After the message flag dropped from the sky that damn test was over, but the examiners still took about half an hour to start emptying the matrix we were in. Looks like they've decided to leave our matrix last, bunch of cretins even though not one of the students is in a critical situation for many of them who are suffering pain from their bruises.
During this period, I have replayed the last battle and paid attention to my former enemies, although I will probably have to return the whip, I took from Merilren. Nothing prevents me from studying it now, but close to me Flora and a few other elves are watching me with a lot of hostility. I don't know if they want the whip back or if they're just annoyed with me because they saw me giving orders during the battle, for them I'm one of those responsible for their defeat.
After all the shit everyone passed this test, I didn't expect the elves to be any less irritated with me, but their hostility increased a lot more than I expected. If it weren't against the rules and they're in mine of several students who might choose to protect me Flora would have tried to burn me down to my ashes, I can feel the heat her fury is radiating around her.
But back to something more interesting, this whip is an unusual aura weapon in the books I've read, aura weapons can increase the power of a warrior's aura and even retain a certain amount of aura for a longer period of time, a warrior with this type of weapon should be capable of having explosive power at the beginning of a fight, but the whip in my hand has different characteristics. Nowhere I've read does a description that was compatible with this whip or the golden shield, I thought the runes on the whip could be the source of this aura change, but as far as I could read it doesn't even avia a rune that can- if it inflicts pain, it spawns several runes that I recognized were intended to stabilize and amplify the distance of a warrior's aura.
So, my focus turned to the components of the whip as the runes don't seem to be the cause of this red aura, but I have very little experience and knowledge in this aria of study, the varieties of materials and properties and much greater than the alphabet. of runes, even when you put the combination of runes on the account. I have no idea what this whip is, I recognize some metals and the leather used in the handle of the whip plus the alloy that incorporates the body of the whip and is completely strange to me.
I can't even identify the aura material that should be used to craft an aura weapon, I've never had the opportunity to see one with my eyes before today, but as it's been used in a weapon, I can't identify it at all. being holding it in my hands. But going back to the mystery I'm trying to unravel, the only possibility I can believe to be right is that the aura material went through a new or unusual process that made it compatible with Merilren's aura, her aura must have the pain characteristic or something I can create that effect.
It's a shame I have to return the whip, but I believe Professor Frey might know more about this different weapon. When the examiners arrived and started taking the injured students to the healers I was surrounded by two groups, to be exact I'm mine that surrounded by elves and Merilren who woke up is staring at me like I took advantage of her, the anger she is releasing and impressive I have rarely seen so much anger gathered in one person, obviously she is staring at me because of the whip I am studying, I tried to memorize as much information as possible from this weapon, it could end up being useful in the future.
The second group surrounding me are four examiners who are probably here to prevent me from being attacked by the elves or from returning Merilren's weapon back. To an elf in my one of those examiners who is making me uncomfortable, but the other three examiners seem neutral and are ready to interfere.
"Give me back my weapon, Ulric."
Amazing, I didn't think she would be able to suppress her anger and stand up to me normally, I thought she would yell at me and probably threaten me with the power of her family.
"No need to be in such a hurry, Merilren."
She almost jumped on me now, but Flora caught her.
"This weapon belongs to me, it is linked to me, it is useless to you. Give me back!"
So, I believe my analysis was right, this weapon was named after Merilren's aura and is connected to it. From her demonstration of her attachment to the weapon the link must have some negative effects, losing that weapon must be like losing a part of her body Merilren's attention is focused on retrieving the weapon her eyes are focused on it.
Now that Merilren is three feet away from me, an aura cord has started to form between the weapon and Merilren. I wonder what would happen if this whip were completely destroyed, Merilren would be injured or she would simply feel emptiness, after all this is just a weapon even though wing seems to influence Merilren's mind and body.
I don't think anyone would make a very strong bond with a level three weapon, even if it has an unusual effect. It would become a weakness when the warrior has a stronger core.
"Relax, Merilren. I'm not that interested in this weapon."
I dropped the whip on the ground only for Merilren to advance on it without holding back, to catch it before it touches the ground she didn't even bother to kneel in the mud, she advanced like a drug addict would advance on a handful of drugs. This weapon is really dangerous, it can even be an asset, but it seems that wing can become a weakness easily.
"Is this whip that important to you, Merilren? Looks like this whip is more special than I thought it would be, you should be more careful with it."
Merilren didn't even bother to answer me her eyes were focused on the whip; she didn't even get up from the mud. With Flora's help, Merilren came out of the mud and matrix, I kept my eyes on her as she walked away, it took a while, but Merilren was back to normal.
The examiners still stare at me for a while, but after Merilren left, they too are gone. But I could still feel the elf examiner's eyes on my back, it looks like he has some problem with me, and it makes me uncomfortable, to have a mage in the final stage of the green core staring at me so intensely, I feel like only problems are going to come from that.
I wasn't too hurt so the healer who attended me when I came out of the maze didn't spend much of his time or mana on me, he just did a spell to speed up the natural regeneration in my hands. Aside from the itch I'm feeling in my hands, I don't hear any other inconvenience with my training.
After my treatment I went to find Professor Frey, last time I wasn't very lucky to find him, but this time it was strangely easy to find him. He was having tea quietly near the control room with two other wizards, they must be running away from work.
"Good afternoon teacher."
"Still in the morning, Ulric is two hours away from lunch. As you may have noticed before, your perception of time is messed up. Why don't you join us?"
"We're taking a break, my partner on my right is Dimas Evans and my left is James Wood, they're both runemasters and helped create the maze."
"It's a pleasure to meet both masters."
I joined the table after receiving a nod of approval from Masters Dimas and James.
"May I ask how many days have passed since the start of the test, Professor Frey?"
"It's only been six days, Ulric. I thought the test would take more than a week, it's a shame it didn't last longer."
"I'm sorry I ended your entertainment so quickly, Professor."
Master Dimas, who is also an orange core mage, responded to my sarcasm before Professor Frey did.
"Young Ulric, Frey is only saying this because he lost his bet on how long the test would last. You shouldn't bet rare ingredients on bets you're not sure will win Frey."
"Don't try to make me look responsible Dimas, among the three of us you were the one who lost the most in this bet."
"But I'm fine with it, taking part in this test was already very profitable for all of us. A small loss like this is not relevant."
"What did the rune masters think of the test? Did any students stand out during the test?"
"Had some people managed to stand out during this test, you barely managed to get the attention of the other examiners, except for the examiners who are related to the Eliure family."
"Who excelled in the test?
During the next few hours before lunch, I got a lot of information from talking to three rune masters.