Ridley brought Mizar to his house to show him the real magic card. The Tulk card was an artifact made by a Wight Production, a company that created various magic item. It is unknown how did they made the card that could contain a premade spell inside it that could be used by everyone even by a non-magic user.
The Tulk card revolutionized the way spell and magic are used in the society. But due to market manipulation, only people with power and money could obtain them. the price of these cards was extremely expensive because the flow of distribution was being cut by the top 1℅ of the economy hierarchy.
This made them a highly valuable item more that jewelry and art pieces.
To be able to get one meant a lot for Mizar, he was excited when he heard that his friend would give it to him.
"You're really going to give it to me? Why? "
"It's a present that I mean to give to you on your birthday, but tomorrow is also a special occasion for you. So I think it will be okay to give it to you now"
Inside Ridley's bedroom there is a wooden chest hidden under his bed. He pulled it out and unlock the padlock on the chest to reveal what's inside.
It was a small glass case with a single card stored in it. Protected by the sturdy case, the Tulk card inside was still on a mint condition.
Ridley looked at Mizar with a mischievous grin as he handed over the glass case containing the precious Tulk card. Mizar's eyes widened in awe as he held the artifact carefully in his hands, marveling at the intricate design on the card.
"I can't believe it," Mizar whispered, his voice filled with amazement. "This is one of the most sought-after magic items!"
Ridley nodded, pleased with Mizar's reaction. "That's right, my friend. The Tulk card is truly a game-changer. It contains a powerful spell that can be used by anyone, regardless of their magical abilities."
Mizar looked up at Ridley with gratitude. "Thank you so much, Ridley. I don't know how to repay you."
Ridley waved off Mizar's gratitude with a smile. "No need to repay me, Mizar. You deserve it. You've been feeling down lately about your upcoming mana evaluation, and I thought this would be a perfect way to cheer you up."
Mizar's eyes glistened with appreciation. He had been feeling anxious about the mana evaluation, worried that he wouldn't live up to the legacy of his famous magician ancestors. The pressure had been weighing heavily on him, but Ridley's thoughtful gift had brought a ray of hope into his heart.
"Let's try it out!" Ridley suggested, excitement dancing in his eyes. "I've always wanted to see the Tulk card in action."
Mizar nodded eagerly, and the two friends made their way to Ridley's backyard, where they could have more space to experiment with the Tulk card. Mizar carefully studied the instructions on the card, and with a deep breath, he tapped the card with his finger, activating the spell within.
A burst of dazzling light erupted from the card, swirling and pulsating with magical energy. Ridley and Mizar watched in awe as the spell took shape, forming a magnificent display of illusions and fireworks that lit up the night sky.
Mizar couldn't help but smile, feeling a surge of confidence and joy. With the Tulk card, he realized that he had a powerful tool that could help him pursue his passion for magic and make his own mark in the world, regardless of the outcome of the mana evaluation.
Ridley clapped him on the back, grinning from ear to ear. "You did it, Mizar! That was incredible!"
Mizar beamed with pride, grateful for Ridley's unwavering support. "Thank you, Ridley. This means so much to me. I feel like I can take on anything now."
Ridley chuckled. "Of course you can! You're a Morgan, after all. No matter what the result is, you are still my best friend.
The day had finally arrived, and Mizar felt like he was walking into a battlefield without any armor. He was anxious about the mana evaluation being held at the academy that day, and the fact that all of his friends would also be participating in the evaluation didn't help to ease his nerves. Mizar desperately hoped that the results wouldn't be too bad.
As they walked into the spacious training hall, Mizar's friend Ridley was already there to greet him. "You ready?" Ridley asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
Mizar looked like he had been up all night, his complexion pale and his eyes tired. "No, I keep having this bad feeling since yesterday. I can't shake this uneasiness in my chest," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ridley observed his friend's worried expression and tried to comfort him. "Don't think about it too much. You're a talented mage, and I'm sure you'll do great."
Soon after, Letto and Vanta arrived, and Vanta greeted the pair with a smile. "You guys came early this time."
Ridley quickly pulled Vanta aside, concern etched on his face. "Can you help me calm Mizar down? He's been like this since yesterday," he asked, his voice urgent.
Vanta looked at Mizar, his expression got warmer and soften, to assure the nerve of his friend he gave some comforting word to Mizar.He walked over to Him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Hey, don't worry about it too much. We're all in this together,"
"I know you won't have a bad result since you have learnt a of spell already"
Mizar eyes widen, He turned to Vanta with confusion in his eyes. "How did you know? I'm barely able to cast them. The only people that knew about is My brother and Mr.Axel."
Vanta accidentaly made a blunder. He tilted his head and raised his eyebrow before He tried to quickly change the conversation
"You're a Morgan I thought you have mastered some magic already. Anyway, let's talk about the card you get. I heard that Ridley gave you one Yesterday"
"Yes, He did! It was awesome."
To distract themselves from the evaluation, the group chatted about Tulk cards for a while. They manage to forget about the restlessness in their chest. a smile curve up on Mizar's face as he shown the card he have to his friends.
But that excitement wont last long as the time goes on, the tension in the air also grew thickker. Without they realizing, the examiner had already arrived at the training hall. He holds a large crystal device and a brass bowl.
