Appraisal

The Magic Guild of Castleton City stood in the Upper District, right beside Castleton Elf Academy. This was practically the place with the strongest atmosphere of learning in the city.

Young elves clutching books and running through the streets could be seen everywhere. The Elf Academy's main Teaching Building and the Magic Guild's Mage Tower complemented each other, forming one of the most striking landmarks on the western side of the Upper District.

Young elves usually attended the Elf Academy.

Whether they were Silver Moon Elves or Half-Elves, anyone with the desire to learn could study here as long as they paid sufficient tuition.

Ms. Belinda planned to send Roy here to study.

Many elves first found work after coming of age, earned enough money for a semester's tuition, and only then attended the Elf Academy.

Some elves worked while studying. As long as they did not enroll in too many subjects each semester, they could still manage to support themselves through work-study.

Of course, some came from better-off families. Elven Nobles, for instance, did not need to worry about tuition. They only had to focus on their studies at the academy, and such students often took a more comprehensive range of courses.

Roy had originally needed to do what other ordinary elves did: find a job, earn enough tuition, and then attend school.

But Belinda believed that Roy had only half an elf's lifespan. If he had to work while studying like the other elves, the time he had to enjoy life would be greatly reduced. So, she planned to pay his tuition for him.

Castleton City was an open city, with no City Wall surrounding it.

More than ninety percent of the city had been built on coastal mountains. Looking upward from below, the streets of the city rose layer upon layer.

All the buildings were built along the mountainsides. The higher one looked, the more luxurious those buildings became...

At the summit of Castleton City stood a massive Silver Moon Elf statue nearly thirty meters tall. The direction indicated by its right hand was where Buenos City lay.

Standing in the great square before the Magic Guild, Roy looked up at the enormous statue atop the mountain. He felt that if it collapsed, it might very well crush this place.

Putting aside that unrealistic thought, Roy gripped the bulging money pouch Kole had given him and gathered his courage before entering the Magic Tower.

The guards at the entrance did not stop Roy because he looked human. They merely gave him an appraising glance. Roy responded by speaking fluent Elvish. "I'm here for a primary appraisal."

With that simple sentence, Roy entered the first floor of the Mage Tower without obstruction. The place for primary appraisals was right there.

The first floor of the Magic Tower was divided into many different areas. Following the signs down the corridors, Roy's first impression was that it resembled the ground-floor storefronts of a marketplace.

There were all kinds of shops on both sides of the corridor.

These shops were all related to magic in one way or another: Potion Shops, scroll shops, magic gem shops, Magic Weapon Shops, and so on.

Those entering and leaving these Magic Shops were not only Elven Nobles. More often, they were students from the Elf Academy, along with mages dressed in gorgeous robes.

Roy found the sign for the appraisal area and followed the crowd there. This area was noticeably quieter.

Among the densely packed shops, quite a few were related to appraisals, though many specialized in appraising magical items. Roy wandered around for a while before settling on a rather inconspicuous Primary Appraisal Office that nevertheless had a steady stream of customers.

Roy quietly joined the line.

Each customer entered the shop alone, while everyone else had to wait outside.

There were four people ahead of Roy. They came out one after another, their faces showing mixed joy and disappointment.

Roy felt a little nervous as well.

When it was his turn, Roy stood at the door and knocked. A voice came from inside. "Come in!"

Roy pushed open the door and walked in. The room was not large and was almost completely filled with bookshelves holding books bound in copper covers.

The room smelled of decaying parchment. Beside the last row of bookshelves was a ladder leading upstairs, but Roy did not need to go up. Just inside the door stood a Wooden Table with several Magic Crystals on it.

An elven mage sat behind the table. His gaze was gentle, yet carried a trace of authority that made people unwilling to offend him.

He wore a dark green robe. Roy noticed that every ornate pattern on it was silver, all of them subtle designs that could only be seen from certain angles when the light reflected off them. It was a restrained sort of luxury.

Roy could not tell how old the elven mage was. Time had not left a single mark on his face.

"Young man, what can I do for you?"

The elven mage spoke calmly.

"I'd like you to appraise something for me. Does this count as comprehending magic...?"

Roy sat down on a slightly cold chair, extended his right arm with the sleeve rolled up, and placed his upturned palm on the table. In his open palm was a point of light like a firefly.

