Magic Enrollment Test

Early the next morning,

As sunlight spread across the land, the youngsters in Fenlai City who planned to take the magic aptitude entrance test were already up and ready to go.

The test was held in the Radiant Church's cathedral in Fenlai City's eastern district, and its mages were in charge.

The entire Holy Union, including the Fenlai Kingdom, was ruled by the Radiant Church.

The major magic academies were, in effect, pools of promising recruits for the Radiant Church.

Whenever a gifted mage emerged, the Radiant Church recruited them.

"Fenlai City really is different from Wushan Town. It was noisy all night."

Moke, Hillman, and Linley had reached the square in front of the Radiant Church's cathedral. Linley pursed his lips and muttered under his breath.

"Heh, Fenlai City is one of the busiest cities in the whole Holy Union. Its nightlife is much livelier than Wushan Town's."

A knowing glint flashed through Hillman's eyes.

Of course, he said no more. Moke and Linley were still boys.

They would discover Fenlai City's many pleasures when they grew up.

Though it was still early, the square was already packed.

The crowd, however, was divided.

The city nobles stood in one circle, while fallen nobles and country folk like Moke's group stood in another.

The nobles looked down on them with open arrogance.

"Those nobles all have their noses in the air. What are they so proud of?"

Linley gave a quiet snort. "Once Moke and I become mages, we can earn titles in the Fenlai Kingdom too. We'll be just as good as them!"

"That's right. Once we become esteemed mages, we'll become nobles of an empire. A title in the little Fenlai Kingdom is nothing to boast about."

Moke quietly reassured his younger brother.

Linley had yet to experience much of the world and still thought like a child.

"Titles in an empire?"

Hillman smiled beside them. "Then Young Master Moke and Young Master Linley will have to work hard. Each of the Yulan Continent's four great empires rivals the entire Holy Union.

"The O'Brien Empire and the Yulan Empire even have god-level experts watching over them!

"Imperial titles aren't so easily earned."

"Just wait and see, Uncle Hillman. We'll earn imperial titles!"

Linley lifted his little chin.

"All right, all right. Then your Uncle Hillman can enjoy an easy life thanks to you two."

Hillman chuckled softly.

In truth, he was anxious. He had no idea whether Moke or Linley could become a mage. He would be happy if even one of them succeeded.

After the crowd had waited a while, two holy knights of the Radiant Church appeared. Both gave off a powerful aura.

Each was stronger than Hillman.

"Seventh-Level Warriors!" Hillman whispered.

"But the cleric between them ranks even higher. He might be an Advanced Mage!"

"A cleric of the Radiant Church?"

Moke and Linley looked at the black-robed man guarded by the two Seventh-Level holy knights.

He looked frail, but his steps were steady, and he radiated a gentle air.

"All right, everyone. The magic enrollment test begins now. Follow me into the hall."

The moment the cleric spoke, the entire square fell silent.

Everyone there for the test followed him into the cathedral.

The Radiant Church's cathedral was magnificent, and even with nearly a thousand people inside, it still felt spacious.

Representatives from the Holy Union's magic academies were already waiting in the hall.

"Moke, Linley," Hillman said quietly. "If you receive an invitation from any of those people, Lord Hogg will be delighted. Every academy represented here today is among the Holy Union's finest."

"Of course, the finest of all is our Ernst Institute."

"The Ernst Institute?" Linley stared at one of the middle-aged men, his eyes shining.

I'm going to get into the Ernst Institute. I have to!

Young Linley silently encouraged himself.

"Don't worry, Linley. You'll be fine," Doehring Cowart said with a smile.

I wonder what reward I'll get for checking in at the Ernst Institute?

That was what occupied Moke's thoughts.

In the center of the hall, the cleric took out a crystal ball and summoned a small magic formation.

At the sight of the crystal ball and magic formation, the crowd's breathing grew heavier.

Whether they could become esteemed mages depended on the tests ahead.

For nobles and commoners alike, this was a chance to change their fate.

Success meant rising to the top in a single leap!

Failure likely meant remaining in their current station for life.

The cleric smiled. "Place your hand on the magic crystal to test your elemental affinity."

"Step into the magic formation to test your Spiritual Power."

"Now, let the first candidate come forward."

The first boy in line stepped forward and nervously placed his hand on the crystal ball.

Under everyone's tense gaze, the ball soon responded, giving off faint blue and green light.

The glow was so weak it was almost invisible.

"Age ten. Elemental affinity: low-grade Water Element and wind element."

"Low-grade? Only low-grade?" The hall erupted in murmurs.

The boy nearly burst into tears.

"Quiet!"

The bald man recording the results called out from beside the cleric.

The hall fell silent again, and the boy was guided into the magic formation.

"Elemental affinity is only one part of the magic aptitude test," the cleric explained with a smile. "The magic academies place the greatest importance on Spiritual Power."

"Remember, the longer you last in the magic formation, the greater your Spiritual Power."

With that reminder from the cleric's bald subordinate, the formation lit up with a faint white glow.

The boy inside it stiffened slightly.

Before long, he could endure no more and dropped to his knees with a thud.

The bald man shook his head and said flatly, "Spiritual Power: roughly three times that of others his age. Cannot become a mage. Next."

"Cannot become a mage." At those words, the light faded from the boy's eyes. Crushed, he left the hall with his family.

One after another, the other youngsters stepped forward to take the magic tests.

Of more than twenty candidates, only two qualified to become mages.

Even they had only medium elemental affinity, while their Spiritual Power barely met the minimum requirement of eight times that of others their age.

Still, each of the two received an invitation from a magic academy.

"The odds of becoming a mage are far too low." Hillman sighed.

He looked at Moke and Linley beside him and grew even more nervous.

He had watched the two boys grow up and was very fond of them. If they failed the test, they would likely be heartbroken for a long time.