Chapter Fifteen: Test 2

"Welcome to my laboratory," Mesut said, his face aglow with a smile.

"Tch," Carter scoffed, curling his lip in disdain.

...

At that moment, Lando was thinking that if the system were exposed, he might very well become just another experimental subject in this laboratory.

"Come, the detector is over there." Mesut ignored Carter and beckoned Lando to a corner of the lab.

It was an upright sealed chamber, with a transparent glass door. As the door swung open, a mist drifted out.

"Just step inside. The test is quick and won't affect you," Mesut reassured.

Lando hesitated and asked, "I heard you mention... blue just now."

"Yes. It will assess your aptitude—if it emits blue light, you qualify. If not, don’t lose heart; it doesn’t mean much in itself," Mesut replied gently, soothing Lando’s nerves.

Beside him, Carter opened his mouth but didn’t interrupt this time: "For us humans, the lowest grade, gray, rarely appears. Most people are white, a few are green, and only those who achieve blue can become Arcanists."

Hearing this, Lando felt more at ease, but pressed further, "What about above blue?"

Carter chuckled, teasing, "It’s said that above blue is purple. If you’re of purple aptitude, our order will devote abundant resources to your cultivation."

Mesut smiled, unconcerned. "Let’s begin."

"Alright!"

Lando stepped into the detector, and the chamber door closed slowly.

"Begin," Mesut commanded.

"What level do you think this boy will reach?" Carter asked nervously.

"By your account, at least green—blue isn’t impossible."

"Green is already one in ten thousand. Blue is rarer still—one in a million, and to ‘possess, let alone discover,’ is almost impossible."

"Indeed, even this basic detector requires significant resources to operate. Yet its invention sped up the expansion of the empire tenfold or more."

"True. In the past, only Arcanists of the third stage could reveal their gifts. Purple aptitude is exceedingly rare—a prosperous world may not see one in a thousand years, and then only if they are lucky enough to be found by an Arcanist. Otherwise, they may live and die in obscurity."

Mesut nodded in agreement. At that moment, the instrument’s vibrations faded, and both men watched as light began to flicker on a crystal outside the chamber.

White...

Green...

Gradually shifting to blue...

"Huh, what’s this?!"

"Ha, I told you this boy would be fine!"

The crystal’s color was not yet settled; the blue grew deeper, reaching an extreme, and then, faintly, a hint of purple began to show.

The two were rendered utterly speechless by shock.

After a long silence, Carter murmured, "Did I really get this lucky? A random mission and I discover a genius of purple aptitude?!"

Mesut: "..."

Regaining his composure, Carter exclaimed, "The basic detector only measures up to blue. Lando is likely of purple aptitude—I must take him to the Silver Tower for the highest-level assessment immediately."

"...Let’s not rush," Mesut said calmly after collecting himself.

"What do you mean?" Carter asked, puzzled, half-joking, "You aren’t jealous of the boy’s talent, are you? Thinking to suppress him?"

Mesut shot Carter a look. "The highest-level assessment will reveal not only the precise aptitude but the full range of his gifts. The earlier the better, but it’s only useful at the second stage. For constructing the Arcane Furnace in the first stage, it makes little difference."

"True. After tens of thousands of years of development, all orders now use the standard furnace in the early stage," Carter agreed.

"So waiting a little won’t affect Lando much. When he reaches the second stage and forges his Elemental Body, then we can test his abilities. After all, he hasn’t joined the order yet—if word gets out..."

"Old fox!" Carter instantly understood Mesut’s meaning. Talent competition was fiercest among the orders.

"Belonging is something that must be cultivated. And besides, have we ever treated a genius poorly in the Silver Tower?" Mesut brushed off Carter’s minor jibe. "Report this to your mentor, and have him inform the higher-ups. It’s safer that way."

"Don’t worry, I know how to handle it."

The Arcane Empire, now in its great expansion, craved talent desperately. There were countless stories of obscure orders rising to prominence overnight after discovering a prodigy.

Strong orders like the Silver Tower valued talent even more; if a third Grand Arcanist emerged from their ranks, both their overall interests and their voice in the empire would be greatly elevated.

When Lando came to his senses and stepped out of the detector, he was greeted by two faces grinning so widely their smiles nearly bloomed. He asked uncertainly, "Well? Did I pass?"

"Ahem, not bad. Your talent is quite good." Whether it was an illusion or not, Lando felt Mesut’s voice was even warmer than before.

"Haha! Not bad for someone I vouched for! Though the detector consumes tremendous resources, I fought to secure this opportunity for you, Lando. You’ve truly lived up to my expectations—ahahaha!" Carter laughed heartily.

Lando eyed Carter suspiciously, feeling something was amiss.

"Alright, Lando. Now that you’re proven to possess the aptitude for becoming an Arcanist, let me ask you," Mesut’s expression became solemn, "are you willing to join the Silver Tower?"

Lando glanced at Carter, who awaited his answer with hopeful eyes. "I am willing. Mr. Carter has guided my studies and aided me greatly—I wish to join his order."

Carter could no longer suppress his triumphant grin.

Mesut cast a sidelong glance at the smug Carter and said to Lando, "Take a few days to prepare. If there’s anyone you wish to say goodbye to, do so now—once you join the Silver Tower, you likely won’t return for some time."

"Sealed education?" Lando asked.

"No. It’s just that, once you’ve seen the vast world outside, few Arcanists care to return to waste time in the mire."

Lando looked at Mesut. When he described this world as a mire, his voice was gentle and calm, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Suddenly, Lando realized that Mesut and Carter, who clearly had the power to easily resolve the undead disaster in the North, had allowed the plague to run rampant, claiming countless lives—just to... increase his chances of becoming an Arcanist?