Wizards Need Talent

Leo stepped forward and demonstrated his Arcane Hand spell before the crystal ball.

A number appeared on the crystal ball.

"10 points."

This score left Chris and the others immensely envious.

Chris even cried out dramatically, "Amazing! Ten points—that's a scholarship worth ten magic stones."

A faint smile appeared on Sally's face as well. "Very good."

"Next, Chris."

"2 points."

Chris smacked his lips and said, "Two points? Better than nothing."

That was what he said, but inwardly, he was bursting with joy.

He had taken another huge step toward paying his first year's tuition.

"Molly."

"5 points. Not bad. It seems you have some talent for spell construction."

The gem merchant's daughter happily clenched her little fists.

Five points meant an income of five magic stones.

Paying her first year's tuition was finally within sight.

"Sono."

"0 points."

The expectation in Sono's eyes visibly vanished. A conflicted, struggling look appeared on his face, and then, as if he had made some sort of decision, he let out a long breath.

"John."

"0 points."

Upon hearing this result, John immediately protested, "Wizard Sally, what's going on? If cultivating spiritual energy depends on effort, then why, after only one hour, are their scores so much higher than mine?"

"With only one hour of study, what can that possibly prove?"

"Give me more time, and I can do it too. I can do even better."

Sally shook her head, her tone still gentle. "John, spell construction is connected to spiritual energy. If you had been serious enough in your meditation before this, your current result would have earned at least 1 point, not 0."

"Also, I never said a wizard's path did not require talent... Effort is simply what you need because you lack talent."

John's entire face turned deathly pale in an instant.

At that moment, John felt like a clown.

His past claim that nobles were more suited to becoming wizards now sounded like a joke.

In this state of near humiliation, John's emotions completely spiraled out of control. He shouted, "No, I'm not the problem. You are. Because the Esmond Gathering has no mentor, this is why I got this result. If the one teaching me were not you, but a mentor wizard, then I definitely wouldn't have gotten 0 points."

Sally heard him out with a calm gaze, utterly undisturbed.

There were far too many people like John in the Tower of Dawn.

They believed themselves geniuses, when in truth, they possessed only the most ordinary aptitude in the wizarding world.

Chris hurriedly grabbed John's sleeve. "Calm down, John."

John also realized he had lost his composure. "Sorry, Wizard Sally. I was too agitated."

"Fine. You may all return."

Sally said calmly, "Come here again at the same time tomorrow."

Everyone answered, "Yes, Wizard Sally."

After everyone left, Chris finally said, "John, you've really gone mad. She's a wizard, and you actually yelled at her and even blamed her."

"I'm not mad!" John said. "Isn't that exactly how it is? If I could join a gathering with a mentor, the result definitely wouldn't be like this."

At this moment, John possessed none of the graceful poise he had shown when they first met.

Chris said, "John, you've really gone mad."

Leo shook his head.

Chris and Molly also looked at John as though he were insane.

Spouting wild nonsense before a wizard—he truly was not afraid of death.

Sono lowered his head, but his eyes flickered as though he were pondering something.

Several days passed.

Inside the instruction room.

Leo and the others were undergoing their fifth comprehensive assessment of spell models.

"Danville, 20 points."

At the sight of this result, Sally's face was all smiles. "A very good result."

"Chris... 12 points."

"Not bad."

Although this score was far behind Leo's, Chris was still very happy. Smiling, he said, "Twelve points means twelve magic stones. Not bad."

"Molly... 15 points."

"Good."

The timid little girl clenched both hands into fists, looking very happy.

Fifteen points meant fifteen magic stones, another step closer to paying her tuition.

"Sono, 3 points."

Sono looked calm, as though no matter how low his score became, it could no longer affect him.

"John, 1 point."

John's face was expressionless.

Yet inwardly, he roared wildly.

Bottom again!

I'm still at the bottom!

It must be because Wizard Sally is a terrible teacher!

If a gathering mentor taught me, this definitely wouldn't be the result!

Sally said, "In a few days, it will be time for the second progress test of the meditation method. The scores will be uploaded to the central hub then, and the final comprehensive assessment and scoring of Arcane Hand will also be held."

"You do not need to come here over the next few days. You can practice in your own rooms. If there is anything you do not understand or want to ask, you may come to my office."

"Yes, Wizard Sally."

Suddenly, Chris asked curiously, "Wizard Sally, isn't there a ranking for the Arcane Hand test?"

Sally said, "There is, but it will only be displayed during the final Arcane Hand test."

The group then dispersed.

After returning to his room, Leo first repeatedly studied the Arcane Hand illustrated guide.

The Arcane Hand illustrated guide was only a little short of ordinary quality. Leo hoped that he could master the ordinary-quality Arcane Hand guide as soon as possible.

After studying the guide for most of the day, Leo opened his eyes and let his mind rest for a while.

Then came a knock at the door.

Leo raised a brow, wondering who would come looking for him at such a time. He walked to the door and asked, "Who is it?"

"Hello, Danville. I'm Sono."

Leo asked, "Sono, what do you need?"

"I do have something to discuss, but it isn't convenient to speak at the door. Let me come in and explain."

Leo nodded and let him in.

After entering, Sono found a place to sit and said, "Leo, I'm actually the eighth prince of the Sogla Empire's royal family. This is the symbol of a Sogra Royal House member."

As Sono spoke, he took out a badge inlaid with a griffin emblem.

Leo merely glanced at it before saying, "I didn't expect you to be a prince. If John found out, he would definitely be shocked."

When Sono saw that Leo had no particular reaction, a trace of surprise rose in his heart. He said, "You don't seem surprised by my identity at all."

"It's not that I'm not surprised. It's just as you said before—in the Tower of Dawn, status has no meaning."

Hearing this, Sono gave a bitter smile. "That's true."

"Leo, I actually have an older brother aboard the wizard ship that came here this time. He is extremely talented, a genius with Level 4 spiritual aptitude."

Leo frowned and asked, "And then?"

"My brother's mentor is very interested in the Esmond Gathering," Sono said. "He hopes that when his mentor takes over the Esmond Gathering, you will support his mentor."

Leo fell silent for a moment before asking, "Who is his mentor?"

Seeing that Leo was somewhat interested, Sono immediately said, "Mentor Uriel. Wizard Lane, who was on the wizard ship you first boarded, is an assistant instructor of the Uriel Gathering."