Free Web NovelChapter 63: Chapter 63: Quentin, no mana?
The Circle of Faith were about to give their big display.
They sent out random invites online. They said only a few could observe this one. Filming the process wasn’t allowed.
The Circle of Merlin were able to purchase two of these invitations from individuals online. Their invites were purchased at a significantly lesser fee than those of the Council of Mages.
The council also purchased two invites. They sent out two mages to do an undercover investigation on the Circle of Faith.
They selected the two in case of a possible clash. Two veterans who also happened to be on the council.
"We will now begin the demonstration," a man cloaked in a robe said.
They started chanting.
It felt very occult-like. The vibe was all too weird, weird just for the sake of it.
"They’re not doing anything," Lot said.
"How do you know?" Roe asked.
"There’s barely any mana circulating."
"They’re buying time or something."
"Something’s definitely going on. It’s just not what we think. Stay sharp," Lot added.
"Ok. Sure," Roe responded.
He decided to concentrate on his reading as well.
He also noticed there was barely any circulation.
’Lot’s incorrect. Mana is flowing. It’s just too insignificant.’
The members of the circle stopped chanting.
’If this was a small circle, then they’re bound to be at least eight,’ Roe thought.
He did his count.
The circle consisted of only seven.
’No, that’s not it. One person isn’t present. Someone is out somewhere else doing something else.’
’Could that person be the emergence we’re looking for?’
The circle was done with the chants.
"We will now begin the display," one of them said.
He removed his cloak and introduced himself as the leader.
"My name is Quentin. I was a B-rank mage," he said.
’Was?’ Roe thought.
’Good. He’s only B-rank. I guess there’s no trouble here,’ Lot thought.
"I have been reborn," Quentin continued.
"My brothers as well. It is our mission to lead humanity into the future."
"We will present humanity with a rebirth and free it from the shackles of mana that restrains it."
Things were escalating with that one sentence.
He could mean anything.
That sentence was too vague. It was prompting all sorts of responses from the crowd.
Someone from the crowd spoke out.
"Are you saying the rifts will no longer be a problem?" one asked.
He was a hooded figure.
Quentin said this was not the implication.
"Then what do you mean?" the same person followed up with. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
"I’ll be willing to answer your questions, but you haven’t given me the same regard I gave you."
The individual immediately knew what this meant and removed his hood.
"Ok, now the response," he followed up with.
’That’s... what’s he doing here?’ Lot thought.
Roe turned immediately, only to notice it was a member of the council.
’What’s his name again?’ Roe thought.
’Yeah, he’s Arthur, right?’
Quentin continued after he signaled the crowd to go silent.
"We cannot free ourselves of rifts. We can, however, free ourselves of the shackles of societal constructs."
"Now imagine what I’m about to sell you."
"A future without ranks. No talent limitations."
"A future where all desires would be made possible."
’Is that even possible?’ Arthur thought.
He turned to the figure beside him.
The figure simply nodded, telling him no.
"How do you intend on replacing talents and mage ranks? You talk a big game."
Someone else in the crowd asked as he removed his cloak.
Lot also recognized him.
This was Andrew. He was the deputy head of the Gadmoda Circle.
Some circles operated with this kind of hierarchy. It wasn’t an uncommon occurrence.
"The shackles are vain. Imaginary," Quentin said.
"I believe I have done the necessary amount of talking."
"A display is in order."
’He better stop teasing and show us already,’ Lot thought.
"I was a B-rank mage with the talent of Fire."
"Flame Talent, No. 1."
"The Sparks."
He chanted.
His hand now summoned flames.
This was expected.
Everyone knew of this spell.
It was the most basic flame spell out there.
It was a one of a thousand, after all.
Quentin followed up.
"Ice Talent, No. 300."
"Absolute Zero."
He chanted.
The floor beneath them all froze solid.
Lot broke out immediately.
Quentin deactivated it before the others could.
One of the seven members on the podium whispered something to another.
"One of them broke free. There might be an S-rank present."
The spell Quentin used was deliberate.
He wanted to gauge those present.
This wasn’t exactly an accurate assessment, as some mages could just not be bothered to break it or prove a point.
This didn’t matter.
What did matter was that this man had just used two talents.
"How?" Lot said.
"That’s impossible!" Arthur shouted.
"It is. It’s impossible for mages. Those yet to transcend," Quentin replied.
"So you’re implying you’re not a mage?" Andrew asked.
"That’s not an implication. I am no mage."
"I was, but now I’m something else," he replied.
Most of the others in the crowd weren’t talking.
They were mostly regular individuals who took up the random invite.
’I’m guessing Arthur and Andrew probably made it here for the same reason we did,’ Lot whispered to Roe.
’They probably bribed their way in too.’
’There’s a possibility they sent more than just two. The Circle of Gadmoda and even the council.’
’Stay sharp,’ Lot ended.
"Who among you is capable of reading mana sufficiently?" Quentin asked.
Lot told Roe to raise his hand.
Roe smiled.
He thought Lot chose him because Lot believed he was better at mana reading.
That was not the reason.
Lot chose him because it would be more of an element of surprise, keeping his involvement secret for now.
He was a bigger deal than some rookie SSS-rank mage, after all.
Roe had to first distance himself from Lot before he raised his hand.
He couldn’t raise brows.
If he was beside Lot, then it would immediately brew suspicion that they might have been allies of some kind.
After shuffling himself through the crowd, he raised his hand.
He removed his cloak.
Everyone present knew who he was.
The members of the circle even reacted in shock.
Roe touched Quentin. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
Contact would make for the most accurate read.
"He... he has no mana," Roe said.
