The old man took the crystal with a smile that seed almost malicious and, in return, handed Wallace a heavy hardcover book. The volu was so thick it resembled an ancient dictionary. "All the ntors willing to take on apprentices are listed in there. Take your ti and choose wisely!"
Suddenly, the sound of sothing slamming on the table echoed throughout the hall. A massive hourglass, with golden sand falling slowly, appeared beside the old man.
"Oh, I almost forgot to ntion," he said casually, turning the hourglass with one hand. "A magic crystal only grants you one turn of the hourglass. If ti runs out before you decide, you’ll need to pay another crystal to continue!"
Wallace turned pale. He swallowed hard as he watched the golden grains begin to fall relentlessly.
Hurriedly, he started flipping through the book. It was evident the content was vast. Each page seed to contain long and elaborate descriptions of the ntors: their skills, their requirents, and their areas of expertise.
From where I stood, I could see sweat forming on Wallace’s forehead. He was murmuring sothing to himself, clearly distressed. "This hourglass lasts five minutes at most! That’s not even enough ti to read everything!"
The other acolytes around began to shrink back. So glanced at their own pockets, perhaps weighing whether the price was worth it. I, on the other hand, watched with curiosity. It wasn’t just about the money. Choosing the right ntor could change anyone’s destiny here.
Before we realized it, the sound of the book slamming shut echoed in the hall.
"Ti’s up!" said the old man, watching Wallace with an inquisitive gaze. "So, did you make a choice? Or will you need more ti?"
Wallace took a deep breath, visibly tense. He clenched his fists, but his voice ca out firm: "I’ve decided! I choose ntor Noah!"
The old man nodded in approval. "Very well." He handed Wallace the sa items as before: acolyte robes, an identification badge, a crystal potion, and books. "Take your belongings and follow the servant!"
Another light servant was summoned. It looked identical to the first: motionless, floating, with the sa impeccable suit and unshakable expression. Wallace bowed respectfully and followed the luminous figure until he disappeared through the doors.
"Next, Liam!" called the old man, and another acolyte stepped forward.
As Liam approached, I observed his confident posture. Unlike Wallace or Jas, Liam had a polished, almost arrogant deanor. Even after the beating he had taken from Oliver, he seed unshaken. It was obvious he ca from a wealthy family, as he pulled not one but three shining magic crystals from his robes.
"I want more ti to choose," he declared disdainfully, placing the crystals on the table.
The old man smiled, almost amused. He handed over the book again, and a new hourglass appeared. This ti, it was larger and seed to hold twice the amount of sand. Liam began flipping through the book leisurely, as if he already knew exactly what he was looking for.
I watched closely, analyzing his every move. "Three magic crystals for this? It must be nice to co from a rich family…" I thought, almost with a touch of envy.
As the minutes passed, Liam finally closed the book with a satisfied expression. "I choose ntor Viego," he announced firmly.
The old man said nothing, simply repeated the process: handing over the belongings and summoning another light servant.
The old man finally called my na. "Next! Tylerl!"
I took a deep breath, adjusted my robes, and walked to the front of the hall. "I will choose on my own!" My voice was firm, even though a small part of was still hesitant.
The old man raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He accepted the magic crystal I handed over and, with a deft movent, turned the hourglass again. The sound of the falling sand seed to amplify the weight of my decision.
He placed the heavy book in my hands.
Opening it, I was relieved to see that the text was in a language I could understand. "It seems this list was prepared especially for us acolytes," I thought, satisfied.
Even so, ti was short, and the pages were many. "Laboratory, record and extract the most relevant information!" I ordered ntally, activating my analytical knowledge to optimize the reading.
As I flipped through, nas and specializations stood out. Each ntor had sothing unique to offer, but their requirents were no less challenging. Choosing was harder than it seed.
["1. ntor Eny"]
Departnt: Scribing.
Specializations: Transformation, runes, and crafting magical scrolls.
Benefits: Can provide information on three topics for free.
Requirents: The acolyte must participate in one experint each month and cannot refuse it for any reason.
