"We need to talk," Solomon told Roe.
He had just woken up, and Solomon was already getting down to it.
’He’s not playing, is he?’ Roe thought.
"Sorry to co at you like this, but we need to establish so things," Solomon said.
"Please be cooperative. I’m not willing to answer questions right now. Let’s just do what I say, okay?"
Roe just nodded. He didn’t verbally confirm anything.
Solomon was serious. He knew they had to talk, but he never considered it would be this serious.
"So what’s up?" he asked.
"I’m getting to that," Solomon said.
"You’re an Energy-Type S-rank mage. I’ve already made that clear."
"You’ll not address yourself as otherwise until you leave this realm."
Roe nodded. He understood the severity of the statent. Solomon’s tone said it all.
"I’m actually an Energy-Type, though, right?" he asked.
Solomon didn’t respond.
This wasn’t him confirming or denying anything.
’There’s no way I’m not an Energy-Type. The others outside would have seen my talent when I awakened, right?’
He wasn’t sure.
He ran simulations in his head.
Deep in thought, Roe was.
Solomon paid no regard. He just continued.
"You’re not to forget anything I say with regards to you. It may seem on the spot or spur of the mont, but take it as truth."
"For example, your staff was handed to you by rlin himself."
"You didn’t summon or create it with your own abilities."
Solomon said.
Roe was starting to see the pattern.
He basically didn’t want Roe to seem special or chosen by the others.
"rlin gave the go-ahead. I’ll tell you, I guess," Solomon said.
Roe didn’t quite get it.
"There’s an assessnt coming up in a few days. Those who pass will venture out as full-fledged mages of the rlin Circle."
Roe was intrigued.
"None of the others know this. They won’t be inford properly until the day before the assessnt."
"I’ll tell you exactly how it’s going to happen. You will not tell the others."
"I don’t get it. Why tell ? Why give the advantage? What for?"
"What’s the purpose?" Roe asked.
Solomon didn’t respond.
"I’m already an SSS-ranker. Way more blessed than them. Why give all this?" he said.
"You’re mistaken."
"I’m not telling you all this because I like you or anything. It’s not because I want you—or rlin, for that matter—to succeed."
"It’s to test you."
"I’m telling you this because you’ll be the proctor on the day of the test."
"You’re the wall the other students will have to climb to prove their worth."
Roe smiled.
He was getting hyped.
"Don’t be mistaken, however. You’re still subject to the test. You’re not exactly in the clear."
This made sense to Roe.
He just needed Solomon to further explain now.
"After the preliminaries, you’ll be revealed to be an SSS-ranker."
"All the students of the top ten sets that make it will go up against you."
"At once."
Roe was shocked.
"Of course, this only happens if you guys make the top ten."
"Correct if I’m—"
Roe was about to ask before he got cut off.
"You’re not wrong."
"It’s you versus whatever remains of the eighty mages."
"If all eighty make it out alive, then I guess it’s Roe versus eighty mages," Solomon said.
"We’ll et to train you in another dinsion alongside your normal training."
"You better ready yourself."
"So Ursula and the others?" Roe asked.
"Yes. All of them."
Solomon held up his hand.
He looked at Roe’s.
He didn’t say anything.
It just reminded him of sothing.
"We expect great things from you. Don’t blow it."
"Oh, and he’ll be there," Solomon said as he made his exit.
’He?’ Roe thought.
He didn’t know who Solomon was referring to.
’Who’s this "he" Solomon speaks of?’
’I guess it’s probably rlin.’
’Probably? No, it’s definitely rlin.’
He affird it to himself.
He was wrong.
---
The days passed.
The different sets would go into rifts all day.
Train.
Eat.
Sleep.
The cycle repeated in perfect harmony.
---
Elijah was on TV.
He had just gotten back.
His kids ca running at him.
He embraced them.
"Where’s your mom?" he asked.
"She just stepped out," one of them replied.
"Okay," the father said.
"Here."
He pulled snacks out of his work bag.
"Solomon hasn’t reached out to . Didn’t he get my letter?" he thought.
"Hey kids, here’s the remote. Don’t disturb Daddy. I’ll be busy in my little office, okay?"
They didn’t respond.
They imdiately fought over the remote and who got to choose what to watch.
He closed the door.
He needed so ti alone.
He sighed from exhaustion.
"Man, dia is stressful," he said.
He brought out several letters from his bag.
He started murmuring.
All the letters were addressed to different people.
"I can’t believe we’re in an era like this and I still have to use damn letters to address people."
"Why can’t they evolve and adapt to the tis, damn it?"
He shouted as he slamd his table.
The letters counted up to eight.
Addressed to different figures.
Elijah needed help.
One was sealed and addressed to a certain Morgana.
Another was addressed to Vlad.
One was tagged for Lot.
Another read: For Sarah.
The next was Elena’s.
The last three were stacked together.
One could barely make out the nas written.
All that was certain was that their nas started with the letter A.
The orientation of the stack made the first letters visible.
Nothing more.
---
Morgana received hers in her office.
She peeled the seal open.
Read it.
Made no comnt.
She crumpled it and threw it into the bin.
"Inconsequential," she said.
The others must have had similar reactions.
At least, that’s what Elijah thought when no one reached out after he eventually sent them out.
Not even Morgana.
---
"I can’t believe it’s another one of those pesky rifts," one guy in a bar said while watching the news.
"Yeah. For a while now, things have been getting out of hand," another added.
"Turn the volu up."
"Sure."
The reporter was talking about the ergence of the new mages the rlin Circle had recently released into the world.
"They are six exceptional mages."
"Rookies who have been recognized by the Three Wise n and even the Mage Council."
"They are rapidly building a reputation for themselves."
"If things continue this way, they’ll definitely beco the group of mages that leads the next generation into an era of prosperity," the reporter said.
"Now let’s hear a word from their leader."
"This is an interview, all right. Their very first."
"It’s all so exclusive."
"We couldn’t get all six of them, but maybe so other day."
"Stay tuned."
She handed him the microphone.
He bent his neck in preparation.
"Hi," he said.
"My na is Sigman."
[This interview was held two weeks after the assessnt in rlin’s Realm.]
"I’ll tell you about myself for a bit."
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