Chapter 41 - Actually, I Have a Cheat Too

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Volume 4: The Caroll Family

 

Chapter 41: A Special Gift

 

 

As one of the fortresses of the Arslanka Empire, Sarge City was far more prosperous than Manan. Though it had its share of ordinary citizens, it was the constant flow of mercenaries and adventurers that truly defined its bustle.

 

Adventurers openly carrying weapons were a common sight on the streets. Occasionally, one could even glimpse someone accompanied by a magical beast. Every time such a sight appeared, passersby would instinctively glance over, most with looks of open envy.

 

Ge Yan curiously looked around. Nestled against his chest, a small head peeked out and turned just as he did—his little companion, the Shadow Winged Tiger. Now named "Nyx," the beast had assumed a camouflaged form, shrinking to the size of a fist. Unless one looked very closely, it was nearly impossible to notice.

 

Rex turned his head just in time to see the boy and the beast turning their heads in perfect synchrony, both pairs of eyes wide with wonder. The harmony between them was unexpectedly amusing.

 

Ge Yan, unaware that Rex had come to a stop, bumped into his shoulder. Nyx, pressed in his arms, let out a soft "awoo" as if it were the one that had walked into someone. When Ge Yan looked down at it, its large blue eyes sparkled with excitement. For a moment, he felt like he was raising a hyperactive husky.

 

"Aren't we going to the Mage Guild?" Ge Yan gently tucked the creature's head back into his shirt and turned his attention to Rex. But by the time he looked up, Rex had already turned his gaze away.

 

"We're here," Rex replied.

 

Following Rex's line of sight, Ge Yan saw a sign with the words Mage Guild on it. He had imagined a place with such a grand name would resemble the Mercenary Guild—majestic, towering, and impossible to miss. Yet the reality was far more modest.

 

The Mage Guild building wasn't even half the size of the Mercenary Guild. Although its location was relatively prominent, it didn't stand out much, and far fewer people came and went.

 

The two stepped inside to find the place nearly deserted. Scanning the interior, Ge Yan spotted only a single young man slouched lazily behind a counter. He yawned and looked half-asleep, completely unaware that guests had entered.

 

"Why is it so empty?" Ge Yan couldn't help asking.

 

"This isn't a major city," Rex replied calmly. "And it's a fortress close to the Magical Beast Forest. Pure mages wouldn't come here just to throw their lives away."

 

Before Ge Yan could grasp what that meant, Rex was already walking over to the counter. He tapped on the smooth wooden surface.

 

The young man instantly snapped to attention, flashing a flawless, professional smile. A perfect transformation.

 

"Welcome. How can I assist you?"

 

Rex pointed at Ge Yan. "He's here to have his aptitude tested."

 

The young man turned his gaze to Ge Yan, his smile unwavering. "There's a fee for the test. You can pay after. If you show aptitude for only one element, it's five gold coins. If you possess two or more, it's free of charge. If that's acceptable, please head inside—someone will take you to the testing room."

 

Rex nodded and led Ge Yan further in.

 

"What did you mean earlier by 'pure mage'?" Ge Yan asked as they walked.

 

Realizing that Ge Yan truly didn't know, Rex uncharacteristically took the time to explain. "A pure mage only has magical aptitude and can't become a swordsman. Sarge City faces magic beast tides every year. Mages, who rely solely on spells and have weak physical bodies, rarely survive here. Most would never come. And since there aren't many civilians here either, those who test positive for magical aptitude are usually taken away by their parents in hopes of a better life elsewhere."

 

Testing for magical aptitude was normally done around the age of seven. It was rare for adults to come for a test unless their circumstances had prevented it—poverty, for instance, or other special conditions.

 

Ge Yan suddenly thought of something. "I'm not a pure mage, am I?" He had no interest in being someone frail and feeble. But he also had a sinking feeling he didn't have much aptitude for swordsmanship either.

 

"Jimmy's a swordsman," Rex replied.

 

"Oh, good," Ge Yan sighed with relief. Then his eyes lit up. "So… would that make me one of those dual-cultivation types? You know—both magic and martial arts?" The idea sounded pretty cool.

 

Rex gave him a sidelong glance, his expression unreadable. "That's actually very common. Nothing special."

 

"...Huh?" The blow to Ge Yan's ego was immeasurable.

 

Just then, a middle-aged man in mage robes approached them. This was the one the youth at the front desk had mentioned. His name was Mars—a pure mage. After a brief self-introduction, he led them to the testing chamber.

 

The room was a spacious hall, currently empty and quiet. At its center stood a stone platform upon which rested a crystal sphere, roughly the size of a durian. The sphere was transparent, clear enough that one could see straight through it, resembling an oversized glass bead. At first glance, it didn't look particularly special.

 

Mars instructed Ge Yan to place his hand on the crystal and guide his inner energy into it. The crystal, through its magical resonance, would reveal his elemental affinity.

 

Each type of magic would glow with a different color—red for fire, yellow for earth, blue for water, cyan for wind, green for wood, and so on. The more vivid the color, the stronger the innate talent, and the easier future training would be. If no color appeared, it meant there was no magical aptitude at all.

 

Ge Yan felt a little anxious. He was afraid that he might not have any magical talent. But following Mars' instructions, he closed his eyes. Soon, he felt a gentle warmth rising within him, and he carefully guided it into the crystal sphere.

 

Suddenly, the crystal sphere flared to life, bursting into a radiant brilliance that lit the entire hall like daylight—every corner, every crevice bathed in searing light. Then, within the orb, the light transformed into a vast ocean—deep blue waters surged and churned inside like a living sea, glowing with a clarity so bright it was breathtaking.

 

Mars's expression shifted. He was clearly surprised. He had never seen a blue so vivid. Without question, this youth possessed a water-element affinity—and not just that. Judging by the intensity of the glow, it was an exceptionally strong one. Mars was just about to speak when the orb shifted again. The gentle blue tide receded, transforming into a brilliant green, luminous and full of life.

 

At the same time, the air around Ge Yan subtly changed. From every direction, streams of water and wood elements in the air began to gather around him, slowly entering his body.

 

Mars nearly dropped his jaw to the floor. His eyes bulged so wide it looked like they might pop from their sockets. For a long moment, he stood frozen in disbelief, then rubbed his eyes furiously—he hadn't seen wrong. The orb was now glowing green, a vibrant, unmistakable green. The flow of elemental energy in the air… was very real.

 

A dual-elemental affinity wasn't all that rare—Mars himself had discovered over a dozen such individuals. He'd even seen a mage with three affinities once. But he had never encountered anyone who possessed both water and wood elements, and could instinctively draw elemental forces from the surrounding air.

 

That meant only one thing: this youth had the Body of the Elements—and not just of one element, but of two: water and wood.

 

Such an extraordinary gift marked someone as one of the destined few—those who, without exception, would go on to become the most honored figures across the entire continent of Azelra.

 

The air gradually calmed, and the green light in the orb faded. Yet the crystal sphere continued to glow faintly, colorless now, as if some deeper resonance lingered. A moment later, the light finally dimmed completely.

 

Mars was still too stunned to notice this final detail. When he looked at Ge Yan again, the awe in his eyes had been replaced by something deeper—not just admiration, but reverence.

 

Rex, however, had noticed everything.

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