The Elite Apprentice stopped before the massive doors of the Hall of Tomes.
Instead of entering, he turned to face the five.Every apprentice team in the Crimson
Tower,had a leader. It wasn't a position of authority or privilege but one of responsibility.
During missions, the leader's judgment became the team's judgment. If a mission failed because of poor decisions, the leader would be the first held accountable.For that reason, he wouldn't appoint one himself.The decision belonged to them.
Silence settled over the corridor.None of them stepped forward.One by one, they quietly rejected the position, each recognizing their own shortcomings. One admitted he was too impulsive, another lacked confidence, while the girl openly acknowledged that her temper alone disqualified her.
Before long, their attention gradually shifted toward Kelvin.It wasn't because he was the strongest among them. In fact, none of them knew who he was.They remembered the shoulder check.
At the time, they had mistaken restraint for weakness. Only later, after hearing Kelvin's reasoning, did they realize he had simply seen further than the rest of them. While they had been thinking about pride, he had been thinking about consequences.More importantly, throughout the day, Kelvin had remained calm whenever the others acted on emotion. He observed before speaking, and when he finally did, his words always carried weight.
The decision became unanimous without anyone forcing it.Even Kelvin himself looked surprised.The Elite Apprentice watched the exchange with quiet interest before a faint smile appeared on his face.
"A leader chosen by his companions is worth far more than one appointed by an instructor."
His gaze settled on Kelvin.
"Congratulations, from this moment onward, you're responsible for Team Five."
Kelvin could not believe his companion when their gaze settled on him he wanted to say "what the hell how am I a leader "but after hearing their reasoning and seeing how the instructor had made it official he could not reject it he let it go it was time to enter the hall of tomes
They were exited
The elite apprentice told them they could not all come in together as he did not want them influencing each other on what to learn he asked them to come in one by one and when they went in they came out with three sets of books none of them had gotten their storage ring or bracelet yet only Kelvin and one other remained Kelvin entered.
When he did the shelves were streamlined books from all over spell books ,alchemy archives, research notes and many other things they were in the spell book section he asked Kelvin what he wanted to learn and Kelvin thought for a minute before speaking
"When we came into the crimson tower I saw some apprentice flicking their hands together to create spell what was that"
The elite apprentice replied
"Hand seals this is what I mean by influence because you see others doing it you think if you do it as well it would work for you what if you don't measure up, don't start your practice based on what you see others doing you have to do what feels most comfortable with you do you still want to learn it"
Even after hearing what the instructor said Kelvin still wanted to learn it he Said
"Yes senior"
The instructor said
"Stop with the senior thing, you can call me instructor Kenny"
He waved his hands and a book flew to him it was called introduction to hand seal when he saw him moving the book without touching it he was astonished he wanted to do the same he asked the instructor how he could do it as well
"Magic of telekinesis, want to learn"
The boy nodded he waved his hands and another book flew to him it was called mana guide he told Kelvin he would leave as his first two books were based on influence he did not want him to pick the last like that as well when he left Kelvin looked around .
He found nothing comfortable as he wanted to take everything with him every single spell book mesmerized him and yet he could only pick one seeing as how the instructor was not with him he had an idea he tapped his interface he wanted to take a picture but the moment he did every single light went red the instructor entered and said
"Don't even try it, do you think you're the first person who had that idea"
"Take more than three books the alarm will go off
"Try to take a picture the alarm will go off"
"After taking three if you try to sneak peak another book the alarm would still go off"
It was now Kelvin knew nothing in the crimson tower was without eyes he could not make such a foolish mistake like that again he looked around carefully his eyes came to rest on a black tome when he picked it up it was light like there was only a few pages within he could not tell what kind of spell it held as it was the only thing that stood out in this mountain of books after picking the three he came out
When instructor Kenny saw the book in his hands he was shocked he had not expected Kelvin to make that choice he asked him if he was sure and Kelvin found it weird why was he asking him about the choice he made
The instructor said
"That book is something every apprentice here avoids its a demonic tome if you're not sure of the choice you made I'd advise you to return it"
Kelvin looked at the book in his hands he thought of going to return it but if he did and this book was truly special he would be missing his chance he told the instructor he had made his choice and the instructor let it go the last apprentice made his choice and came out as well
"Remember before practicing spells you need to reach first circle the book on mana guide will help you with that"
It seemed everyone had picked the mana guide book among the remaining
"Let me take you to your assigned lodging so you may begin your practice"
They turned to look at each other they still had not received their storage ring and bracelet and this instructor was about taking them to their lodgings when would they receive it as instructor Kenny found it weird he asked what it was and Kelvin spoke up
"We still haven't received our storage rings and bracelet yet"
The instructor said
"That's true I completely forgot"
They were stunned previously they felt their elite apprentice was easy going now they felt he was irresponsible how do you forget the things you give new apprentice on their first day from his storage ring he brought out a crystal tablet that contained five storage rings and bracelet he said
"the storage ring are where you keep your personal things if you don't want others to have them don't lose it the bracelet contains two uniforms the crimson and black any of which is acceptable by the crimson tower"
He took them to their assigned lodging and left them alone it was time to start their practice when Kelvin entered the room he could feel the dense mana permeating his skin unconsciously he almost stepped back but now he was a sorcerer things like this should be natural to him he stepped inside.