Fenlai City was noisier than Linley had imagined.
The rumble of wheels over cobblestones, the clatter of hooves, the cries of street vendors, and the sound of music drifting from some shop or other all mingled together like a pot of boiling soup. Three- and four-story buildings lined the streets, some even taller, with warm yellow light shining through their windows. Signs in every color bore elaborate lettering Linley couldn't read.
Champs-Élysées Avenue was wide enough for four carriages to travel abreast. Two straight rows of evergreens ran down the middle, with benches beneath them. Several gentlemen in velvet coats sat there smoking pipes. The ladies wore dresses unlike any Linley had seen, their layered skirts making them look like moving gardens as they walked.
Hillman led the way, with Linley following, unable to stop himself from looking around. Bebe was tucked against his chest, half his little head poking out of Linley's collar, his dark eyes darting about too.
"Don't look around," Hillman said quietly. "Stay close."
Linley looked ahead, but out of the corner of his eye he caught a shop window by the road. Inside stood a suit of silver armor with blue gems set into its breastplate, sparkling under the lights. He counted the number on the price tag three times: fifty thousand gold coins.
He silently looked away.
After about twenty minutes, Hillman stopped in front of an ordinary-looking inn. Its frontage was narrow, and the words "Oak Inn" were carved into its wooden sign. When they pushed the door open, the smell of ale and stew greeted them.
A balding middle-aged man stood behind the counter, polishing a glass. Hillman asked for two rooms and paid. The stairs creaked as they went up, and an old carpet covered the hallway, worn through in places.
The room was small, with a bed, a table, and a chair. The window overlooked the back courtyard, where they could see a clothesline and a pile of barrels. Hillman set down the luggage. "Get to bed early tonight. You'll need to be sharp for tomorrow's test."
Linley nodded and took Bebe out of his clothes. The little fellow had been cooped up too long. As soon as he was out, he bounced twice on the bed, then lay down and went still.
"Is he all right?" Hillman asked.
"He's tired." Linley stroked Bebe. "He chased us all the way here, then had to stay hidden."
Hillman glanced out the window. "Don't let him out tonight. There are too many people in the city, and it wouldn't be good if someone saw him."
"I know."
They ate dinner downstairs. The stew was ordinary, but the portions were generous, and the bread was fresh. Several people dressed like merchants sat at the next table, discussing the price of some goods. On the other side sat a young couple, the wife holding a baby.
Linley ate quietly, listening to the conversations around him. He couldn't understand most of them, but he could feel that this city and the Wushan Town he knew were entirely different worlds.
After they returned to the room, Hillman went to check on the carriage and horses, leaving Linley alone. He sat on the edge of the bed, and Bebe jumped onto his lap.
"Nervous?" Doehring Cowart's voice sounded in his mind.
Linley thought for a moment. "A little. But mostly... I don't know."
"Don't know what?"
"I don't know what'll happen tomorrow," Linley said. "If the test shows I don't have any talent, I'll have to go back. If it shows I do, I'll have to stay here and study."
"Do you want to have talent or not?"
"I want to." Linley answered quickly. "I want to grow stronger and learn magic. But..." He paused. "If I stay here, I won't see Father or Wharton for a long time."
Doehring Cowart was silent for a few seconds. "Growing up always means leaving home. Your father left home the same way back then, to gain experience in the army."
"Father was in the army?"
"He never told you?" Doehring Cowart said. "The Baruch Clan may have declined, but someone in every generation joins the army. Your father spent three years on the border when he was young. He only came back because the clan needed him."
Linley really hadn't known. Hogg rarely spoke about the past.
"What about Wharton?" he asked. "He's only three. If I leave, he'll be the only child at home."
"Wharton is more sensible than you think," Doehring Cowart said. "That boy understands things. Doing what you need to do is the greatest help you can give your family."
Linley nodded and said no more.
He washed up and lay down, with Bebe curled up beside the pillow. Hillman returned and said the carriage was fine and that they would leave early the next morning, then blew out the candle.
In the darkness, Linley closed his eyes and began to meditate.
The earthy yellow specks of light appeared as expected. Since entering Fenlai City, he had sensed that the Earth Element was less abundant than in Wushan Town, but there was still enough. He guided the specks into his body and refined them into magic power. The patch of light in his chest grew slowly and steadily.
After meditating for an hour, he stopped and prepared to sleep. But he was still thinking about tomorrow. How would the test work? What would he have to do? What if something went wrong?
He turned over and forced himself to stop thinking.
The next morning, dawn was just breaking when Hillman woke Linley. They ate a simple breakfast at the inn-oatmeal and fried eggs-then set off for the church.
The test was being held at a church of the Radiant Church in the western part of the city. As they passed through the eastern district, the streets were already coming to life. The aroma of bread wafted from bakeries, milk carts rattled past, and uniformed maids hurried by carrying baskets.
