Meanwhile, Orion's pupils expanded in shock. 'What kind of suffering did he go through for his mind to be so resilient?' He thought, drawing a mouthful of air to relax after emptying eighty percent of his rich mana pool.
As the strongest astral mage, he knew better than anyone how arduous mind fortification was. After all, to take a peek into the future, his cast had to suffer from mental assaults. Most talents ended up ruined because they arrogantly proceeded without erecting solid enough mental barriers, leading to their psyche collapsing.
However, the ghost didn't share his training routine, making an icy shiver run down the old arcanist's spine. 'How adaptable and focused is he?' he pondered, genuine interest lightening his brown eyes. At this point, he didn't doubt that Adam's powerful mind resulted from his mistakes, fears, and losses. But also from his convictions, pride, and ability to admit his weaknesses and work to fix them.
Upon reaching that thought, his face turned solemn, and hints of genuine respect for the ghost flashed in his eyes. Despite his unpresentable appearance, with his dirt-stained robes, its fabric sticking to his skin after the effort and the lingering headache, he turned towards Shepard.
Ignoring the dean's hawk-like eyes scrutinising his movements and the boy's trembling shoulders, he said, "I'll be blunt with you, old friend. This ghost is wasting his potential learning alchemy under you. Don't misinterpret my intentions; I'm genuinely concerned about his future." Then, he walked to a nearby bench, relieving some of his exhaustion before continuing.
"He can become this millennium's best astral mage. So, let him transfer here."
Upon hearing the ludicrous demand, Shepard felt his blood boil. "Go find your own disciples instead of trying to steal mine! He has potential for astral magic? Don't kid me. He is also the best alchemist I ever met and can already brew tier-four potions flawlessly!" He retorted, his voice trembling in anger.
"Shepard," Orion started, his soothing voice and relaxed face confusing him. "Don't let your bias hinder his future," he added, causing his colleague's following words to stay stuck in his throat and a pensive frown to form on his forehead. "If he is talented in alchemy, teach him for a year or two, then let him learn other things," he concluded with a radiant smile.
His thought-inducing advice caused the gray-haired arcanist to contemplate for a moment. Adam's incredible control over mana was indeed best suited for auxiliary disciplines that didn't require any specific affinity. Yet, he couldn't help but feel bitter. Traditionally, a disciple only took one mentor during their life, changing it only if an irreconcilable grudge broke their relationship.
After two minutes of silence, he said, a sour smile stretching his lips, "Ask him what he wants to do. I won't go against his decision." Then, he gazed at Adam's dim eyes, hoping he would awaken soon.
In the meantime, as the arcanists discussed him and Julius expectantly awaited, Adam's eyelids fluttered in his apartment.
"Mhhh." A blissful moan uncontrollably escaped his lips, feeling as if he had taken the best sleep of his life.
After lingering for a moment in his comfortable bed, he rose to his feet as if he had been reborn. His psyche felt like an endless blue sky, filled with the sun's warmth rays.
However, dark clouds quickly covered the beautiful landscape as he remembered their situation. 'Is Julius safe?' He thought, black lines covering his forehead.
But before he could think more, a blinding golden light illuminated the dream place's plaza, its loud rumble scaring and deafening him.
Alerted, he gazed at the sky through the window, palling at the disturbing yet overwhelming sight.
Black cloud sparkling with golden energy raged, covering the red moon entirely as occasional bolts crashed into his apartment.
Confused by the weird occurrence, he thought, 'I'd better not go out... Fortunately, I left the plaza before losing consciousness and reappeared inside my shelter.' A sense of gratitude washed over him as he reflected on his fortunate escape from whatever danger had unfolded outside until he noticed something wrong.
"Where is my body?!" He exclaimed, his lips quivering as he looked at his ethereal limbs in despair. Was he doomed to be a ghost no matter where he stood? Why?
A vengeful glint flashed in his eyes before he turned to Kwame's grimoire. "I'll rip you to shreds," he said, biting his ethereal teeth. If not for his stupid ritual, he wouldn't have lost the only place in which he could feel normal.
But as he snatched the grimoire with a swift motion, his hand... phased through it.
"..." After a brief silence, a torrent of slurs left his mouth as he cursed, cursed, and cursed again his unfair predicament until a lightning bolt thundered behind him, casting ominous shadows on his deformed face and accentuating his fury.
Fortunately, after this rare venting session, he calmed down and refocused on what mattered. He still had no idea about Julius' situation and needed to check the hateful ritual's result.
Race: Spectral sovereign
Affinity: Mana (Perfect)
Talent: Unlocked at thirteen
Job: Tier four alchemist
Class: T3 Mana Conjuror
Free attribute points: 0
Items: Grimoire Lingua, Grimoire Beastaria, Luminous Wildblade, Blade of Adaptation, Gaston's Sovereign Eye, Misha's Genetic Code, Thomas' Swift Shadow Legs, Manacore Heartgem.
Other: Mana bullet LV MAX, Atom Burst LVL MAX, Mage's hands LVL MAX, Gate of Mystical Arsenal LVL MAX, Gungnir LVL MAX.
Passive: Mana Control T4, Enhanced Intuition T1, Dagger mastery T1, Spear mastery T2, Sword mastery T1, Mana Shaping T3, Mana cape T3, Nova's lucky blessing T3.
Note: Soul is damaged. Did you become the avatar? O.O
Upon reading the new entry, he sighed. At least he didn't suffer searching for materials and endure the hellish ritual for nought. But the short note confused him.
However, before he could ponder its significance, unaware the system just taunted him as usual, a notification window popped before his enlarging eyes.
[Advanced class unlocked. Do you wish to upgrade the rare Mana Conjurer profession?]
Who can guess his class right? :D