It seems 2 years have passed for this third test. In the waterfall a figure can be seen sitting on the platform in the middle of the pond. As a big red magic circle appear on the sky, aiming to the sky. As a spark of fire can be seen appear from the magic circle.
[Tier 3 Fire Magic : Scorching Turbo]
A burst of fire launch to the sky as it starts to disappear slowly getting interrupted by the waterfall rich ether. A clapping noise can be heard from afar.
"Congratulation! It looks like you've mastered a tier 3 magic just at the age of 10. That is a wonderful achievement!"
As the man came out of the shadow from the woods, the figure seems to be Solean with a new set of clothes. A red admiral-like cape on his shoulder, a tight white noble shirt with a black tie, complemented by a long brown pants with a black belt, the belt seems to be made out of gold with some unique engraving on it.
Noir who is sitting in the platform starts to stand up. As it seems even Noir got a new look, his smooth face still there but it seems he has a sharper look than 2 years ago. With a long black hair this time, reaching up to his shoulder. Noir jump off to Solean with a wind magic. As he bow down to Solean to greet him.
"Good afternoon to you Mr. Solean"
"It seems even your courtesy has gotten better, anyway. Good afternoon too, kid."
"Umm... Mr. Solean... There is something I have to tell you..." Noir said as sweats is all over his face.
"Hmm what is it?"
"W-well.. To tell Mr. Solean the truth... I haven't master Tier 3 yet..."
"Hahah! Don't worry kid. I know you are not a genius like me" Solean said confidently as he raise his head high to the sky.
Noir laugh nervously followed by Solean allmighty laugh. Solean then gesture his hand for Noir to follow him. As Solean walks a bit far from the waterfall, just a view steps away Noir and Solean could see a rune circle. It seems the rune circle was moved to this site after the third test began.
"Alright, time to go home now! Let's celebrate your half way done third test!"
"B-but.. I haven't master a tier 3 magic even after 2 years..."
"Eh, don't sweat it kid. You haven't master a tier 2 magic 2 years ago, so that's make sense for you to not master a tier 3 magic yet.
"But it's already a big feat for a kid like you, a 10 years old that already learn a tier 3 magic. Although the youngest person to ever learn a tier 3 magic is ME!" Solean said as he laugh maniacally.
"I. SOLEAN PON PHENEXIA. AT THE AGE OF 9, ALREADY LEARNED A TIER 3 MAGIC. WAHAHAH!"
Noir face sweats and laugh nervously with Solean. In a blink of an eye, Solean snap his finger and both appear in the Phoenix Guild. Noir bow down his head for his gratitude toward Solean teaching, and proceed to leave like usual. But before Noir could leave, Solean shouts to Noir.
"Hey kid! Here" Solean said as he throw something to Noir.
Noir grab the thing that Solean throw at him in the air. Noir looks at it for a moment, he could see that it is some sort of clothes. As Noir spread the clothes to see it clearly, he could see it's a black mage robe, almost similar to Solean red mage robe.
"That's your present kid! A mage robe similar to mine. The robe made out of magical fiber, with a grinded magic crystal and a Queen Arachnee web strings. This robe will give you extra protection against magic, and of course it's extremely tough to be ripped apart with any weapon or magic."
Noir eyes gleam like a star looking at the magical robe. Noir fold the robe and he leave the building expressing his gratitude to Solean. Solean just smiles as Noir leave to go back to see Sheila. After Noir leave the building, Nora approach Solean as it seems she whisper something. Solean face began to turn from happiness to a serious cold face.
Solean turn his back and instantly went upstairs to his room, Nora just bow down her head as she understood what to do next. Nora leave the phoenix guild building, as she seems to head somewhere south.
Solean open the door to his room, as he sees a hooded figure is standing still right in front of his desk. Solean just smiles and pass by the hooded figure and sit down, as he has a very serious stare toward the hooded figure.
"So... They're gonna attack tonight... Right Zeonyl Lorophetrika?" Solean said with a cold stare to Zeonyl.
"He... Only call me by my full name when he is serious..." Said Zeonyl inside his mind.
"Yes sir. They seems to prepare an army to attack Kortopia full force. Although I am unsure whether one of the 13 Apostle will also be there..."
"I see... Prepare yourself for tonight. I will go somewhere, please be standby on the Phoenix Guild. Looks like I know what they are after..."
"Yes Sir." Zeonyl said as he leave the room without elaborating further.
Solean glances toward the beautiful sun in the afternoon, as he close his eyes. Solean tries to remember something, a peculiar place. The place looks oddly like a cave, but it seems the surrounding doesn't have an exit or a point for entry. In the middle of the cave is a stone pedestal, overgrown by vines and leaves.
Just above the unique carved pedestal, is a shiny golden round object similar to an egg. As Solean get closer to the egg, he open his eyes to see himself in the guild master room all alone. Solean sits on his chair and ponder for a moment.
"That must be what they're after... But how would they know...? Unless... That bastard told them..." Said Solean inside his mind, as he clenches his fist and smash the table almost breaking it in half, leaving off a view cracks.
With anger in Solean eyes, he checks on his closet to take out his red magical robe. Solean change his outfit to the red magical robe, as a spark of flame can be seen all over the robe. Solean eyes from blue sky turn into a dark red.
As time pass by, the dusk risen with the full moon shining Kortopia. Noir who is happy after almost clearing the third test is now celebrating in the Black Bear Inn with Sheila, and the other patrons, and the owner of the inn. They all cheer and shout as some people drink, some people eat just, while Benny try his best to get the food and drinks send quickly.
Noir smiles happily as everyone in the Black Bear Inn seems to be very happy and cheerful. Noir leaves the inn for a moment to take a fresh air. As he leave, Benny follow behind him and they seems to get closer after 2 years. Benny lean on the wall beside the door, as Noir glances to the sky. Just the corner of Noir vision, he could see Polpo is jumping around the rooftop. Noir wave his hand to Benny as he start to run toward Polpo running on the street.
Just as Noir get closer to Polpo, his instinct felt a sense of dread somewhere nearby. The exposure of the waterfall for 2 years has made Noir sense of ether much better than the average adult. Noir stop for a moment and use his ether wave. South gate of Kortopia, Noir sense an evil ether presence. Noir feels something new, and something beyond his imagination. As he sense another one just the east of Kortopia, near the mountain.
Polpo goes down from jumping on the rooftop to meet Noir. As he approach Noir, Polpo tap Noir shoulder.
"You feel that too didn't you...?"
Noir just proceed to nod, as both starts to run towards the south gate of Kortopia. It seems Noir and Polpo is not the only one on the move. In the west gate, there is the vice-guild master standby just above the wall as he lookout on the outside. In the north gate, there is the secretary of the Phoenix Guild. Nora seems to be on standby with a lot of guards in the gate, as they seems to be waiting for something.
And last but not least, just on the east side of Kortopia, the mountain. In the deep woods, it seems the Guild Master of Phoenix Guild is walking all alone going into a specific pattern through the forest. Just a view steps, Solean arrive at some sort of cave opening. As someone seems to wait for him, a mask hooded figure with the eyes symbol on it's back seems to wait for Solean.
"Welcome...
"Sir. Solean...." Said the mask figure as the figure take out something from it's robe...