With Oska walking ahead, the group soon arrives at the test hall. At the entrance, an elder keeps careful watch over the room. Seeing the guests walk over, he opens the doors. Inside, a large crystal hangs in the centre, levelled seating runs on along the outside with two doors at the other end of the room.
Another elder steps forward to greet the party from within the room. "Those of you who are here for the test will first begin by placing their hand on the crystal one at a time" he monotonously states.
Oska arrogantly pushes himself to the front of the line, his sister's partner follows behind, ignoring his actions. Anna's partners are next, and Leon brings up the rear. With the order established, Oska walks forward and places his hand on the large crystal. With a glow, numbers start appearing within it. The final number that the crystal outputs is 884. Holding the number for a second, it disappears, in its place words begin to form. They read 'magic: Iron formation, power Low-Mid.' The words then also disappear, instead the gem begins to change colour from white, red, orange and finishes with the colour yellow.
The elder, observing the test, turns to Oska and declares "You have potential to make the pinnacle of the Knight rank. Very good. You can do the practical test after everyone else finishes." The elder gestures for the next man, the partner of Oska's sibling, to come up.
Following the same procedure, he steps forth and places his hand on the crystal. It reads '1569. Magic: Water type, power Mid. Colour: Lime.'
"Great, you're still young, you will likely push into Champion" with a slight smile he waits for the next.
The next three went up and had the following results: the first had 709; Earth type, power Low-Mid and colour Orange. The second had 633; Water type, power Low-Mid and colour Yellow. With the last having 1109; Nature type, power High-Mid and the colour Green.
The elder's face showed no emotion from the first's result. With the second, he told them to sit down in the stands and for the third a faint smile crept across his face.
Finally, it was Leon's turn. Looking around he noticed the trio and Oska each watched with anticipation, hoping he would fail. Leon smirks playfully as he looks at them, it had seemed the man who had his arm cut off had taken some restoration potion hastily after stapling it. The result was far from sufficient, Leon believed that the arm wouldn't be useable for quite some time.
He steps up to the crystal and places his hand on it. His hand feels a slight tickle as energy flows from it. He watches the number slowly go up. Once it reaches around the 600 number, it slows down to a crawl, eventually finishing at 611. With the result the audience sneers and the elder makes a disappointed look. Leon shows a look of bewilderment 'While this is an extraordinary growth, shouldn't it be higher?' he felt as if he had more than what the crystal was reflecting. Though the growth itself was exceptional, even the most talented youths at their peak would likely not be any higher and Leon had long past the explosive increase that was puberty. In the background, a man sits down and stares at the crystal.
'Now what will it say my magic is?' Leon couldn't help but guess, seeing as he couldn't even tell exactly what it was. He carefully watched as letters continually formed and disappeared. Eventually the crystal stopped. 'Error', the final words it displayed. The lack of information displeased Leon, whilst the spectators mumbled between themselves. Next the crystal began to change colours, quickly going from white to red, then orange and yellow. When it turned green someone let out a gasp, with what they felt was an unexpected result. Once it hit blue, silence had taken over the room, yet still the colour continued to shift. Purple. The level that every successful heir would receive. Yet a nobody had just come in and shown it, the result made the elders jaw drop.
'Hmm, only purple? Wait its still changing, its just harder to tell' Leon who was worried it had stopped, watched it turn to violet. As another minute passed Leon was able to look at the final result, The violet crystal now had small markings of black scattered across it.
"Hoh looks like my eyes are still good. Seems like the boy truly has some talent" a man chuckles as he walks into view.
The elder running the test breaks out of his daze upon seeing the man come over. "Sir", he quickly shouts giving a bow.
Leon turns his head to look at him, the white hairs and air about him immediately give him away. It was Mr Reinhardt.
"I will personally be conducting his practical test" the man gestures over to Leon before walking to the back.
"Impossible. He must have cheated!" unable to accept the commoner's talents Oska shouts. 'How could a man with a gem no bigger than a tooth have such potential. Then there was the lack of magic listed. Yes, he must have fudged the results and I bet this man is helping him.'
Mr Reinhardt turns his head to the man and states "that is quite the accusation, are you willing to be your life on it, pipsqueak?"
At his words, the brother-in-law mumbles "Shut up idiot" under his breath, knowing the man before them. Oska pays it no heed.
