"I was actually quite nervous."
"...Not me. I'm fine."
He had already experienced it once, and the result was obvious. Why would he be nervous? However, he couldn't say that, so he held his tongue.
"You're a really unpredictable person. More than anyone I've seen... I think you'd pass the Cavalry test right away."
"Yeah. That's right. I'll pass."
At Yuder's response, Gakane showed a momentarily dumbfounded expression, then burst into laughter.
"Pffft. What's that? Do you have the ability to see the future? Then what about me? What do you think I'll be like?"
"I don't have the ability to see the future, but I think you'll pass as well."
Gakane laughed even louder.
"Gosh, saying such pleasant things with that expression. Thanks."
Although Gakane thought Yuder's words were empty, Yuder was actually telling the truth. Gakane would definitely pass and join the Cavalry.
He wanted to say something more to Yuder, but a voice called Yuder from inside, so he couldn't.
"Alright. Go register. I'll wait for you by the exit."
Yuder wanted to tell him not to wait, but Gakane turned away quickly. Yuder entered the Blue Crown. The registration would be over soon. The important thing was the test that would take place after registration.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Due to the large number of people wanting to join the Cavalry, the tests were not all held on the same day. The tests were conducted over three days within the Imperial Knight's compound for those who had completed registration, and the results were determined immediately after the tests were finished.
Yuder was scheduled to take the test on the last day, while Gakane took the test the day before.
Judging by his absence from the inn, Gakane had passed, just as before. Yuder, carrying a simple bag on his shoulder, left the inn.
The Imperial Knight's compound, where the tests were held, was not far from the inn. The training ground within the compound, surrounded by several tall buildings, was the location for the Cavalry's entrance exam.
Yuder noticed some familiar faces among the tense expressions of the people circling the buildings. They were the faces of those who would pass the tests.
"Number 423, it's your turn!"
Many people had already been called into the building. Now, it was Yuder's turn. He leisurely walked into the building, which remained unchanged from his memories.
Though the test was now held by borrowing one of the Imperial Knight's training grounds, a few years later, the positions of the Imperial Knights and the Cavalry would be completely reversed.
Ordinary people, who made up most of the knights, could not match the Awakeners with innate talents. The Cavalry, gaining the emperor's trust, thrived and eventually took over half of the buildings that once belonged to the Imperial Knights, as well as half of the newly built structures, displaying their growing prestige.
"Number 423."
Following the guide into the examination room, Yuder faced five examiners. He hadn't known their identities in the past, but now he could recognize most of them. From the left, they were the deputy commander of the Imperial Knights, the assistant to Chancellor Mooker, the representative mage sent from the Pearl Tower, a court mage, and...
Upon seeing the man sitting on the far right, Yuder's eyes narrowed. Unlike the others, the man wore plain clothes with no discernible features indicating his position, giving off an ordinary impression.
The other participants didn't seem to notice anything unusual about the man, but Yuder was different.
The man's face was an elaborate fake, meticulously crafted with magic. Yuder had seen that deliberately plain face a long time ago, designed to be easily forgotten.
'Could it be that face?' Yuder wondered.
"Number 423. You wrote quite an impressive description in the ability section; is it all true?"
Yuder's attention remained on the man on the right until a sharp question snapped him out of it. The mage of the Pearl Tower was shaking Yuder's application form, his face deeply furrowed.
"You can imbue a sword with both fire and water? In my entire life, I've never heard such a preposterous claim."
They had said the same thing about Yuder's application in the past. He had been angered back then, but not anymore. He fully understood why they reacted that way.
Before the Awakeners appeared, magic was something very difficult to master; one could barely accumulate mana in their body after rigorous training and use it through a complicated process. Using magic even once required extreme caution and effort.
As a result, most mages focused on mastering only one type of magic, the easiest to use, to achieve success quickly.
Fire magic users focused solely on fire magic, while water magic users focused solely on water magic—this had become standard practice for over a thousand years.
Learning magic of different attributes simultaneously took too long to become accustomed to manipulating mana, and more importantly, the mana accumulated in the body could clash, posing a severe risk.
Thus, a mage using more than one type of magic was almost considered a far-fetched story found only in novels.
Of course, that was the story before the Awakeners appeared.
Among those who had awakened with the power of the Red Stone, many could handle multiple attributes of magic in various ways. While their proficiency and power varied greatly, it was undoubtedly a phenomenon that shattered existing common sense.
Among them, Yuder was the best of the best. He could freely manipulate all attributes, imbuing any weapon he touched with his power, making it even stronger. Imbuing a sword with attributes was nothing to him.
'In truth, even saying that I can only handle fire and water is an understatement.'
Previously, he had only claimed to manipulate different attributes but hadn't mentioned his ability to imbue them into a weapon. Only after further honing his skills did he realize he could transfer these attributes to weapons.
If he had revealed the full extent of his abilities, no one would have believed him, and his application would have been rejected outright. Some downplaying was necessary, but he wasn't willing to tread the same path as before.
This was the result of his careful deliberation. Yuder believed that by showcasing just enough skill, he would stand out immediately once accepted into the Cavalry.
As Yuder remained calm in the face of the mage's anger, the deputy commander of the Imperial Knights, who was seated to the left, stroked his beard and spoke.
"There's no point in arguing until we've seen it ourselves, right? So, if what you say is true, show us. Convince us."
"I understand."
Yuder scanned the area. The rules prohibited bringing personal weapons, so he was empty-handed. However, nearby, there were several blunt practice swords and other tools available for the test takers. Without hesitation, he walked over and picked up a sword.
"Hmm."
Although it was just a practice sword, it was so heavy that an ordinary person would struggle to lift it. The examiners' expressions shifted as Yuder, whose arms didn't seem particularly muscular, lifted the sword with ease, as if it were a mere branch.
With the reaction he had anticipated, Yuder positioned himself where the examiners could clearly observe him. He held the sword lightly, thanks to his ability to manipulate the forces of nature at will.
Yuder could control not only the five main elements but also anything derived from nature as if it were an extension of his own body. Since most weapons were made of iron, this was only natural for him.
During his captivity, they had targeted the mana hole beneath his navel, the most critical weak point for an Awakener, to render him powerless. His limbs had been crushed, and he had been bound with ropes made from monster tendons, which were unnatural and resistant to his powers.
Yet, he had survived until his execution day, solely because he was an Awakener, nothing more.
But now, Yuder's mana hole was intact, and he was in peak physical condition. The people before him had no idea what an Awakener was truly capable of.
They watched, unaware of what Yuder could achieve with the blunt practice sword in his hand.
'Of course, I'll only show them a fraction of my abilities for now...'
He had no intention of wasting time in this world he had finally returned to. Yuder wanted to pass the test, leaving a strong impression on the examiners while keeping his full strength concealed.
His thoughts briefly returned to the man sitting on the far right, the one with the ordinary, fabricated face.
"…I'll begin now."
Yuder raised the sword. The examiners' gazes were fixed on the tip as he slowly gathered his energy. Although it had been a while since he last did this, the technique came to him as naturally as breathing, ingrained in his memory.
He harnessed the energy around him and willed it to transform into fire, channeling it into the tip of the sword he held. For Yuder, this process was as natural as moving an arm.
In an instant, the blade ignited with crackling flames. The heat was intense, the flames more vibrant and redder than usual, convincing the examiners of its authenticity.
Yuder swung the sword slowly from top to bottom. It may have appeared simple, but the force behind it was anything but insignificant.
As sparks scattered with the sound of the wind being sliced, several examiners flinched in surprise, retreating in their chairs.