Ch 64 - Marcia & Jason's Ceremony

I remained seated on the floor alongside the other candidates, my gaze fixed on the ground. I continued to pinch my cheeks, desperately hoping that this was all just a terrible dream. I couldn't shake off the overwhelming disappointment of possessing the most basic and mundane form of support magic.

The irony of the situation weighed heavily upon me. The delay in my pursuit of vengeance had already been a great setback, but now with my newfound abilities in this life, it seemed that my dream of seeking revenge had become utterly impossible.

"Hey, weren't you quite pompous just a while ago?" Hendrickson taunted, his eyes gleaming with mischief. It was clear that he was mocking me, trying to provoke a reaction.

Despite his attempts to pick a fight, I had no intention of engaging with him. I had already resigned myself to the situation.

"Heh, he was such a hotshot not too long ago," one of the lackeys from the second tier joined in, adding fuel to the fire. "Remember how he boasted about receiving insights from the blessing of mana?"

"I bet the insights of blessing ritual didn't warn him that he would end up as a lousy healer!" another lackey chimed in, laughing derisively.

Suddenly everyone started giggling as well.
All I could do now was just stare at the floor while continuing to pinch my cheeks.

The healing ability is considered the epitome of support skills. It falls within the elemental category of life energy, making it the least offensive and most benign of all abilities and skills. Its main role is to provide assistance and support to fellow combatant mages, typically by staying at the rear of the battle and focusing on healing and increasing the overall vitality of the team. It aims to enhance the team's chances of survival rather than engage in direct offensive actions.

The mere idea of hiding behind others and relying on them for my battles infuriated me to no end. It felt utterly absurd and cowardly to depend on someone else's strength for my battles. And to make matters worse, my second affinity was tree magic, which did nothing to alter the situation.

Why was I burdened with healing abilities out of all the countless abilities in the world? Was it some cruel joke orchestrated by the supposed gods of mana, mocking me?

And to add to my frustration, my second affinity is Tree Magic. What am I supposed to do with that? Perhaps grow trees, harvest their fruits, and sell them in the market for money? It's the only practical use I can think of right now.

Could it be that my mother's love for gardening influenced my affinity for Tree Magic? But was she truly a fire mage as my father claimed? Am I starting to doubt my parents' words and actions, despite all they have done for me?

In a fit of frustration, I punched myself in the face. I rid myself of these absurd thoughts.
I shouldn't question my parents' intentions and sacrifices.

As soon as I punched myself, everyone else fell silent.
"I guess he's really lost it," muttered Hendrickson with a concerned tone. "Hang in there."

"Hey, healers play a crucial role," Trisha suddenly chimed in. "Countless other warriors rely on healer’s support for their survival. So don't underestimate the importance of your role. You should carry yourself with pride, knowing the impact you can make."

Trisha's attempt to console me only deepened my worries. She didn't know that I had been yearning for more offensive abilities. But I wasn't in the mood to engage in an argument or explain my frustrations.

"Hey, Grandmaster Hamanthra is on stage," one of the guys exclaimed, finally changing everyone’s attention.

All of us candidates turned our gaze towards the stage. There, standing alone, was Grandmaster Hamanthra. She stood before the exoskeleton, her eyes locked onto it. The exoskeleton had grown flesh and skin, and its appearance was gruesome. It resembled a dead man who had been skinned alive, with patches of missing flesh in some areas. It was thanks to my life energy when I did the third trial.

Lost in my own thoughts, I hadn't even noticed when she descended from her seat. Grandmaster Hamanthra extended her arm towards the exoskeleton, and in an instant, two majestic flame creatures that looked like lions formed from pure flames materialized before her. The two flame lions circled around the exoskeleton and started climbing higher into the air. Then, in a sudden burst, a towering pillar of raging fire erupted where the exoskeleton was placed.

The pillar of fiery inferno towers was as tall as the massive glowing mana pillars that supported the cave ceiling. Instantly, the room's temperature skyrocketed, and the intense brilliance of the inferno forced everyone to avert their eyes.

For a few seconds, the raging pillar of flames persisted before disappearing. Had it lasted a moment longer, we would have surely been consumed by the scorching heat. Everyone was sweating from their pores.

As the inferno went out, all that remained was the exoskeleton, still seated where it had been before. The floor bore a deep scorch mark, and the newly grown flesh and muscles on the exoskeleton had been consumed by the flames, leaving behind only the glowing redbones.

