Elder Zhan continued “Because candidates this time were more than we expected and it had taken a lot of time. Without further ado, let’s start the selection phase.”
He then stomped his foot down on the center of arena, the formation dividing the arena disappeared.
“I want every qualified candidate to come down and stand around the arena. On left side of arena will stand One-star mages while Two-star mages will be on the other side.” Elder Zhan said.
Quickly, everyone followed his instructions and swarmed around the arena. The number of candidates on the left side was almost double than the number of candidates on the right side.
“Now, Envoys from every academy will select a few disciples who has caught their eyes. If any envoy chose you and you want to join that academy, you can accept. if not you are free to decline. No one will blame you. As for rest, you’ll be selected after them, by the recruiters.” Elder Zhan announced, making everyone anxious.
Everyone wanted to be hand picked by Envoys as that will grant them special privileges and they might be able to become inner sector disciple of their academy. However many also knew that their talent was ordinary, so they were comparatively better than others and weren’t as much anxious.
Ten people in the attires of different academies, stepped onto the arena. Ten tables and ten chairs were already placed on the arena in a row. They walked toward them and sat down. The one wearing golden robes sat in the middle, showing his academy, The royal academies’ standing.
After they had taken their seats, Elder Zhan bowed slightly towards the envoys’ sitting arena and said “Now esteemed envoys can select the disciples you have taken liking to.”
Envoys nodded and their eyes scanned the whole crowd in a matter of minutes. Every envoy’s gaze rested a bit longer on candidates such as Samuel, Vincent, Dalton, Flavia and Max and some others.
However, they first wanted to select Neer who was still in his seat as only those who participated and were quantified were asked to got on the arena. However they knew that Neer will not tell his decision right now. So they moved their eyes to the second best choise… Samuel.
The royal academy’s envoy Cilera was first to speak, being from the first ranked academy. “Candidate Samuel, I, The envoy of the Royal Academy, would like to invite you to join our first ranked academy in the Green leaf kingdom. If you join, You’ll be given a core disciple’s position and a core disciple receives almost everything they need to further improve if, they have what it takes to take it.”
Hearing her, a subtle disdainful smile appeared on his face but it was gone before anyone could notice it. He shook his head inwardly ‘I shouldn’t judge everything by my standards here.’
Seeing him deep in thinking, The rest of the envoys were tempted to invite him however, the second envoy didn’t speak yet and it would seem that they weren’t going against the Cloud academy if they speak before her.
The fourth envoy noticed this and said “Second envoy, you should at least say something so that we of the other academies can also invite him.”
Second envoy nodded. Therefore, she glanced toward the candidates and said “If any of you wants to join the Cloud academy, you are welcome to join after checking in with the recruiter of the academy.”
Every envoy including Cilera twisted their lips at her lackluster invitation. However it wasn’t for them to worry whether anyone joined her academy or not. They started inviting Samuel.
Almost every envoy offered Samuel a core disciple’s position. After seeing that everyone’s offer was the same, Samuel looked toward the first envoy and said “I would join the royal academy then.”
Cilera’s raised her head proudly as she glanced at other envoys, noticing their envious gazes she felt very satisfied. She then looked at Dalton and said while nodding “Step on the arena and receive your disciple badge from the royal academy’s recruiter.”
Samuel nodded and went to the recruiter sitting in the middle of ten recruiters. The recruiter was a woman who seemed to be in her thirties, she took out a golden badge that had a crown depicted on and said as she gave it to him “Please Insert your mana in it.”
Samuel took the badge and inserted his mana inside. The badge glowed for an instant and then returned to normal.
“This will be your identity from now on. Keep it with you all times. Now you can wait for the selection process to complete and depart for the academy with the envoy and us.” The recruiter notified him.
Samuel nodded and returned to his seat.
