章 4: Four
That night, George introduced him to the Furze Alliance. A group of people formed by those stemming from the allied nations of the south.
Just after they discussed the dangers of the next step of their journey, the Great Plains of Death, a few knights suddenly appeared and surrounded them.
"What's going on, sirs? Did we break some rules?"
As the others started sweating like pigs from fear, George and Leylin were the only ones who managed to keep somewhat calm even though worry was evident in their eyes.
Although he tried to put up a front, Leylin's hands were even shaking. Maybe it was the increase in his knight talent or something else, but he started to have strange sensations whenever he was being stared at or near those black clothed knights. Shivers would crawl up his skin and even his heart would start beating faster, pumping adrenaline into his body as if it expected for the worse or just something dangerous.
One of the knights, Mr Angelo, stepped out of the darkness and into the reaches of the light from the bonfire.
His scary eyes surveyed the crowd before stopping on Leylin's figure.
"You, come with us."
Hearing those words, Leylin fell into despair, he gave one last glance at George and then followed the man.
The Furze Alliance, on the other hand, could only watch helplessly as they immediately started having all sorts of thoughts about Leylin's fate. Most likely, he would die by their hands...
After walking for what felt like an eternity, they stopped in front of a luxurious carriage. The carriage had a huge tapestry strapped to its side, the background was white and it contained a white tower in front of a silvery shield surrounded by white rings.
Be it coincidence or not, it was also the only carriage that was probably affiliated with a magus faction.
"Lady Angelia is inside, don't keep her waiting." Hearing the advice of the Knights, he gulped and went forward with wobbly legs. Fearing any repercussion for lacking with respect, he still knocked on the door rather than just getting inside.
"Leylin, isn't it? Come in."
Taking a deep breath, he mustered all his courage and opened the door.
The inside of the carriage was even more luxurious than the outside. The walls were made of marble and the floor was built using some type of rare white wooden plank with a textured surface that reminded him of the surface of a finger, almost as if it had its own fingerprint, the ridged surface was very subtle but the parallel lines made it so anyone could see and feel the grooves if they were to walk barefoot in this place.
"This is the wood of an elderly Treant, it can only be harvested after they die of old age."
Caught in his stupor he almost didn't notice Lady Angelia who had silently arrived behind him like a ghost.
"Ah! L-lady Angelia, good night, I heard that you called me?"
"That's right." Nodding, the woman gave him a curious gaze before walking away and sitting up on a white reclining chair. Pointing towards another chair on the side, she continued. "Take a seat."
Nodding, he did as she asked and sat down. The moment he did so, he felt like he was in paradise. His body was being constantly massaged by what felt like gentle and soothing waves of the sea, the pleasure was such that he even moaned by accident!
Noticing his mistake, he quickly covered his mouth but when he looked at Lady Angelia, all he noticed was her serene face that seemed to be in comfort as well. Clearly, she didn't seem to mind or even expected his reaction.
"Leylin, I couldn't help but notice that you're very talented in the ways of the sword. You may think that your actions escaped my eyes but they have not. To be able to improve your swordsmanship and physic by so much in such a short period of time means that you have a constitution similar to the magi of the old era."
When he heard those words, Leylin couldn't stop sweating. What is this? Did he stand out too much and was exposed? Does she want to dissect me!? Fearing for his life, he kept a dumb look on his face and replied in a naive way.
"Oh! D-does that mean I'm talented in magic too?"
Lady Angelia smiled at that question. That smile was full of a charming aura. Because she was a magi, Leylin couldn't help but fear her but that didn't mean she wasn't beautiful. Rather she was most likely one of the most beautiful women on the continent. Her eyes were green and seemed to shine with energy and she had light blond hair that was cascading in waves towards her shoulders. She was like the classical north European beauty.
"It doesn't. What it means is that you're suitable for a few unconventional paths that have been either lost throughout history or haven't reached the limits of our world due to the lack of people to continue improving it." Having said so, she gave a coquettish smile that made Leylin blush slightly and turn his eyes away in fear that they meant something dangerous.
"I'm sorry Lady Angelia, I'm not too sure how to react to your words..."
Nodding, she gave him another look before waving her hands.
At her action, two objects flew away from the shelves and landed on a table that came from another direction.
Stunned by that sight he couldn't help but feel astounded. Good lord, magi could even control objects from far away with simple gestures?!
"I'll be straight with you. If you're willing to join my Ennea Ivory Ring Tower, I'll take you in as a disciple under the name of my Master, Gustav Von Strassburg, even if your talent is shit and of the worst quality, I can guarantee you will reach the level of a rank 1 magus. So, how is it?"
