Free Web NovelChapter 17: Chapter 17: The future of mages.
"We need to talk," Solomon told Roe.
He had just woken up, and Solomon was already getting down to it.
’He’s not playing, is he?’ Roe thought.
"Sorry to come at you like this, but we need to establish some things," Solomon said.
"Please be cooperative. I’m not willing to answer questions right now. Let’s just do what I say, okay?"
Roe just nodded. He didn’t verbally confirm anything.
Solomon was serious. He knew they had to talk, but he never considered it would be this serious.
"So what’s up?" he asked.
"I’m getting to that," Solomon said.
"You’re an Energy-Type S-rank mage. I’ve already made that clear."
"You’ll not address yourself as otherwise until you leave this realm."
Roe nodded. He understood the severity of the statement. Solomon’s tone said it all.
"I’m actually an Energy-Type, though, right?" he asked.
Solomon didn’t respond.
This wasn’t him confirming or denying anything.
’There’s no way I’m not an Energy-Type. The others outside would have seen my talent when I awakened, right?’
He wasn’t sure.
He ran simulations in his head.
Deep in thought, Roe was.
Solomon paid no regard. He just continued.
"You’re not to forget anything I say with regards to you. It may seem on the spot or spur of the moment, but take it as truth."
"For example, your staff was handed to you by Merlin himself."
"You didn’t summon or create it with your own abilities."
Solomon said.
Roe was starting to see the pattern.
He basically didn’t want Roe to seem special or chosen by the others.
"Merlin gave the go-ahead. I’ll tell you, I guess," Solomon said.
Roe didn’t quite get it.
"There’s an assessment coming up in a few days. Those who pass will venture out as full-fledged mages of the Merlin Circle."
Roe was intrigued.
"None of the others know this. They won’t be informed properly until the day before the assessment."
"I’ll tell you exactly how it’s going to happen. You will not tell the others."
"I don’t get it. Why tell me? Why give me the advantage? What for?"
"What’s the purpose?" Roe asked.
Solomon didn’t respond.
"I’m already an SSS-ranker. Way more blessed than them. Why give me all this?" he said.
"You’re mistaken."
"I’m not telling you all this because I like you or anything. It’s not because I want you—or Merlin, for that matter—to succeed."
"It’s to test you."
"I’m telling you this because you’ll be the proctor on the day of the test."
"You’re the wall the other students will have to climb to prove their worth."
Roe smiled.
He was getting hyped.
"Don’t be mistaken, however. You’re still subject to the test. You’re not exactly in the clear."
This made sense to Roe.
He just needed Solomon to further explain now.
"After the preliminaries, you’ll be revealed to be an SSS-ranker."
"All the students of the top ten sets that make it will go up against you."
"At once."
Roe was shocked.
"Of course, this only happens if you guys make the top ten."
"Correct me if I’m—"
Roe was about to ask before he got cut off.
"You’re not wrong."
"It’s you versus whatever remains of the eighty mages."
"If all eighty make it out alive, then I guess it’s Roe versus eighty mages," Solomon said.
"We’ll meet to train you in another dimension alongside your normal training."
"You better ready yourself."
"So Ursula and the others?" Roe asked.
"Yes. All of them."
Solomon held up his hand.
He looked at Roe’s.
He didn’t say anything.
It just reminded him of something.
"We expect great things from you. Don’t blow it."
"Oh, and he’ll be there," Solomon said as he made his exit.
’He?’ Roe thought.
He didn’t know who Solomon was referring to.
’Who’s this "he" Solomon speaks of?’
’I guess it’s probably Merlin.’
’Probably? No, it’s definitely Merlin.’
He affirmed it to himself.
He was wrong.
---
The days passed.
The different sets would go into rifts all day.
Train.
Eat.
Sleep.
The cycle repeated in perfect harmony.
---
Elijah was on TV.
He had just gotten back.
His kids came running at him.
He embraced them.
"Where’s your mom?" he asked.
"She just stepped out," one of them replied.
"Okay," the father said.
"Here."
He pulled snacks out of his work bag.
"Solomon hasn’t reached out to me. Didn’t he get my letter?" he thought.
"Hey kids, here’s the remote. Don’t disturb Daddy. I’ll be busy in my little office, okay?"
They didn’t respond.
They immediately fought over the remote and who got to choose what to watch.
He closed the door. freeweɓnøvel.com
He needed some time alone.
He sighed from exhaustion.
"Man, media is stressful," he said.
He brought out several letters from his bag.
He started murmuring.
All the letters were addressed to different people.
"I can’t believe we’re in an era like this and I still have to use damn letters to address people."
"Why can’t they evolve and adapt to the times, damn it?"
He shouted as he slammed his table.
The letters counted up to eight.
Addressed to different figures.
Elijah needed help.
One was sealed and addressed to a certain Morgana.
Another was addressed to Vlad.
One was tagged for Lot.
Another read: For Sarah.
The next was Elena’s.
The last three were stacked together.
One could barely make out the names written.
All that was certain was that their names started with the letter A.
The orientation of the stack made the first letters visible.
Nothing more.
---
Morgana received hers in her office.
She peeled the seal open.
Read it.
Made no comment.
She crumpled it and threw it into the bin.
"Inconsequential," she said.
The others must have had similar reactions.
At least, that’s what Elijah thought when no one reached out after he eventually sent them out.
Not even Morgana.
---
"I can’t believe it’s another one of those pesky rifts," one guy in a bar said while watching the news.
"Yeah. For a while now, things have been getting out of hand," another added.
"Turn the volume up."
"Sure."
The reporter was talking about the emergence of the new mages the Merlin Circle had recently released into the world.
"They are six exceptional mages."
"Rookies who have been recognized by the Three Wise Men and even the Mage Council."
"They are rapidly building a reputation for themselves."
"If things continue this way, they’ll definitely become the group of mages that leads the next generation into an era of prosperity," the reporter said.
"Now let’s hear a word from their leader."
"This is an interview, all right. Their very first."
"It’s all so exclusive."
"We couldn’t get all six of them, but maybe some other day."
"Stay tuned."
She handed him the microphone.
He bent his neck in preparation.
"Hi," he said.
"My name is Sigman."
[This interview was held two weeks after the assessment in Merlin’s Realm.]
"I’ll tell you about myself for a bit."
