Yes, selecting.
From beginning to end, no matter how their theories changed or how the information they obtained differed, that sense of being selected had never changed.
He was selecting, and they were the ones being selected.
Seen that way, this wizard was not checking on his disciples' progress so much as strolling through a vegetable garden he had planted himself, or perhaps an unusual magic plant garden, just like the hardworking Aisijin and Big Silly Hum.
Ruger could not make out his face.
But sometimes Ruger could sense changes in him, such as a happy smile. Ruger knew he had smiled several times, yet had never actually seen his smiling face or the corners of his mouth. This was not because Ruger's perception was particularly keen. As he had surmised, the other man was not deliberately tormenting him. It was more like ordinary conversation, so those smiles, too, were deliberately revealed for him to perceive.
Even looking at it negatively led to the same conclusion. After all, Big Silly Hum and Aisijin would never angrily swing a fist at a magic plant. Newly sprouted magic plants were so weak that a careless step could crush one. If they saw dirt where it did not belong on a leaf, they would merely smile and brush it off with a wave.
Ruger's shoulder slipped against the small chair, and he nearly toppled over.
"You seemed to fall asleep..." Gubo swayed beside him, communicating through emotion spores.
Ruger took a deep breath and brought his somewhat limp body under control.
Bang!
The gap-toothed old man produced his enormous wand in the blink of an eye. He was already out of his seat, looking up and scanning their surroundings.
Mental power surged and quivered outward from him, probing the area around the tent.