Ardor nodded, and asked, “Okay, what about other major players here?”

“So, there are the Mist Twins, Gabella Mist and Lewis Mist from my family. There’s also Wilkie Labes and Hamelin Blaze, who are all from duke noble families, and are the most famous in Zoran. Like the princess, they’re also Peak Apprentice Warriors.”

Ardor soon reached the huge white palace wrapped in strips of gold. After giving their platinum coins, they entered the place and noticed the hall seemed less crowded than they expected.

Bella offered what she knew, “The Lord Mage typically comes in the evening. His majesty usually informs us earlier to give time to others who have to fly and come here.”

Ardor nodded and found a corner to sit with his people. The crowd present couldn’t help but take sneaking glances at them. ‘Ah, beauty attracts disasters. Hope there won’t be a foolish young master after our women.’ Ardor mused.

…

Evening arrived as the hall gradually filled up. Everyone dressed nicely, the men were mostly in colorful tuxedos while women wore a variety of clothes, happy to become the center of attention.

An attendant from the King soon entered and loudly declared, “The Lord Mage shall arrive any minute now!”

The crowd, along with Ardor, looked at the entrance with eager eyes.

‘Is she old or young? Ugly or pleasant to look at? Or is-’

Ardor’s thoughts were interrupted as a sultry voice echoed behind them near the small throne.

“Who’s coming from there? Where are you all looking?”

One young master got annoyed and couldn’t help but shout, “Shut the hell up! The Lord Mage will soon arrive!”

“Oh…”

Ardor had already looked behind him after hearing her voice, and saw a middle-aged slim female with ginger hair covered in a blue robe. She exuded faint pressure, and his eyes stung after looking at her for a few seconds.

He looked down in fright and tapped their table lightly to let his people know of her presence. They saw her and soon looked down after their eyes stung as well.

‘What a fearsome presence! Even a Rank 1 Warrior like Gawyn, Dickie, or Bella didn’t make me feel that way! And how did she even come inside when the door’s still closed?!’

Ardor looked up, just enough to get her image in his mind and saw her wave a wooden wand that somehow appeared in her hand. 

He heard her speak some incomprehensible words as a streak of blue light emitted from the tip of her wand and struck the teen, who dared to disrespect her. A blue light flashed behind him.

Ribbit! Ribbit!

Ardor turned to look at the sound and almost fell off his seat. ‘What the…’

The crowd turned to see the woman. The people near the sound jumped back in shock, and saw a tuxedo on the ground, with the frog croaking on it. They looked at the woman in sheer horror and stepped back.

“Now that the annoying pest is taken care of, let’s start, shall we?” She smiled, likely pleased with her work. The people fearfully nodded and got into a line as she took out a glass globe and sent it floating in the air in front of her.

“I’ll only repeat this once! Place your hand here, and we’ll see if you’re talented. For those of you who want a miracle, wait at the end of the line. Let’s begin.”

A girl stood at the start of the line. Careful not to push the glass down and break it, she placed her palm on it. The gray fog in the globe swirled and soon, a brown color appeared in the center of that fog, larger than a pencil dot.

“Earth, low. Stand on my right.” She replied, appearing pleased.

Then a boy walked up. He kept his palm on the globe, but nothing happened for a minute.

“You’re not qualified. Leave,” the mage said with some disappointment.

The teen looked at her and endured that stinging feeling piercing his eyes. “Please! Let me try one more time! Please!” he begged.

The mage’s brows furrowed. “Leave before I make you.” She stared at him in annoyance.

The boy remembered the still croaking frog and left silently in tears. The teens and adults behind him became increasingly nervous.

“Next.” The mage ordered.

The line became shorter and shorter, and soon it was Ardor’s turn. He put his hand on the globe calmly, as he already knew the result. A spark of fire burned in the gray fog and there was darkness hidden within.

“Fire, low. Stand on my right. Next.” The mage said with a small smile.

Ardor became puzzled, then thought, ‘So, she’s just looking at the color and declaring the attributes and talents… Looks like I’ve got a new trump card.’ He smiled as he walked to the small group formed by the first girl and a few others.

When Lance walked over, the gray swirling fog had a small reddish ball with some white stripes in its center. The mage’s eyes narrowed.

Ardor looked at her changed expression for the first time and got slightly nervous. ‘Did she find out anything about him?’ he wondered.

The mage touched the ball and focused her magical power on it as Lance watched in confusion. ‘It’s just Flesh. Why so serious?’

The mage soon received a response and her brows furrowed even more and she looked at Lance with suspicion. ‘How can a human have this? Aren’t only races like Incubi in possession of such talents?’

She harmlessly smiled at Lance and said, “There’s something I need to check here. Relax your body.”

Lance simply nodded as the mage waved her wand with more incomprehensible words and a blue light shone on Lance.

The lined-up crowd emitted sounds of wonder seeing her perform her magic while the smart ones noticed something and looked at Lance in doubt.

After Lance saw the blue light fade away and the mage’s eyes open, he heard her mutter, “Looks like I was just being paranoid. Can’t believe there are still things I haven’t seen here.”

 She properly looked at Lance and said, “It’s Flesh, low. A rare affinity, so you’ll need to work harder to get stronger.”

Lance charmingly smiled at the mage and while she was dazed for a moment but immediately recovered, he said, “Yes, I will. How can I ever thank you for your help?”

The mage looked at his dazzling look and a pure smile she had never seen before. A thought arose in her mind and she couldn’t stop it as it took root. 

‘I always thought it was fun teasing mortals, but am I getting flirted with right now? I’ll show this boy he can’t handle mature women!’

“Yes, you can,” she replied sweetly. With a sultry tone, she added, “Let me first finish this, then we’ll discuss how you can thank me on the ship.”

Lance nodded and moved towards Ardor with a smirk. His gaze seemed to say, ‘Look, I’m so popular,’ while Ardor thought, ‘You were created to be that way.’

Bella then stood in front of the mage.

“What are you doing here? You’re clearly over 20.” The mage’s eyes held discontent as she looked at Bella.

Bella softly replied, “I’m his servant.” She pointed at Lance. “I just want to see if I have the talent, and I’ve already paid for it.”

The mage’s eyes shone in understanding. “Yes, a person with the required talent can bring a few servants with them. Come.” She pointed at the globe.

Bella nodded and kept her hand on it. The grayish fog turned into a blue fog in the center, and the mage said, “Mist, low. Stay with him.”

Her eyes held confusion as he watched Bella walk away. ‘If she had the talent, why didn’t she step forth when I came the last time?’

She thought of a reason. ‘Right, it may be a Soul Flower or something similar. But what’s the use of consuming something like that when you’re past your prime?’

Once Bella left, it was Alse’s turn, and she gave the same explanation as Bella. The globe turned earthen brown in its center and the mage said, “Earth, low.”

Isabella was next, and she turned the globe’s center still gray, and after the mage channeled her magical power inside it, she confirmed, “Shadow, low.”

Minnie was standing in the corner, waiting for the entire process to end and join Lance as his servant later, as she didn’t receive a Soul Flower from Ardor.

It was now Jeanne’s turn. When she kept her hand on the globe, most of the rolling grayish fog turned still gray.

“What!?” the mage muttered in shock. She quickly touched the globe and channeled her magical energy into it and declared Jeanne’s results. “Shadow… and it’s high!”