustration.
In the end, he was not able to speak a single word and, midst his frantic and anxious fretting, they arrived before the glass palace.
The new apprentices impatiently flowed into the palace, appearing before a spacious white hall. The wide hall was plain, with no decorations or mosaics anywhere to be found on the white walls or floor. A large white globe floated in the center of the hall, emitting a faint glow of soft light.
Behind the globe were two white doors embedded into the glass wall. The wide glass wall displayed everything inside the rooms beyond the two doors.
Clear crystal stones covered the entire rooms, their crystalline radiance filling the empty space, as the faint hums of magic echoed.
The instant the apprentices entered the glass palace, two elders standing to the side, rushed forward to prevent them from proceeding any further.
"New apprentices, please stop. We understand that you are anxious to get their talents tested and recorded. However, only 2 individuals can enter the stone hall at one time. As such, we request you to place your identification plaques on the round globe in the center. The order of participants will be determined by random drawing." Teng Wang and Rong Li entered the hall just as the elder's speech concluded.
Moving forward, they respectfully greeted the two spectating elders in charge of the testing.
"Elder Yun, Elder Kang, we will be troubling you."
"It is no trouble at all, juniors Teng and Rong. This is our duty and responsibility. As elders of the academy, we are overjoyed to see new blood flowing into the academy. This year more so, than the previous years." Elder Yun jovially replied, stroking his gray beard.
"Yes, juniors Rong and Teng. This is our duty, and if I may so add, a duty that we immensely enjoy fulfilling." Elder Kang added from the side.
"Are this all of our new apprentices, or do we need to wait a little longer? Are the Marikeen prospectives present?" He curiously looked at the buzzing apprentices, his own inquisitive gaze glowing with anticipation.
"Yes, elder Kang. This are all the new apprentices. As for the three prospective Marikeen, they are Marui Osklain, Aarya Quime, and Princess Qamari. You should be able to find them easily as they are the only ones with black hair and purple eyes." Turning, he addressed the apprentices that nervously shifted about in anxiety.
"From here, the elders will take care of everything. Junior sisters, you just need to follow their instructions." As he said this, Rong Li was looking at Princess Qamari.
Even as she kept to the back of the crowd, she stood out from her fellow apprentices. Her tall, graceful figure, appeared to be in an isolated space of its own, untainted and untarnished by her surrounding.
'I wonder what level her talent is.'
For the first time since his entrance into the academy, he was curious about a female.
As a green level talent, he enjoyed the attention and adoration of the females in the academy. It did not matter if they were first, second, or third years. Every girl in the academy relentlessly pursued him, wearing down his enthusiasm.
From the initial flustered and flattered feelings, his emotions slowly turned numb over time.
Before he even realized, he unconsciously began snubbing and ignoring the females in the academy, finding nothing worthy of wasting his attention and time in them.
That was the case until now.
Rong Li found himself drawn to this female even when he despised her attitude and mannerisms.
"Yes, senior brother!" The students exclaimed cheerfully, theri faces flushed and eyes glowing with expectations.
Startled back to his senses, Rong Li helplessly shook his head in exasperation. He could not believe he was interested in a freshman. Not wanting to pay any more attention to her, he turned and stood a distant corner.
"Alright, new apprentices! The order of your talent evaluation will be drawn randomly according to the system of random testing. Place your identification plaques inside the globe. The globe will glow with the names of two individuals." Pointing towards the floating white globe, Elder Yun continued.
"Every two draws, the two individuals will enter each of the stone room ahead. The stones will first light up in the color of your elemental ability, then deepen or soften in coloring according to the level of your elemental ability."
"From there, we can determine what level your talent is at. Is that clear?" By the use of magic, Elder Yun's voice spread clearly and evenly throughout the spacious hall, reaching every student.
"Yes, elder!" The students responded impatiently.
