"Hehe, let's still pay the carriage fee, but I hope we won't encounter bandits on our journey ahead," Moransiu didn't reach for the few silver coins, smiling lightly.
Although he knew these two carriage drivers weren't good people, killing them now wouldn't help. Besides, if it weren't for them, who would drive the carriage?
"Yes... yes..." The two drivers nodded and thanked him profusely. They had a strange feeling, as if this young magician knew everything, which made them break out in a cold sweat.
Moransiu and Morde got on the carriage for the second time, feeling that the space inside the carriage had suddenly become much larger. The two young men squeezed into a small corner, even the woman with two children looked at Moransiu with a fearful gaze. The reputation of a magician was evident on the continent of Sanctus.
The rest of the journey went without any further incidents. The two drivers became much more diligent than before, being attentive to ask if Moransiu and his father needed to purchase anything whenever they passed through a town.
Moransiu quite enjoyed this feeling, being a magician was indeed different.
After another day, the carriage finally entered the city of Sofei.
As one of the ten major cities in Carlisle, Sofei City was indeed exceptionally bustling. The shops on both sides of the street were numerous like stars in the sky, and the streets were bustling with people, with carriages as common as bricks.
After passing through the back door of the carriage, Moransiu was filled with curiosity at everything he saw. As for Morde, it was his first time in such a bustling place too. The most bustling place he knew was Qinghe Town. Now it seemed like he was seeing the world from the bottom of a well.
After traveling on the city streets for a while, the carriage driver stopped the carriage, and they had arrived at the carriage station in Sofei City.
Everyone got off the carriage and bid farewell to Moransiu and his father cautiously. The old man with a serious illness cast his eerie gaze at Moransiu once again, and Moransiu always felt there was another meaning in those eyes.
Amidst the coughing, the old man disappeared into the sea of people.
The streets were full of swordsmen carrying long swords, grouped in threes and fives, dressed in gorgeous swordsman attire, walking arrogantly on the streets. Morde, in his primitive beast skin clothes, became a special sight on the street. Wherever he went, he could attract quite a few glances.
Moransiu and his father didn't mind this at all.
After asking for the location of the Magic Academy, Moransiu and Morde hurried towards the academy. However, when they arrived at the academy, they found out that the assessment was scheduled for a week later and would take place at the Mage Guild for potential testing.
At that time, not only Mulan Academy but also some other magic academies would be recruiting new students. Of course, the total number of students recruited by these academies in Sofei City would not exceed a few hundred. As for Mulan Academy, the number of people recruited in Sofei City would not exceed fifty.
Next, Moransiu and Morde went to the Mage Guild and filled out an application form. They didn't know that this year there were over ten thousand people coming to Sofei City for the assessment. Of course, not everyone could apply; they had to have the ability to absorb magic power, meaning they had to be at least an apprentice magician, and their age had to be under fifteen.
The registration fee was ten gold coins.
When Morde heard that the registration fee alone was ten gold coins, he was almost stunned. Ten gold coins, enough for an ordinary hunter to live on for ten years. And just a simple registration cost ten gold coins, what about the tuition fee?
"Father, you don't look too good?" Moransiu looked at Morde with a puzzled expression, noticing his father's pale complexion.
"Cough, hehe." Morde smiled.
It felt like there was a big drum in his heart, constantly pounding. Originally, he thought that over a hundred gold coins would be more than enough, but now it seemed that it might not be sufficient. But he couldn't let Moransiu see his difficulties. As a father, he couldn't burden his child with anything; he had to bear it stoically.
"I'm fine, Moransiu. Let's find a place to stay, we still have a week before the assessment. After you pass, I'll return to the village." Morde and Moransiu walked on the street, surrounded by passersby.
Some ladies saw Morde's attire and giggled, covering their mouths.
After all, in Sofei City, it was rare to see someone directly wearing beast skin.
In a small inn on a side street, Morde found a decent room for only one silver coin per night. This seemed to be the cheapest price in Sofei City. They had asked more than ten places in a row, and all of them charged at least two or three silver coins per night.
"Father, it seems like living here requires a lot of money." Moransiu sat on the bed, watching his father lock the door.
"Yes, life here is not comparable to our small place. Look, even at this time, there are still so many people on the street." Morde stood by the window, looking outside at the crowded street, where there were undoubtedly even more people.
...
Whenever he had a bit of time, Moransiu would use it to practice.
The week passed quickly. During this time, Moransiu and Morde spent money on accommodation and meals, and they ended up spending a gold coin.
How many animals would Morde have to hunt to earn it back? Morde thought to himself in distress.
The Mage Guild welcomed its busiest day of the year. Various magic academies from the kingdom would conduct admissions on this day, and the Mage Guild was the venue for their admissions. Here, every student who registered for the assessment would have to pass a potential test.
This potential test indicated the future achievements of the individual.
The potential test was to measure a person's elemental perception and mental power, the two fundamental aspects of a magician. Elemental perception and mental power were divided into seven levels, from one star to seven stars. The more stars one had, the greater their potential.
Moransiu and Morde didn't understand any of this, but they just followed along with everyone else.
When they arrived at the Mage Guild, it was already packed with people, with even the steps filled with people. Almost all of these people were nobles. The profession of a magician required expensive costs for cultivation, so it was either nobles or merchants who could afford it.
"Hey, Rob, look, that guy seems to be bringing his child to participate in the assessment too," a nobleman wearing a brocade robe and a velvet cap pointed at Morde, laughing loudly.
"Haha, nowadays, it seems like nothing is worth being curious about anymore," Rob looked in that direction, his eyes showing interest.
"By the way, your child is ten years old this year, right? How's it going, any confidence in passing the assessment?" Leidebaoding mentioned children, his eyes shining.
He had full confidence in his own child. He had
specifically hired an intermediate magician to train his child, which was quite a hefty expense. For this, he had to cut his entertainment activities in half.
"Who knows, we'll find out the results soon," Rob's expression suddenly became a bit unpleasant, seeming to lack confidence in his own child.
"Everyone, quiet down!" At this moment, an old man in mage robes came out, raising his right hand to signal everyone to quiet down. His white beard was long, indicating his strong magic.
"Look, it's Grand Magician Kelo," someone below said.
"Now, please have the children come forward to draw lots. The assessment will be conducted in the order of the draw." Kelo's voice was not loud, but everyone present could hear him clearly as he used magic.
"Moransiu, do you know what to do?" Morde looked a bit awkward. It was his first time experiencing such a scene, and he almost couldn't tell which way was up.
"Father, I know what to do. I'll go draw lots now." Moransiu smiled.