Muddling Through

"Next."

A voice came from the front of the line, and the boy in front of Sol gave him one last glare before turning around.

Sol only glanced coldly at the other's back, memorizing his appearance, before turning his attention to the front of the line.

The crowd moved forward a bit, and Saul could already see the person at the very front.

Two people were sitting at a table with something on it, too far away to see.

After a while longer, there were only five or six people left in front of Saul, and three or four more lined up behind him at some point.

It is assumed that, like him, they are also from servants, and have come to make up the number.

"... This child's magical talent is not good, and his spiritual power is also very poor, both of them are not good, there is no value, how was he chosen?"

At this time, a youth in charge of the examination in front of him suddenly chided loudly.

Saul hurriedly looked over, just in time to see a chubby boy squinting and smiling, handing something in his hand to the complaining youth.

"I'm of average talent, so please bear with me, Lord Sorcerer."

This was a blatant bribe!

Who knew that the youth who was obviously just a sorcerer's apprentice took the item, still sneering, and said, "One magic crystal? It seems that you are just so mixed up all the way, do you really think that all wizards can let you take money and drive them around?"

The fat boy's unbeatable tactics didn't work, and the smile on his face stiffened at once.

"That's not what I meant, my lord."

He was about to argue something when he saw the youth suddenly flick something with his thumb.

Saul couldn't quite make it out from his angle; it seemed to have flicked into the fat boy's face, or perhaps into his mouth.

Then, Saul saw a scene that he would never forget.

The fat boy's movements stiffened for a moment, and then the whole person melted into a puddle of liquid like a candle, and the boy's five senses, hands and feet could still be seen vaguely in the liquid.

The man next to the young apprentice sorcerer let out a "tsk".

"Getting so dirty is disgusting. Wouldn't it be better to just throw it away as a servant?"

Sol's heart sank.

He, too, was a servant!

At that moment, the hardback book, which had been quiet for days, suddenly flew in front of Saul's eyes and unfolded with a clatter once again.

[314 years of the Solstice Calendar, May 25th.

You have finally blended in with the ranks of the apprentices.

But you have forgotten how you became a servant. Those who fell down on their magical qualifications in the first place, do they have sorcerer potential after a few years?

Ridiculous, ridiculous.

You're laughing your ass off.]

Sure enough!

Sol stiffened and followed the group forward again, and heard a few uneasy whispers from behind himself as well.

If he took the test just like that, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to pass it either.

Looking at the contents of the hardback book, he'd probably be found out who he was and die laughing maniacally.

Thor glanced down at his left hand, which was scrunched up in the shadow of his sleeve.

The white-boned left hand that could intimidate servants, even common stewards, certainly could not intimidate a sorcerer's apprentice.

Was it necessary to lift Konsa out?

Saul had just thought of this when another line of text appeared on the hardback book.

[Because the magic test was failed and the servant's identity was exposed, Cid interrupted the test and tried to take advantage of the opportunity to take your life.

At the critical moment, you moved Kongsa out, and Sid silenced to let you go.

After the other two tests, you successfully became a low-ranked sorcerer's apprentice, and that night, you were lucky enough to turn into a pile of white bones.

That way your left hand isn't so protruding after all.]

Sol stalled.

It's not even possible to move out Konza?

Fear crept into Saul's mind once again.

What would it take to pass the test?

Even if Saul offered to give up now, what awaited him was only death.

This didn't even need the hardback book to prompt him.

Every step forward he took after the group was like he was approaching the abyss ... he was about to fall!

"Think fast, think fast, there must be another way."

Saul had one pair of eyes glued to the tabletop that was getting closer and closer, which held the instruments used for testing.

He watched the testing process carefully.

Those participating in the test would be asked to go through the tests one by one from left to right. The first one on the left was a black crystal ball that was used to measure magical qualifications.

Picking up the crystal ball and sticking it to the center of the eyebrow, the more transparent the crystal ball became, the higher the magic qualification.

The one in the center was a wooden doll, carved in a lifelike manner, a little girl, but there was an empty hole at the eyes, and it was pitch-black inside.

When the tester stared at the little girl's eyes, the doll would start to move, and the greater the movement, the better the mental power qualification.

The brush dipped in paint measured what seemed to be elemental affinity.

Draw a circle on the white paper and the paint would automatically change color. The young sorcerer apprentice would then report two elements, which would be noted down by another man.

Saul watched nervously as the two men tested – there were still a few who got by on money like the fat boy – and both men passed the test.

But Saul noticed that both men, all of them, were pale and depressed after the test.

So much so that after the third test, they were both wobbling to the side, and one of them looked on the verge of fainting.

Maybe ...

Although it is not quite sure, since he already has a new program, the hardcover book has not popped up ... Saul has strengthened his idea.

At this time, he no longer has the right to quit, and he can only break into this death barrier.

The people in front of Saul are getting less and less.

Finally, it was his turn.

The youth lazily leaning back in his chair immediately sneered after seeing Saul's face.

He recognizes me?

Saul's heart jumped, but his face showed a look of awe.

"Begin." The young sorcerer apprentice trailed off, pointing one hand at the black crystal ball on his left.

Saul honestly extended his hand and picked up the paintbrush that ... was used to test elemental affinity.

Before the young sorcerer spoke, he held the brush tightly in his right hand and quickly drew a trembling circle on the white paper.

The circle that had just been drawn was black.

Saul picked up the brush and waited with bated breath.

The young wizard didn't look very happy, but he narrowed his eyes and eventually said nothing.

The black circle slowly changed and several colors appeared, the longest of which was no more than the length of a small thumb, still black.

The rest of it was really red, orange, yellow, green, green, blue, purple, gold, and white, all the colors coming together.

"Heh." The young sorcerer apprentice saw this and snorted out a laugh, "You're quite greedy."

Saul heard that he was mocking himself and only pretended to wince as he lowered his head.

"Dark element, the rest ... I can't find the second most elements, Nick you write one at random."

The other man called Nick nodded and wrote on the paper "Dark element, light element."

The young wizard apprentice – Saul was already certain that he was the Cid mentioned in the hardback book – laughed out loud, "Two opposing elements? You really do write randomly."

Nick didn't say anything.

Saul, on the other hand, waited for Cid to finish laughing before reaching for the wooden doll that tested his mental powers.

He stared down into the doll's empty eyes.

The afterglow also noted if there was any change in the doll's movements.

"Help me, help me, help me ..."

A series of whispers rang in Saul's ears, very fast and soft enough to make you want to listen.

But the more closely one listened, the more confusing the sound became, and the content within gradually changed.

"Save me, save me ... kill me ... kill me ... save me… …"

Saul could only hear the dizziness.

"Okay, it can stop now."

Cid's low voice came to his ears.

But Saul didn't stop, he let his mind and soul be fully immersed in that voice.

"Enough, do you want to die?"

Startled, Saul jerked his head up, glancing first at the wooden doll, which had both hands up, and then at Cid, who had stood up at some point with an angry face.

Then, his eyes rolled back in his head and he fainted before Sid could utter his next words.

(End of this chapter)