The exoskeleton had reverted back to its original form.

"Thank you, Lady Hamanthra, for assisting with the clean-up," expressed Sigurd, the head mage.

Lady Hamanthra nonchalantly waved her hand, her expression slightly less furious. "No problem. I needed to release some steam anyway," she remarked before returning to her seat in the stands.

It was a rare occurrence for a grandmaster to personally intervene and reset the trial. Throughout the trials of the other transmutant candidates, the exoskeleton would automatically shed the additional skeletal limbs, which would disintegrate into dust and vanish. This time, however, with the flesh that had grown on the exoskeleton. To get rid of it, they had to seek Hamanthra's flames to rid of the flesh.

This just goes to show whatever these bone tribe creatures were, they were indeed scary.

Witnessing the display of power from Lady Hamanthra was a testament to her formidable magical abilities. The ease with which she conjured and controlled the intense flame inferno without breaking a sweat spoke volumes about her prowess. It also served as a reminder that the other eight grandmasters were likely to possess similar levels of power in their respective areas of expertise. Their collective strength was undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with.

The grandmasters had always commanded respect and awe from the candidates, but witnessing Lady Hamanthra's incredible display of power brought a new level of realization to the rest of the candidates.

Finally, it was the turn of the phantom mage host to call out the next candidate.
"Marcia Gonzalves," she announced, her voice resounding through the hall.

Marcia, the timid girl with ruffled hair, nervously stepped onto the stage. Somehow Jason managed to send her on stage, god knows how.

During the first trial, her anxiety was palpable, and tears flowed freely from her eyes. It was disheartening to witness her cry from the get-go, that even the grandmasters began to grow impatient with her constant distressed state. Her results came excellent during the 1st trials.

However, everything changed during her second trial. To the astonishment of the grandmasters, the metallic tree had grown into a magnificent specimen, like many of the other talented candidates. But what truly shocked them were the two distinct fruits that adorned the tree. One resembled thorny tropical fruit, while the other bore the appearance of luscious custard apples. The leaves on the tree were also two different types, which further added to the grandmaster's amazement.

Grandmaster Biswaq rose from his seat, his expression filled with disbelief. "How is it possible?" he exclaimed.

A hushed silence fell over the room as the grandmasters contemplated this extraordinary occurrence.

"But there she stands before us," Gunther chimed in, nodding in agreement. "A person with two mana cores. Truly, this is a sight to behold."

"It is indeed astonishing that she has managed to survive and thrive," Messindra remarked, her tone laced with surprise. "Aside from her habit of whining, she seems to have fared quite well."

In a loud and assertive voice, Grandmaster Ajax interjected with a proclamation, capturing everyone's attention. "Double mana core means double the power! With such a unique and exceptional constitution, she should undoubtedly join the prestigious ranks of the Ivory Tower!"

Although Grandmaster Hamanthra expressed her concern, her usual stern expression softened for a moment. "While Marcia appears to be healthy at present, we must take precautions to ensure that the dual mana cores do not consume and harm her body as she grows," she stated.

The fact that Hamanthra showed genuine care for a candidate was quite surprising, reflecting the significance of Marcia's unique situation. Meanwhile, Marcia who was now the center of attention seemed even more nervous and frightened by the spotlight. Jason, observing her from a distance, resembled an anxious father, his concern evident in his expression.

During the third trial, Marcia's nervousness escalated upon encountering the exoskeleton up close. However, with some hesitation, she managed to complete the trial. To the astonishment of the grandmasters, the exoskeleton sprouted a pair of bony wings from its back, indicating Marcia was a transmutant mage and she had a second affinity for the wind element.

The grandmasters also speculated that as Marcia continues to grow, she may exhibit further new abilities. Her remarkable performance earned her invitations from eight out of the nine royal academies. The only grandmaster to abstain from extending an invitation was Grandmaster Casia of Celestia’s Mercy.

Even Grandmaster Messindra showed a keen interest in Marcia's potential, despite the fact that she did not possess psychic abilities like the other candidates.

The last candidate to be called onto the stage was Jason. He gracefully ascended and successfully cleared the first trial with good results. However, as the trial concluded, a sense of confusion permeated among the grandmasters.

During the screening of Jason's trial, the silhouette of his meridians appeared in a distinct shade of purple, unlike the blue color observed in all the other candidates.

"Now, that is a healthy meridian system, but what is with this color?" remarked Biswaq, clearly puzzled.

