He attempted a more pleasant tone, yet his inherited grammatical limitations constrained his expression. If he could respond in English, Jasper believed it would span 200 words confidently.
The teachings of the [Mastermind] echoed Jasper's sentiments, suggesting potential synergy. However, Jasper's memory retained only vague impressions—lengthy passages, powerful phrases, and a handful of keywords.
Awaiting Mr. Ole's verdict anxiously, Jasper met his gaze. Ole remarked, "You're quite slippery, much like Bishop Dawkins said. At this juncture, a simple declaration of your goddess belief suffices; there is no need to overemphasize loyalty. And your grammar needs improvement."
"He misunderstood! He misunderstood!" Jenkins rejoiced internally, nodding solemnly and feigning repentance.
"Excellent, Jasper Rhys. Your family, devoted to the goddess, holds a revered status. The review was unnecessary, but caution is warranted with the new [Gifter]."
As Ole spoke, he revealed a brown-red wooden block—[Lie Detector]. Jasper feigned confusion skillfully.
"B-10-4-6712, a [Supernatural Extraordinary] item from the Church of Knowledge and Books," Ole explained. Jasper, maintaining a facade of ignorance, absorbed the information.
"Since you passed the review, you're trustworthy. Let's discuss these matters later."
"Gentlemen," Jasper interjected, "What does that review entail?"
For the first time, a smile graced Ole's face. "Mr. Rhys, in this world, myths and legends harbor peculiar individuals and phenomena. You, my friend, have entered their ranks. I presume you had an encounter last night. Do you recall it? However, what's crucial to grasp is that the prevailing term for those with unique abilities is 'gifters.' We wield formidable powers, yet they entail heightened risks. Hence, the [Gifter Registration Law] was instituted three centuries ago."
"Does that imply I must register?"
"Indeed. Upon registration, you not only receive a monthly stipend from the church but also gain opportunities for personal enhancement. Naturally, certain responsibilities accompany this, although they aren't obligatory."
Jasper contemplated Ole's words silently. The [Gifter Registration Law] he learned of the previous night unfolded before him in this conversation.
"Very well, I consent to register."
Tradition dictates submission, and recalling the amicable ties between the [Mastermind] Church and his family, Jasper sensed no oppressive restrictions on conduct or customs.
"No, Mr. Rhys, you misconstrue. 'Registration' merely involves reporting your identity to the respective church. No forms need completion, and no peculiar rituals await you."
"So, have I already been registered?"
Jasper queried tentatively, suddenly realizing not only had his attire changed, but the grime on his face seemed to have vanished. Who bestowed upon me this impromptu bath? May the goddess above spare me from any awkward revelations.
He was gradually acclimating to this newfound reality.
"Yes, now you face a choice—would you willingly join the Church Knowledge and Books and assume the mantle of a certified [Scribe]?"
"Scribe?"
This marked the third instance Jasper encountered this term.
"Indeed, the gifted individuals within the Church of Knowledge and Books are collectively known as Scribes. We transcribe and disseminate knowledge in the mortal realm in service to the goddess. Quentin, who shared that peculiar incident with you last night, holds the title of Night Watchman in the Church of Shadowed Night and Covert."
These morsels of knowledge intrigued Jasper, imprinting them firmly in his memory. He approached the decision cautiously, expressing a concern that belied his age,
"What if, hypothetically speaking? What if I choose not to join?"
"Don't fret, Mr. Rhys," Ole reassured, tapping the table with his fingers. "Without guidance, navigating the extraordinary path may prove challenging. Moreover, the major churches are wary of unregistered gifters; you might find yourself reporting to the church monthly, detailing your actions and words."
"Essentially, It is a form of limited confinement. Those who resist registering with the Righteous God Church must enhance themselves through private gatherings. However, I see no reason to refuse for you . You are not a follower of false gods..."
Jasper concluded in his mind, nodding emphatically, "I aspire to become a [Scribe] and contribute to the goddess's glory."
The middle-aged man chuckled, "Very well, Mr. Rhys, no need for such elaborate language—though I do appreciate it myself."
In any realm, eloquent speakers seldom come to harm, a fact Jasper was well aware of.
"Excellent, congratulations then." Ole nodded slightly, "[Scribe] holds a sacred and distinct position in the church; you'll grasp this in due time. Specific assignments will follow after the assessment. Let me clarify some aspects for you. I presume you're still perplexed about last night's events?"
"Yes," Jasper nodded hastily, "How is Mr. Quentin? Because we parted just after coming out."
"He's well. His fellow Night Watchmen have taken him back to the church. While I haven't witnessed it personally, the curse on the Night Watchman is not overly troublesome. He should recover."
Ole seemed to appreciate Jasper's initial inquiry.
"That's a relief. Mr. Quentin saved my life, and I must express my gratitude."
This was no falsehood; had it not been for Quentin's intervention against the colossal octopus, Jasper wouldn't have had the opportunity to claim a complete body.
"That octopus..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Ole.
