Chapter 327 – Teamwork Pending

Chapter 327 – Teamwork Pending

Standing beside the refreshment tables, Kai peered at the rows of candidates. Some gripped their glass orbs with sweaty hands, some bared their teeth at the rings of runes, and some gazed at their feet for inspiration.

Just a few stood still, waiting for the silver hourglass to empty—their bleak and disgruntled expressions didn’t suggest success.

Did no one complete the puzzle?

He would have taken longer without his previous experience, but still… Both patricians and commoners here had reached Yellow and likely received an extensive education.

Is it nerves?

They had to weave mana through hundreds of runes; the enchanted spheres reset their progress at the tiniest mistake. Adding the timer and the stakes of entering Raelion, it turned into a vicious cycle.

Kai gave them a sympathetic look. He had also been a bundle of anxiety in his earlier childhood, but he wasn’t rattled so easily anymore.

When did I change…?

It just sort of happened. Maybe—

“Time is up!” Professor Thornwyn announced as the last grain touched the bottom of the hourglass. “Stop your skills. If any mana touches your orbs, you’ll be eliminated. The assistant examiners will now pass to collect them.”

An imposing presence washed over the applicants. A kind warning for any fool daring enough to cheat.

“If you haven’t achieved any glow, form an orderly line for the exits. Setbacks can teach us more than successes. Those who qualify may try again next year…”

From his square of quiet, Kai watched beaming smiles and bitter scowls bloom around the hall. Luckily, the arrays spared him from hearing the emotional outbursts of hundreds of teens.

Looks like most of them passed.

He studied the palisades of bodies as the assistants spread to retrieve the glass spheres and register the results—only the last color mattered.

No prize for finishing early. Being too exceptional is a hard life. Kai mused with mirth. His confidence could use a boost after all the opulent and monumental sights of the last few days.

I did also get three extra points.

The grid at his feet flickered, then dimmed, crashing a chorus of voices into his ears. Stunned by the noise, most applicants fell quiet, only a few continued arguing with the assistants.

“Remain in your square till all the orbs have been collected,” Professor Thornwyn’s voice echoed. Her forehead scrunched up at the louder arguments. “Your scores can still be lowered for poor conduct.”

She might not enjoy this, but she’s good at it. Hmm… another kindred soul punished for her success.

Without the wards, Kai could see the glow of the other spheres. Orange and yellow were the most prevalent colors, followed by green and red. Only a few teens held dull orbs. They quickly scurried toward the exits once they realized everyone could see them.

The mood in the hall settled.

Kai squinted to count the blues and indigos among the bodies, cutting off his view. There weren’t man—

“How did it go?” Rain asked.

Uh…!

He spun on his heels, remembering the person behind him. “I— Well. It went well. You?”

Rain balanced a violet orb on his knuckles. “I did well too. A curious idea for a game. It was fun to solve once I figured out the rules.” His brow creased as he watched him. “Mat, where is your orb?”

My orb?

“Uh, I finished early and turned it in. The professor wanted to check it.” Kai looked at the approaching assistants and his empty hands.

They must know that, right?

“I’m sure it’s fine,” Rain said, following his gaze. “You must be really good at puzzles. I saw you leave just halfway through.”

“I… I’m alright.” Kai scrubbed his hair in embarrassment. The test had been a perfect fit for him. “I had some experience with puzzles.”

“Orbs, please.” A female assistant reached them. She faltered upon seeing the violet glow in Rain’s hand, then stared at his face. “Congratulations. Completing the puzzle is an impressive feat. I— I’m in the fifth year at Raelion. Las—”

Rain politely smiled, raising his glass sphere to her. “You need this?”

“Oh… yes. Thank you.” The girl blushed. Storing the puzzle in a spatial bag, she skipped down the row, completely ignoring Kai.

Did she know about me?

He felt just a tiny bit annoyed about the treatment.

It works out either way…

Around him, several participants complained about the complexity of the runic patterns and discussed where they got stuck. Others were frustrated at the constant resets whenever they brushed the wrong rune and had to rethread mana from the beginning.

Looks like it was hard…

“Congratulations to everyone who passed the test,” Professor Thornwyn said as the assistants collected the last orbs. “Focus and precision are essential skills for a mage. And so is knowing how to efficiently tackle a problem. Each color you’ve revealed will reward you four points…”

Excited murmurs rose at the announcement.

Neat! Twenty-eight and three… thirty-one. A hundred and sixty altogether.

Kai grinned, free from any lingering worry about enrolling. The only question was how high he could push his score, and how many credits he’d earn.

“Remember, there are two more tests to earn points.” The professor raised her voice. “The next trial will focus on the second fundamental of magic: Mana Sense. You’ll cooperate with ten other candidates, but the teams won’t be entirely random. Starting from the highest total score, you can pick another candidate as your companion. We will continue till everyone is in a pair. If you get chosen, you may not refuse to team up…”

Still grumbling about the puzzles and calculating points, the applicants split into four groups, one for each professor in the corners of the hall.

“Thank you— Excuse me.” Kai made his way to the front of the crowd with Rain. The teens arranged in an arc, giving a wide berth to the assistant examiners and the professor in charge.

Dumbledore’s twin? Is that you?

“Make silence.” The old professor wore a robe embroidered with silver thread and a tasseled hat. His bony hand brushed a white beard, while the other waved a list. “Step forward when you are called, and be ready to choose a teammate. You’ll lose your chance if you don’t pick in five breaths. Is that clear?”

A very grumpy Dumbledore.

The old man’s eyes turned to the list. “Now… first… Rain Ryuu.”

That was quick.

“Alright.” Kai patted his friend’s back, a little miffed he wouldn’t see his own ranking. “I’ll let you pick me since you insisted.”

“Thanks,” Rain said and glanced at the teens around them. “But there are so many interesting candidates…”

Kai yawned, continuing his smug act. “Anyone better than me?”

“There is a way to find out.” With a half-smile at him, Rain strolled before the professor, unbothered by the eyes that locked on him. “That’s me.”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“Yes. Uhm…” Dumbledore scrutinized him, receiving a brief nod from his assistants. “Who do you pick, young man?”

“I choose—”

“You’ll pick me!” A pink-haired girl called, turning every head toward the back of the crowd where she stood.

The applicants squeezed to form a path for her. Ripples of reverence and envy spread in her wake. The few voices protesting were drowned by awed whispers or pulled back by their friends.

Near the front, Kai perked his ears, trying to puzzle out her identity.

Is she famous?

The girl stopped before the professor with assured confidence, her eyes fixed on Rain. Gold and emerald beads chimed in her hair. “I’ll be your companion. We’ll make a great team. I reached indigo in the last test.” She spoke as if she were bestowing a priceless offer.

And I thought I was vain earlier.

The professor furrowed his long, bushy eyebrows, but didn’t question or reprimand her, simply waiting for a name. “Who do you pick, young man?”

Rain spared the girl a glance. “Matthew.”

“I see—” Dumbledore jerked his head out of a nod. He looked at Rain as if to confirm he didn’t mishear. When the silence stretched, he cleared his throat and leafed through the list. “Matthew… Reece Veernon… Here.”

He scribbled down the names and motioned at one of his assistants, who jolted forward. “Guide them to the second test. Next, we have… Natalie…”

“Yes, professor,” The upperclassman looked at them with a scrunched up face, his nasal voice oozing with disdain. “You two. Come with me.” He moved for one of the double doors.

Okay…