The church was larger than Linley had imagined. Built of white stone, its spires soared into the clouds, and its colored windows depicted angels and saints. A large crowd had already gathered in the square before it, mostly parents with children. Carriages stood in a row, and their drivers gathered to one side to chat.
Linley could tell at a glance that the crowd was divided into two groups: one dressed in fine clothes, chatting and laughing; the other dressed plainly and mostly silent. He and Hillman clearly belonged to the latter.
"Wait here. I'll go ask how it works." With that, Hillman headed toward the church entrance.
Linley stayed where he was and observed his surroundings. Several youths dressed like nobles were talking together, their voices carrying:
"...Father said that as long as I can get into Land Academy, he'll buy me a purebred horse."
"What's so great about Land? My uncle has connections at Ernst Institute. Maybe I can get straight in."
"Oh, come on. Ernst Institute only cares about talent. Connections are useless."
They looked about Linley's age, but their manner and tone were entirely those of adults. One curly-haired boy noticed Linley watching him and curled his lip. "Country bumpkin."
His companions laughed.
Linley looked away and ignored them.
Hillman came back. "The test is in the hall inside. You have to line up. Parents aren't allowed in, so I'll wait outside."
"Okay."
The two walked to the back of the line. There were more than thirty people ahead of them, mostly children ranging from six or seven to fifteen or sixteen. As Linley joined the line, a red-haired girl beside him glanced at him and asked quietly, "Did you come alone?"
"My uncle brought me," Linley said.
"Oh." The girl nodded and asked no more.
The line moved slowly. Every so often, the church doors opened to admit a few people. Linley grew a little restless as he waited, but kept a calm expression.
An hour later, it was his turn.
The doorman was an armored warrior. He checked the identification Linley had brought-a piece of parchment bearing Wushan Town's seal. After verifying it, he let Linley through. "Turn right once you're inside. That's the hall."
Linley entered the church. The interior was immensely high, colored light streamed through stained glass, and a faint scent of incense hung in the air. The marble floor shone like a mirror, and footsteps echoed.
There were already more than a hundred people in the hall. A row of chairs stood at the front, occupied by more than a dozen people in various styles of clothing, presumably representatives from the academies. A circular area had been cleared in the center of the hall, where three priests in black robes stood and a bald elder presided over the tests.
Linley stood at the edge of the crowd and watched the testing.
A boy placed his hand on a crystal ball, and it gave off a faint blue glow. The bald elder announced, "Water Element, medium. Next."
The boy walked dejectedly to one side.
Next was a girl. The crystal ball lit up with a cyan glow, brighter than before. The elder nodded. "Wind Element, high. Not bad. Enter the magic formation to test your spiritual power."
The girl stepped into the hexagonal magic formation on the floor, and the elder began casting a spell. White light enveloped the formation, and the girl's body began to tremble. After holding out for about two minutes, she dropped to one knee.
"Spiritual power, six times that of her peers. Pass," the elder said.
A priest led the girl to the row of chairs, where several academy representatives gathered around to speak with her.
The testing continued. Some were happy, others disappointed, and roughly one or two in ten passed.
By the time Linley's turn came, he had waited nearly two hours. The bald elder glanced at him. "Name and age."
"Linley Baruch, eight years old."
"Put your hand on the crystal ball."
Linley did as instructed. When his palm touched the cold surface of the crystal ball, he instinctively drew on the Earth Element magic power within him. He hadn't done it deliberately; it was pure instinct.
Then the crystal ball exploded.
No, it didn't actually explode. It burst with light. Dazzling earthy yellow radiance filled the entire crystal ball in an instant, followed immediately by cyan light. The two colors intertwined, illuminating the hall as brightly as day. Even a few faint threads of red wandered through the light.
The hall fell silent at once.
The bald elder's hand trembled. He looked down at his record. "Eight years old... elemental affinity: Earth Element, exceptional; Wind Element, exceptional; Fire Element, medium."
The word "exceptional" fell like a stone into water, stirring up ripples of discussion.
"Exceptional in two elements?"
"Eight years old? Is that real?"
"Quiet!" The bald elder raised his voice, but the way he looked at Linley had already changed. "Enter the magic formation."
Linley stepped into the hexagonal magic formation. The elder began casting, white light rose, and a familiar pressure descended. Linley had experienced Doehring Cowart's spiritual power test, so he was no stranger to this pressure. He stood straight and steadied his breathing.
The pressure gradually intensified. Linley felt as though a pair of hands were squeezing his head, but he held on. One minute, two minutes... people around him drew sharp breaths.
The pressure increased again. Linley's knees grew weak, but he remembered how it felt to hold the Energy Gathering Stance during training: the more tired he became, the steadier he had to be. He clenched his teeth. His body began to tremble slightly, but he didn't fall.
Three minutes, four minutes...