["2. ntor Marcelina"]
Departnt: Modified Bodies.
Specializations: Anatomy and vampirism.
Benefits: High proficiency in the use of light for combat and defense.
Requirents: Acolytes must pay one magic crystal per month and cooperate with experints.
["3. ntor Miguel"]
Departnt: Technology.
Specializations: chanics and crafting various magical items.
Benefits: Can provide information on one topic for free.
Requirents: Acolytes must assist with construction and manipulation of prototypes, as well as tasks necessary for the technological field, such as mining. All under guaranteed safety.
["4. ntor Daniel"]
Departnt: Blessings.
Specializations: Blessings and body transformation.
Benefits: Can provide information on one topic for free, with the category chosen by the acolyte. Always available to guide his apprentices’ studies.
Requirents: Acolytes must accept practical field missions involving anatomical and spiritual studies.
...
And so the list went on.
...
The thick pages of the book made a hollow, rough sound as the final turn revealed the last page. At the sa mont, the last grain of sand fell in the hourglass. "Done at the very last second," I thought, letting out a small sigh of relief.
The old man looked at with a curious smile. "You seem well-read. Did you enjoy books before coming here?"
I took a step forward and raised my gaze to him. "I even wrote a few books and conducted so studies on my own. In my father’s territory, I think I was the smartest."
The old man raised his eyebrows, surprised, but his smile remained. "Interesting," he said, eyeing my physique. "It seems you’re diligent. A warrior and a lover of books... A rare combination."
I didn’t respond imdiately. I closed my eyes, letting my mind analyze everything I had read.
"Laboratory, report!" I ordered ntally.
["Beep! Data is in order. Information on 30 ntors collected."]
As the information passed through my mind, I began to reflect.
"Miguel is a promising choice, with his focus on technology and experints involving mining and construction. On the other hand, Marcelina’s work with vampirism finally explains her peculiarities… It makes sense now."
I also considered Daniel, whose experints transford his students’ bodies. "That explains the acolytes I’ve seen with strange features—extra eyes, additional limbs… Choosing a ntor like that would be a risk I’m not willing to take."
Pushing those thoughts aside, I focused on what mattered. "Virtual laboratory, filter the results. Condition: Match with my current circumstances."
["Beep!"]
A blue light shimred, and a translucent screen flashed before , displaying only one relevant option:
["Miguel – Departnt: Technology"]
I had expected this choice.
To those watching from the outside, it must have seed like I made my decision the mont I closed my eyes. Straightening my posture, I announced without hesitation: "I choose ntor Miguel!"
The old man blinked in surprise, stroking his long white beard. "Technology? Intelligent youths often gravitate toward that field. But rember... Magical technology is treacherous. It requires many resources, and one mistake can ruin everything. I’ve seen students blow up their rooms in disastrous experints."
Bowing respectfully, I smiled with confidence. "That’s exactly why I chose this field. I trust my mind and my ability to avoid such mistakes."
The old man shook his head, though there was a hint of doubt in his eyes. "If that’s your wish, so be it."
Taking a quill, he scribbled sothing on the parchnt before him. After a mont, he pushed a set of belongings toward : robes, books, and a shimring potion.
"Here are your belongings. Now, follow the light servant to Miguel’s laboratory."
Bowing deeply, I took the items and made sure to nod at the other acolytes before leaving through the large wooden door.
Outside, the light servant awaited—a floating figure glowing like a magical torch, its movents light and fluid, occasionally vibrating as if adjusting its direction. It began moving slowly, and I followed easily, keeping pace thanks to my preparatory warrior training.
We passed through corridors illuminated by magical lights, two large halls with vaulted ceilings, and a fragrant garden filled with flowers that seed to glow faintly in the dark. Finally, we arrived at an isolated and heavily reinforced area, with signs indicating it was the experintal laboratories.
The light servant stopped in front of an ornate iron door, with engravings of gears at its center, alongside a na:
"Engineering Laboratory."
...
1549 Words
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