"Well some habits are really hard to stop. Beside it's my way of showing that I proud of the standing my little sister has gotten." Izuriel replied with a teasing smirk in his face.
"I see you also advanced your cultivation. The pill lightning gives off a grander feeling in vitality since the last time I saw it." Izuriel commented seeing the painting depicting a lightning storm behind his little sister.
"Its being some time since big brother ever came, obviously my cultivation would look grander in the painting since the last time you came." The principal replied puff her cheeks for the compliment.
"Good seems like this trip is already worth it, seeing how everyone has advanced in their mana attunements or their mana cultivation." Izuriel commented as he took a seat and glanced at the rest of the paintings behind every teacher.
Taking his seat, the black painting behind him started depicting a sand hourglass over a starry night sky.
"So why did teacher Izuriel came to see a batch of aspirants taking the academy´s second trial? Did someone entered the Pure Mana Hall in this batch and plans to scout him or her?" a male teacher asked seeing this was the best moment to enter the conversation.
Apart from teacher Izuriel, all teachers would gather and watch the second trial for the academy admission, seeing him here many had a slight surprise.
They called trial but in truth everyone that passed the first trial was already admitted in the academy, the second trial was a way for evaluating how the new students perform in a party. It also allows them to grasp the student current capabilities, brainstorm ideas for guiding the students, so they perform better in the competition they had with the Martial School six months from admission ceremony every year.
Finally, teachers used this opportunity to scout talents for their classes, though students choose their teachers and which mana attunements they wished to take, teachers could ally themselves with other teacher in guiding a certain student, hoping to persuade the student in considering for his second attunement in the academy.
"I don´t think he would come if that was the case, he usually would send principal Zestari a message indicating the someone entered the hall. Most likely he wants to see his niece performance in the trial" a female teacher commented.
"Ohh, is my little niece taking part in the current batch" Izuriel asked the principal raising his eyebrows in shock.
"Yup, Asteria is waiting for the last member on her batch to exit the first trial." Zestari replied with a smile thinking about her daughter.
"And why didn´t you tell me she was entering the Academy today?" Izuriel asked with raised eyebrows.
"Well you are usually very busy with your research so I didn´t want to bother you, not that it matters as you will pamper her the moment you see her even if I didn´t tell you she entered the academy" Zestari replied taking her right hand index finger to her cheek and shaking her head after a moment.
'I can´t tell you that she wanted to surprise you with the news she entered the academy.' Zestari thought with relief as her brother nodded at the explanation.
"True, I would still had liked a headups." Izuriel after he nodded. Glancing toward the first teacher that asked, he answered "I wouldn´t have bothered if it was just ONE student entering the hall."
"Oh, so there more than one in the batch" realization came to the teacher.
"Correct, there actually four students that entered the hall in the current batch making it the highest amount in a single batch ever since I created the dungeon. I just came for amusement, if they want to be my student they have to pass my trials, no sense in scouting a student and bypassing the rules one sets." Izuriel explained his presence
Hearing that 4 students managed to enter the hall in the current batch gave all the teachers a surprise and looks of excitement could be sensed in their faces.
####
In the Pure Mana Hall, Xol heart was pounding with excitement as he finished reading the system notification and waited for his evaluation.
[User evaluation complete.
User received a Mana Blessing for his discovering, user´s mana sensitivity has been enhanced.
User has the highest capacity of mana since dungeon inception upgrading blessing to the highest degree of Pure Mana Blessing. Reward "Pure Mana Blessed" title.
User has good combat reflexes but lacks in controlling the flow of battle, awarding Mana Chain skill.
User received 10 Intelligence points.]
"Huh, pretty sure my mana capacity is pretty average. Did the System made a mistake or I´m that compared to the rest that had found this place?" Xol was bewildered as he read the notification, needless to say he had a tinge of happiness at his achievement.
Calming himself, Xol proceeded in checking his harvest.
[Name: Xol
Race: Human
Titles: Pure Mana Blessed
Level: 10
Class: Apprentice
HP: 857 /1,000
MP: 1,600/1,600
STR: 14
DEF: 11
VIT: 80 (+20)
AGI: 20
DEX: 16
INT: 150 -> 160
Unassigned Points: 0
Equipment:
Exploring Boots (Cyan) LVL 10
+ 20 VIT
Tunic LVL 10
Pants LVL 10
Initial trial Jade Token.]
[Pure Mana Blessed:
Evolvable title. As user become stronger and dabbles deeper in mana, title effects would be enhanced.
User´s mana sensitivity is doubled.]
[Mana Chain:
User creates a mana chain in a 15 meters radius from user. Chains could be visible or invisible.
Cost of visible chain: 75 MP per meter
Cost of invisible chain: 100 MP per meter]
"Neat, let´s try it" Xol said as he retreated some steps. Extending his right hand, he created a mana chain that fell to the ground.
"Not what I expected, I hoped it hanged from my palm." Xol said with embarrassment on his face. "Can I control it now that its created?"
Concentrating on the chain, Xol pictured it moving one of its ends, seeing that it worked he started trying to move the whole chain, he then proceeded to make it float up and down.
"Can I extend it?" Xol said as he opened his mouth in a bright smile.
Seeing it worked, Xol continued to play with his new toy, he created figures with it, created a second and made them fight, and finally he created some invisible ones.
Playing around some more he tried turning a chain invisible once it was created and vice versa, he also tried creating extensions of the opposite visible state, sadly none of these ideas worked.
'How much time remains?' Xol thought having his fill of fun.
'3 minutes, huh. Well I guess it's time to exit' Xol thought as he checked the Jade Token.
'Wonder if I can take something back' Xol thought as he took a final look at the area.
"Collect." Xol said placing his hand on the center mana crystal.
[User cannot collect object without user Izuriel permission]
"Well, its was worth a try" Xol exclaimed seeing the mana crystal in the same position.
Trying it in a smaller crystal and seeing the same reaction, Xol used the dungeon trial escape skill.
"Finally, he came out" an angry voice was heard as Xol exited the dungeon.
Glancing at the source of voice he saw an angry male teenager glancing at him.
"Calm down, calm down. Every participant can use all the allocated time for the trial if they require it." Said the staff member trying to appease the young teen.
"Now then participant Xol, can you give me the Initial Jade token you were given for the trial" continued the staff member extending his hand toward Xol.
Unequipping the token and handing it, Xol scanned the area as he waited for the staff member to record his results.
Seeing that they were only 6 aspirants counting himself in, he was bewildered so few had passed compared to the 20 sized group.