Most of the students present came from unusual backgrounds, having stray magicians as teachers, parents, or relatives. Due to the connection, they either had introductory knowledge of the stone veins and how they worked, or got the test done in a crude manner.
As such, they were more interested in getting started with the test itself, than hearing things they already knew.
"Since you understand, than there is no need for us to repeat redundant information. Now, you may go ahead with placing your plaques in the globe." Satisfied, Elder Yun nodded in delight.
He too, was impatient to get started with the significant matter of the whole academy's focus. From this initial testing, they would be a able to get an idea of who the Marikeen could be.
From the elemental magic and level of talent they display, they could make inferences to the Marikeen's identity.
As such, more than the new apprentices that were in a rush to find out about their talent level and ability, the elders of the academy were in a hurry.
"Come, let us drop our plaques first. Maybe, that will allow our names to show up first."
"Hahaha, you wish! If first come first serve was the way it worked, would we even need the random testing?"
"Exactly! But, even if it is not first come, first serve, we should still not be the last ones to drop our plaques."
Receiving the permission to get started, the new apprentices uniformly moved towards the white globe, placing their plaques before its white glow, before it got sucked into the globe.
The more plaques sucked into the plaque, the more the radiant white glow of the globe increased. Soon, the glow covered the whole hall in a soft white light.
'What sort of magic is this?'
Being the last to place her plaque, Princess Qamari was nearly blinded by the white glow.
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Princess Qamari restrained her displeasure, looking indifferently at the two men. This time, she could not push them away. They were specifically assigned by the Great Magician to guide them through the academy and help get settled in. As such, she might as well go and get over with the matter.
Teng Wang saw the girl frown at the sound of his voice. Without a doubt, she was not taken with him. A self-mocking simile appeared on his face, his bright eyes becoming overcast.
'And here I was getting over confident in my looks. Just because the little apprentices adore me, does not mean she will as well.'
Dejected, he lowered his head.
It was one thing for him to fall in love. It was another to obtain it. How was he going to obtain the love of a girl who seemed to dislike his very presence?
As he wallowed in sadness, lost in thought, Rong Li spoke.
"Every year, freshmen's get their talent evaluated in the testing hall to determine their elemental ability and talent level. This will mark the start of their training as a magician. We need to go to the hall before the courses you will be taking can be determined. Let us go." He nodded to Princess Qamari and turned, taking the lead towards a giant crimson glass palace.
"Finally, I will be able to know my talent level!"
"I want to know what my elemental magic is. I hope it is fire or water. They are very useful for attack or defense."
"I want mine to be wood or earth. Then, I will not have to worry about food or shelter."
"What level do you think our elemental magic will be at?"
The female apprentices fell into step behind, excitedly whispering among themselves as they pointed towards the crimson glass palace.
Sighing in defeat, Princess Qamari stood and walked past the dazed Teng Wang who snapped back to his senses the moment he sensed her movements. Not even sparing the scrambling guy a glance, she joined the proceeding throng.
Teng Wang hurried after Princess Qamari, his heart beating in nervous thrill. Felling into step beside her, he repeatedly opened and closed his mouth to say something, anything.
However, for the first time in his life, Teng Wang felt too nervous to open his mouth. The girl's ice-cold countenance did not help the situation.
'How could speaking to a girl be so difficult? I have been unsuccessfully trying to open my mouth for the past few minutes!' He thought with frustration.
In the end, he was not able to speak a single word and, midst his frantic and anxious fretting, they arrived before the glass palace.
The new apprentices impatiently flowed into the palace, appearing before a spacious white hall. The wide hall was plain, with no decorations or mosaics anywhere to be found on the white walls or floor. A large white globe floated in the center of the hall, emitting a faint glow of soft light.
Behind the globe were two white doors embedded into the glass wall. The wide glass wall displayed everything inside the rooms beyond the two doors.
Clear crystal stones covered the entire rooms, their crystalline radiance filling the empty space, as the faint hums of magic echoed.
