Four days had passed since I returned to Eiras.
During those four days, I never missed a single session inside the Astral World. Every day, I filled the Mana Storage Container with the maximum amount of mana it could accept, and whenever I had spare time, I used the Creator Tool to produce materials for alchemy practice.
The results were already becoming noticeable.
The duration of my Astral World had increased from fifteen minutes to sixteen minutes and forty-three seconds. The space itself had expanded as well, becoming noticeably larger than when I first unlocked it.
Small improvements accumulated surprisingly fast when repeated every day.
After finishing my usual morning routine, I stretched my arms and glanced toward the window.
The sky was clear, and the town was already bustling with activity.
Then I remembered something important.
"Today is the assessment."
"That is correct."
Travy's calm voice immediately answered.
I rubbed the back of my neck.
"I wonder what they'll actually test."
"Based on the information provided by Rian, the assessment should evaluate mana quantity, mana quality, mana control, and overall magical aptitude."
"Sounds thorough."
"A proper evaluation should be."
I chuckled.
"Well, I guess there's only one way to find out."
After preparing my equipment, I headed toward the Mage's Guild.
The building was far busier than usual.
Several unfamiliar mages wearing robes from different regions were walking around, while guild staff moved from one place to another carrying documents and magical instruments.
The assessment seemed to be a much larger event than I had expected.
As soon as I entered, a familiar voice greeted me.
"Sir Artorius. Welcome back."
Rian smiled from behind the reception desk.
"Good morning, Miss Rian."
"You're here for the aptitude assessment, right?"
"Yes."
"Then you're right on time. Please show your guild card to one of the assessment staff inside the training hall."
"Understood. Thank you."
I headed toward the training hall.
The moment I stepped inside, I immediately noticed how crowded it was.
Dozens of mages were waiting for their turn while several specialists from the capital supervised the entire event.
Compared to the normal training sessions held here, the atmosphere felt much more formal.
A woman in her twenties soon approached me.
She had chestnut-colored hair tied neatly behind her head and wore the insignia of the Capital Branch on her robe.
"Welcome. Are you here for the aptitude assessment?"
"Yes."
She gave a professional smile.
"Wonderful. My name is Ednia, one of the assessment specialists sent from the Capital Branch of Ladenfreis."
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Artorius."
After checking my guild card, her smile widened slightly.
"Please follow me."
I nodded and followed behind her.
Along the way, I noticed Nadia standing near a man I had never seen before.
Even from a distance, he naturally attracted attention.
His golden hair looked almost unreal beneath the sunlight entering through the windows, while his crimson eyes carried a calm confidence that made him stand out from everyone around him.
He appeared young, perhaps in his late twenties, yet there was a maturity in his bearing that suggested far more experience than his appearance implied.
Before I could think further about it, Ednia stopped in front of a large crystal sphere.
"This will be the first test."
I blinked.
"It looks similar to the device used when I first registered."
"Good observation."
She lightly tapped the side of the apparatus.
"However, this version is far more advanced. It measures both mana quantity and mana quality with significantly greater accuracy."
"Magic technology here really is impressive."
"It certainly is."
Even Travy sounded mildly impressed.
"Magic science within Eiras has developed remarkably well."
Back on Trest, there wasn't a machine capable of measuring mana with this level of precision.
"Go ahead and place your hand on the sphere."
I followed her instructions.
The crystal immediately emitted a soft yellow-green glow.
Several runes appeared across the surface.
Ednia looked at the readings.
Then she looked again.
Then a third time.
"...Impressive."
"Hm?"
"Your mana quantity and mana quality are both measuring between C-Rank and B-Rank standards."
I stared at her.
"Really?"
"Really."
Travy spoke before I could continue.
"You have been continuously expanding your mana capacity for weeks through alchemy, combat, training, and Astral World usage."
"I suppose that's true."
I hadn't checked my status window for quite some time.
It wasn't that I forgot. I simply didn't want to become obsessed with numbers. Experience and practical skill mattered far more than statistics.
Ednia finally nodded.
"The readings are stable. There doesn't appear to be any error."
"That's good to hear."
"Let's proceed to the next section."
The second test took place at the guild's firing range.
Several reinforced training dummies stood in a line.
