Seeing the entire room become clean and shiny, Gilgamel clapped his hands and nodded his head in satisfaction.
Furthermore, the significant reduction in abyssal energy made him breathe easier.
Suddenly, he felt a pat on his shoulder. When he turned around, he saw Medelien standing there with a beaming smile. She commended him, saying: "Young man, you did a fantastic job in cleaning. I really appreciate your work. I have plans to open a restaurant in the future, and I would be honoured if you would consider working there as a cleaner. I promise I will pay you well."
Gilgamel chuckled softly and replied, "I'm afraid you might not be able to afford my salary."
With a toss of her hair, Medelien confidently retorted, "Come on now, do you know who I am? I am the wealthiest witch on the first floor. Whatever salary you desire, it's merely a drop in the bucket for me!"
"Fine. You are the richest." Gilgamel seemed to have had enough with her play and said, "Now, can you cook us something? We need to recharge our energy in case abyssal creatures suddenly barge into this room."
Medelien drew in a deep breath, and with a pointed finger directed squarely at Gilgamel, she held back her frustration before wordlessly turning and striding away.
"About that..." Collin suddenly remembered something and said, "You don't have to worry. I've disguised the door of this room with my magic spell. Unless they break the wall, there's no way these abyssal creatures can get in."
"Well done, Mr Isaac," Gilgamel said in a teasing tone.
Collin's smile was tinged with helplessness as he shook his head.
"Who is Mr. Isaac?" Magnus asked Collin, who was standing beside him, curiously.
"That's the name of my pet," Collin answered.
Magnus widened his eyes and asked, "Do you also have a pet like Gilgamel's?"
Collin nodded and explained, "Yes, I do have a pet, but it's a bird, not a dog. To be more precise, it's a Messenger Owl."
In the world of wizards, the Messenger Owl is a highly favoured pet, commonly seen among wizarding communities. This remarkable creature serves as an invaluable letter carrier and a thoughtful gift for fellow wizards.
While there are magical communication devices available to facilitate wizard communication, their steep cost often makes them inaccessible to the average wizard. As a result, Messenger Owls remain a popular and practical choice for many wizards.
Magnus, with his hands behind his head, expressed his jealousy. "Tch, everyone has a pet. Maybe I should consider getting one."
Collin kindly suggested, "You can consult Gilgamel about that."
As Gilgamel walked away towards Medelien, he chimed in with a slightly teasing tone, "Just so you know, my consultant fee is not cheap~."
Magnus, with a casual demeanour, swiftly followed Gilgamel and remarked: "Hey, Gilgamel, your dog is quite remarkable. Why don't you consider selling it to me?"
Gilgamel responded, "I'm afraid you can't afford to feed it."
Magnus confidently replied, "I have no shortage of mana crystals. You can trust me on that."
Gilgamel remained firm, saying, "Nope, not a chance!"
Persisting, Magnus pleaded, "Come on, I promise I'll train it to be a general dog."
Gilgamel explained, "My dog prefers to be a farmer dog rather than a general dog."
Magnus retorted, "It's not right to unilaterally decide your pet's future, Gilgamel. Let me communicate with it!"
Gilgamel agreed, jesting, "Sure, as long as you speak dog language."
Magnus playfully barked, "Woof, woof!"
Their lighthearted banter momentarily filled the room, eliciting laughter from those who overheard the exchange.
An hour later, the team found themselves seated comfortably on chairs arranged around a wooden table conjured by Collin's intricate magic. The table was laden with a feast fit for kings, a colourful array of mouth-watering dishes that emanated tantalizing aromas, enticing all who beheld them.
"Did you prepare all of this yourself?" Magnus asked incredulously, his eyes widening as he took in the magnificent spread, complete with an assortment of delectable main courses accompanied by a generous selection of fresh vegetables, ripe fruits, and tempting desserts.
Rather than responding verbally, Medelien simply beamed with pride, her eyes shining with satisfaction at her impressive culinary handiwork.
"Medelien's cooking is the best that has ever entered my mouth. You should try it, and maybe you'll change your perspective on her." Gilgamel remarked, eliciting a confident smile from Magnus as he eagerly commenced his meal.
"My perspective on her?" Magnus inquired, a grin forming on his face. "I don't have any opinion about her, though. She fought well during the battle earlier. Although her fighting style is mediocre, at least she's not a burden on the team."
