Setting Out Soon

"...The value of this question depends on the choices you make later. For now, Miss Ophelia may test herself first."

Filled with excitement, Ophelia stepped forward and pressed both hands against the Crystal Ball expectantly. Though she was not as fast as Adam, she was faster than Krystal. Yet strangely, the substance filling everyone else's Crystal Ball, Adam included, was nearly white, while Ophelia's was blackish red.

Ophelia did not understand what the Crystal Ball's color meant. She only wanted to know what her mage inclination was, yet once the Crystal Ball was full, nothing happened.

A little panicked, Ophelia pressed harder against the Crystal Ball. Still, no light appeared. Her face turned deathly pale. "Could my aptitude be terrible?"

"That will do, Miss Ophelia." The Black Mage gave a light wave of his hand, and a breeze sprang up, pushing Ophelia away. Though the Crystal Ball was wondrous, it was ultimately only a simple Alchemy Product. It could not withstand a Great Knight ravaging it with all her strength.

Ophelia stood rooted to the spot, At a Loss, looking pleadingly at the Black Mage. "Respected Black Mage, I think I can try again. It shouldn't be like this..."

The Black Mage motioned for her to remain calm, then said, "There is no need to panic, Miss Ophelia. As I said, there are many paths for mages. Some mage inclinations do not make the Crystal Ball shine, but that does not mean their aptitude is poor."

Then he turned to Earl Johnson and asked, "Earl, do you require my answer? This answer is worth two-fifths of the profits from a small Energy Stone mine."

"Of course, Black Mage."

Adam memorized the Black Mage's words. Though there was only one sample before him, and judging by it might lead to errors, unless the Black Mage was exceptionally upright, this situation indicated that mages followed the principle of fair trade.

If that judgment was correct, it was undoubtedly good news. It meant the Mage World had broken free of the primitive law of the jungle and evolved into a civilized stage.

Once the transaction had been concluded, the Black Mage explained in detail, "Most mages, myself included, have souls inclined toward the elements. But elements are not the whole of a mage's path. Miss Ophelia possesses a talent different from Elemental Magic. Mages call this path that of the Body Refining Mage."

"Elemental Mages pursue the sublimation of the soul. We engrave knowledge into our souls; the body is the vessel that bears the soul, passively evolving as the soul grows stronger. Body Refining Mages are different. Though they likewise require knowledge, they apply that knowledge to the development of the body, pursuing the evolution of life's essence and using the body's strength to drive the soul's sublimation."

"Moreover, Miss Ophelia's talent in this area is very strong. Because their path is clear, Body Refining Mages face no bottlenecks in advancing from the apprentice stage to the first-level mage stage. But every advantage comes with a disadvantage. In return, Body Refining Mages require vast quantities of resources piled upon them..." The Black Mage paused, seemingly recalling something, and clicked his tongue in wonder. "At High Level, even the resources of an entire plane may not be enough for one person to consume."

Adam understood. This was an advanced version of the knight's path. But there was one question: the Body Tissue of carbon-based lifeforms could not contain such enormous energy. How did Body Refining Mages accomplish it?

Having already reached the peak of knighthood, Earl Johnson understood this issue as well. But mages were mages precisely because the knowledge they commanded could achieve things beyond all reckoning, so he did not dwell on it. Instead, he asked, "Respected Black Mage, what resources are you referring to? Energy Stone mines?"

The Black Mage said, "Oh, I can tell you this question for free. To mages, Energy Stones are the lowest-grade resource available for use. Their value is not as high as you imagine. Once Body Refining Mages reach High Level, what they need are large quantities of the Body Tissue of high-level creatures from Other Planes, as well as... hm, that is still too distant for you."

The Black Mage ended his explanation there and said to the apprentices, "You have one night to pack your belongings and bid farewell to your families. Tomorrow morning, after breakfast, we will depart for Mordo Academy."

Earl Johnson gestured for Ophelia to wait until he returned, while he himself led the mage away to rest.

As they walked, the newly promoted mage apprentices exchanged greetings. The three male apprentices were named Mike Gast, Henry Hugh, and Sam Aiden. All came from noble families, while Krystal, like Adam, had no surname.

They were all curious about Adam. It could not be helped; they had never heard of a noble descendant like him in the Northlands. Furthermore, the Black Mage had explicitly stated that Adam's talent was the highest among them all. Nobles instinctively sought to befriend anyone worth befriending. Even if they could not become companions, they should not become enemies.

"My name is Adam." Adam remained expressionless, but his manners were impeccable, so he did not seem arrogant. Social customs and even noble etiquette were merely matters of procedure to Adam. He would not deliberately act unconventionally in such matters. That would not demonstrate uniqueness; it would only prove stupidity.

