Chapter 174: Obtaining the Magic Badge.

The instructor’s astonishment did not unsettle Shu Li. “Yes, I’m a Seven-Element Magic Apprentice.”

She looked the black-haired youth up and down. His robe and staff were both low-rank, and she sighed inwardly.

It had been a long time since a seven-element mage had appeared on the Austin Continent. Even when one did, their progress had been cut short for one reason or another. Training an outstanding seven-element mage took vast resources, more than an ordinary magic school could afford.

The boy before her was plainly from a common family. He would have to work harder than others for a chance to go far.

Still, she had high hopes for him. He had earned an Initiate Mage Apprentice badge at ten years old; his talent was undeniable.

Now, let her see what his Seven-Element Magic could do.

“Sperien,” she said seriously, “please begin your magic test.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Shu Li stepped into the testing area, raised his low-rank staff, and opened with light magic.

“Great Light God Laiente Fres, I am Sperien, your faithful believer. I ask you to command the elements of light to gather around me and grant me an orb that will drive away all darkness!”

Shu Li deftly turned away the many light elements crowding around him. With precise control of his magical power, he formed a pure orb of light. A sweep of his staff sent it flashing toward the wall more than twenty meters away.

Boom!

Blinding light burst across the wall.

The instructor watched intently, impressed by the fluid ease of his casting. This was a diligent student. No one could move so smoothly without practicing hundreds, perhaps thousands, of times.

Shu Li did not pause. He cast water, wind, fire, earth, and wood magic in succession, leaving the instructor increasingly amazed.

As far as she knew, practical limits kept mages with multiple affinities from developing them equally. They usually concentrated on one and treated the others as supplementary.

This boy was different. All six elements had reached the same level; he had neglected none of them.

As for darkness...

When the black-haired youth lowered his staff, the instructor understood that he had not studied dark magic. That required instruction from a teacher at a recognized magic school. Studying it privately broke the rules and could harm his future prospects. Worse, if he lost his way, the consequences would outweigh any benefit.

He had done well. Exceptionally well.

“All six have reached level six. Congratulations, you’ve advanced to Intermediate Mage Apprentice.” Smiling broadly, she filled out his test form and handed it to him.

Shu Li accepted it with both hands. “Thank you, ma’am.”

The instructor looked kindly at the three talented youths. “You can submit your forms at the registration counter now.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

The three Little Fairies answered together, bowed, and left the testing hall.

Out in the corridor, Dicio let out a long breath and groaned. “That was so hard!”

Turning away the eager fire elements had been so hard. They were adorable and enthusiastic, yet he had been forced to reject them. It was heartbreaking. Sob, sob, sob—

Angel felt exactly the same way. He had turned away so many light elements that he felt guilty.

Shu Li patted their shoulders. “You’ll get used to it. Practice enough, and it’ll become second nature.”

Precise control of magical power was a skill in itself.

“I’ll work hard!” Dicio declared, clenching his fist.

“So will I,” Angel said with a nod.

A passing mage saw the three youths’ troubled faces and assumed their tests had gone poorly. He looked at them with sympathy.

The path of a mage was long and difficult. Many reached a certain level, then stalled for the rest of their lives, unable to break through and dying full of disappointment. Only those with unwavering resolve, who advanced step by step without giving up or retreating, could reach success.

He hoped these boys would keep their spirits steady, study diligently, and accomplish something one day.

Click.

The door to Testing Hall Two opened. Kumandi came out first, frowning, followed by a sighing Budno and a dejected Amanda.

Shu Li hurried over. “How did it go?”

Kumandi pressed his lips together. “I barely held it to level six.”

Magic levels were divided into three levels per stage. Levels one through three were Junior Mage Apprentice; four through six were Intermediate Mage Apprentice, and so on. By holding his power to level six, Kumandi had qualified as an Intermediate Mage Apprentice.

Shu Li smiled. “Same as me.”

One of them was an Intermediate Grand Mage and the other a Junior Grand Mage. Holding themselves to level six had been no small feat.

“I’m sorry,” Budno said miserably. “I didn’t do well. I went past six and reached level seven.”

Level seven meant Senior Mage Apprentice.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried to stop at six. He simply couldn’t bear to turn away the water elements pressing close to him, and he had released a little too much power.

“It’s all right,” Shu Li said. “You did your best.”

“Mm.” Budno nodded.

Amanda raised a tentative hand. “I got level eight... I’m a Senior Mage Apprentice too.”

He had been added to the Light Squad at the last moment and had never suppressed his magical power before. During the test, he had floundered and nearly given himself away. Fortunately, at the crucial moment, he had managed to turn away the light and water elements with all his might, barely keeping his power at level eight.

As their captain, Shu Li gave their arms an encouraging pat. “Whether you’re Intermediate or Senior, you’re all Mage Apprentices.”

The difference was small enough. Their results suited their apparent ages and met the requirements for admission to a magic school. That was what mattered.

Relieved, Budno and Amanda broke into smiles.

“Let’s get our magic badges!” Dicio bounced impatiently. With badges, they would be “humans” with proper identification. No one would shut them out at a city gate again.

The Light Squad wasted no more time and returned to the main hall in high spirits. Ace, who had been sitting on a bench there, heard them and stood to greet the lively youths.