The instant the apprentices entered the glass palace, two elders standing to the side, rushed forward to prevent them from proceeding any further.
"New apprentices, please stop. We understand that you are anxious to get their talents tested and recorded. However, only 2 individuals can enter the stone hall at one time. As such, we request you to place your identification plaques on the round globe in the center. The order of participants will be determined by random drawing." Teng Wang and Rong Li entered the hall just as the elder's speech concluded.
Moving forward, they respectfully greeted the two spectating elders in charge of the testing.
"Elder Yun, Elder Kang, we will be troubling you."
"It is no trouble at all, juniors Teng and Rong. This is our duty and responsibility. As elders of the academy, we are overjoyed to see new blood flowing into the academy. This year more so, than the previous years." Elder Yun jovially replied, stroking his gray beard.
"Yes, juniors Rong and Teng. This is our duty, and if I may so add, a duty that we immensely enjoy fulfilling." Elder Kang added from the side.
"Are this all of our new apprentices, or do we need to wait a little longer? Are the Marikeen prospectives present?" He curiously looked at the buzzing apprentices, his own inquisitive gaze glowing with anticipation.
"Yes, elder Kang. This are all the new apprentices. As for the three prospective Marikeen, they are Marui Osklain, Aarya Quime, and Princess Qamari. You should be able to find them easily as they are the only ones with black hair and purple eyes." Turning, he addressed the apprentices that nervously shifted about in anxiety.
"From here, the elders will take care of everything. Junior sisters, you just need to follow their instructions." As he said this, Rong Li was looking at Princess Qamari.
Even as she kept to the back of the crowd, she stood out from her fellow apprentices. Her tall, graceful figure, appeared to be in an isolated space of its own, untainted and untarnished by her surrounding.
'I wonder what level her talent is.'
For the first time since his entrance into the academy, he was curious about a female.
As a green level talent, he enjoyed the attention and adoration of the females in the academy. It did not matter if they were first, second, or third years. Every girl in the academy relentlessly pursued him, wearing down his enthusiasm.
From the initial flustered and flattered feelings, his emotions slowly turned numb over time.
Before he even realized, he unconsciously began snubbing and ignoring the females in the academy, finding nothing worthy of wasting his attention and time in them.
That was the case until now.
Rong Li found himself drawn to this female even when he despised her attitude and mannerisms.
"Yes, senior brother!" The students exclaimed cheerfully, theri faces flushed and eyes glowing with expectations.
Startled back to his senses, Rong Li helplessly shook his head in exasperation. He could not believe he was interested in a freshman. Not wanting to pay any more attention to her, he turned and stood a distant corner.
"Alright, new apprentices! The order of your talent evaluation will be drawn randomly according to the system of random testing. Place your identification plaques inside the globe. The globe will glow with the names of two individuals." Pointing towards the floating white globe, Elder Yun continued.
"Every two draws, the two individuals will enter each of the stone room ahead. The stones will first light up in the color of your elemental ability, then deepen or soften in coloring according to the level of your elemental ability."
"From there, we can determine what level your talent is at. Is that clear?" By the use of magic, Elder Yun's voice spread clearly and evenly throughout the spacious hall, reaching every student.
"Yes, elder!" The students responded impatiently.
Most of the students present came from unusual backgrounds, having stray magicians as teachers, parents, or relatives. Due to the connection, they either had introductory knowledge of the stone veins and how they worked, or got the test done in a crude manner.
As such, they were more interested in getting started with the test itself, than hearing things they already knew.
"Since you understand, than there is no need for us to repeat redundant information. Now, you may go ahead with placing your plaques in the globe." Satisfied, Elder Yun nodded in delight.
He too, was impatient to get started with the significant matter of the whole academy's focus. From this initial testing, they would be a able to get an idea of who the Marikeen could be.
From the elemental magic and level of talent they display, they could make inferences to the Marikeen's identity.
