Roe and Solomon had made it to a different room.

In no time, everyone in the other room came to realize that the boy who followed the great mage was an SSS rank.

Discussion immediately erupted.

"He’s the first in like what, 50 years?" one said.

"No, no. It’s not even that significant. Forget all that."

"There’s no SS-rank mage alive right now, only S and, well, Merlin."

"The fact this kid completely jumped an S and went straight to Merlin. Talk about crazy skill," Darwin said.

Darwin — A-rank mage — Thunder talent.

’Why now?’ Ramon thought.

Ramon — S-rank mage — Time talent.

"Hey, you there. You said you’re A rank, right?" Darwin asked.

Ramon replied with a yes.

"May I speak with you in private then?" Darwin followed up.

"Sure," Ramon said.

He was skeptical, but he didn’t want to raise a fuss.

They both stepped aside.

The others just continued debating Roe’s status.

"I guess someone of your status shouldn’t be wasting your time there," Darwin said.

"I don’t quite follow," Ramon responded.

"Oh, please."

"’I’m A rank so that answer doesn’t cut it,’" he quoted Ramon.

"That’s good. Your response. But you’re not fooling me."

"Your mana reading is way too intense. The flow, I can tell. It’s more vast. The current says it all. The current never lies."

"I’m sure you’re getting what I’m saying," Darwin continued.

"There’s a reason, isn’t there? I mean the reason you know something more impressive has to be going on with that Roe boy is because you’re an S rank."

"This accusation would have been bold and unfounded if your expression wasn’t so vivid."

"They picked Roe, you’re S rank, to reduce heat off yourself, you claim yourself an A rank and then discredit yourself by leaving room for Roe to be an S rank or maybe something similar."

Darwin paused.

"That was a mouthful. I think I kinda lost myself in the sauce somewhere back there," he said.

Still smiling, he looked at Ramon.

There was no denying something this obvious.

"Hi, I’m Darwin," Darwin said as he extended his hand to shake.

"I’m Ramon."

Ramon responded in kind and they shared a handshake.

"I like people like you. Let’s stick together for as long as we can," Darwin said.

Ramon was a bit surprised.

Most new awakeners saw others as rivals and as the competition.

’This guy’s different. He’s a rank lower, so I have more reserves and the chances of a better talent. Yet he wants to foster a friendship.’

Ramon smiled.

"I don’t know about all you rambled about."

"I’m Ramon, an A-rank mage. Pleasure to meet you, Darwin, the A-rank mage."

—

Back to the room with Solomon.

"With all due respect, I’d like to know what’s bothering you before we go see the master."

Roe was silent at first.

He then quickly realized this wasn’t the time.

"I didn’t do it."

"I couldn’t do it."

"I read the books, everything, followed the maps and rituals, but still the gods have forsaken me."

Solomon had just begun understanding.

This was all about the god system.

To think someone with such potential would be taken back by mere myths.

Solomon was getting disappointed.

He had to reassure himself that he stood before a great man, or one who would soon be seen as such.

"I didn’t do it."

"I awakened and so what? No god system."

"I’m a failure."

Solomon didn’t quite understand.

The god system was a myth. There’s literally no proof it exists.

"Merlin, on the other hand, is living and breathing. He’s physical, tangible and for you and no one else, Merlin is attainable," he said.

"I’ve been fighting and training by Merlin’s side for over 20 years and even I can’t comprehend some spells. It’s just the nature of complexities."

"You’re different. If you trained with Merlin, you’d be boundless. Why be a god’s servant when you can be your own master?" Solomon questioned.

"It’s not that simple," Roe said.

He tried getting back his composure.

"8 years."

"I’ve wasted the last 8 years of my life studying texts, scrolls, scriptures to get to this point."

"I’ve collated the data, done countless analyses. This was supposed to work."

"I was supposed to do this for Fredrick."

His voice changed. You could tell he was about to let one rip.

Solomon saw there was really nothing he could say.

’This thing with this Fredrick fellow must mean a lot to him,’ Solomon thought.

"You have your thing, I have mine," he said.

Solomon summoned a circle that transported both of them to a garden.

At the garden’s center sat an old man.

He was meditating.

Roe was consumed by the presence.

He was in shock.

A different kind.

Solomon looked at him with a smile.

He was happy that Roe was no longer emotional and spoiling the mood.

Roe began to suffocate.

He coughed and coughed.

It only got louder and more extreme.

His top half began to expand like a ball.

He became round.

"Shit," Solomon exclaimed. "I forgot to activate the protection spell."

He summoned a sphere that swallowed Roe whole.

He was relieved.

Roe emerged from it better than he entered.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t do that earlier."

Solomon wanted to explain, but Roe said it was alright.

"I’m sorry, I should have activated the barrier—"

"To keep me from absorbing too much wasted mana that Merlin dissipates?"

"I’m good."

Roe completed the statement.

"Do you mind?" he asked Solomon.

Solomon smiled.

Roe walked up to the man.

They were going to have a conversation.

"Em, good morning, Mr. Merlin. Can we talk?"

**************

"Please let’s organize ourselves", another presenter just walked in.

He demanded the new mages return to the hall so the orientation proper may begin.

They followed as he instructed.

They took seats and awaited the orientation.

This was going to be their ultimate insight into the world of mages.

Ramon walked in.

No one noticed.

It was like you would expect.

The presenter began to speak. He immediately stammered. He looked in Ramon’s general direction and was immediately overwhelmed with a myraid of emotions.