Chapter 323 – Snacks and Airships

Chapter 323 – Snacks and Airships

“Mhmm… Ou’ shhould try tis.” Flynn used a saffron flatbread to gesture at a tray of velvet-root tarts, his cheeks full. A plate balanced on his elbow to let him hold a glass of spiced wine and use his free hand on a fork. “Add ‘ne of thesh too, pleeashe.”

“Yes… sir. Just one moment…” The server angled the tart with a pair of silver tongs, struggling to find a spot that wouldn’t ruin the precarious pyramid of fancy foods.

Kai gave the woman a sympathetic look. Her face lit in relief when Flynn forked a slice of meat pie, freeing precious space.

How is he still not full?

Hungry teens wandered the tables laid with delicacies and icy drinks served by waiters in spotless suits. All dishes used pseudo-mana ingredients or higher—Raelion had spared no expenses. The feast spread across three halls, offering way more food than the remaining applicants could eat.

His group counted about a hundred and fifty candidates after merging with four others—a third of the original participants, with the tests far from over.

“I’ll have one of those.” Rain offered his silver plate, pointing to a tray of pickled moon plums and smoked silver ox livers. Since eating his fill, he had switched to smelling and collecting curious-looking treats.

“Uh. I’m good, thank you,” Kai reassured the waiting server, sipping a glass of cold mint tea. He had a slice of braised lamb on the plate and couldn’t imagine taking another bite. “I think we’ve had enough.”

Flynn vehemently shook his head, beating his chest to swallow. “I’m still peckish. And it’s free. C’mon, we haven’t checked the last hall. I must try one of everything.” Working hard to clear his plate, he led the charge toward the last side of the banquet.

A pudgy patrician sneered at the pile of food as they passed the double doors separating the spaces. “Stuffing his mouth like a beast.” The whisper to his companion begged to be heard. “He must never have had food in his life.”

The red-haired teen listening elbowed him. “Don’t be a jerk, Jev.”

“Why? It’s true. He has no manners.”

“Oink!” Flynn grunted as he walked by them, too concerned with the food on his plate to care.

“Hey!” The pudgy boy stepped forward to say more, but reeled back when Rain glanced his way.

Probably not a friendly look… I should ask him to teach me.

Kai trailed after his friends into the last vaulted hall. Avoiding patricians at Raelion was going to be harder than anticipated; thankfully, only a minority went out of their way to share unrequired opinions.

Can’t be worse than the last examiner.

Recalling the old professor with bushy eyebrows, Kai raised his forearm to stifle a laugh and not splutter his tea. Had he ever met a man so drunk on his self-delusions? The face he made upon seeing his list of affinity had been worth all the nonsense.

That might have scarred him.

Minor Elemental Attunement had improved the kinship with all his elements, though the increase depended on their starting value. The lowest, like Fire, had gone up by seven, while Water only gained one.

They said it’d get harder to raise them.

Either way, Kai was satisfied with the boon. Any boost to his elemental magic was invaluable, and his minor affinities became much easier to use. He wouldn’t suffer freezing temperatures again.

I scored higher than Rain…

Even repeating himself that comparison was futile, the results filled him with more pride than he wished to admit.

He had been bummed by the gap in their status score, and the points he could have gained from Yellow ★★—just a few thousand XP away. Ultimately, the longer he could avoid the spotlight, the better. His affinities attracted enough attention on their own.

I should have enough points to pass. Or close to it…

A pity he couldn’t study the enchantments in the testing rooms. Such exquisite runework. He hadn’t seen anything similar since Edgar kicked him out of his workshop in Higharbor.

“Wait up.” Kai strode to catch up to Flynn and Rain. They had stopped at one of the farthest tables, debating the virtues of a pumpkin cake with bright red stripes. “Don’t stuff yourself. You know we have more tests to go.”

“It’s fine.” Flynn cleaned his hands on a napkin and patted his flat stomach. “I’ve still got plenty of space.”

How can he… It must be a skill.

Could a stomach develop a spatial subspace?

Probably not… but you might be able to accelerate digestion.

“Excuse me.” Flynn smiled at the waiter, pointing his fork at the pumpkin cake. “Could you give me a slice of—”

“Brunch time is over!” A voice thundered across the hall, causing the crystal chandeliers above them to quiver. The chewing and chattering of teens ceased. “All remaining candidates gather in the main hall.”

“Wait—”

“You have thirty seconds or your application will be considered forfeit.”

“I’m afraid the banquet is closed, sir.” The waiter gave an apologetic bow. “We aren’t allowed to serve food outside the set limits. May I put away your plate?”

Such a pity.

“You heard the man. Time to go.” Kai patted Flynn’s slumping shoulders. “C’mon, put down the plate. We’re on the clock.”

From what he observed, the Head Examiner was perfectly capable of failing an applicant over a one-second delay.

“Do we really have to…?” Flynn gazed at the pumpkin cake as if considering grabbing it and making a run for it. Before he could make up his mind, Kai dragged him away by the collar of his shirt.

Flynn let himself get pulled with only a token resistance, free arm grasping toward the disappearing prize. “I only wanted a slice…”

“It smelled like bitter seaweed,” Rain wrinkled his nose, leaving his plate to a waiter. “It probably wasn’t very good.”

“Yeah. Definitely tasted terrible.” Kai let go of his friend as they joined the stream of candidates funneling through the double doors.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“But my tummy’s hungry.” Flynn sulked and massaged his stomach. “And it was free.” He weakly fought a server who wanted to take his plate before conceding.

“I’m sure you won’t starve. There’ll be more food at Raelion.”

In the main hall, waiters carried away the last banquet tables. The door shut on their back after entering. Kai couldn’t see the Head Examiner behind the heads of the other applicants, though that didn’t hinder hearing his speech.

“Quiet.” The old man blanketed the crowd with his presence. Climbing an invisible dais, he offered a curt grunt of approval. “I must congratulate you on passing the first selection. Whether it was the tutors whipping you, talent at birth, or your own determination, you must not have entirely wasted your childhood years.”

Thanks, I guess…?

That sounded close to praise. Kai fell back onto his heels; they exchanged a better view for breathing space at the back of the hall. The Head Examiner swept his gaze over the applicants. His attention seemed to linger in their direction, though it was too brief to say.

Using him for cover, Flynn was quietly munching a chocolate cookie he smuggled inside, while Rain poked his cheeks to make him laugh.