The first test phase was completed. After resting, they started again for the second phase of testing. The participants who managed to get their magic talents were asked to gather in one place.
In the second test, the testing mechanism itself was different from before. There will be five places to be filled out by the participants, and they will get their own numbers.
There, they would be instructed to launch an attack or withstand an attack. Everyone understood the committee's words.
"For those who get more than 100 damage, they have an attacker-type magic talent. If you can withstand more than 100 damage, you have a defense-type magic talent."
"What if we can do both?" asked one of the participants.
"Then the committee will examine the dominant aspect, offense or defense. If you fail in both, your magic talent is the support type."
This test was intended to select new Mage Warden participants. The ability of their talents in offense and defense would determine which squad they would be in, either the red or blue squad.
For support, they would be allocated according to need. They would be placed in the red and blue squads to assist in the attack or defense of the squad members.
Participants again took their numbers on command. Sam got number 9, while Mira got 15. After a short wait, Sam was called to enter the third arena.
There, there was already a male instructor who would do two things, shoot fireballs forward and block attacks from Sam. First, he fired a simple fireball magic attack forward.
Sam reached out and blocked the attack but failed to withstand the damage. That made Sam fall down helplessly.
[Damage -74]
"Your talent type is not defense. Try attacking me with your talent," the instructor said.
"I-I don't know my attacking talent," Sam replied.
"Is that so? If that's the case, then your talent is Support. You may return."
Sam sighed. Even though he didn't get an attack or defense type of talent, he felt that support was enough for him.
He stepped out of the exam area and sat down again in the seats provided, according to their talent type. Sam sat in the row of participants with the support talent.
From the side, Mira came out and sat in the attacking talent row. Both were different talent types, but Sam hoped he could be on the same squad as Mira.
As time went on, 78 participants in total had taken the second exam well. 15 people entered as support talent types, 26 people joined the defense talent types, and 37 people as attacking talent types.
After the two exams had been completed, Julia and Leon appeared before them. Sam and the others stood tall, giving a military salute to the two Yusticia.
"Congratulations for choosing your talent type. Although you are not officially members of the Mage Warden yet, you are already a part of us," Julia explained.
"There will be three instructors who will train you during the month-long training. During this period, strengthen your magical and physical abilities to get the best place in the Mage Warden squad," Leon added.
The instructors Leon spoke of stood right before the three rows, and there were three to train each participant in each talent type.
The instructor in charge of training the support type was Jill, a 25-year-old woman with shoulder-length black hair.
"Hello, I'm Jill. I'm from the 24th Mage Warden Squad. Here, I'll be the one training you guys."
Sam nodded, understanding every word Jill said. The woman said that if she wanted the support participants to attend this place again tomorrow, she would explain many things about the role of the support in each squad.
Mage Recruitment was over. The committee allowed the participants to go home and rest. Mira walked up to Sam, telling him she had successfully entered the attack team.
Sam was happy with Mira's progress, in line with her progression path that he saw through evolving talent.
Morgan seemed to keep watching Mira and Sam's faces. Morgan also managed to qualify and enter the defensive type, which he did not want - the attacking type.
Annoyed that Sam had also joined the Mage Warden, he waltzed away from the place. Sam invited Mira to go visit his house, of course, to celebrate their success.
Along the way, Sam kept smiling with a happy heart. Although he only got the support type, it was enough because he was already a member of the Mage Warden. The long wait of four years ended today.
Sam told Liliana and Jack about his success. Sam's parents couldn't hide their happiness as they continued to feel grateful. They also invited Sam and Mira to have dinner together, celebrating their success.
Day turned into night. They enjoyed the celebration with a special dish. Sam also told them what he had to do tomorrow, his first day as a Mage Warden. Liliana understood Sam's duty.
Right after dinner, Mira said goodbye as she had to prepare for tomorrow. Sam nodded. He was still in his front yard while opening his individual system panel.
[STATUS PROFILE]
[Name: Sam Alderwald]
[Age: 14]
[Level: 10]
[HP: 1500/1500]
[Mana: 1700/1700]
[Title: -]
[Job: Native]
[Talent: Evolve]
[Money: 1500 ONG]
Not only his profile status. He looked at the Talent Status by clicking on his Evolve talent.
