Wizard World.
The Stormy Sea, Quete Archipelago, Viscount Holliday's territory.
Outside the Castle Hall, which the local people could hardly approach on ordinary days, was now teeming with people.
All the boys in the territory who had reached the age of twelve were summoned by Viscount Holliday, lined up and waiting in an orderly manner to enter the hall and undergo the test for Wizard Qualifications.
Before entering the castle, the boys were informed that wizard qualifications were divided into ranks from one to five, with one being the lowest and five the highest. Each rank was further divided into upper, middle, and lower.
To secure a valuable ship ticket to follow the Wizard Sire to the main continent, one must have at least a lower third-rank qualification.
After the testing, if they do not meet the conditions, they are not allowed to cry or make a fuss, otherwise, Viscount Holliday would be very angry and the consequences would be severe.
Link, of course, was not frightened by these words meant to scare the children.
As a transmigrator, he had the standard gold finger, his trump card.
He possessed a Krypton Gold Draw Card System when his soul transmigrated, and the system's interaction method was a simple panel.
The content on the panel was not fixed, but changed with his cognition.
[Link Grande]
Qualifications: Intermediate Fourth Rank
Card Package: Currently None
Already Used: Currently None
Number of Draws: 1]
Before, Link didn't know the ranking system for wizard qualifications, so the panel did not have the "Wizard Qualifications" category.
After learning of this information, the panel updated to display his wizard qualifications.
After a short while, he was about to enter the hall.
"Forget it, let's draw the card, to have a guarantee."
Link steeled his heart, no longer hoarding the first draw opportunity that he had painstakingly exchanged for over a year's worth of savings. He summoned the system and bellowed inwardly: "God's Hand!"
The system draw card had no special effects, only slight changes on the simple panel.
[Link Grande]
Qualifications: Intermediate Fourth Rank
Card Package: "Mind Closure Technique" Learning Card (Tap gently for a speed of light start)
Already Used: Currently None
Number of Draws: 0]
"This..."
Link felt his last-minute scramble may have been in vain.
The "Mind Closure Technique" seemed to offer no help for the Wizard Qualification test.
"Forget it, I just did it for peace of mind anyway."
Shortly after, Link stopped fretting about this.
He decisively chose to use the "Mind Closure Technique" learning card.
With a slight shiver, a wave of information appeared out of nowhere in his mind. In an instant, Link had mastered the "Mind Closure Technique".
The next second, Link felt he had changed.
He became more rational and was better able to control his emotions and memory.
Before Link could savor the change, the steward came to lead the boys into the hall in an orderly and quiet manner.
In the hall, sitting in the chief seat was a wizard wearing a hooded gray robe.
Viscount Holliday, who held power over the lives and deaths of all people in the territory, sat below the wizard to his left, devoid of his usual pompousness.
Link was placed in the mid-section of the third row from the left.
He surreptitiously looked at the wizard who had caused a sensation across the territory upon his arrival yesterday, but all he saw was a swirling mass of smoke and he couldn't see the wizard's face at all.
After looking for a few more seconds, a stabbing pain arose in his eyes and tears uncontrollably welled up.
Link hurriedly lowered his head, avoiding the wizard's sight.
"Is this what a wizard is like? Truly extraordinary!"
Link was somewhat excited.
In over a year since his soul crossed into this world and carefully impersonated its original inhabitant, he had heard multiple tales of wizards wielding mysterious and extraordinary powers and personally witnessed the astounding destructive power of the knight system, a byproduct of a wizard's experiment. As such, Link had developed a significant curiosity towards wizards.
Now, the chance to become a wizard was right before his eyes, and Link wanted to seize it.
Knowing that he would undoubtedly pass the test, Link didn't want to court death but instead chose to keep a low profile.
So, instead of continuing to gaze at the wizard, he turned his eyes to the impending wizard qualification examination ceremony.
On the square table in front of the wizard, there were two crystal balls, one on either side.
The crystal ball on the left was colorless and transparent, while the one on the right was black and transparent.
"Let's begin."
As the sweat started to form on the heads of the young boys waiting for their test, growing more impatient, the wizard finally spoke.
The four teenagers, standing behind the wizard, exchanged glances with each other.
Moments later, a blond-haired, blue-eyed girl walked up to the table, facing towards the crowd with her back to the wizard.
Her voice was clear, and she naturally and generously instructed, "Soon, you will do as I do, place your hands separately on the two crystal balls. Regardless of what happens, don't let go of them until Wizard Palo confirms the test results."
As she spoke, the girl demonstrated it.
She placed her hands on the crystal balls, and after a while, they each emitted different glows.
The colorless, transparent crystal ball gave off a blue glow, embellished with touches of blue and yellow.
The black, transparent crystal ball, on the other hand, emitted a dazzling white light.
"What exactly are these measuring?"
Link was a bit confused and harbored doubts.
Just then, Wizard Palo spoke, "Innate spiritual power is 13, high affinity for the Wood Element, intermediate affinity for Water and Earth Elements, overall wizard qualifications are rated 'upper third rank.'"
The blonde, blue-eyed girl clearly already knew about her qualifications and showed little reaction to this result. After bowing to Wizard Palo, she returned to her original position.
Hearing this, Link cogitated and an understanding flashed across his face.
It was evident that the black, transparent crystal ball was measuring innate spiritual power, and the colorless, transparent crystal ball was measuring Element Affinity.
However, he was unsure about the specific criteria for the overall iwizard qualifications rating.
While Link was mulling over this, the first boy in the first column on the left had already stepped forward for the test.
He was somewhat nervous and stiff. His hands were vigorously rubbed on his clothes, wiping off the cold sweat from his palms, before placing them cautiously on the crystal balls.
The colorless, transparent crystal ball emitted a faint yellow light along with an even darker black light. The black, transparent crystal ball released an almost invisible white light.
"Unqualified, next."
The voice of Wizard Palo was indifferent when he spoke.
The boy's expression was one of disappointment. His mouth pursed, and tears silently fell down his cheeks.
Failed to seize the chance to change his destiny, to stop being a fisherman, he was heartbroken. Nevertheless, he did not dare to weep loudly nor to cause a scene.
The disappointed boy sadly walked away.
However, the other boys and girls lined up behind him were excited and eager until the same result befell them.
But alas, destiny never shifts according to personal will.
"Unqualified, next."
"Unqualified, next."
"Unqualified, next."
Out of the twenty people in two rows, not a single one heard the word "Qualified" from Wizard Palo's mouth. Neither did anyone get to know their actual Innate Spiritual Power score or the state of their Element Affinity.
For Wizard Palo, there was no need to waste his breath on those who were unqualified.
With one after another leaving, the remaining teenagers who were waiting for their test were no longer as excited and expectant as before.
The atmosphere gradually got heavier, and many people sighed from time to time.
Even Link, who was initially calm, started to feel tense.