“Ace!” Shu Li spotted him and waved.

Ace walked over. “Have you all finished your tests?”

“We have.” Shu Li waved his form. “Everyone did well.”

Ace looked at the others and smiled. “Congratulations.”

“Heh heh.” Budno was all smiles. “Sorry to keep you waiting!”

“It wasn’t long.” Ace glanced back at the mage who was receiving visitors. “While you were testing, I had a chat with Henry.”

“Henry?” Shu Li was surprised. This human classmate was even more outgoing than Angel. In less than twenty minutes, he had learned the receptionist’s name.

Ace nodded. “Yes. I asked him about work.”

“You found something already?” Shu Li’s eyes widened. That was fast! His human classmate really knew how to talk to people.

“Yes,” Ace said. “Get your badges first. We can discuss the rest afterward.”

“Okay!”

The Little Fairies and the young dragon immediately lined up at the registration counter. One by one, they exchanged their forms for magic badges of their own.

They admired their newly issued badges for a good while before pinning them to their robes, proudly displaying their status as Mage Apprentices.

“Ace, tell us about the job!” Dicio urged.

Ace smiled gently at their open, curious faces. “Henry told me the Magic Association posts tasks regularly, with payment based on how difficult they are. I looked through the list, and there’s one that suits us well. If we complete it, we’ll earn a hundred gold coins.”

“A hundred gold coins!” the Light Squad exclaimed in unison.

Who had posted the task? How generous!

Most ordinary humans lived hard lives. An employer able to offer a hundred gold coins had to be wealthy or powerful.

“Yes,” Ace said with a smile. “A hundred gold coins would cover our journey to the Central Court.”

Kumandi asked calmly, “Is it dangerous?”

Such a high payment suggested the task was difficult. Their strength should be more than enough, but it was still wise to be careful.

His question brought Shu Li back down to earth. Trust quiet, studious Kumandi to stay alert.

“I don’t think so.” Ace explained the task in detail.

They were to rid a household in town of a mouse infestation.

The family belonged to one of Kesheng Town’s few wealthy merchants. His house was large and luxurious, but mice kept turning up. Every time one lot was eliminated, another appeared. Over two years, he had hired many skilled exterminators, all to no avail. Desperate for peace in his home, he had turned to the Magic Association.

Hiring a mage was expensive. A Senior Mage charged at least five hundred gold coins for a single assignment.

The merchant was a miser. He had offered only fifty gold coins, barely enough to hire one Mage Apprentice.

But Kesheng was a remote town, and very few Mage Apprentices passed through. More than a month went by without anyone accepting the task. As the mice threatened to overrun his home, the merchant gritted his teeth and raised the reward to a hundred gold coins. He hoped the Magic Association would find a Mage Apprentice elsewhere to exterminate them.

If nothing was done soon, the mouseholes in his house would form a maze. Worse, the rest of the town was laughing at him.

Why did his house have mice when nobody else’s did? Had he committed some terrible wrong and brought divine punishment upon himself?

The rumors made the merchant furious. He repeatedly urged the Magic Association to send a Mage Apprentice to help him at once.

After Henry explained the details, Ace thought they could take the task.

Get rid of mice? No problem! Dicio waved his arms excitedly. Small animals were intelligent. They could simply talk to them!

Fairies and animals were friends; a friendly conversation should be easy enough. Mice might be ugly, steal things, and love hiding, but a little persuasion could solve the problem.

And if it couldn’t... they could use other means to give the mice a fright.

Mice were timid, after all.

Shu Li looked at his innocent companions and thought it over.

The mice in the Faerie Forest were intelligent and knew when to restrain themselves. Those in the human world might be different. Survival often drove them to do whatever it took.

If negotiations failed, then the mice couldn’t blame them for using force.

“We’ll take it,” Shu Li told Ace. “Who do we speak to?”

“The registration counter.” Ace had already asked about the entire process.

Soon, he and Shu Li were standing at the counter, explaining why they had come.

The mage responsible for issuing tasks smiled warmly when he learned they wanted to accept the merchant’s mouse problem. But a task taken by several people had to be registered under a team name; otherwise, dividing the payment would be difficult.

“The Light Squad,” Shu Li said promptly. “That’s our team. Seven members: five Intermediate Mage Apprentices and two Senior Mage Apprentices.”

Ace, standing beside him, raised no objection.

The mage lifted an eyebrow, wrote “Light Squad” on the registration form, and said, “An excellent name. May the Light God watch over you.”

Lord Lam was getting quite a bargain: seven Mage Apprentices for a hundred gold coins.

“Thank you.” Shu Li accepted the task card the mage handed him. Once the job was done, they could use it to collect their payment.

Mice came out at night, so they would have to wait until dark to visit the merchant’s home.

That left one question: where would they stay today?

At an inn?

“We can stay here,” Ace said. “Henry told me the Magic Association has rooms for visiting mages. They cost ten silver coins a day, less than an inn.”

“Wow, what a bargain!” Shu Li looked at Ace with growing admiration.

Having a human friend was so convenient. Ace had sorted everything out so thoroughly that Shu Li hardly had to worry about a thing. How thoughtful of him!

Under the boy’s bright-eyed gaze, the corners of Ace’s mouth lifted. His emerald-green eyes were full of warmth.