[TALENT STATUS]
[Talent Name: Evolve]
[Sub Talent:]
[1. View Other Evolve] [100 Mana]
[2. Change Evolve] [300 Mana]
[3. Edit Evolve] [200 Mana]
[Transform] [500 Mana]
[5. Create Living Creature] [LOCKED]
[Rank: Unknown]
[Mana Talent: Unknown]
'Although it's an interesting talent, there are some parts that feel mysterious. I have to find out about this,' said Sam.
"Sam!" called Jack. Sam turned his head.
"Can you take the firewood to Mrs Lisa? I forgot to drop it off; they must be freezing."
Sam nodded. It was his family's job to sell firewood to the villagers, as the location of Sam's house on the hill made it easier to find a bunch of dry wood to keep warm.
He stacked 20 medium-sized firewood in a large wooden bag that he would carry on his back. Once ready, he said goodbye to Jack.
"Be careful, always keep your torch lit. Wild boars are on the loose this month."
"I know."
Sam carefully stepped down the path on the hill, hoping not to slip. His hand continued to hold the lit torch, enough to help him light the path.
In the distance, Mrs. Lisa's family residence came into view. He knocked on the door, and a girl opened it. The transaction was successful. They paid 1000 ONG for the 20 firewood that Sam delivered.
After delivering the order and getting the money, Sam returned up the hill to return home. He always kept an eye out for the possibility of wild boars or bears attacking.
There were many reports of villagers being attacked by them. It was pretty inconvenient for him if it happened.
Just as he was on his way, Sam noticed a shimmering light on the right. The direction led to an ancient temple that existed for hundreds of years.
Every weekend, Sam went there and cleaned the temple area from dust or fallen leaves.
'Is there anyone looking for firewood at night like this?' Sam asked.
Filled with curiosity, Sam dared to step inside the temple. The closer he walked, the more the lights disappeared.
Right in front of the shrine, he found nothing but a shrine area full of tree branches and dry leaves.
Since he was already in the temple area. Sam used his free time to sweep the shrine's front, side, and back yards. He would do the area inside the temple on the weekend.
For two hours, Sam cleaned the outside area of the temple. Now, there were no tree branches or dry leaves strewn about. That made his heart relieved.
"Alright. I'll clean the inner area of the shrine later."
Sam stepped out to leave the ancient shrine area. Just one step out, he heard a mysterious sound like a woman's voice stammering, shivering from the cold.
[Wait a moment!]
Sam's skin crawled. He had never believed in ghostly entities, but if the woman who called out to him didn't have any form, then this was the first time Sam believed there were ghosts.
He looked back cautiously. Sam gasped as the sparkling light reappeared. The direction of the sparkling light came from inside the temple, making Sam curious.
"Who are you?" Sam asked.
[Thank you for always keeping me clean]
[I want to ask for your favor]
The temple door opened softly, and the glittering light came from an animal sleeping in the cold inside the empty and deserted temple. Sam looked inside, then stepped through.
"A baby fox?" asked Sam, confused.
[Please take good care of her; I believe you can do it.]
"Take care of a fox? Foxes can't be trusted," said Sam.
[She's not an ordinary fox]
Sam narrowed his eyes. He began to focus his eyes on the fox in his hand. Slowly, both of the fox's eyes opened and looked at Sam with hope.
[Evolve Talent Activated]
[Sub Talent Activated]
[View Other Evolve]
[Mana -100]
[Name: Aya]
[Age: 5]
[Bloodline: Beast]
[Rank: SSS-R]
[Talent: Natural Power of Nine Tails]
[Evolve Path!]
[Baby fox -> Beast First Stage -> Beast Second Stage -> Beast Final Stage -> Nine-Tailed Fox Goddess]
[Evolve talent can only read five progression paths from the current period]
[Progression path could potentially change if Host intervenes]
[Host can only read the same person's evolve three times]
[Aya's Evolve View Count: 2]
'What? I've never heard of a beast reaching the Divine stage,' Sam explained, shocked.
"How do I take care of it?" Sam asked.
[You have to become a Tamer!]