Ryleigh calmly explained the rules and then glanced at Hilin, saying, "I'll leave it to you."
"It's nothing," Hilin replied with a light smile. She then raised her voice and addressed the group, "To ensure everyone can see clearly, you will proceed from left to right, front to back, in groups of ten. Co to one by one, and I will guide you through the initial part of the breathing technique and demonstrate the movents.
You must take this seriously, morize everything, and try to practice it. Do not be sloppy. If you can successfully practice and feel the faint flow of 'Qi' within you, it ans you have the talent to beco a knight. In that case, you will naturally qualify to join the guard and beco an honorable knight!"
The faces of the youths lit up with anticipation.
"Do you understand?" Hilin suddenly asked sternly.
"Yes!" The response was as loud as a roaring wave.
"Then, let the knight talent evaluation begin!"
anwhile, Rhett stood in the fifth-floor hall of Deeprock Fortress, gazing down at the training ground through the window, taking in everything happening below. In the deeper part of the area, Tadel and Kurs were leading a group of apprentice knights in training. In the central area, the knight talent evaluation had already begun.
In his view, Hilin demonstrated a simple set of movents, only the initial part of the breathing technique. Although it wouldn't enhance their strength, it could determine whether they could sense even the faintest trace of Qi.
A few minutes later, ten knights attempted to practice the movents and breathing technique in place. Before long, so honest individuals, upon realizing they couldn't sense the so-called 'Qi,' stood still, their faces showing disappointnt as they stepped aside. Others tried to fake it, continuing to practice despite not feeling anything. Unaware that without talent, pretending would get them nowhere, they were quickly spotted by Hilin, who scolded them angrily and punished them with horse stance exercises. The harsher consequence was that if they couldn't maintain the stance until the evaluation ended, they would not be allowed to proceed with the spiritual talent evaluation.
This small rule had Ryleigh's approval—those with poor character were not fit to join the guard.
Seeing the example set by those caught cheating, the remaining youths awaiting their evaluation refrained from trying anything sneaky. So, unable to bear the pressure, even left the training ground entirely, forfeiting their chance at the mage talent evaluation. Those who remained in line had a hint of fear in their eyes, obediently following the rules, no longer daring to cut corners.
...
The talent evaluation took two days to complete.
On the afternoon of the second day, Rhett awoke from his ditation and approached the window. The clear sky bathed the magic beast egg in sunlight, enhancing the red glow on its surface. Fiery red patterns seed to flow like small streams.
He picked up a small transparent bottle from the windowsill and sprinkled so crystalline red powder onto the Fire Feather Eagle's egg as usual. The vibrant life force within slowly absorbed the fire-elent essence. As Rhett placed his hand on the eggshell, it was no longer just warm but slightly hot.
"Little one, hurry and co out. This wonderful world is waiting for you!" Rhett smiled faintly, letting out a sigh.
His gaze shifted back to the training ground. By this ti, the number of people on the field had significantly decreased. Those who had failed both the knight and mage talent evaluations had been eliminated. Out of the original group of over 200, only 40 remained. Their initial excitent had faded, replaced by sweaty palms and nervous expressions.
Before arriving, many of them had heard stories from their families about ancestors who were knights or mages, leading them to believe they had a higher chance of possessing talent. However, out of over 200 people evaluated, only four had passed so far! Their previous high hopes had been shattered, leaving the remaining few in shock.
"Hey, are you Yunika? I heard you ntion earlier that your father was a mage? Maybe you'll be discovered to have mage talent too," a boy wearing a straw hat asked curiously, standing beside a young girl in a linen shirt.
Twelve-year-old Yunika clenched her fists at the ntion of her father and replied in a sad tone, "I don't know. My father once told that he would personally guide through the talent evaluation when I turned twelve, but he was killed... by those mbers of that evil alchemy organization..."
The boy with the straw hat gritted his teeth and said, "Sa here. My father promised to test my talent when I ca of age! But those damned people killed him too! I'm grateful to the lord for avenging my father and mother. If I’m discovered to have knight talent, I’ll serve the lord diligently!"
Yunika nodded seriously, " too!"
Hearing this, many others nearby joined the conversation, sharing similar stories. Nearly half of them had lost a parent who was once a knight, slain by the sa evil alchemists!
Inside the room, Rhett noticed the four people standing behind Hilin, clearly those who had passed the evaluation. His eyes flashed with surprise as he mused, "Oh? Out of nearly 300 candidates, according to the simulation, six will have knight talent, and one will possess mage talent. That's quite a high percentage. Perhaps it’s because most of them are descendants of knights or mages, which significantly increases the likelihood of talent!"
A smile crossed his face as he muttered to himself, "Heh, it seems that eliminating that evil alchemy group ca with hidden benefits... It’s true, good deeds do pay off!"
As ti passed, the talent evaluation neared its conclusion. Rhett decided it was ti to make an appearance, so he changed into a more formal black coat, tidied himself up in the mirror, and headed for the training ground.
"Next group!" Hilin's calm voice called out.
"It's our turn, Yunika!" The boy with the straw hat nudged the girl beside him.
"Yes."
The group of ten stepped forward, taking several steps until they stood before Hilin, her short orange hair gleaming. At this point, they realized they couldn't control their racing hearts, their excitent reaching its peak.
"Don't be nervous, just relax," Hilin reassured them. She didn’t know how many tis she had said that today, yet she repeated it once more.
As Rhett reached the central area of the training ground, he happened to see the end of the group’s practice.
So were joyful, others disappointed.