As such, more than the new apprentices that were in a rush to find out about their talent level and ability, the elders of the academy were in a hurry.
"Come, let us drop our plaques first. Maybe, that will allow our names to show up first."
"Hahaha, you wish! If first come first serve was the way it worked, would we even need the random testing?"
"Exactly! But, even if it is not first come, first serve, we should still not be the last ones to drop our plaques."
Receiving the permission to get started, the new apprentices uniformly moved towards the white globe, placing their plaques before its white glow, before it got sucked into the globe.
The more plaques sucked into the plaque, the more the radiant white glow of the globe increased. Soon, the glow covered the whole hall in a soft white light.
'What sort of magic is this?'
Being the last to place her plaque, Princess Qamari was nearly blinded by the white glow.
Princess Qamari restrained her displeasure, looking indifferently at the two men. This time, she could not push them away. They were specifically assigned by the Great Magician to guide them through the academy and help get settled in. As such, she might as well go and get over with the matter.Teng Wang saw the girl frown at the sound of his voice. Without a doubt, she was not taken with him. A self-mocking simile appeared on his face, his bright eyes becoming overcast.'And here I was getting over confident in my looks. Just because the little apprentices adore me, does not mean she will as well.' Dejected, he lowered his head.It was one thing for him to fall in love. It was another to obtain it. How was he going to obtain the love of a girl who seemed to dislike his very presence?As he wallowed in sadness, lost in thought, Rong Li spoke."Every year, freshmen's get their talent evaluated in the testing hall to determine their elemental ability and talent level. This will mark the start of their training as a magician. We need to go to the hall before the courses you will be taking can be determined. Let us go." He nodded to Princess Qamari and turned, taking the lead towards a giant crimson glass palace."Finally, I will be able to know my talent level!""I want to know what my elemental magic is. I hope it is fire or water. They are very useful for attack or defense.""I want mine to be wood or earth. Then, I will not have to worry about food or shelter.""What level do you think our elemental magic will be at?"The female apprentices fell into step behind, excitedly whispering among themselves as they pointed towards the crimson glass palace.Sighing in defeat, Princess Qamari stood and walked past the dazed Teng Wang who snapped back to his senses the moment he sensed her movements. Not even sparing the scrambling guy a glance, she joined the proceeding throng.Teng Wang hurried after Princess Qamari, his heart beating in nervous thrill. Felling into step beside her, he repeatedly opened and closed his mouth to say something, anything.However, for the first time in his life, Teng Wang felt too nervous to open his mouth. The girl's ice-cold countenance did not help the situation.'How could speaking to a girl be so difficult? I have been unsuccessfully trying to open my mouth for the past few minutes!' He thought with frustration.In the end, he was not able to speak a single word and, midst his frantic and anxious fretting, they arrived before the glass palace.The new apprentices impatiently flowed into the palace, appearing before a spacious white hall. The wide hall was plain, with no decorations or mosaics anywhere to be found on the white walls or floor. A large white globe floated in the center of the hall, emitting a faint glow of soft light.Behind the globe were two white doors embedded into the glass wall. The wide glass wall displayed everything inside the rooms beyond the two doors. Clear crystal stones covered the entire rooms, their crystalline radiance filling the empty space, as the faint hums of magic echoed.The instant the apprentices entered the glass palace, two elders standing to the side, rushed forward to prevent them from proceeding any further."New apprentices, please stop. We understand that you are anxious to get their talents tested and recorded. However, only 2 individuals can enter the stone hall at one time. As such, we request you to place your identification plaques on the round globe in the center. The order of participants will be determined by random drawing." Teng Wang and Rong Li entered the hall just as the elder's speech concluded. Moving forward, they respectfully greeted the two spectating elders in charge of the testing."Elder Yun, Elder Kang, we will be troubling you." "It is no trouble at all, juniors Teng and Rong. This is our duty and responsibility. As elders of the academy, we are overjoyed