Chapter 8: The Magic Guild!

The hall inside wasn't crowded, probably because only a select few had the ability to come this far.

Eric approached the counter and spoke to the staff member behind it, "I'm here to take the Low-level Magic Master assessment."

That's right, even becoming a Low-level Magic Master required an exam. Once the test was completed, the certification would be granted.

The staff member at the counter glanced up at Eric, and upon seeing his young age, a brief glint of approval flashed in her eyes.

She picked up a form, handed it to Eric, and pointed to a sign nearby, "Please fill out your personal information first, and then pay the registration fee of 1,000 dollars."

Eric's face slightly changed upon hearing this.

He had known the registration would cost money, but he hadn't expected it to be so expensive—1,000 dollars. It seemed that becoming a extraordinary beings was not something just anyone could do; even the first step required a substantial sum.

"1,000 dollars... after paying this, I'll be almost broke…" Eric thought, gritting his teeth. But in the end, he pulled out a wad of cash, his desire to make money growing even more urgent.

One thing was certain: after this test, his first priority would be to earn some money.

The staff member took the cash, counted it quickly, and then smiled. "Mr. Eric, please wait a moment. I'll arrange for your assessment right away."

She then grabbed a walkie-talkie and spoke into it, "Someone come and take this person for his assessment."

Eric was asked to stand and wait in the designated area. Someone would be coming soon to take him to the test location and provide him with more details about the assessment, along with the services offered.

"Special service personnel... at least the service will be good, even if I'm spending 1,000 dollars." he thought, feeling a little more at ease.

Eric shoved his hands into his pockets and waited patiently. His expression was calm, but inside, he was filled with anticipation and excitement.

Less than a minute later, someone arrived. A girl with bright red hair, wearing the Magic Guild uniform, walked over gracefully. She had a beautiful face, but her expression was rather cold.

The counter staff member introduced her, "Mr. Eric, this is your dedicated service personnel, Lilith. She will take you to the test."

Eric turned and his eyes widened in surprise.

Yes, the person assigned to assist him was none other than Lilith, from his class. He never expected to run into someone he knew here.

When Lilith saw Eric, her expression immediately changed. Her fiery red pupils contracted sharply.

"Eric? How could it be him?" Lilith was stunned, her mind in turmoil. "This guy… is he really here to take the Magic Master test? What on earth is he thinking?"

Of course, Lilith couldn't show these thoughts on her face.

After seeing Eric, her expression quickly turned colder. "Mr. Eric, please follow me." She said, turning and walking briskly toward the assessment area without sparing him another glance.

Eric snapped out of his daze and, seeing her back, followed her. The two of them walked side by side down a corridor covered with red carpets.

Lilith's long, fiery red hair swayed with each step, catching the soft light, its gleam almost enchanting.

"I didn't expect you to be working here." Eric said in a neutral tone.

Lilith suddenly spun around, glaring at him coldly. "Eric, what are you up to? Why are you here?"

Eric shrugged. "Do I really need to explain? I'm here to take the Low-level Magic Master assessment, of course."

Lilith looked at him as though she had heard the biggest joke. She sized him up from head to toe, her eyes filled with disdain. "You? Are you seriously out of your mind?"

She worked at the Magic Guild not just to earn money, but because she longed to become a Magic Master. To that end, she had worked hard, studied relentlessly, and trained diligently. Even while working at the guild, it was all part of her plan to get closer to her dream.

But Eric? A person with magic talent so poor it was almost offensive? The fact that he was here now, made her feel like her dream was being insulted.

"You should know that Magic is something sacred. If you're not here for the assessment, then what are you really doing here?" Lilith's voice dropped low, laced with distaste.

"1,000 dollars... that's not a small amount for you, is it?" Lilith asked coldly.

Eric met her gaze. He had seen that look countless times before. It was filled with complete contempt.

Lilith, unlike Kevin and his gang, didn't directly mock or belittle him. But this look of looking down on him, as though he were some kind of freak, dismissing his very existence—he had had enough of it.

Eric smirked, a hint of mockery playing at the corners of his lips. "Heh. I've already told you my purpose. Whether you believe me or not is up to you. I don't really care…"

"You can think of it as me spending 1,000 dollars to buy myself a servant to wait on me." Eric said, extending a finger and pointing at Lilith.

Lilith furrowed her brow. "You… are so hopelessly boring…"

But she forced herself to hold back her frustration. According to the rules of the Magic Guild, she was required to show basic courtesy and respect to clients, even if they were just a waste of space, here for some entertainment.

As long as the fee was paid, as a prospective Magic Master, the client's service staff had to accompany them throughout their time at the Magic Guild. The service staff were not only required to answer any questions the prospective Magic Master had, but also to meet all their needs, though these were usually limited to menial tasks like fetching water or running errands.

At least until Eric stepped out the door, Lilith would be at his beck and call.

Lilith led Eric to a room with a wooden plaque on the door. The plaque was engraved in gold with Magic script that read, "Magic Master Examination Room."

Eric entered and found the room unexpectedly spacious, with a futuristic design that was both sleek and high-tech. Aside from him, there were a few young men and women seated upright, their expressions serious as they waited. They were also here for the assessment.

Lilith's tone was cold as she spoke. "Find a seat and wait. When the examiner calls your name, it will be your turn."

She spoke quickly, as though any extra words with Eric were beneath her.

Eric sat down without a word and waited quietly.

The young men and women next to him gave him a quick once-over before immediately turning their attention back to their studies, focusing intently on their Magic knowledge. This was an extremely important examination, after all. Eric, on the other hand, seemed completely relaxed, reclining in his chair with his eyes closed, a faint smile on his lips as if he couldn't care less about the exam that was about to start.

Standing nearby was a tall man who appeared to be an examiner. Upon noticing Eric, he showed a slight surprise.

"This student… he's different from the others," Orlando mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

Lilith shot him a glare filled with resentment, her eyes rolling so far back it seemed they might disappear entirely. "As expected, you're just here to cause trouble. Let's see how long you can keep that smug position of yours."

In her mind, Eric was no match for the exam. It was clear he had no real preparation or ability. He was just here to make trouble.

At that moment, the door to the room opened, and an elderly man in a black Magic robe with a long silver beard stepped out. He scanned the room, taking in the seated candidates.

"The examination will begin now. I am your examiner, Maurice." His murky eyes carried an air of sharp authority.

Orlando glanced at the list in his hand and loudly announced, "First, Andrew!"

The young man whose name was called immediately stiffened, standing up, nervously swallowing as he followed the towering Orlando toward the stage.

The others watched in tense silence.

The room was like a large arena, with a small platform at the center. Once Andrew stepped onto the stage, he stood still, quietly waiting for the examiner's instructions.

Eric, too, straightened up, his curiosity piqued. He was eager to find out exactly what the assessment would entail.

"I thought they'd have some high-tech machine to test our magical power." he muttered to himself with interest.

"That kind of thing isn't necessary. With Lord Maurice around, his eyes are the best measuring tool." Lilith's dismissive voice came from behind him.

Clearly, she was well-versed in the entire process.

"Now, release the Magic you know. A total of three spells." Orlando instructed Andrew, his voice commanding. "The examiner will assess the quality of your spells to determine whether you qualify as a Low-level Magic Master. Go ahead."

Andrew took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "Understood."

He then began to cast his Magic, and Eric noted that he was a practitioner of Earth-based Magic.