Chapter 1996 Aptitudes
The two Romans, Armenius and Titus, displayed an eagerness to enroll in the magus academy, envisioning it as an advanced institution where they would be instructed by divine beings. Though their understanding was limited, the prospect of learning from god-like figures fueled their enthusiasm.
Kingrig of the Mayans approached the opportunity with little expectation. His decision to join was purely instinctual, driven by a desire to stay close to the strongest warriors and further hone his skills.
The Han Swordsman, Ha Ron, proved a bit more challenging to convince. Filled with distrust, he was reluctant to join something beyond his comprehension. Employing spirit reading, Emery discerned the young man's reluctance. However, a demonstration of advanced sword techniques managed to capture Ha Ron's interest, revealing a thirst for knowledge beneath his guarded exterior.
Despite this progress, Broken Sword and Flying Snow, Ha Ron's mentors, cautioned Emery about the young man rebellous character. His answer was firm. "Don't worry; I'll take responsibility for him,"
Emery, having maintained a consistent line of communication with the Magus Academy, was optimistic about securing at least two additional spots for the upcoming entrance exams scheduled to commence in a month. While he ardently hoped that Magus Nathan could facilitate these positions, Emery pragmatically acknowledged that if this were not possible, he would need to choose the most promising candidates from the existing group of four.
Among the aspirants, Kingrig stood out with an exceptional A spirit aptitude, while the others displayed B aptitudes. Emery, drawing from his own experiences, knew that innate aptitudes were not the sole determinants of talent. Reflecting on his own journey as a C aptitude, Emery firmly believed that, given access to the magus universe, these four warriors could be guided to reach their maximum potential within the next five years.
Having crafted a persuasive message to the individual overseeing the magus academy entrance, Emery awaited a reply, the outcome of which would chart the course for the young warriors. He advised the four to return to their families and friends while anticipating news in the coming weeks, their fate inextricably tied to the reply that would determine their journey toward the magus realm.
Following the culmination of the tournament, Emery gathered the four accomplished warriors—Brandt, Octavius, Glita, and Gwen—within the sacred confines of the Bodhi Temple. The assembly included all the magus figures; Klea, Chumo, Ashaka, and Grand Magus Fuxi, all contributing their insights to guide these individuals onto the magus path.
Brandt, a warrior with a B spirit aptitude, had achieved the formation of his 5th pillar, a testament to his relentless dedication. Despite his lower spirit aptitude, he had spent decades honing his skills and perfecting the foundation of lightning elements. Emery recognized the potential for growth within Brandt, envisioning a path where, with proper guidance, the warrior could ascend to the magus realm within three to five years. This transformation would not only make Brandt a formidable force but also a valuable backup for the looming Kronos duel.
Octavius, the talented Roman with an A spirit aptitude, posed a dilemma for Emery. If only the man were a few years younger, he would have easily become Emery's top choice for entry into the magus academy. However, age had imposed a limitation on the Roman's potential progress.
With only two pillars formed, Octavius faced a significant gap in his spiritual cultivation. Emery understood that bringing him to a comparable level with Brandt would require at least three years of intensive training. The road to the magus realm, a goal Emery envisioned for Octavius, seemed more distant, necessitating an additional 3 to 5 years of dedicated effort.
The training strategy for Octavius involved a meticulous approach to his dual Earth and fire pillar formation, spiritual refinement, and combat techniques. Emery, along with the guidance of experienced magus, sought to expedite Octavius's progression.
Emery harbored no concerns for Glita's progression. Even without breaking through to the magus realm, the girl's strength would continue to burgeon through the refining process of her unique wolf gene. With her inherent B aptitude talent, it was a matter of time before Glita reached the magus realm, likely in just a few years.
His primary focus was to instill enough interest in Glita to hone her combat skills. He recognized the importance of providing her with a suitable training environment and partners. Having accomplished warriors like Brandt or Octavius as training companions could potentially accelerate her development and ensure that Glita maximized her combat prowess in tandem with her burgeoning magus abilities.
To facilitate Glita's combat training, Emery envisioned involving her in sparring sessions with skilled partners like Brandt or Octavius. The presence of accomplished warriors would not only challenge her but also accelerate her growth.
The real challenge for Emery lay with Gwen. The transformation of her spirit aptitude from a meager D to a more promising C level, courtesy of the legendary sword, marked a miraculous improvement. However, the formidable path to magus-level prowess presented a daunting prospect. Achieving progress to all 9 pillars of the rank 9 alone would probably take a decade of dedicated effort, and the subsequent breakthrough to the magus realm demanded an additional 10 to 20 years of unwavering commitment.
This realistic outlook was shared by all the magus present, including the venerable Grand Magus Fuxi. Remarkably, Gwen accepted this destiny with calm resolve, portraying a resilience that left a profound impact on the onlookers.
Feeling the weight of Emery's concerns, Klea intervened with a thoughtful suggestion. "We can utilize faction merits to grant her access to the magus universe. This would significantly enhance her chances of reaching the magus realm faster."
The idea of using faction merits, to allow non-magus to enter the magus universe, was met with approval from the gathered magus. Despite the large amount of cost, Emery expressed his intention to provide Gwen with the best opportunities. The others, too, supported the decision. However, to their surprise, Gwen respectfully declined the offer.
"If this means I have to spend dozens of years away from my people, I must sincerely decline."
It was never truly Gwen's wish to become immortal; hence, the decision was easy for her to make. Emery sighed, realizing the difficulty of convincing her otherwise. The weight of this decision lingered in his thoughts over the next few days, until an idea came to him.
With Terra City requiring Emery's presence, he found a solution. Deciding to spend a portion of his merits, he secured a two-
week passage into a magus world. Approaching Gwen, he extended an invitation,
"Come and see the outside world with me."
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