3 The Attribute Examination
The best way to discern the attribute of a person and to measure his mana it through the Tilmann sphere.
The Tilmann sphere was created by Edgar Tillman, even known as the first great sage, to regulate all the new mages and wizards.
They were created using the beast core of the crystal lizard, a beast that lives in the deepest part of the Yamata Forest, a forest known to be inhabited by innumerable races of reptiles and dominated by the legendary beast Orochi.
The cristal lizards are beast of the fifth level capable of absorbing mana and reflecting it, thus are extremely difficult to hunt for mages because they can reflect the magic used against them.
Even though they are difficult to hunt their races is almost extinct because their core can even be used to create magic weapon capable of self support itself removing the need of the users of using their mana.
Thus is highly recommended of hunting them in group of four or five level five warriors.
Extracted from "The bestiary of the cutest reptiles"
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Tifeo began to walk toward the gate and, arrived at it, his heart began to beat at a crazy rate. He turned and saw his small house, an house where he lived after having been kicked out of the mansion where his father and his sister lived after being deemed an incompetent incapable of even cultivate.
After that event he began to isolate himself from the rest of the world to meditate and, without noticing it, three years passed since the last time when he saw his father.
His father was a stern and harsh person, he was one of the strongest person of the Andres kingdom and was known as the fire emperor, the strongest fire mage. He wanted his child to be the top of the top and, when he discovered that his son was a waste he kicked him out of the mansion and ceased to give him resources.
Tifeo, even now after three years, remembered the expression thus his father worn at this time, a cold expression devoid of any emotions other than disdain.
When he recalled that moment he felt his heart bleed but, even after being kicked out, he sworn to never give up and of becoming a great mage so as to transform that expression of disdain in one of pride.
"What's up Tifeo, is something wrong?" asked Sheila after seeing Tifeo motionless for a few seconds.
"Oh nothing nothing, I was only thinking about something" answered Tifeo after being startled for a moment "by the way, you... have called me Tifeo?"
"Yes, it's your name remember? Or maybe making a mana core have made you an idiot?" said Sheila with a confused expression.
"Of course I remember it's only that you have always called me young brother, you have never used my name and, by the way, you are the idiot not I" said Tifeo.
"Humph you are already sixteen and now that you have formed a mana core I can't continue to treat you like a child or, in the end, you're become spoiled, and what is a person that have observed an house for a few minutes if not an idiot? " said Sheila whit an amused expression.
"You are saying that you won't pamper me anymore?" said Tifeo with watery eyes and a wronged expression.
"That... I... I shouldn't but...maybe sometimes I can still do it " said Sheila with a awkward expression.
After hearing this Tifeo made a big smile and while thinking *uhuhuhu the technique of the watery eyes always work* said "Big sister you are the best" and hugged tightly Sheila.
"Sigh" Sheila sighed and, after hugging Tifeo, smiled and said "I know I know I'm the best sister of the world" with a proud expression.
"You have hugged me enough, let's go".
"Yes, big sister" said Tifeo before taking a profound breath and making the first step out of his house after three years.
After a walk of five minutes they arrived at the temple of the Phoenix, the sacred ground of the Ignis clan, where all the techniques of the clan are stored and where the attribute examination take place.
The temple had a circular structure and was suspended on the crater of the vulcano with four bridges located on the four cardinal points that linked it with the rest of the clan.
When Tifeo and Sheila entered the temple they saw an elderly bald man with a long white beard seated with the legs crossed outside the temple.
Arrived near the man Sheila and Tifeo greeted him, the man turned his head toward Sheila and nodded but, after seeing Tifeo, he widened his eyes as if he had seen the strangest thing of the world.
This elderly man was elder Liu, one of the strongest man of the clan and the elder assigned to the protections of the temple, one of the highest position of the clan.
"What are you doing here little rascal? " said elder Liu with an expectan expression on his face.
When Tifeo saw his expression he made a big smile and said "I've finally made it old wizard(1), wait another few years and than I will take my revenge"
When elder Liu heard this he exploded in a boisterous laugh and said "You've finally do it little rascal, I was beginning to think that I will lost all my hair by the time you would do it but don't think that only because you have becomed a mage you became capable of beat me, you will become capable of doing it only when the pig will fly".
"Humph you will see it old wizard, you wi-" said Tifeo looking at the sky trying to assume the pose of a hero but, before he could continue, he felt a cold shiver and, turning toward elder Liu saw him gazing at him with a cold gaze and a black aura revolving around him.
"What have you called me?" said elder Liu trying to sound calm.
At this moment Tifeo felt like he was on a precipice and that the wrong answer would have maid him make the wrong step and fall down thus, after a careful consideration, he said "Honorable and respectable old wizard".
"You have called me old wizard? Why?" said elder Liu, the aura of death and desolation around him intensifying.
"Because you haven't a wife. Aren't the people single for more than forty years called wizard? Oh you have been single for over forty years, almost for a century, thus you are in an higher level than a wizard" said Tifeo in an innocent manner and the after a bit of contemplation continued "you are a great wizard".
After hearing the word of the boy and seeing is innocent expression the aura around elder Liu intensified even more becoming almost tangible "Do you really think that I'm an idiot? That I am like the other? That I am so stupid to be fooled by your innocent expression? If you wasn't the son of the clan master I would have already killed you" said elder Liu with his eyebrows twitching from the anger.
"I don't know what you are talking about elder Liu" said Tifeo with the expression like that of someone being accused of something he hasn't do.
"Baa it's futile, you are capable of angering me every time we talk. Go take this damned examination before I spank your ass"
"The only one that can spank his ass it's me" said Sheila directing a cold gaze toward elder Liu.
"ah ah ah what do you said if we talk about this later? Let's go sister" after saying this Tifeo began to drag Sheila toward the temple and then muttered in a quite voice audible only by him and elder Liu "Muhahahah old wizard this battle is won by me".
After saying this he entered the temple and began to go toward a pedestal surrounded by two mage clad in a black robe.
After the duo entered the temple the auro of death around elder Liu dispersed and a big smile sprouted on his face "you con have won this battle but I will win the war".
"What are you doing here young master?" said one of the men near the pedestal when he saw Tifeo arriving.
Tifeo pointed at the white crystalline sphere on top of the pedestal and side "I'm here to evaluate my mana".
"You have formed your mana core?" said the man with an incredulous expression.
"Yes, I've formed it a few minutes ago" said Tifeo with a proud expression.
"It's a good news, I'm sure your father will be really happy" said the man.
"I really hope it will be as you said" said Tifeo with a smile on his face.
"Then let's begin. Place your hand on the sphere, you will feel a strange sensation but don't fight it, let the sphere absorb a bit of your mana".
Hearing the man Tifeo did as he said without knowing that the simple motion of placing his right hand on that sphere would have changed his lives forever.
(1) In Japan the people that after forty years are still virgin are called wizard.