Several People waited for Adam to state his surname. Becoming mage apprentices together had already created a rather special connection between them, and their families could use it as a reason to begin Cooperation, but...

"A commoner. No surname."

The flawless smiles on the three male apprentices' faces stiffened. A commoner? Krystal being allowed to take the test had already been an accident. This kind of accident had happened a second time? Had Earl Johnson changed professions and begun doing charity work?

Krystal, however, broke into a wide smile. Though her status had abruptly changed, habits formed over more than ten years made her instinctively afraid of nobles. Adam's shared identity as a commoner gave rise to a natural sense of closeness within her.

Likewise because of habit, although the three noble descendants still smiled, their sense of closeness vanished. Fortunately, they were not foolish enough to openly show disdain or contempt.

When they reached a fork in the road, Adam stopped and said his farewells. Krystal showed no particular reaction and likewise took her leave. She was going home to share today's joyous news with her parents and younger brother, to cherish their final time together.

The other three were startled once more. A commoner could actually live in the Lord's Mansion? Moreover, Adam was heading toward the inner residence. Servants clearly could not live in the inner residence.

After exchanging glances, the three found the same confusion in one another's eyes. They all decided to ask their fathers carefully once they returned home, lest a moment of arrogance cause them to offend someone they should not.

Adam returned to his quarters and continued optimizing his Mental Power runes. Meanwhile, in the main hall of the Lord's Mansion, Earl Johnson was engaged in an awkward conversation with Ophelia.

"First, congratulations on becoming a mage apprentice. I look forward to the day when, within my lifetime, I can address you as Mage Ophelia Johnson."

"Johnson." Ophelia gave a self-mocking laugh, then fell silent. This family always had a strange ability to make her good mood disappear.

Earl Johnson did not mind. Rome was not built in a day. Perhaps this world did not have such a saying, but the principle was the same. He did not expect his daughter to suddenly change her attitude. Besides, her attitude was not important. The Johnson surname was.

"Two-fifths of the profits from the Energy Stone mine will be given to the Black Mage. The remaining three-fifths are the family's support for you. The Northlands are barren, and only this one mine has been discovered so far. I will mobilize people to continue searching."

Ophelia remained silent.

"Krystal was allowed to take the test with my consent. It was originally only a tentative investment, but I never expected to see returns so soon. She is very important. The Black Mage's attitude cannot possibly have been without reason. The family has no connection whatsoever with the Mage World, yet Krystal has received preferential treatment from a mage. Befriending her will be of great help to you."

If one ignored the constant references to family in Earl Johnson's words, this should have been a harmonious conversation between father and daughter. But now, to Ophelia, who instinctively resisted the family, not the slightest trace of emotion rose within her.

"Also, do not invest too much in Adam, whatever it may be. I cannot sense even a trace of the aura of one of our kind from him. Instead, facing him feels like facing a mage. He has no emotions, and he will never help you because of emotion."

Ophelia could not help saying, "I haven't..."

Earl Johnson said bluntly, "Ask your own heart. It is best if you have not. But if you have, I hope you will listen to me. Whether because you are my daughter or for the family's interests, this time, I will not harm you."

Ophelia lowered her head and fell silent again.

"But this is good as well. A transactional relationship founded on pure interests is the simplest and most steadfast. If you can provide him with the resources he needs, he will likewise do what he should." Earl Johnson struck straight at the heart of the matter.

"After I concluded the transaction with the Black Mage just now, I did not Drive Away the other apprentices. My daughter, if you are not a fool, you should understand why I did this. Use this opportunity, use your status, to gradually draw them in and even bring them under your command. No one has ever reached the summit entirely alone. Ordinary People cannot do it; I believe mages cannot either."

The conversation ended there. Earl Johnson rose to his feet. "Finally, congratulations once again. May all go smoothly for you, and may you have a fair wind all the way." Having said that, he did not look at Ophelia again and walked straight out of the main hall.

Ophelia was left alone, her thoughts in disarray. Reason told her this could not be considered concern, only an exchange of interests between the two of them. Yet the blood of the Johnson Family flowed through her veins after all, and emotion made it impossible for her to maintain her coldness.

If it had been Adam, he would certainly have said that humans were always so foolish, burdened by the seven emotions and six desires, their wills easily shaken. But Ophelia was not Adam.

Nothing was said for the rest of the night.

Early the next morning, the Five People gathered outside the Lord's Mansion, each carrying different feelings. The Black Mage paid no attention to their emotions. Seeing that none of them was late, he nodded in satisfaction and said simply, "Then, let us depart."