Yunika's eyes flashed with disappointnt, but she quickly regained her composure and approached Ryleigh. She didn’t forget to congratulate the boy with the straw hat, "Armando, congratulations! You’re definitely going to beco a knight!"
Armando removed his hat and bowed, "Thank you, Yunika. I believe you have mage talent too."
Yunika giggled and then silently walked over to Ryleigh.
Ryleigh, thoughtful, said, "You’re Yunika? Your father... was an apprentice mage?"
After the population census, Ryleigh was familiar with every person in the town, especially those with knights or mages in their family within three generations. He recalled that the young girl before him was one of the few descendants of a mage.
"Yes, Young Master Ryleigh!" Yunika replied in a clear voice.
"Good. Let’s begin then. Please rember this incantation for the ditation thod..." Ryleigh said with a smile.
Yunika focused intently, ready to listen, when suddenly a figure entered her view, causing her to gasp in surprise.
"Oh my goodness! It's the lord!"
Quickly, she exclaid, "Good afternoon, my lord!"
Rhett smiled faintly. He had overheard that the girl before him was the descendant of a mage. Glancing at the empty space behind Ryleigh, he had a hunch and said, "Begin ditating. Good luck."
"Thank you, my lord!"
Sensing ditation and attempting to channel it took longer than training for knights. After half an hour, the knight talent evaluation had completely ended, yet Yunika remained seated on the ground.
At this point, six people stood behind Hilin, their excitent evident as they chatted eagerly with each other. anwhile, the others who had failed were now trying to ditate under Ryleigh’s guidance.
Unfortunately, although many tried, they all wore furrowed brows, unable to enter a ditative state, let alone sense spiritual energy or elents. So attempted to maintain a calm facade, but it didn’t last long. Soon, they opened their eyes, shook their heads in disappointnt, and left the training ground.
Only Yunika, a twelve-year-old girl, remained remarkably composed, holding her ditative state for half an hour.
Seeing this, Rhett's lips curled into a slight smile.
"Yunika?" Ryleigh called out in surprise, sensing the faint movent of elents around her—a sign of spiritual energy stirring.
Imrsed in ditation, Yunika felt the spiritual energy like a wisp of mist, a sensation so wonderful that she beca entirely absorbed in it.
Ryleigh had to call her na twice before Yunika gradually erged from her ditative state. Blinking as she returned to the world, she briefly looked dazed before realizing what had happened!
A surge of excitent welled up inside her as she stood and said, her cheeks flushed, "Young Master Ryleigh, I just entered ditation and sensed spiritual energy, like a thin layer of mist."
As if he had already expected this outco, Ryleigh patted Yunika’s head with a smile and said, "Congratulations. You’ve beco the first mage to join the guard in our territory. Eagle Town will grow alongside you!"
In this context, "mage" was a broad term, referring to soone with talent and dedication in this path, rather than a specific rank.
Ryleigh thought for a mont and asked, "You live with your mother, right?"
"Yes," Yunika nodded obediently.
"Good. Then when you get ho, you can share this good news with her. As an apprentice mage in Deeprock Fortress, you’ll receive a salary of one silver coin a month, with additional rewards for outstanding performance!" Ryleigh said, patting her brown hair.
Ever since her father passed away, Yunika had lived a tough life with her mother. She already knew that joining the lord’s guard ant food, lodging, and training resources. But hearing about the monthly salary of one silver coin made her eyes sparkle with excitent. "Wow, thank you, Young Master Ryleigh!"
Ryleigh smiled and shook his head, "You should thank the lord, not ."
"Yes, thank you, my lord!" Yunika said seriously.
"Little one, you’re very promising. I hope you’ll beco a full-fledged mage soon—there’s a vast world waiting for you!" Rhett said as he approached, giving Yunika a pat on the head.
"I’ll do my best!" Yunika replied, both surprised and delighted, though a bit nervous.
In the end, seven people stood before Rhett. Three were twelve years old, while the rest were slightly older but still under twenty.
"Yunika Davila, Pierre Farrah, Ryan Carson, Leon Bartley, Artia Rayner, Nigel Allison, Hamadi Lur. The seven of you will have the opportunity to join the guard. Cherish it and work hard," Rhett said as he addressed them as their lord.
"Yes, my lord!" the seven responded in unison.
"You six, as bearers of knight talent, will co to the training ground daily and follow the instructions of Hilin and the other instructors," Rhett said seriously, addressing the six boys.
"Yes!" the six replied, excitent evident as they looked around the training ground.
"As for Yunika, you’ll follow Ryleigh’s arrangents. When I have ti, I’ll also guide your training," Rhett added softly.
Hearing this, the others couldn’t help but cast envious glances at Yunika, making her blush.
Their envy wasn’t misplaced—being personally guided by the lord not only provided valuable experience but also allowed for closer interactions, potentially strengthening relationships.
After briefly explaining the rules and expectations for joining the guard, Rhett left the training ground.
Ryleigh, still present, then addressed the seven new recruits, "I’m giving you three days to rest and spend ti with your families. Once you join the guard, your ti won’t be as free."
With that, he too left the training ground.
After Hilin departed, the seven recruits eagerly chatted among themselves as they left.
Back in the fifth-floor hall of Deeprock Fortress...
"What? You’re leaving again, my lord?" Sveeta asked in surprise, unable to hide the hint of reluctance in his eyes.
Rhett smiled faintly. "Don’t worry, this ti I won’t be gone for long—no more than a month. During my absence, you’ll handle all the castle’s affairs. I trust you."
"Understood, my lord. You carry heavier burdens, and I’ll do my utmost to take care of the castle’s minor matters," Sveeta replied.
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