Unlike the normal ones, these were clearly designed for assessments.
"The purpose of this test is simple."
Ednia pointed toward the targets.
"We'll measure the power and consistency of your spells."
I nodded.
"So this serves as verification for the first test?"
Her eyes brightened.
"Exactly. You're quite perceptive."
I scratched my cheek.
"I try."
"Well then, let's begin."
I extended my hand.
"Water Ball."
The spell shot forward and struck the target. A nearby measuring device immediately recorded the impact.
Ednia checked the results, then she looked at me.
Then she looked back at the results.
"Huh."
"Is something wrong?"
"No."
She smiled.
"The opposite, actually."
For the next twenty minutes, I demonstrated spell after spell.
Water, fire, wind, earth, light, darkness and lightning.
Every result was carefully recorded.
When the test finally ended, Ednia let out a satisfied breath.
"The first assessment was completely accurate."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"Your mana output is extremely stable."
"Stable?"
She nodded.
"Many mages can produce powerful spells."
Her expression grew more serious.
"But maintaining consistent quality across every element is far more difficult."
I never thought about it that way. Yet judging by her reaction, it seemed to be something important.
"Let's move to the final assessment."
This time, she guided me toward another magical device.
At its center floated a white sphere made of what looked like liquid light.
"The last test measures mana control."
I studied the orb.
"And the smaller it becomes, the better the result?"
"Correct."
I took a deep breath before placing my hands against the apparatus.
Mana flowed gently from my body. Instead of focusing on quantity, I focused entirely on precision. Slowly and carefully.
The white sphere began shrinking.
Basketball-sized. To soccer-ball-sized. To baseball-sized. Then smaller and smaller.
Until it was no larger than a ping-pong ball.
Silence filled the room.
When I looked up, Ednia was staring at the result with wide eyes.
"That's..."
She shook her head before laughing softly.
"Artorius, your mana control is already at a level comparable to experienced B-Rank mages."
I blinked.
"That high?"
"That high."
Before I could respond, I noticed several pairs of eyes watching from nearby.
The mages gathered around the hall were suddenly paying very close attention to me.
Then I remembered something.
This assessment wasn't only for rank evaluations.
It was also an opportunity for senior mages to scout potential apprentices.
And judging by the way they were looking at me...
I suddenly felt like a rare treasure displayed in the middle of an auction.
As if responding to my realization, the crowd of observing mages slowly parted.
A single man stepped forward.
The moment he did, the atmosphere around him subtly changed.
It wasn't intimidation, it wasn't pressure, it was presence.
The kind possessed by people who had spent years standing at the top of their field.
His golden hair reflected the light coming through the windows, giving it an almost radiant appearance. His crimson eyes were calm and clear, carrying neither arrogance nor pride despite the attention he naturally attracted. He wore a dark navy robe embroidered with silver patterns, simple at first glance, yet refined enough to show that its owner was someone of considerable status.
As he approached, several mages unconsciously stepped aside to make room for him.
Even Ednia straightened her posture slightly.
That alone told me he wasn't an ordinary mage.
The man stopped in front of me and smiled.
"Artorius, correct?"
"Ah, yes."
I gave a polite bow.
"My name is Artorius."
The man nodded.
"My name is Leonardo Mirage."
My eyes widened slightly.
Even before he continued, I already recognized the name.
Nadia had mentioned him before.
One of the most respected mages in the Mage's Guild.
A Magus of Alchemy. A Grandmaster of Magic Combat Arts. A Grandmaster of Summoning Arts. And a Grandmaster of Taming Arts.
Any one of those titles would be enough to make someone famous.
Yet this man possessed all four.
Seeing him in person felt strangely unreal.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you."
His tone was calm and friendly, lacking the superiority I expected from someone with such achievements.
"The pleasure is mine, Sir Leonardo."
He studied me for a brief moment.
Not in an uncomfortable way.
Rather, it felt like an experienced teacher observing a promising student.
"I've heard quite a lot about you."
"You have?"
"More than you might think."
His smile widened slightly.
"Nadia has spoken highly of you."
Almost on cue, Nadia appeared beside him.
"Master tends to ignore most reports from branch offices."
"Miss Nadia..."
She folded her arms.