The crystal was a mana conductor used in artifacts and daily magic tools, but this one was so large that it could absorb a large amount of mana when someone tried to channel their mana into it.
The examiner was a master of the Vindicator specialization, a rare sub-class for mages that could detect various qualities of a mage just by looking at their inner mana flows and their spiritual body.
The device he brought was just a complementary tool to show the kids how they were doing with their result.
The quartet stood in a circle, their hands on each other's shoulders. "Here they come, boys. Whatever your result is, I'm still your friend," Ridley said, his voice full of conviction. Letto, Vanta, and Mizar nodded in agreement, their eyes fixed on the examiner.
The examiner stood in the center of the training hall. The the brass bowl and the crystal placed in the front of him. In a loud and clear voice, the examiner called the name of each students one by one. They're being tested in turns by the examiner.
As the students each took their turn, the crystal device glowed in various shades, indicating the level of their mana core. The brass bowl was filled with water, and each student had to channel their mana into the bowl, causing ripples and waves to form on the surface. The examiner closely observed these movements, identifying the student's mana core by the color emanating from the crystal device.
White was the lowest level, while rainbow flowing pattern was the highest level. As each student's name was called, their expression and gestures told the story of their result, ranging from elation to disappointment.
after a few students get called, it's finally Mizar's turn, he took a deep breath and walked up to the front of the bowl. channeling his mana into the bowl. The water rippled and swirled around his fingertips, and the crystal device glowed in a bright blue hue. Mizar's expression changed from anxious to relief, and a small smile formed on his lips.
He struggled to produce mana, He could feels that there is some resistance in his veins when he tried to move the mana from his body to the water inside the bowl.
The examiner furrowed his brows and looked at Mizar with concern. "Son, are you feeling alright? Your mana core seems to be almost non-existent," he said.
Mizar's heart sank as he heard the examiner's words. He had always struggled with his mana control, but he never expected to have such a low mana pool. He tried to mask his disappointment and forced a weak smile. "I'm fine, sir. Just a bit nervous, I guess," he replied.
everyone around him seemed to not care about his result. Except his close friend, the other student aren't paying attention to him some of them even still talking it each other. It was a normal one just like anyone else.
Mizar turn back to with his head hang low after he finished the test. He had seen it coming but, he still felt terrible after seeing the result himself.
On his way back the examiner had already called another student name to came to front. It was Letto. When he passed with Mizar he could see the dissaponted Mizar casted his eyes down to the ground.
"Hey, Don't mind. That result wont change anything between us."
Unlike Mizar, Letto had already know what the result of his going to be. had a wide smile on his face as he watched the examiner's reaction. He had always known that he had an unusual amount of mana, but seeing it confirmed by the Vindicator specialist filled him with pride.
The crystal glowed a bright shade of gold, and the water in the bowl seemed to dance as he channeled his mana into it. He did it effortlessly without felling any resistance in his body.
his friends cheered for him. it managed to garner the attention of the other kids around him. some of them even clapped their hand.
"Look at that! a golden core"
"He had a gold colored core at that age?!"
his result gained a various reaction from the people watching him.
"That means he will be a powerful mage in the future!"
"What a strong magician!"
Mizar stood still as he saw the examiner's expression change from concern to happiness. The man smiled broadly.
"Congratulations, Letto! You have achieved a unique result today!"
Letto was stunned for a moment, and then a broad smile appeared on his face. "Wow, I can't believe it! What does it mean, sir?" he asked, his voice full of excitement.
The examiner laughed.
"It means you have a very high level of mana in your body. It indicates that you possess a powerful potential."
"Really?" Letto exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief. "I've always known that I have a strong mana flow. But I always thought it was just a fluke. To find out that I actually have a strong ability…it makes me really happy, sir," he said, his smile genuine.
Letto was born with a powerful amount of mana, which enabled him to master many spells at such a young age.
He had always believed that he was special, and now, he learned that his belief wasn't unfounded.
After Letto's result was revealed, Vanta approached the examiner and asked if he could get his turn next. The examiner agreed, and Vanta stepped forward to take his turn.
Vanta was the youngest member of the group, only 10 years old.
Unlike Letto, whose results were something to brag about, Vanta's was nothing short of abysmal. He had always had trouble controlling his mana, and his mana core was just a small speck on the scale. The examiner's eyes narrowed as he looked at the boy in front of him.
"Is there anything wrong, Son?" he asked. His voice was stern and cold, and it caused Vanta to shiver.
Vanta knew that he couldn't hide from the truth forever.
His mana was very weak. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry to bother you with this…" he started. "My mana flow isn't what it should be," he continued, feeling embarrassed.
"Why?" the examiner asked, his tone showing that he knew exactly why Vanta was here.
"Sir, ever since I was little, I've always had trouble controlling my mana. It's like it has a mind of its own, and I can't seem to tame it no matter how hard I tried"
"Well, that shouldn't surprise me considering your family background," he remarked, sounding disappointed.
Everyone in the room was staring intently at the exchange between the two masters of magic. Everyone, except Mizar, who remained silent, his shoulders sagged. He felt pity for his friend, knowing that he was probably expecting better results than this.