Chapter 54

And finally, the day of the exam returned.

“Burn, flames! Fly and burn that pile of wood!”

A small flame shot by a trainee flew and hit the pile of wood.

However, due to its weak intensity, the flame only lasted for a brief moment before it failed to spread and fizzled out.

“Ugh, why isn’t it working? Burn, flames! Fly and…!”

“Stop, that’s enough. Go back.”

“No, I can do it! Just one more time…!”

“I said stop. Are you planning to disobey the examiner’s instructions?”

“Ugh… Yes…”

The trainee who failed the exam returned to their seat, tears streaming down their face.

“Sniff… This was the last exam…”

Riana couldn’t help but feel that the trainee’s story was all too familiar.

This was already her second exam.

And if she didn’t pass this time, she would have to go through another month of training before taking the third exam.

All her preparations for the exam were perfect.

The magic to create flames, the magic to shoot the created flames.

She had practiced combining the two thousands of times.

There was only one thing left to consider.

It was what Ronos had said.

– You already know, don’t you? That it’s not your fault for failing. –

– Clearly realize what you want, and long for it. That’s the only answer. –

– If you just enter the Magic Tower, I’ll take you as my apprentice. –

It was cryptic, but at the same time, it was a very sweet promise.

If she could solve Ronos’s task and pass the exam, it was clear that a smooth road would open up for her as a magician.

‘I know. I know what I want. It’s to become a great magician and help Kairon oppa and the Vanguard. But longing… What exactly is longing…?’

While she was lost in thought, Riana’s turn was approaching.

Ronos and Bestie were watching Riana and the other trainees from a distance.

Ronos, who had come to observe the exam again after the last one.

It was a great honor and effort for an Archmage to observe the trainees’ exams, but Bestie knew that Ronos wouldn’t come without a purpose.

She kept glancing at Ronos, but…

“Why do you keep looking at me, Bestie?”

“Hoho, I can’t fool you, Ronos-nim.”

The Archmage, who had lived for many years, quickly noticed Bestie’s subtle glances in the tense atmosphere.

“You seem curious about something.”

“Yes, that’s right. I suddenly became curious. There are only two Archmages in our Rostia Magic Tower, right? And one of them is you, Ronos-nim.”

“That’s correct.”

“Even the High Magicians don’t come to observe the exams, but you’ve come twice in a row now. What’s the reason?”

“…Is that all you’re curious about?”

“Of course I’m curious. And I’m not the only one. Everyone in the Magic Tower, everyone in the magic world, must be curious.”

“Hmph.”

Ronos snorted and didn’t answer Bestie, continuing to watch the exam in silence.

By the time three more trainees had failed, Ronos and Bestie noticed one trainee entering.

It was Riana, waiting for her turn after the trainee who had just finished the exam.

At that moment, Bestie noticed Ronos’s usually dull eyes widen slightly.

“You really care about that trainee, don’t you? Am I right?”

“…”

“In my opinion, that trainee is very special. Of course, being the daughter of the Vanguard commander is special, but there’s something even more special about her.”

“Bestie.”

“Yes, Ronos-nim.”

“…The trainees only know you as the manager, but in reality, your role is much more significant. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s true. But someone might be listening, so lower your voice.”

[Is this better?]

Bestie’s eyes widened.

Ronos had just performed a high-level magic to transmit his voice directly into her mind without any incantation or preparation.

It was no wonder he was an Archmage.

[You don’t need to answer out loud. Just think in your head. I’ll hear it.]

‘You’re amazing, Ronos-nim. Not only can you transmit your voice through magic, but you can also read my thoughts. I wonder if we’re really the same species.’

[….]

She had thrown in a little joke, but Ronos didn’t respond.

‘Alright, alright. I won’t joke anymore. Please continue.’

[You evaluate the trainees’ character and potential. And you ruthlessly cut out those who don’t meet the standards, even if they pass the exam. So, what about Riana?]

‘Well… How should I put it…’

Bestie thought for a moment, then found the right words.

‘She’s pitiful.’

[Pitiful? Why? She’s the daughter of the Vanguard commander and has exceptional magical talent.]

