Following the alchemy puppet, the group reached the second floor of the mission hall. After the formal greetings, Adam took out the crystal skeleton and handed it to Mage Blake, then unhurriedly recounted the entire course of the mission.
Mage Blake summoned an alchemy puppet and ordered it to deliver the crystal skeleton into Mage Victor's hands. Then he patted Cristel on the shoulder and said with a smile, "In view of your outstanding completion of the academy's mission..."
Hearing this, William felt a chill in his heart. Adam had plainly described the casualties among Madeira's ordinary people, without any attempt to soften it, and Mage Blake plainly did not care in the least.
"On behalf of the academy, I have decided to grant you a bonus beyond what you expended during the mission."
The four of them perked up at this — they had not expected a reward like this.
Mage Blake took out several items and handed them over one by one. "William Alfred, this is a high-grade apprentice fire-elemental rune group."
"Ophelia Johnson, in addition to the potential-burst potion, this is the vitality potion the academy is compensating you with."
"As for you," said Mage Blake, after handing Adam the magic items he had expended during the mission, then pausing in thought, "unfortunately, the academy has not done much research on the electrical element. You may choose one advanced magic of another element."
Adam did not choose an advanced magic of another element. He already had a direction for his future experiments and believed he would soon achieve a breakthrough; to spend time studying other elements now would be nothing but a waste. "Honored Mage Blake, could the bonus be converted into ether crystals?"
Mage Blake nodded. "Of course. But are you sure you won't reconsider?"
Once Adam had confirmed his choice, Mage Blake was about to say something more when he suddenly froze where he stood. Then he said to Adam, "Mage Victor wishes to see you. Now."
Seeing Mage Victor again, Adam was struck more deeply than before. He could hardly imagine or calculate how vast a power Mage Victor's enormous true body held. Standing before the Mage, Adam sensed no threat at all, yet his now-stronger soul could clearly feel that deep, boundless ocean.
"Good day, Mage Victor, Sir."
He had barely finished speaking when Adam's vision went dark. When it cleared, he found himself in another room, with the Mage's avatar before him, turning the crystal skeleton over and over in its hands.
"Little one, you've surprised me. In such a short time — hmm, well, in any case a very short time — you've actually healed your soul wound." Mage Victor's pupils rotated inward. Adam shifted his body uncomfortably.
"Sure enough, you've already found your path to advancement."
Adam bowed slightly and waited for the headmaster's instructions.
"All hail Moldo's Transdimensional Mage," Mage Victor said for no apparent reason, then went on, "You should know that Moldo Tower's overall strength is not considered great."
Adam said nothing, unsure what Mage Victor meant.
"It is not only the Tower Master's strength. It is also the number of Mages subordinate to the tower, and the meager total of resources the Spire allocates." Headmaster Victor laid out the tower's failings frankly.
"The new blood the academy trains generally has little talent. To date, the academy has produced only one Transdimensional Mage — and even he was promoted from free apprentice."
Adam grew more and more puzzled. What does any of this have to do with me?
Mage Victor continued, "I hope that within twenty years, you will not advance to full-fledged Mage."
Adam's figure stilled; not understanding, he raised his head to look at the Mage, hoping for an explanation.
"Rest assured, I mean you no ill will, and this benefits you as well. Each Elemental Spire organizes an apprentice advancement trial once a century. Apprentices who pass that trial and then successfully advance join the Spire they belong to and become war Mages. In the Mage Plane, a war Mage's status is higher than a tower Mage's."
Adam asked, "What does 'war Mage' mean?"
"War Mages are full-fledged Mages who can take part in planar campaigns. In a planar campaign, so long as you survive, you can obtain resources far beyond what a tower Mage gets — an enormous help to your future research and advancement."
"Can't every full-fledged Mage join a planar campaign?"
Mage Victor laughed out loud. "Of course not. Planar campaigns are full of the unknown and of danger, so the demands on a Mage are high; ordinary Mages are not qualified to take part. Praise be to the great Guardian of the World, Anne Croft — because of her wisdom, the Mage World has the Magic Net."
"The Magic Net?"
"A vast network presided over by the Guardian of the World and maintained jointly by all True Spirit Archmages, linking the souls of every full-fledged Mage qualified to become a war Mage. War Mages upload their souls into the Magic Net, together resisting the rejection of the world will and protecting their Mage souls from the prying of uncanny beings. Through the Magic Net, war Mages can communicate regardless of plane or distance. For now, knowing this much is enough; as for its other uses, if you can pass the trial you will learn them naturally."
Adam's heart surged. The Magic Net — a different name, a different construction, but isn't this the Internet?
"The direct selection of war Mages happens once every century. After that you may apply for testing at any time, but you will no longer be eligible to join a Spire. So putting off your advancement to full-fledged Mage for a while is to your benefit."
Adam had no idea what advantage joining a Holy Tower would bring him, though he imagined it would not be small. But what does the academy get out of this?
Hearing Adam's question, Mage Victor said, "For a tower, successfully producing a war Mage brings an enormous reward from the Spire. The reward is all-encompassing, and its value is far greater than forcibly keeping a Mage with war-Mage qualifications in the tower through a contract."
Adam very much liked this open, aboveboard way the Mages talked. They did not use their superior power to force the weak to act according to their will; there was no scheming and no hegemony — they laid out the pros and cons and let the apprentice choose for himself.
"Why me?"
Mage Victor said with regret, "Every war Mage is a talent who, at the same stage, far surpasses all the rest. And at Mordo Academy, as things stand, you are the only one with a decent chance of passing the test; the others' hopes are very faint."
Adam bowed to show humility, then asked, "What does the trial consist of?"
Mage Victor looked at Adam. "Exterminate a Magefoe."
Merry Christmas!