DMS Chapter 165

If Flinx was being honest, he had the same assumption as the wizard from the Mage Guild. He believed that none of the four children possessed the talent to become mages because both Olivia, the beautiful mage receptionist, and the wizard who conducted the talent test had said the same thing.

The talent for wizardry was extremely rare.

Even though the four children had expressed their desire to become magic casters, Flinx knew that their wish was largely a reflection of their admiration for him. The fact that the children considered him their benefactor simply because he had taken them in allowed him to become a towering figure in their eyes. It also helped that he was, in truth, an extremely powerful wizard.

Violet started crying the moment she learned that she could become a mage. Even the three boys had tears in their eyes.

After the four children managed to compose themselves, David was the next to approach the crystal.

Flinx saw several emotions flashing across David’s face. There was fear, anticipation, and longing all mixed. The same expression could be seen on Arcios and Keero, while Violet was still sobbing beside Flinx.

After a minute of waiting with David’s hands placed on the crystal, it suddenly lit up.

David immediately burst into sobs, nearly hysterical in his reaction. The tester’s expression turned one of disbelief.

“I need to reexamine the crystal,” the wizard said.

He retrieved the crystal from its holder on the table and left the room.

Flinx comforted Violet and David, who were both crying, and sighed when he saw that Keero and Arcios had also started crying.

Soon, the tester returned, accompanied by two older wizards.

“We apologize, young sir. The fact that two consecutive successful tests occurred is extremely rare, so we needed to confirm that the crystal was functioning properly,” one of the older wizards explained.

“Can we conduct the test on the first two children again?” the second older wizard asked.

Since the test was simple and did not take long, Flinx nodded.

The tester placed the crystal back into its holder and asked Violet to place her hands on it once more. As expected, the crystal lit up again, confirming that she possessed mage talent.

After that, David placed his hands on the crystal, and it lit up once again.

They then tested Arcios and Keero. Everyone was left speechless when the crystal illuminated for both of them as well.

All four children possessed magical talent.

The older wizard immediately rushed outside and returned with several more wizards. They brought three additional crystals with them.

Flinx was astonished. Although he knew magical talent was rare, the reaction of the wizards seemed excessive.

When one of the older wizards noticed his expression, he began explaining.

“I apologize, young sir. During the past five years, we have only discovered twenty children with mage talent. Finding four children with the talent at the same time is simply unprecedented.”

The four children were tested using the three additional crystals, and every single one of them lit up, confirming that their magical talents were genuine.

Afterward, the old wizards asked Flinx if they could test the children’s magical proficiencies. Normally, such a test required payment in mana coins, but the wizards waived the cost.

Flinx asked the four children, and all of them agreed that they wanted to learn their specialties.

After nearly an hour of testing, with Flinx following them to ensure that nothing improper happened, they discovered their specialties.

David had an affinity toward the Evocation school of magic.

Violet leaned toward Illusion magic.

Arcios was suited for Enchantment.

Keero was inclined toward Transmutation.

Knowing their specialties did not mean that they could only practice spells from those schools. It simply meant that spells from those disciplines would become especially powerful in their hands.

The next matter they needed to discuss was finding masters for the four children.

Flinx expected to spend a fortune on their magical education, and he had no hesitation about doing so. However, the wizards informed him that because magical talents were so rare and because the four children were technically orphans from Ilioven, the Mage Guild was willing to take them in free of charge.

“I’m willing to pay for their schooling. I don’t want them to become apprentices who spend all day doing nothing but servant work. I want them to learn everything they need to become proper wizards!” Flinx told them.

The four children allowed Flinx to speak on their behalf.

The wizards exchanged glances before explaining that it was normal for apprentices to perform chores for their masters. However, if Flinx was willing to spend money, he could pay mana stones so that the four children would be treated as noble apprentices instead.

The first thing that needed to be done was finding masters for the children.

Fortunately, this was not difficult. The Mage Guild had several wizards willing to accept them as apprentices.

Once the masters were chosen, Flinx would need to discuss with them the conditions for the children to be treated as noble apprentices rather than ordinary ones.

It did not take long for news to spread throughout the guild that four talented apprentices had appeared.

Soon, four wizards arrived to accept the children as their apprentices. Flinx was especially relieved when he saw that Violet’s master was an elderly female wizard.

The four wizards first explained, with the children present, that once the apprenticeship began, the four children would not be allowed to leave the Mage Tower.

This meant they would not be able to see Flinx again until they became formal wizards, which could take more than a decade.

After delivering that information, the four wizard masters left the room, giving Flinx and the children time to speak privately.

The moment the wizards left, the four children rushed toward Flinx and hugged him tightly.

One thing Flinx appreciated about the four orphans was their realistic view of life. Perhaps it came from growing up in an orphanage and witnessing how cruel life could be.

The four children understood that this was an opportunity they could not abandon simply because it meant being separated from Flinx.

They knew that Flinx had given them a chance that would completely change their lives.

However, knowing that did not erase the sadness of leaving the life they had shared with Flinx, Olivia, Ambrose, Christopher, Pondy, and the Rockies inside the incredible, magical compound that seemed like something taken from a fairy tale.

They could not even say goodbye to Olivia and the others because the Mage Guild wizards had clearly stated that once they accepted their apprenticeships, they would no longer be allowed to leave the Mage Tower.

Although the children could not leave the Mage Tower, they were still allowed to communicate with Flinx.

Soon, the old wizards returned with several apprentices to guide the four new students to their new living quarters.

Meanwhile, Flinx continued speaking with the children’s four masters to understand what would happen to them.

At the very least, the four wizards were open and honest with him. More than likely, it was because Flinx was also a powerful wizard himself. They had also been informed that the only reason Flinx was not personally teaching the children was because of the oaths he had made to his country regarding the spread of his magic.

Such restrictions were normal in some kingdoms, so the wizards did not question them.

Finally, for the children to receive treatment as noble apprentices, Flinx was told that he needed to pay twenty high-grade mana stones for each child.

He immediately paid.

The four old wizards were not surprised that Flinx possessed enough wealth to cover the cost. They were also deeply respectful toward him because his actions proved that he genuinely intended to support the four orphans.

To them, it also meant that there was a possibility of receiving even more support from him in the future.