Julian stepped out of the door and saw that Kristine, Jack and the three girls where still there with an addition of one more person. That person was wearing red all over as if he was afraid people wouldn't know that his favorite color is red. He was very pale too, looking like he went on a hunger strike but there is a majestic aura around him making him a bit like a noble.
"I'm sorry, Lady Kristine, I have kept you waiting for so long." Not all elf women can be called as a 'Lady' according to Prima's information. You need to be a born royalty, a descendant of a truly powerful elf family, a benefactor and many more strict requirements before you can get that title. Julian was not sure what category Kristine is, but it's not so bad giving respect to her considering she was helping him.
"Child you were gone for five minutes, you didn't kept me waiting. Besides one of my reasons to come here arrived after you went in so it's okay. This is John..." Kristine was in the middle of introducing the man in red, but that man walked towards Julian and extended his hand.
"Just call me John. Elves are really too formal for me. I see you have already wore your mage clothes so I can presume you passed the awakening ceremony on your first try." Julian extended his hand and shook John's hand. The man in red observed the ring Julian was wearing for a while before letting go. "You see, there are cases where the facilitator chooses to fail a participant for some reasons I don't know. Even nobles are not exempted from these but the majority of the failed kids belong to the civilian people or kids belonging to wandering mages or what we call saplings."
John turned his back from Julian and stared at his brother's face. " Once again I apologise from my brother's rudeness, but he means well."
"You are a citizen of Listfall Town now until you migrate to another town or city. While you are here, you will follow the town's law and if you are not familiar with it, Lady Kristine will lend you a pamphlet I am sure."
"I know that you seek knowledge and our town's library will help you to some extent. But if you like, you can enter the town's mage congregation, they have collection of books and tablets that can help develop your power. I hear that they are recruiting two weeks from now so if you are interested go and take their test. If not, you can always go around town and take some odd jobs first or if you're lucky some master will take you in. As for taking missions outside, you are too young and too weak to take it so until you are at least twenty-five or you pass our test here for going outside, better behave inside."
"Please excuse me for leaving first, I came here to get some things before going back in the town hall. Julian James, as one of the town's protectors, I welcome you to Listfall Town. I hope your stay here give you luck and I'll be waiting here for you if fate smiles upon us." John nodded both at Julian and Kristine before glaring at his brother, then walked away.
"My brother has been busy for days now, I hope you don't mind. Okay, before you go, we need to have some record of your results on the awakening platform. You see, if you tell us what you did in there, you can apply for certain benefits here in town. For example, a noble kid passed the three-hundredth level on his dominant fire element and the town lord gave him a title. One of the six great teachers of the congregation, invited him to be an apprentice."
"Well you can also not tell us. There is no punishment for it. We will just give you a letter of recommendation if ever you have a need for it and a talisman indicating that you already passed the ceremony."
_So they are basically separating the weak from the strong from the get go._ Julian was not surprised on what Jack told him as he knew that bit information already. He was not sure whether to tell them the truth and speed up his process of gathering intel however he will be placed in the limelight so soon and maybe some jealous bastard wanted to hinder his advancement. If he chose to be low key, then he needed to slowly do the things he want. He was ready to choose not to tell them but he suddenly thought of an idea.
"Okay, then how should I apply?"
"Simple. Just write your name here, your results and make a spirit oath that whatever information you write here is the truth, if it's false you will be punished not to cross the boundary of apprentice stage" Jack handed him a piece of paper and a pen.
Julian wrote his name, that he passed the two hundred fiftieth level on water magic element while he surpassed the hundredth level on fire and wind magic. He then made an spirit oath and passed the paper back to Jack.