‘Regardless of that, she’s not used to being hated. She struggled so much after failing the last exam and being noticed in this batch.’

[That’s what inefficiency is, Bestie.]

‘Inefficiency?’

[Riana has a desire to become a strong magician. But that desire is weak somewhere. It’s not enough to become a true longing that drives her to greater heights. Even her desire to think of others is becoming a burden. I’m trying to remove that.]

In that moment, Bestie sensed something terrifying in Ronos’s words.

“Ronos-nim, are you saying…?”

Bestie couldn’t hold back and stood up abruptly, raising her voice.

Everyone was startled by Bestie’s sudden action, but Ronos acted as if nothing had happened, ignoring her gaze and looking straight ahead.

“Riana trainee. Step forward.”

“Yes!”

Riana answered energetically and stepped forward.

Of course, she was met with a flood of hateful glances.

“She’s definitely going to pass this time, right? She already failed once as a show.”

“Yeah. They must have already scripted her to pass. What kind of magical equipment is she using? Where is she hiding it?”

“Haha, I think she’s hiding it in that big chest of hers. Where else could she hide it?”

“Who knows? Maybe she hid it in the most secretive place…?”

All sorts of curses, insults, and vulgar jokes poured out.

But Riana pushed them aside and stepped forward.

“Pick up the staff.”

Riana very carefully picked up the exam staff.

She couldn’t feel anything from the staff, but Ronos had said there was definitely a trap hidden in it.

– On the exam day, the magic I’ll place on that staff is very simple. It’s a magic that dismisses vague desires. –

A magic that dismisses vague desires.

Riana closed her eyes tightly and reminded herself of what she wanted.

To become a great magician and return to everyone’s side to be of help.

‘For that, I must pass!’

With that determination, she shouted as loudly as she could, making the exam hall echo.

“Burn, flames!”

The staff began to resonate with Riana’s mana.

But…

Nothing happened, just like last time.

Riana’s face turned pale as she thought it would work this time.

‘Why? I want to become strong. I want to become strong and return to my family’s side!’

“Please, please! Burn!”

Riana desperately shouted, but the staff didn’t respond to her desperation.

Despair and silence followed.

Riana instinctively turned her gaze to Ronos.

What she saw there was Ronos’s eyes filled with contempt.

Ronos, meeting Riana’s gaze, muttered softly.

“I expected more, but you’re nothing. Disappointing me like this.”

After saying that, Ronos stood up and turned away indifferently.

“Leave as a failure. Return to your people as a loser. They’ll pretend to care for you, but in reality, they’ll laugh at you. All those you wanted to help, all those who cared for you…!”

The curse was far more vicious and cutting than any the other trainees had thrown at her. Riana could only stand there, trembling.

“Go back, Riana trainee.”

“No. If it ends like this…”

“I said go back!”

At that moment, countless thoughts swirled in Riana’s mind.

Just as Ronos had said, the gazes of the people around her became even more vicious.

And she realized that if she had to take the exam again, she would have to endure those vicious gazes and curses for another month.

“She got special treatment and still failed. Isn’t that just incompetence?”

“Look at her face. She didn’t expect this either.”

“Go die, you pathetic…!”

“…What do you know?”

Riana spoke up.

“…?”

“I’m not incompetent! I didn’t get any special treatment! But you… you don’t even know and yet you…!”

Riana gripped the staff tightly again.

‘I want to show them. I’m different from those trash who only know how to criticize others! I want to show them, I want to crush them! I’ll stand above them, incomparably higher! Please!!’

At that moment.

A great flame rose in Riana’s heart, filled with all the malice she had received.

Whoosh-

The flame didn’t just rise in Riana’s heart.

A tremendous flame erupted around Riana, engulfing everything.

Including the exam pile of wood, and even part of the trainee group.

“Ahhh, help me!”

“Ahhh! My body, my body is on fire!”

Somehow, a terrifying fire had ignited.

And in the midst of that flame, Riana, smelling the stench of burning trash,

“Ahaha, ahahaha…!”

She let out a laugh of ecstasy without even realizing it.