"About this matter, you don't have enough authority, so I can't reveal it to you. But you can now know that it is related to [Tricks]. Supernatural objects are divided into three categories. Category A [Tricks] refers to the absence of people for a long time. The strange objects that fall out of the [Strange Land], which collapse after passing through them, usually cause huge damage and are inaccessible. They may not only be objects but also creatures, events, or even a piece of information; Category B [Extraordinary], composed of the Strange Land, consists of some permanent and effective supernatural items brought out of the realm. They can be made by oneself, but they are extremely rare; Category C [Gift], the most precious, can only be achieved by meeting certain conditions in the realm or purifying the artifacts to obtain them.
Okay, okay, actually, the main purpose of today is to help you understand the Gifter, but before that, you need to take a test."
"Wait a moment, sir, but I don't know those light spots and abilities yet..." Jasper said hesitantly.
"Those things need to be explained by professionals. I am just a fighter." He waved his hand, quickly turned to the next topic, and then looked at Jasper seriously.
"There are many jobs that require the extraordinary ones of the church to undertake, including but not limited to front-line combat, logistical support, and information collection. According to our different abilities, everyone will be assigned to different positions. For example, we just met at the door, the gatekeeper. The ability condensed from his soul characteristics enables him to distinguish whether the humans he sees are disguised."
"That's a really good skill for a gatekeeper."
Jasper said dryly.
Ole laughed, shook his head, and continued, "You should have noticed that the light spots in front of you disappeared after coming out of [The Strange Land]. This is normal. It also requires our [Spirit] to maintain the appearance of the light spots. Don't ask me about spirits; just wait for your guide. An ability in [Strange Land] can only be used once, but you don't need to pay any spirits, and you don't need spirits to keep the light spots appearing, so you can always see them. It's different in the real world. Now, follow me, close your eyes, imagine airflow flowing through your body, and then open your eyes."
This is the reason why Jasper fainted last night. As a newly awakened rookie, he didn't have much spirit. After coming out of the treacherous realm, he didn't know how to turn off the light spots, and he also used the ability of his eyes many times.
Jasper immediately followed the instructions, but it was really difficult because "air flow" itself is a very vague description. It was difficult for him to find the feeling Ole said. After opening his eyes many times, there was nothing.
"Maybe I should try my own method."
While thinking about it, he closed his eyes again and took a deep breath, "I can spred my true energy all over my body..."
The familiar description made Jasper vaguely feel something. He opened his eyes. In addition to the middle-aged man in front of him, there were three white, green, and purple light spots and four bubbles in his field of vision.
"You are now at level 0, so you can only have three abilities. After the natural awakening, the white ability is [World Gift] and the exclusive ability is [Soul Trait] will inevitably appear, so you should still see a blank bubble."
"One?"
Jasper blinked. Sure enough, it was the same as what he heard at last night's party, but Ole's explanation was very vague. It seemed that it was still necessary to attend a "legal" gathering.
Compared with the doubled number of abilities, what happened last night is nothing to mention.
'Perhaps I should reveal some extra details in order to win the trust of the church, and Quentin also knows about this. I don't know if he will keep it a secret...'
"Sir, I have two empty bubbles. I drank a potion in the strange situation last night, and then I got one more."
Ole did not express any surprise and said calmly: "The message from Church of Shadowed Night and Covert pointed this out. You are really lucky. This kind of thing has not happened for many years. But this matter can happen in the future. Don't tell others; the gifter's abilities are all personal secrets."
Quentin also mentioned this last night.
"According to the color of the light spot, the abilities are divided into [White Basic] [Red Attack] [Yellow Speel] [Green Life] [Golden Magic]. There are other colors besides these, but they are very, very rare. I won't give you an example. For us gifted ones, each person's identity is the ability to condense the spirit traits gained during awakening."
As he spoke, he took out a red-covered book from his breast pocket.
This book is about the size of a standard letter paper, and there is no written text.
"Trait and abilities are the most special. When activated, in addition to the corresponding effects, there will be an additional fluctuation. Some people call it the spiritual wavelength, and some say it is the color of [spirit]. But these are not important; the important thing is that it is absolutely impossible for the same trait and abilities to fluctuate in this world. Put your hands up and activate your own trait abilities."
Ole pushed the red book in front of Jasper, who immediately stretched out his right hand and pressed it on the surface of the book.
"Sir, how should I activate my abilities?"
In the strange situation last night, Jasper only heard Quentin mention this matter but did not try it himself.
"Concentrate on the point of light in front of you and imagine that it is an extension of your body."
This seems a little different from Quentin's description, but it doesn't matter.
Jasper started trying again, but it was still difficult. It wasn't until the room was quiet for five or six minutes that he finally felt air flowing in his hands.
Correspondingly, the red book cover immediately turned green.
"Life-like ability?"
Ole looked surprised, "That's good, that's good."
He put the book back and looked at Jasper with a different meaning.
"Since it is a life-system ability, it is much more convenient to test. Mr. Rhys, I will assign you your future location and work, so please show a little bit of your ability."
"Interview, right?"
Jasper thought to himself and then scratched his arm in embarrassment: "My ability is to heal through skin contact. How should I show it now?"
"Wait a minute; we need to prepare some living creatures."
He did not leave the chair immediately but continued to explain, "I just said that ability is the biggest secret of the gifter. But sometimes, in order to find out what exactly you can do, you have to share your abilities with others. The test will be conducted by the two of us, and the subsequent information will be sealed in the church and will never be leaked. I swear to the goddess; I will not tell anyone what I saw."