Seeing his petrified gaze, Lady Angelia chuckled, her eyes hiding a mysterious light. Only she knew if what she was saying was true and if there was any merit to her words. But whether he liked it or not... he would have to accept... Sigh... so much for wanting to be like an rpg player and just pick the most optimal path. Well, who knows, maybe the Ennea Ivory Ring Tower still has spells of the Dark Element and people who could teach them to him.
Knowing that he was too scared to answer, she merely pointed towards the objects on the table and said. "Why don't you pick that sphere? I'll help you take a look at your talent and affinity before we reach the place of the assessment, depending on the results, I can offer even better conditions for you."
Nodding, he picked up the sphere, the moment he touched it, he felt the hairs on his body stand on end, not to mention how cold it was, he could feel it vibrating so much that the vibrations crawled up his arms.
The texture, however, was the weirdest of all, it felt like touching gas that was turned solid, he couldn't even begin to comprehend how this thing was made.
Then, the crystal sphere started glowing and the light was enough to overwhelm the small candles that had been illuminating the place.
"Good! I know it must hurt, but please hold on!"
Hearing those words, Leylin was confused. Hurt? Should something be hurting? Blinking his eyes without understanding, he kept holding the sphere and it kept glowing and the light slowly increased over time. After about twenty seconds, Leylin felt a sharp pain in his head. The headache that appeared out of nowhere seemed to progress geometrically as with each second the pain seemed to multiply!
"Agh!" Crying out in pain, he let go of the sphere that fell down and rolled all the way to the end of the carriage.
Nodding with a pleased and surprised expression on her face, Lady Angelia's smile became a lot warm and tender.
"Congratulations, Leylin. You seem to be a rare fifth grade acolyte."
Hearing those words, Leylin couldn't help but frown. Fifth grade? This isn't right, Leylin's talent should have been third grade, what's going on?
Pondering on the matter, he remembered how the woman spoke about enduring the pain and it suddenly occurred to him that it might be related to his Recovery talent.
"Lady Angelia, may I ask how my talent was tested?"
"Sure." Angelia nodded, not minding the question. "A magi's aptitude is measured based on his ability to take in the energy present in nature without suffering radiation poisoning."
She picked up the sphere using her telekinesis again and said. "This sphere is like an avatar of you. The rate it took to glow to the level it did implies that your speed of gathering energy is at least at the level of a 5th grade, we don't know if it's possible to be faster since we don't have tools capable of measuring it. Other than that, you managed to withstand the high influx of energy for about thirty seconds. It means that your spiritual force, or mental energy if you prefer, is sturdy enough to do it for this long which is also in accordance with the 5th grade talent."
"Eh... does that mean that my spiritual force is consumed while testing my talent? A-and that the rate of consumption of spiritual force over the usage of this energy is how talent is measured?"
"Correct." Lady Angelia replied succinctly.
Blinking his eyes, Leylin couldn't help but take another look at his talent page. Good lord! Wasn't he really fortunate? Recovery actually allows him to emulate the talent of a 5th grade acolyte! Why he says emulate? Of course, the Recovery talent description mentioned the ability to recover one's mental acuity, this wasn't too clear for him before. At first, he thought it was the reason behind not being able to sleep more than four hours a day. He always woke up completely refreshed after four hours had gone by, but if what Lady Angelia said is true, it might be that his spiritual force was being consumed and restored at the same time! The rate of recovery was such that it even offset the pain that he should have been feeling!
Unfortunately, it probably isn't the same as having a real fifth grade talent, for that he may have to acquire a mage talent if possible and if it exists...
"Now, look into the bow and tell me what do you see."
Falling into an entranced state, Leylin did as he was asked to. When his eyes peered into the murky silvery water of the bow unconsciously, the center started spinning till the whole liquid was caught in a vortex.
"I see darkness and light engulfing each other... they are spinning around themselves and there is specks of red light everywhere."
"Oh, you're really a rare acolyte. Not many are born with conflicting affinities."
After she said those words, Leylin's eyes regained clarity and he couldn't help but take a deep breath! Fortunately she didn't ask any sensitive information! How scary...
After noting everything down on a piece of paper she gave it to him.
On it, it was written that his two main affinities were light and dark, with the third and weaker affinity being fire.
After taking a deep breath, Leylin mustered his courage and asked.
"With my talent, am I qualified for better conditions?"
Smiling at him, Lady Angelia stood up from her couch and leaned closer to his face. "Does this answer your question?" Putting a hand over her robes, she opened the button and let it fall down, revealing her naked voluptuous figure.
Shocked, Leylin could only follow the flow as she started kissing him out of nowhere.
Taking a small bite of one of his earlobes she whispered in his ears. "Let's talk about business later, handsome."
That night... oh, that night. It was the first time he tasted the pleasures of a 10 out 10. Still, he couldn't help but sigh in his mind. Ennea Ivory Ring Tower it is then.
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