"Who are you to call me a pipsqueak? I am the son of Marquis and when I marry Hela, I will inherit an Earl title as well" he proudly states.
"Ah. I suppose I can show the future suitor of Hela what he must reach." The words spoken appeared to be directed elsewhere.
Placing his hand on the crystal, the crowd watches as the number jumps up thousands at a time. Oska's face turns blue as he watches the tremendous circulation of magic. It eventually starts slowing just after reaching 18 thousand and the senior removes his hand.
"Now who am I? I am the grandfather of Hela Reinhardt and the current Grand Elder of this house and main adviser of house leader." Not wanting to waste his breath further he just says "follow", prompting Leon to walk behind him as they both enter the right door.
'Damn, only 18 thousand, my age is quickly catching up to me' the man who had once felt like a titan was upset as his strength slowly dissipated, he had lost over 2000 particles worth in the last few years. Not wanting to dwell on it, he turned to what he hoped would be the future Mr Reinhart. A youthful flame that had arrived on his doorstep in his twilight years.
"Now we are off to do the practical test using real monsters, in the meantime we will have a talk. Make sure you don't lie to me" he sternly warns.
"Yes Sir" Leon answers seriously, he didn't know the man was his partner's grandfather and had since decided to act extra respectful.
"What is your ability?" unable to get an answer from the crystal, the old man could only ask.
"I don't quite know" with his lack of knowledge and not sure whether he should share, Leon gives a vague reply.
"But you must have some idea?" Mr Reinhardt asserts, pressing for an answer.
"I believe it's something like the ability to use the magic from absorbed monster cores" Leon acquiesces and answers the old man.
"Hmm, a non-elemental and a potent ability to boot. No wonder why your potential was so high" he remarks, stroking his beard.
As he pauses speaking, they arrive at the end of the hallway. Opening the door, Leon see's a large arena in front of him.
"You will be taking on monsters starting from Class E and progressively increasing a rank with each victory. Grab a weapon and begin, if it becomes too much, shout and I will intervene." Leon goes and grabs a sword and makes his way to the centre.
A large gate opens, lifting vertically in front of him. Calming his thoughts, he awaits his foes. As a great juxtaposition to the size of the gate, a small green goblin pops out. Not wanting to waste time on a Class E monster, Leon forms a ball of lightning in his hand and hurls it at the monster, killing it instantly.
"Are you ready to join the Reinhardt family?" as the grandfather speaks again a humanoid monster walks out, one that is much larger than the goblin. Standing at around 2 metres with bumpy orange skin and a hideous face it roars and charges at Leon.
"No, Sir. That isn't my intention" Leon answers, deftly dodging the monster.
"Hoh. What do you mean by that?" the old man answers quizzically as Leon gets behind the monster.
"I mean I'm not looking to join the Reinhardt family. I want to forge my own family, one that won't lose to the Reinhardt's." As he finishes speaking, he cleanly slices through the monster's neck, leading to it bouncing on the floor.
'Form his own family, how arrogant he is. I like it' feeling a resemblance to him in his youth, the old man couldn't help but want him more.
"Do you know to do so means you must climb higher than me? Can you do it?" as one who had pushed himself to join the ranks of nobility and the Reinhardt family, he knew how difficult the task was. The man before him wanted to go even further. A slight doubt crept into his mind about whether the kid could.
"I must" Leon answers with determination. A dog like monster with flames on its back runs out of the gate, straight at Leon.
"Hmm. If that's your plan you will likely need more than one partner" he responds as if in thought. A family that would rival the Reinhardt's would take generations and hundreds of members. Not achievable by a single man and woman.
"Ah… yes. I do have some others in mind" with his attention split between Hela's grandfather and the monster he answers more honestly than he would have liked. Slightly upset, he activates flames beneath his feet and burst towards the monster at speed.
"You are aware that each time you fully engage in the act, your abilities drop?" the senior laughs as he speaks. Leon, still focusing on the monster that is now within reach, grabs for it. The flames on its back having no effect of Leon as he grabs hold of its neck, causing it to release a yelp.
"I haven't felt said decrease yet" Leon remarks, stabbing the dog like monster.
"Is that so?" Mr Reinhardt smirks as if he found some quite interesting news. At the gate a heavy thud resounds.