Chapter 21: Evaluation
"What was that?" Leon asked once the immediate threat was resolved.
"That was a specter—at least Silver-tier," the bespectacled tester said, exhaling deeply, as if reborn. He wiped the cold sweat off his brow; the encounter had clearly shaken him.
"Sir, thank you for protecting me earlier."
Leon's tone was filled with genuine gratitude. When the specter charged into the room, the tester had instinctively shielded him with his own body. Such an act of selflessness was something Leon knew he couldn't ignore.
"Don't mention it. Honestly, it's a miracle the specter didn't attack us directly, or we'd both be corpses by now," the tester replied, still patting his chest to calm himself. Though he tried to joke, it was clear the fear still lingered.
The truth was, this was no laughing matter. A Silver-tier specter was a deadly foe. The best means of defeating such entities was through divine magic, followed closely by arcane spells cast by skilled sorcerers.
But in this nation, clergy trained in divine magic were strictly prohibited from operating, meaning there were no priests available. The fact that the specter was destroyed earlier likely meant a mage from the Federation Army had intervened.
"What happened next door?" Leon asked, puzzled. The specter had phased through the wall before attacking, and the absence of further spell activity suggested the situation had been contained.
"I'd like to know too," the tester replied, glancing at Leon. The chamber's design prevented magical probes or psychic scans, leaving both of them in the dark about the details.
"Should we take a look?" Leon suggested, noticing the tester's curiosity growing.
"That's probably not—" the tester began, though his hesitance was clear. His gaze fell on Leon, as if reminding himself that he was still responsible for this newly awakened student.
"There could be injured people who need help," Leon pressed.
The tester's resolve crumbled under the excuse, and he nodded. "Fair enough. Let's check it out."
It seemed that curiosity was a universal trait, even for a cautious mage.
The two ventured out of the room and moved toward the neighboring chamber. The main hallway was chaotic, with staff members running back and forth, some carrying equipment, others looking pale with fear.
The tester glanced at Leon, and they exchanged a silent understanding. Without a word, they pushed open the door to the adjacent room.
The scene inside was worse than Leon had expected.
The ceiling had been blown open, leaving a jagged hole through which the command center above could be seen. Rubble and shattered equipment were strewn across the floor, as if a tornado had swept through the room.
Three individuals stood in the room: one in military uniform, and two others in civilian attire.
On the ground, two figures lay unmoving. One was a student, pale and lifeless, a chilling coldness radiating from their still body. The other was a tester, slumped in a chair, their skin ghostly pale and their chest stained with blood dripping steadily from their mouth.
"Get over here and help!" one of the standing figures—a gruff-looking man—roared upon spotting the intruders.
"Yes, sir! Right away!" the bespectacled tester replied instantly, his body stiffening like a soldier responding to an officer's command. Without hesitation, he stepped into the room, leaving Leon behind.
Leon lingered near the door, observing as the bespectacled tester crouched down to inspect the lifeless student. A heavy silence followed.
"Professor, the student is dead," the tester reported grimly after a moment.
Leon's heart sank at the words. He didn't recognize the student, but the thought of a young life being extinguished so abruptly left a somber weight in his chest.
The bespectacled tester moved to the injured examiner, gently lifting them into a more stable position. This one, at least, was still alive.
"I've stabilized his soul. Take him to the medical ward," the gruff man commanded, his tone icy but firm.
"Yes, Professor," the tester responded. With a quick incantation, he levitated the unconscious man off the ground and prepared to leave.
Just as he reached the doorway, the bespectacled tester hesitated. "Professor, I still have a student's evaluation to finish—"
The professor, who had been floating upward toward the command center through the broken ceiling, halted and descended again. His sharp eyes bore into the tester, who wilted under his gaze.
"You fool! You should've said that earlier! Get to the medical ward now—I'll handle the report myself!"
Before the tester could respond, the professor swatted him lightly on the back of the head, sending him scurrying off.
Now alone with Leon, the professor's stern demeanor softened into a more neutral expression. He approached Leon, who was plastered against the wall, trying to remain unnoticed.
"Your spellcaster evaluation isn't done yet, is it?"
"No, sir," Leon replied quickly.
"Come on, then. Let's finish it."
Leon followed the professor back into the evaluation room. The older man sat behind the desk and motioned for Leon to sit across from him.
"My name is Professor Erickson," the man said as he gestured toward the crystal sphere on the desk. "Place your hands back on the sphere."
"Yes, Professor Erickson," Leon replied, cautiously doing as he was told.
As Leon's palms made contact with the crystal, the familiar currents of energy flowed through him. The sphere began to glow softly, its light pulsating rhythmically.
Professor Erickson leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze fixed on the sphere.
"Good. You can take your hands off now."
The professor placed the crystal into a nearby device, which hummed softly as it processed the data. Moments later, the machine printed out a paper report.
Erickson read through the results carefully, occasionally glancing at Leon as he reviewed the information.
"Leon Grant, congratulations," he said after a pause, setting the report aside. "Your spellcaster aptitude is quite impressive—Tier Two."
Leon's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?!"
"Yes. Tier Two is rare among first-time awakenings," Erickson confirmed, his tone measured but approving.
Spellcaster aptitude was ranked from Tier Five (lowest) to Tier One (highest), with higher tiers signifying greater potential for learning and casting spells.
For a moment, Leon could hardly contain his excitement. He had suspected he had potential, but to have it confirmed with such a high ranking was beyond his expectations.
"Thank you, Professor Erickson!" he said earnestly.
The professor nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You've got a solid foundation. Don't waste it."
"I won't, sir," Leon promised, his determination shining through.
With the evaluation complete, Leon left the chamber feeling a mixture of relief and exhilaration. His journey had only just begun, but this was a step in the right direction.