𝑜𝑣𝑙xt.𝐂𝑶𝑚
Then Cilera looked towards Vincent and invited him “Candidate Vincent, I also invite you to join the royal academy. Although I won’t be able to give a core disciple’s status, you’ll be an inner disciple and with your talent, I believe it won’t be difficult for you to become a core disciple after–”
Vincent shook his head impatiently “No thanks.” Cilera almost choked on the rest of her words. She didn’t believe that someone would reject her invitation even before she could finish. She glared at him angrily however Vincent ignored her.
The rest of the envoys who wanted to invite him didn’t dare to do so now fearing that he will also slap their faces by rejecting them.
Vincent looked toward the old woman from Green pagoda and asked “Granny, what status and privileges will I get if I join your Green pagoda?”
Those who don’t know his personality and his background were dumbfounded. First he rejected first envoy’s invitation with such impoliteness and now he called the fourth envoy ‘granny’. Wasn’t he afraid that they will kill him in anger despite his outstanding talent as their academies didn’t have lack of such talents.
However, defying everyone’s expectations, the old envoy of Green pagoda laughed “You only qualify to be an inner disciple and if you don’t behave after joining and improve quickly, you’ll be demoted to the outer sector disciple’s status.”
Many were amazed by the fourth envoy’s words. They didn’t believe that Vincent who was an unrivalled was only qualified to become an inner disciple. Many who were confident of their talent and wanted to join Green pagoda as inner disciples felt their confidence wavering now.
“Tch, how stingy.” Vincent clicked his tongue and said “It’s fine. I’ll join your Green pagoda.” Fourth envoy nodded, agreeing.
He walked up to Green pagoda’s recruiter and collected a green badge and returned to his seat while looking toward Max, thinking which academy he will join.
This time, however the fourth envoy didn’t wait for the first envoy to invite someone first amd looked towards Max “Little boy, would you like to join our Green pagoda too? I noticed that although your affinity was higher than everyone here and you have very high destructive power despite your young age, you are lacking almost in every area. If you join our Green pagoda, you’ll also become an inner disciple and will get proper guidance to use your strength efficiently moreover, I’ll also take you as my personal disciple. What do you say?”
Cilera who wanted to offer him to join the royal academy frowned seeing that the fourth envoy didn’t let her and invited herself. However her eyes widened in surprise hearing the last part.
Many other envoys and even second envoy was surprised at her offer to take him as her personal disciple.
The second envoy smiled at this, she realised that as someone perceptive and experienced as fourth envoy was, she must have also found him somewhat ‘special’. That’s why she was willing to cross the royal academy lest he join the royal academy due to their higher rank.
Elder Zhan was even more surprised at this turn of events. He found it hard to believe that Elder Sarah would take initiative to invite him and even offer to take him as her personal disciple.
In his opinion, although Max was indeed someone talented with a fair chance to break through to the four star realm, this was it, only a chance. However, if the legendary elder Sarah personally invited him, then he must have something special. His gaze sharpened as he tried to analyse him but he didn’t notice anything special about.
Other envoys also realised this and before Max could reply, Cilera raised her voice and said “Candidate Maxwell, I also invite you to join our Royal academy. I promise to make a core disciple and personally guide you. Consider well before you make your decision.”
Third envoy and others also offered him the core disciple’s position and promised many other recourses that even a core disciple wouldn’t normally get even in the royal academy.
Cilera grew angry and slapped the armrest of her chair and destroyed it. She then gritted her teeth and said “Candidate Max I’ll give also give you a spatial ring that you can simply wear and wouldn’t need to carry a spatial bag around.”
Envoys and some in audience who knew about how precious a spatial ring was, were stunned. To recruit a disciple, the first envoy offered such generous gift.
“How rich is the royal academy to gift a spatial ring?”
“It seems this boy isn’t as simple as we thought.”
“I wish I was there instead of him. I would have gotten such a valuable artefact.”
Many sighs and exclaimations were heard among the audience. Flavia, Dalton, Vincent and others looked at Max in disbelief. They didn’t believe that he was someone so special that the first envoy would go to such lengths to win him over. What they didn’t know that Max was also in the same state of shock.
After quenching the pain she felt in the thought of giving her spatial ring away, Cilera asked calmly “So would you join my Royal Academy?”