to see new blood flowing into the academy. This year more so, than the previous years." Elder Yun jovially replied, stroking his gray beard."Yes, juniors Rong and Teng. This is our duty, and if I may so add, a duty that we immensely enjoy fulfilling." Elder Kang added from the side."Are this all of our new apprentices, or do we need to wait a little longer? Are the Marikeen prospectives present?" He curiously looked at the buzzing apprentices, his own inquisitive gaze glowing with anticipation."Yes, elder Kang. This are all the new apprentices. As for the three prospective Marikeen, they are Marui Osklain, Aarya Quime, and Princess Qamari. You should be able to find them easily as they are the only ones with black hair and purple eyes." Turning, he addressed the apprentices that nervously shifted about in anxiety."From here, the elders will take care of everything. Junior sisters, you just need to follow their instructions." As he said this, Rong Li was looking at Princess Qamari. Even as she kept to the back of the crowd, she stood out from her fellow apprentices. Her tall, graceful figure, appeared to be in an isolated space of its own, untainted and untarnished by her surrounding.'I wonder what level her talent is.'For the first time since his entrance into the academy, he was curious about a female.As a green level talent, he enjoyed the attention and adoration of the females in the academy. It did not matter if they were first, second, or third years. Every girl in the academy relentlessly pursued him, wearing down his enthusiasm. From the initial flustered and flattered feelings, his emotions slowly turned numb over time. Before he even realized, he unconsciously began snubbing and ignoring the females in the academy, finding nothing worthy of wasting his attention and time in them. That was the case until now.Rong Li found himself drawn to this female even when he despised her attitude and mannerisms."Yes, senior brother!" The students exclaimed cheerfully, theri faces flushed and eyes glowing with expectations.Startled back to his senses, Rong Li helplessly shook his head in exasperation. He could not believe he was interested in a freshman. Not wanting to pay any more attention to her, he turned and stood a distant corner."Alright, new apprentices! The order of your talent evaluation will be drawn randomly according to the system of random testing. Place your identification plaques inside the globe. The globe will glow with the names of two individuals." Pointing towards the floating white globe, Elder Yun continued. "Every two draws, the two individuals will enter each of the stone room ahead. The stones will first light up in the color of your elemental ability, then deepen or soften in coloring according to the level of your elemental ability.""From there, we can determine what level your talent is at. Is that clear?" By the use of magic, Elder Yun's voice spread clearly and evenly throughout the spacious hall, reaching every student."Yes, elder!" The students responded impatiently.Most of the students present came from unusual backgrounds, having stray magicians as teachers, parents, or relatives. Due to the connection, they either had introductory knowledge of the stone veins and how they worked, or got the test done in a crude manner. As such, they were more interested in getting started with the test itself, than hearing things they already knew."Since you understand, than there is no need for us to repeat redundant information. Now, you may go ahead with placing your plaques in the globe." Satisfied, Elder Yun nodded in delight.He too, was impatient to get started with the significant matter of the whole academy's focus. From this initial testing, they would be a able to get an idea of who the Marikeen could be.From the elemental magic and level of talent they display, they could make inferences to the Marikeen's identity.As such, more than the new apprentices that were in a rush to find out about their talent level and ability, the elders of the academy were in a hurry."Come, let us drop our plaques first. Maybe, that will allow our names to show up first.""Hahaha, you wish! If first come first serve was the way it worked, would we even need the random testing?""Exactly! But, even if it is not first come, first serve, we should still not be the last ones to drop our plaques."Receiving the permission to get started, the new apprentices uniformly moved towards the white globe, placing their plaques before its white glow, before it got sucked into the globe.The more plaques sucked into the plaque, the more the radiant white glow of the globe increased. Soon, the glow covered the whole hall in a soft white light.'What sort of magic is this?'Being the last to place her plaque, Princess Qamari was nearly blinded by the white glow.
