NOVEL WEB Chapter 1327: The Bigger Picture (1)
Chapter 1327: The Bigger Picture (1)
"Ataraxia!"
"Are you willing to become a core member of the Mage Guild?!"
Bang!
Just as the man presiding over the final test was about to respond to Valyr's question, both Rinea and the man from the first room barged into the room all of a sudden, gazing at Valyr as if he were a prized jewel.
"...?" Naturally, the lack of context in the question caused Valyr to look at them in confusion as a response, eventually prompting him to look at the man near him if he knew what was going on.
Yet, just like him, the man did not know anything about what was happening either, shrugging his shoulders as he gave Valyr a slight shake of the head.
Seeing as the final test's proctor had no clue as to what was going on, the young man shifted his gaze towards the two once more before settling upon Rinea.
"What's going on?"
"We apologize for the intrusion," replied the old woman as she glanced at the man near Valyr with an embarrassed smile. "However, we've decided not to delay our decision any further after seeing how this young man fared in the final test."
"Decision?" The man asked back, his expression confused. "But he's availed the old man's services, though?"
"Which is precisely why I'm here," replied the man beside Rinea, taking a step forward before giving Valyr a slight smile. "Didn't think we'd see each other again so soon, Ataraxia."
"... You're not the old man, though?" asked Valyr back, only for the gears in his mind to start turning as a thought soon popped up in his mind.
Coincidentally, just as the thought came to his mind, the man's appearance changed into that of the old man he met back in the first room, causing the slight confusion Valyr felt at first to turn into slight surprise. "Is that... a polymorph skill?"
"Close." The old man slightly grinned. "It's a shapeshifting spell, to be more exact. Think of it as achieving the same outcome with a different method."
"In any case, I suppose I should first introduce myself to you in detail," continued the old man before giving the man presiding over the final test a knowing smile.
"Before that, though... I trust you that you'll make sure this information won't spread, no?"
"...I'll make sure it won't once this is over, sir," replied the man beside Valyr after some time, letting out a low sigh in defeat.
"Good." Nodding at the man in satisfaction, the old man swiftly returned his attention back to Valyr as he went ahead and introduced himself.
"You may know me as the old man that presided over your appraisal, but I'm also known by many as the Director of Astella City's Mage Guild."
"I go by multiple titles thanks to the things I've done over the years, but if there's one thing that doesn't change, that would be my name."
"The name's Dalton. Dalton Aurgaun."
"Ataraxia," replied Valyr in return, feeling like it was only apt for him to do so.
"Quite the polite young man, I see." Dalton let out a slight chuckle in response, only for his expression to turn solemn soon after.
"Now then. Before I start explaining things, did you ever expect that this would happen?" Valyr shook his head at his question.
Seeing that, the old man slowly began to feel a bit of dread as he asked yet another question. "Would it be fine for you to tell us why you've decided to register to the Mage Guild?"
"It was a necessary requirement to establish a new guild?" replied Valyr in a slightly questioning tone, causing Dalton to feel even more dread as he turned to look at Rinea.
Receiving a slight shake of the head from Rinea the moment he did that, the slight feeling of dread lurking in his body immediately turned into regret, causing him to look back at Valyr as The bowed his head in shame.
"I... would like to apologize," said the old man after some time, letting out a deep sigh as he looked at Valyr straight in the eyes. "I was under the impression that you decided to register to the guild because of the tournament that was going on."
"But to think that that wasn't the case..."
"A tournament?" Valyr looked at Dalton with confusion at first, only for it to quickly turn into curiosity.
"...Mind if I ask for more information on that?"
"...!" Hearing those words leave the young man's mouth, Dalton immediately felt as if a strand of hope had been extended out towards him.
With his vigor somewhat renewed, the old man decided to get the final test over with first before proceeding with the explanation.
With that, the young man's curiosity over the colors within the crystal were finally piqued, with the man presiding over the final test talking about how the colors showed that he had exemplary ability over mana.
Giving Valyr a better idea of how great it was in comparison to other Rank 1 mages, the man eventually took his leave, giving both Dalton and Rinea a respectful bow before leaving the three in the same room he was previously in.
Clack.
"I'll use a spell on him later, just in case," said Rinea, to which Dalton nodded before returning his attention back to Valyr once more.
"Er..." Beginning to feel a hint of pressure from the gaze Dalton was giving him, the young man awkwardly scratched his cheek as he asked, "I'm now an official member of the guild,
right?"
"You are." Dalton nodded once more. "All that's left for you to do is to grab your identification badge from one of the counters."
"I see." At those words, Valyr visibly relaxed, his thoughts briefly going over the tests he went through thus far.
Although the mechanics of the tests were normal for the most part, the same could not be said for how the announcement of the results, only now finding it weird that the two reacted that
way towards him.
Fortunately, with the same two people that presided over those first couple tests standing before him, the young man was confident that all of the questions in his mind would be
answered in the end.
"So..." Though, with Dalton himself already mentioning the reason why the two of them barged in earlier, Valyr felt that it was only right to start the conversation there.
"What kind of tournament is it?"