With just over a week remaining, Auron was still on the verge of completing the first level of his soul cultivation art. The breakthrough felt tantalizingly close, but he knew a few more compressions were needed. Determined, he decided to dedicate his remaining time to focusing on this. By meditating on both the heavenly soul rune and his cultivation technique, his progress soared rapidly. Xiao Yu also assisted him in his meditation, helping Auron's soul become more condensed over time.
As the night before the academic recruitment approached, Auron was fully immersed in compressing his soul. His body was drenched in sweat, shivering from the effort, and the veins on his forehead and neck throbbed, signaling the intense pain he was enduring. After a grueling session, he finally achieved the breakthrough just in time. With a satisfied smile, he collapsed onto his bed, exhausted but victorious, and quickly fell asleep. He already awakened his soul.
The next day was a significant milestone for Auron. He would be attending the joint recruitment event for the three academy. His mother woke him up early, her excitement and nervousness palpable. Auron couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. He dressed in the outfit his mother had prepared for him, and the family set off for the town square.
The town square was bustling with activity. Children ran around, adults chatted, and stalls promoted their products. A long line of children waiting to be tested stretched out. Auron's parents joined their friends while Auron waited in line.
With some time on his hands, Auron used his mystical eyes to observe the aura of those around him. The children in line emitted pale blue hues, while a few displayed darker shades of purple and blue.
"What do you think the pale blue color signifies?" Auron asked Xiao Yu.
"It likely represents nervousness, while the darker purple and blue might indicate confidence or arrogance, though I'm not entirely sure which is which," Xiao Yu responded.
"I think you're right," Auron agreed, continuing to observe the crowd. He also noticed the lines connecting him to others. The strongest connections were with his parents, but the lines to others seemed unimportant, and he felt no significant connection. He wondered about these phenomena.
Half an hour later, it was his turn. His parents gave him encouraging words and told him to stay calm.
"Come in, please," a voice called from the tent.
Auron entered and waited for instructions. He saw three individuals in their late 30s—two men and one woman.
"Please take a seat," said the woman.
"Thank you," Auron replied as he sat down on the prepared chair.
"First, introduce yourself," the man with spectacles requested.
"My name is Auron. I'm 5 years old and live with my parents by the river. My father is Alex and my mother is Sarah. I enjoy my mother's cooking and my hobbies include…" Auron began, though he was nervous.
"Stop there. That's enough. Now, please place your hand on the orb in front of you," the woman said, pointing to the orb.
Auron placed his hand on the orb, carefully restraining his cultivation. He released only a minute amount. Red and golden light shone brightly from the orb, with a faint cluster of black light that the interviewers might not notice.
"Wow! A golden light—light elements, indeed! It's been a while since we've seen such a candidate," exclaimed the short male mage, startling the others.
"Calm down, everyone. We haven't finished the assessment yet," reminded the tall man. The interviewers composed themselves, while Auron remained silent, having anticipated this reaction. "Fortunately, they haven't noticed the darkness elements; otherwise, the situation could have been problematic," Auron thought to himself.
"Ahem. Focus on this diagram and tell us what you see," the short man said, presenting a diagram.
Auron examined the diagram, recognizing various beasts: owl, raven, fox, tiger, bear, and lion. Despite their apparent diversity, he noted that some represented intelligence, while others symbolized strength and ferocity. "This might be a test for conjurers and augmenters," Auron speculated.
"I see a lion and an owl," Auron replied.
"Excellent! You show talent in both conjuring and augmenting. How about joining Gloomwatch Academy? I could teach you my skills if you agree," suggested the short man.
"Eric, you're breaking the rules," scolded the tall man.
"Just kidding, Edward," Eric laughed.
"There's one last test before you finish. You need to place your hand on this column," instructed the woman as she positioned a column on the table.
"Like this?" Auron asked, placing his hand on the column. A chain of star marks lit up, gradually illuminating until it reached the seventh star on the column.
"Incredible. A true genius indeed. It's rare to find someone like you in a small town like this," Edward remarked eagerly. "What academy do you wish to apply to?"
"I want to join Swamp Enclave Academy," Auron replied confidently.
"Alright, you're free to go now. We'll release the results later this afternoon. With your performance, you should easily secure a place at Swamp Enclave Academy," Eric added with a nod.
"Thank you for your hospitality," Auron said with a respectful bow before leaving the tent to find his parents. He spotted them talking with their neighbors, Ray and his family.
"Mother, Father, I'm back. Oh, greetings Uncle Ray, Aunt Lily! How are you, Thorne and Thyra?" Auron called out cheerfully as he approached them.
"There you are, Auron. How did it go?" Sarah asked, her voice laced with concern.
"I think I did great! The interviewers said my results were excellent, and I should have no trouble getting into Swamp Enclave Academy," Auron replied proudly.
"That's amazing! What elemental affinity do you have?" Alex asked with excitement.
"Water and light," Auron answered with a smile. "When I touched the orb, it glowed with bright blue and golden light."
"Those are fantastic elements to have!" Alex exclaimed.
"That's wonderful, Auron!" Ray chimed in. "Thyra might be able to join Swamp Enclave Academy, but poor Thorne flopped his comprehension test. Would you keep an eye on her for me?"
"Please watch over her if anything happens at the academy," Lily added with a gentle plea.
"Of course, I'll help her. She's one of my few friends, after all," Auron assured them with a smile.
"Since this is such a special occasion, why don't we all celebrate with lunch at that fish restaurant? I hear their dishes are incredible," Alex suggested, his experience with the town showing.
Everyone agreed, and soon they were at the restaurant, enjoying a delicious meal. The fish lived up to its reputation—fresh, sweet, and expertly prepared. The quality of the ingredients was top-notch, and the price was quite reasonable. Auron made a mental note to return to this place in the future.
After the meal, they all gathered at the town square, waiting for the official announcement of the academy admissions. The square was buzzing with anticipation as families and children eagerly awaited the news.