"Enough!" The bald elder waved his hand and dispelled the magic formation. Linley swayed and caught himself with a hand on the floor before he could fall.
The elder stared at him for several seconds before speaking. "Spiritual power, eighteen times that of his peers, high."
The hall erupted.
"Eighteen times?!"
"And exceptional in two elements! What kind of monster is he..."
The academy representatives in the front row had all risen to their feet. The bald elder gave Linley a rare smile. "Come here, child."
Linley walked over. The elder pointed to the row of chairs. "These are representatives from the academies. You may choose one."
No sooner had he spoken than a middle-aged woman in blue robes rushed over. "Linley, I'm from Land Academy. Our academy promises you a full tuition waiver, a scholarship of one thousand gold coins a year, and one-on-one guidance from an experienced mage!"
"What's a thousand gold coins?" Another bald man squeezed forward. "We're from Weilin Academy. We'll offer two thousand!"
"We'll offer twenty-five hundred!"
"Three thousand!"
For a time, the scene descended into chaos. Surrounded in the middle, Linley was a little dazed. He hadn't expected this.
"Everyone, stand aside."
The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority. The crowd parted, and an elder in white robes walked slowly over. A Golden Badge engraved with intricate magical patterns was pinned to his chest.
"I represent Ernst Institute." The elder looked at Linley. "Ernst Institute is the number one magic academy on the continent. We promise no scholarships and no special treatment. We accept only geniuses, and we teach only geniuses. Are you willing to come?"
The people around them fell silent. None of the other academy representatives spoke again.
Linley took a deep breath. "I am."
The elder smiled and took a letter from his robes. "This is your acceptance letter. Classes begin in three months. Bring the letter when you report." He produced a silver badge as well. "This is a temporary badge. While you're in Fenlai City, you can use it to enter and leave the academy district freely."
Linley took the letter and badge, his hands trembling a little.
"Congratulations." The elder patted his shoulder, then turned and left.
Seeing this, the other academy representatives gradually dispersed, though they still looked at Linley with regret.
The bald elder told Linley to register at the side, then continued testing the next person. But everyone's attention was clearly still on Linley, and people kept glancing his way.
After registering, Linley walked out of the hall with the letter and badge. The sunlight was dazzling, and he narrowed his eyes.
Hillman was waiting for him in the square. The moment he saw him come out, he hurried over. "How did it go?"
Linley handed him the letter.
Hillman read it, opened his mouth, then closed it again. Finally, he gave Linley a hearty slap on the shoulder. "Well done!"
On the way back to the inn, Hillman was much more talkative, going on about how they should tell Hogg the good news and what they should buy to take back. Linley listened, but his thoughts had already wandered far away.
Ernst Institute. The number one magic academy on the continent.
He had really done it.
Back at the inn, Hillman said he was going to buy a few things and told Linley to rest in the room. Linley shut the door, and Bebe immediately crawled out from under the bed and jumped into his arms.
"I made it," Linley said to Bebe, and to Doehring Cowart as well.
"I saw." There was laughter in Doehring Cowart's voice. "Exceptional in two elements. Even better than I was back then."
"The Wind Element... I didn't notice it before," Linley said. "I only paid attention to the Earth Element when I meditated."
"That's normal," Doehring Cowart said. "Your affinity for the Earth Element is so strong that it pushed the other elements aside. From now on, you'll be training in both, so you'll need to divide your time well."
Linley nodded, then remembered the academy representatives competing for him. "They offered so much money..."
"Money isn't important," Doehring Cowart said. "The resources Ernst Institute can give you can't be measured in gold coins. Its library, laboratories, instructors... those are the real wealth."
Linley understood.
He sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the acceptance letter in his hands. The paper was thick, with gold patterns along the edges, and Ernst Institute's seal was stamped in the center: an open book with a star suspended above it.
He carefully folded the letter and put it in an inside pocket.
Bebe rubbed against his leg and gave a contented purr.
The clamor of the city drifted in through the window, but Linley felt calm. The unease and nervousness he had felt before coming had now become something real and tangible-a path, a clear path.
He remembered what Hogg had said: no matter whether he succeeded or not, he was a member of the Baruch Clan.
Now he had succeeded. Bearing the name Baruch, he had entered that wider world.
Hillman returned with a roast chicken, saying it was to celebrate. The two ate a hearty lunch in the room. Bebe got a chicken leg and ended up with grease all over his mouth.
"Shall we head back this afternoon?" Hillman asked.
"Mm." Linley nodded. "Let's get back and tell Father as soon as we can."
"All right, I'll pack."
As the carriage left Fenlai City, Linley looked back. The towering walls, the bustling streets, and the church spires in the distance all gradually grew smaller.
He had arrived as an ordinary country boy and was leaving as a new student of Ernst Institute.
Bebe poked his head out of Linley's collar and looked back too, then withdrew and went back to sleep.