"..." Medelien wasn't sure if this guy was complimenting her or subtly criticizing her.
Collin sighed and said, "Can you guys stop talking about people in front of them? At least, do it behind their backs!"
Medelien tilted her head and thought that Collin's words didn't sound right...
Gilgamel chuckled at Medelien's confused expression. In the end, he said: "Alright, let's stop talking and start eating! Our great chef will be angry if we don't finish the dishes she has prepared."
Medelien snorted in response.
She was already angry by their words!
Medelien ignored them and turned to the dog that was obediently sitting under the chair. She stroked its soft and thick hair while saying, "My baby, Dodo, quickly finish your food before someone else steals it."
"Woof!"
Without any hesitation, Dodo immediately tucked into the heaping mound of succulent meat prepared especially for him.
***
The fading light of day cast a dark shadow over Elkia City as the distant roars of abyssal creatures echoed through the streets. As the trial participants ventured further, they came to a chilling realization that this ruined city was teeming with these otherworldly beings.
Meanwhile, inside the Owl, precisely on a grand and opulent structure, the five elders, led by the prominent figure Framis, are gathered on the first floor's circular field. Each elder stands in their respective position, facing a large ornate mirror that hovers before them.
Within each mirror, the images of the trial participants in Elkia City are reflected. Some participants are depicted in familiar settings, while others are shown in completely different locations.
"I find that only a few members show promise, while the rest are rather unremarkable," The female elder remarked in a detached tone.
This elder is Ignis Seria, a distinguished Fifth Circle Wizard residing on the Fifth floor. With her bronzed, flawless complexion, piercing clear blue eyes, and cascading lustrous black hair, she exudes an air of elegance. Her attire is adorned with a myriad of exquisite ornaments, adding to her captivating presence.
Responding to Iginis' words, a tall and striking man caught everyone's attention. His light blue hair and sharp features were complemented by a pair of sleek glasses that added an air of intellectual sophistication to his appearance. With a demeanour as cold as ice, he spoke firmly: "We can't expect all of them to reach our standards. It's already good if they can pass this trial."
Known as Claus Winter, he was a Fifth Circle Wizard residing on the fifth floor, and his piercing gaze remained fixated on the mirror screen. He meticulously observed every movement made by the trial participants in Elkia City, his attention unwavering.
Adjusting his glasses with a deliberate motion, Claus Winter continued in a measured tone: "Still, there are always one or two individuals who stand out the most every time the First Trial is held. For instance, that young man who wields sword magic. I believe there aren't many people who use this type of magic."
Framis gently stroked his short beard as he pondered the mention of "Sword Magic."
His eyes seemed to shift as if he was delving into a distant memory. Suddenly, his expression changed as he recalled: "Isn't that the House of Sword's unique magic?"
Ignis's eyes widened, reflecting her surprise, and she tilted her head in confusion, "The descendant of the House of Sword? Why would they send one of their own here? It's not like they lack resources."
Then, a rough-looking man playfully teased Ignis, "Ignis, for a woman, you lack the essence of a woman."
His eyes were partially obscured by his bangs, making it difficult to discern his true appearance.
This man was Rhodeus, a Fifth Circle Wizard residing on the fifth floor.
Ignis frowned, "The essence of women?"
"That's gossip!"
Rhodeus' answer successfully made Ignis angry.
The essence of a woman is gossip?!
What kind of nonsense principle is that?!
There are many women like her who don't like gossip!
Moreover, it's not that she doesn't like gossip; she's just busy doing many things that are more important than listening to gossip.
"Calm down, Ignis," Claus interrupted, trying to ease the tension in the room. "What Rhodeus said must be referring to the biggest scandal five years ago that rocked the empire."
Intrigued despite his anger, Ignis couldn't help but ask, "What kind of scandal?"
Claus took a deep breath before patiently elaborating, "As we are aware, as high nobles and one of the protectors of the kingdom..."
The House of Sword is known for its esteemed reputation, upheld by the honesty and integrity of each family member.
However, their long-standing image was shattered when an unfamiliar boy arrived, alleging to be the long-lost son of the family's patriarch.
This bewildering claim raised questions about the patriarch's known family situation, as many people believed that he had only one wife and one child.
So, where did this boy come from?