"But when I mentioned an apprentice alchemist who understood the basics in a single lesson and immediately produced high-quality potions, he became interested."
Leonardo chuckled.
"In my defense, talented people are difficult to ignore."
I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
"I think you're giving me too much credit."
"No."
Leonardo shook his head.
"If anything, I believe people are giving you too little."
His answer caught me off guard. He looked toward the assessment equipment nearby.
"The records from Roste Town."
Then he looked back at me.
"The reports from Romanoff."
Another pause.
"The testimony of Knight Commander Herald."
Another.
"The potion production records."
And another.
"The results of today's assessment."
His crimson eyes met mine directly.
"Each of them individually would have been impressive."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"But all of them belong to the same person."
I found myself unable to respond immediately.
Not because I disagreed, but because it felt strange hearing someone summarize my accomplishments like that.
Especially someone of his stature.
"I simply did what I could."
"A humble answer."
Leonardo chuckled.
"But effort alone cannot explain results."
Even Travy spoke up.
"He has a valid point."
I internally sighed.
"You're taking his side now?"
"I am merely stating facts."
I almost laughed.
Leonardo tilted his head slightly.
"Hm?"
"Nothing, Sir Leonardo."
Thankfully, he didn't question it further.
Instead, his expression became slightly more serious.
"Artorius."
"Yes?"
"I dislike wasting time."
That immediately got my attention.
"I've trained many apprentices over the years."
His gaze became distant for a moment, as though recalling old memories.
"Some were talented."
"Some were hardworking."
"Some possessed both."
Then he looked directly at me.
"But very few possessed your level of adaptability."
My heart skipped a beat.
Adaptability.
That was the trait people kept noticing.
Not my mana, not my spells, not my alchemy.
It was my ability to learn, to adjust, to improve, to find solutions.
Leonardo seemed to have noticed it as well.
"I've reviewed your combat reports."
He crossed his arms.
"The way you utilized Chain Lightning during the stampede."
"The way you immobilized the Forest Wolf King."
"The way you adjusted your tactics based on battlefield conditions."
His smile returned.
"Those are not the actions of someone who simply memorizes knowledge."
A feeling of warmth spread through my chest.
Because unlike praise for talent, this was praise for the effort behind it.
The countless hours of studying, training, experimenting. learning, failing, then improving.
Leonardo extended a hand toward me.
"So I'll ask directly."
The surrounding hall became unusually quiet.
Even the nearby mages seemed interested in the answer.
"Would you become my apprentice?"
For a brief moment, I froze.
Not because I didn't know the answer.
But because of what the offer represented.
A Magus, A Grandmaster in multiple disciplines, and one of the most respected figures in the Mage's Guild.
Offering to personally teach me.
It was an opportunity that many would dream of receiving.
Travy spoke calmly.
"Accepting would significantly increase your growth rate."
"I know."
"Then your answer seems obvious."
I couldn't help smiling.
It really did.
Nadia stepped forward.
"Art."
I turned toward her.
"Master rarely takes apprentices."
Her expression was unusually serious.
"Extremely rarely."
Even Leonardo looked slightly embarrassed.
"Must you phrase it like that?"
"Yes."
She immediately answered.
"You rejected three candidates from the capital last month."
"..."
"And five the month before that."
"..."
"And—"
"That will be enough, Nadia."
The hall erupted with laughter.
Even I struggled to hold mine back.
Seeing a respected Magus getting scolded by his own apprentice felt oddly refreshing.
Nadia looked satisfied before turning back to me.
"My point is simple."
Her expression softened.
"If Master personally asks someone to become his apprentice, it means he genuinely believes in that person's potential."
I understood.
This wasn't merely recruitment.
This was recognition.
A teacher seeing value in a student.
Slowly, I bowed.
"Then..."
I raised my head.
"I'll be in your care, Master."
For the first time since meeting him, Leonardo's smile became noticeably warmer.
"I'm glad."
His voice carried genuine satisfaction.
"Because I look forward to seeing how far you'll grow."
For some reason, hearing those words filled me with anticipation.
Not pressure, not anxiety, but excitement.
The excitement of learning from someone truly extraordinary.
And the feeling that my journey in Eiras had just opened another important chapter.