"I have never seen or heard of such a phenomenon. How can one's pure mana exhibit a different color?" added Gunther, sharing the confusion.

"Are you certain it's not an issue with the screening process?" Pierre questioned, expressing skepticism.

"No issues from our end. That is the genuine image," assured head mage Sigurd, confirming the accuracy of the displayed color.

The grandmasters found themselves in a state of perplexity as they don’t know what makes sense anymore. It was Grandmaster Harnold of the Arcane Forge who broke the silence.

"That boy possesses a unique constitution within his body, which is why his pure mana meridians exhibit such a color," Grandmaster Harnold stated.

Gunther inquired, "How did you come to know about this?"

"The Arcane Forge holds records of former students who also possessed mana with different colors.” saying so Harnold suddenly shook his head, “However, there is a lack of information on the reasons behind it and the potential impact on their mana arts. I will make an effort to thoroughly search our records for any relevant details."

Gunther expressed his gratitude, saying, "Please keep us informed if you uncover any useful information."

Grandmaster Harnold nodded in acknowledgment

As the second trial commenced, Jason's mana tree grew vigorously, displaying its healthy and robust nature. The leaves were big and plentiful and even the fruits were big enough to fit one hand.

However, much like his meridians, the mana leaves, and the mana fruits of the tree were also adorned in a distinct shade of purple. What caught everyone's attention was the eerie aura emanating from the mana tree, creating a heavy and suffocating atmosphere in its surroundings.

"Indeed, this mana tree possesses a mysterious energy that is difficult to comprehend," muttered Gunther.

"I must admit, I have never experienced such a sensation before," added Pierre.

"I find myself strangely drawn towards it. It's a peculiar feeling," remarked Biswaq.

"Ha! You all are a pitiful bunch. You guys shouldn’t skip training. As a matter of fact, I don’t feel anything," Grandmaster Travis taunted, looking mockingly at the other grandmasters.

Although the rest of the grandmasters just stayed quiet as if almost ignoring Travis, of the Bloodfire.

Messindra scoffed,
"This ominous aura has a peculiar energy that clearly indicates some strange psychic ability in play."

Meanwhile, Jason remained calm and composed, seemingly unfazed by the revelations. It was as if he had anticipated all of this from the beginning. Ever since I first met Jason, I couldn't help but feel that there was something peculiar about him. He was too perfect of a guy.

As predicted by Messindra, during Jason's third trial, the exoskeleton sprouted a third eye on its forehead, confirming his status as a Psychic. However, what caught everyone off guard was the appearance of a dark, bulging spherical orb in the hand of the exoskeleton. The orb pulsed with an ominous energy.

"His second affinity is dark energy!" Biswaq exclaimed in amazement.

"It's been a long time since I've seen a candidate with a dark elemental affinity. He is truly a rarity," praised Gunther.

"A psychic mage with a dark energy elemental affinity! He possesses the potential to become the greatest psychic mage. Dark elemental energy is already rare, but when combined with psychic powers, the possibilities are endless," Messindra chimed in, a smile concealed beneath her hood.

Dark energy was indeed a unique and rare elemental affinity, known for its mystical and enigmatic properties. It held a power that was shrouded in mystery, with limited records and information available about its nature and capabilities.

Dark energy, being the opposite of light elements, bestowed upon its users the ability to manipulate shadows, and darkness, and exhibit stealth-related skills. Dark elemental mages often kept their knowledge and abilities closely guarded, contributing to the overall lack of information about this element. As a result, the true extent and potential of dark energy remained largely unknown.

Jason garnered invites from 8 out of 9 royal academies, once again Casia’s Celestia Mercy abstaining from inviting.

With the conclusion of all the candidates' trials, the grandmasters and their retainers made their way back from the portals they had arrived through. The once bustling chamber now held only the phantom and red cape mages, who remained at a distance, watching us intently. Sigurd, the head mage, took a seat on a chair, seemingly taking a moment to rest as he observed us.

A sense of anticipation filled the air as the candidates were given a 15-minute ultimatum to make their decisions.

The room fell silent as each of the candidates stared at the dial card.
It was now time for each candidate to choose which invitation they would accept from the royal academies. The weight of this decision hung heavy, as it would determine their path and the future of us candidates.

As I examined my own dial card, I noticed that I had received invitations from five academies:

Despite feeling drained of excitement and my original plans falling flat, a sense of clarity washed over me. Now that all the plans are out of the window, I should just start preparing for the worst.

As someone once said- ‘We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.’