Seeing Roy's nervous expression, the elven mage could not help comforting him. "Silver Moon Elves not only possess the talent to become archers, but every elf also has an affinity for magical elements. With a little guidance, they can learn magic."

"I can see that you are a Half-Elf. So if you wish to learn magic, you can certainly study at the Elf Academy. Once you officially become a magic apprentice, you can come to the Magic Guild to register."

"Can I really?"

Roy simply wanted to know whether he could become a mage.

He was so obsessed with this because of the boy in his memories, the one with a lightning mark carved into his forehead.

If he could become a mage, that would be pretty good.

Roy imagined himself holding a magic book and gripping a Cedar Staff. With a casual point of the staff, a fireball would drift out. Just thinking about it felt cool.

"Uh..."

The elven mage hesitated. He did not give a definite answer.

Then he picked up a Magic Crystal from the table and slowly brought its tip close to the faint glow in Roy's palm.

To the elven mage's surprise, the Magic Crystal was nearly touching that weak light, yet it showed no reaction at all.

This Magic Crystal rod would normally light up upon touching even the slightest magical fluctuation, but before the light in Roy's palm, it remained completely unresponsive.

The elven mage then picked up another Magic Crystal used to test magical strength and brought it close to the faint light. There was still no reaction whatsoever.

After hesitating for a moment, he patted his forehead.

"This isn't magic!"

The elven mage reached his conclusion.

Roy had been full of anticipation, but upon hearing the elven mage say that, the expectation on his face immediately collapsed.

"...However, you can visit the Moon God Temple... or the Goddess of Freedom Temple."

The elven mage paused midway through that sentence. He had wanted to suggest that Roy visit the Moon God Temple, but Castleton City's Moon God Temple was open only to Silver Moon Elves. Half-Elves and mixed-blood elves like Roy were not allowed to enter freely and defile the Moon Altar there.

So the elven mage changed his suggestion, telling Roy to visit the Goddess of Freedom Temple instead.

"The flame in your palm is neither Fire Element nor light element. I suspect it may be divine magic... Although I cannot appraise it here, you can ask at a temple. I believe they will welcome a young man who can come into contact with divine magic without needing enlightenment."

The elven mage spoke to Roy.

Roy was at a loss. He had never expected such an outcome.

Even when Roy took out the appraisal fee at the end, the elven mage refused to accept it. His reason was that he had failed to provide Roy with any valuable help, so Roy did not need to pay the fee.

Looking at the money pouch in his hand, still full and bulging, Roy walked out of the Primary Appraisal Office without knowing whether he should feel happy or disappointed...

Seeing Roy come out, the young elf waiting behind him seized the chance to enter.

Within the Silver Moon Kingdom, the Moon God Temple was the largest temple and had the most followers.

Nearly all Silver Moon Elves worshipped Elune, the Moon Goddess.

But precisely because the Moon God Temple was so immense and worshipped the Moon Goddess, a symbol of purity, it accepted only Silver Moon Elf believers.

According to the elven mage, the flame in Roy's palm fell within the domain of divine magic, so he would have to seek answers at a temple.

Roy could not possibly enter the Moon God Temple. He could only go to the Goddess of Freedom Temple...

Come to think of it, the Goddess of Freedom Temple had been able to spread its teachings throughout the Elven Kingdom precisely because of the Moon God Temple's exclusionary ways.

The Priests of the Moon God Temple shut mixed-blood elves out, while the Goddess of Freedom Temple accepted them. That was why the Priests of the Goddess of Freedom Temple had been able to build a small temple in the Lower District of Castleton City.

And this temple was not far from Roy's home...

If I'd known, I should've gone to the temple first! Roy grumbled inwardly.

Once he left the Magic Tower and saw the bright sunlight overhead, his gloom was swept away.

Roy even bought a slice of iced watermelon from a cold drink shop across the street from the Magic Guild, eating as he walked along the long street...

When he returned to Brown Street, he went down stairs and slopes almost the entire way, which was far easier than the journey there.

Roy took care of lunch along the way, then headed straight to the entrance of the Goddess of Freedom Temple.

Thinking of the thief he had seen climbing over the wall yesterday morning left him with an indescribable feeling.

The temple's main gate was closed, but the side gate beside it stood open, and there were no clergy guarding it.

Roy held onto the iron railing of the side gate and walked in. This was his first time entering the courtyard before the temple...