Grey felt that he was being put in a tumble dryer, he got dizzy as the device was working and he almost vomited, he tried and succeeded to keep his breakfast. The process went on for four minutes until the device stopped, when the device stopped 1st Lt Sergei and 2nd Lt Davidson held their breaths as they waited for the results to come out, Grey was still trying to get back his bearings from that experience.
"I apologise for that Grey, these devices are low tier devices, I heard nobles have better ones that don't put you through that, but I can tell you with great confidence the results will be the same."
1st Lt Sergei tried to say sorry to Grey seeing the young man almost vomiting, whilst 1st Lt Sergei was apologising to Grey 2nd Lt Davidson was priming the device to release the results of the test.
"Okay young Grey, the test is done let's see what the result say."
When she said that, Grey was at least starting to get his bearings. The lieutenant turned the device on, and the magic happened, the orbs which represented the magic tiers started to glow one by one. The 1st Lt was exited when the 1st orb glowed, it meant at least his mission was already half done, he had finally managed to find a magic talent, he and the 2nd Lt were going to be rewarded especially him who was the leader of this drive. The orbs did not stop after the first was glowing the second one started to glow as well, the 1st Lt was starting to show his emotions such that Grey who looking at the orbs glow could see.
"Sir can I ask question."
Grey felt that he was maybe missing an important point, so he asked the lieutenant.
"Yes Grey you can ask."
As they were talking the orbs had not stopped glowing, the third one had already started to glow.
"These orbs do they represent something else other the magic talent tier?"
Grey believed this was the reason why the 1st Lt was behaving like this.
"Grey I won't hide it from you, when we bring back children with magic talent we get rewarded for the mission."
"I am guessing a higher magic talent the more the rewards you get?"
1st Lt Sergei with a happy look on his face answered.
"Yes that is correct, you see the talent tier does not just mean how far you can go in the path of magic it has social implications…"
"Ahh! The fourth one is glowing!"
1st Lt Sergei did not get to finish because 2nd Lt Davidson screamed which got the attention of Grey and 1st Lt Sergei, the fourth orb was glowing, which represented Tier 4 magic talent.
"Ah Grey it looks you have some talent in you."
2nd Lt Davidson said so with some melancholy.
"Grey as I was saying, the social implications of these is that in the military, officer ranks are held by mages and some talented normal humans, an officer rank must have strength to go with the rank. I will make an example of myself, I have tier 2 magic tier talent and have already reached tier 2, the most I can get in terms of rank is this 1st Lt rank. I try to get military merits to buy some treasures to increase my magic talent and rise to tier 3 then I will be made into a Captain. This mission gives a lot of merits, after finishing it, I will be able to buy a treasure and raise my talent."
After hearing this, Grey was able to understand what was happening. The kingdom makes these mages with low level talent to try and accumulate merits through what he guess were difficult missions for the chance of getting a chance to increase their magic talent, it was an open scheme any mage could see but they all ignored it.
"Sir, thank you for explaining that for me."
He did not seem happy in his face because there not much emotions coming out, but his eyes had light in them that showed he has happy, at least he was guaranteed some stability with a high military rank. Grey was a person who hated instability, unlike those protagonists of novels he liked being in a stable environment, he did not like to attribute things to luck.
"For you Grey the tier 4 talent means when you reach tier 4 in magic you can get to be a Major in military rank."
2nd Lt Davidson explained, seeing the two males were in their own thoughts.
"Does that mean after I reach tier 5 of higher I will get a higher rank?"
Grey asked the 2nd Lt but he felt it was not so simple.
"For higher ranks they must have a merits which show you have worked for the kingdom. I heard from a friend of mine working for an important person that Majors or higher ranks are given the opportunity to use their merits to get a nobility status and start noble houses."
The 2nd Lt explained with a want that did not escape Grey's eyes, Grey did not blame her at all. Nobility represented power, status and most important for Grey a stable environment for development. Grey steered the conversation in a different direction as he felt all the possible information he could get was already gotten from the 2nd Lt and the 1st Lt.
"What would be expected of me when if I join the military?"
"Ah, an important question, the military will train you for 10 years and make you an actual mage, when you graduate you are guaranteed to be tier 1 mage, you are expected to serve in the military for 10 years, you can retire afterwards if you want. You cannot retire if there is an ongoing war."
The 1st Lt explained.
"Is there a war currently happening?"
"Haha. No there is currently no war that is ongoing, that is the reason I took this mission."
The 1st and 2nd lieutenants chuckled at Grey's caution. Then Grey stood up from his chair and shook the lieutenants hands with his small child hand.
"I would like to join the military then."
The 1st and 2nd lieutenants were happy that Grey decided to join the military.
"Grey you can go back to the hall, you will be called when everything is done."
Grey then went back to the hall.
"Joana what do you think of the boy?"
1st Lt Michael Sergei asked 2nd Lt Davidson whose name is Joana what she thought of Grey.
"Sir I think the young man will make a great asset for our Arin Kingdom, apart from his slightly indifferent manners, he does not strike as the type that likes to create issues. I wonder if I will be in service by the time he reaches tier 4 in his magic path."
"I think so as well, at least we will get enough merits to get talent increasing treasures, if we get into tier 3 our life span will be increased and will grow too much, I think he will still recognise us and maybe we can ask to get into his service."
Unbeknownst to Grey, Michael and Joana considered him a ticket that could take them into higher statuses. Grey went back into the hall, the people went quite when Grey came back and were looking at him with hope especially the adults that run the orphanage, it looked like they did not know what happened in the room off the side of the stage. Looking at them Grey knew what they wanted to know, so he did not keep the waiting for so long.
"I have magic talent and have decided to join the military."
Grey directly said what they hope for in the most direct manner and then went back to his not saying much after that, the children all tried to ask Grey some questions which he did not indulge.