Translator: CinderTL Zellier opened his eyes.
No longer was he staring at the crude canvas of a tent, but rather the reassuring warmth of a wooden ceiling.
He had slept deeply and comfortably.
Judging by the sunlight streaming through the window, it was already nearing noon.
Zellier lay in bed for a while, lost in thought, before slowly sitting up.
The dreamless sleep had completely refreshed his body and mind, restoring him to peak condition.
His eyes flickered as the system interface materialized, revealing slight changes in his stats.
The analysis progress for Mist Veil Embrace had reached 4%.
Can I really only make 4% progress per day?
he wondered.
That means it’ll take over twenty days to complete the analysis.
What a grind.
Formulaic evolution clearly required time to develop.
If he had chosen spell surge instead, he could have immediately boosted his combat capabilities.
His gaze drifted downward, and he saw that the mysterious Great Creation Art remained at 0%.
Zellier slumped back onto the bed, pondering what to do today.
Going to the Adventurer’s Association for a quest…
there’s no rush.
I still have enough money to last for a while.
Besides, the original owner’s first adventure had been recklessly ill-prepared.
He had only brought a dagger and virtually no protective gear.
It was fortunate that the mission target was only wild wolves and that Marcus and Gray had held off the mist demon; otherwise, things could have gone very wrong.
He needed to prepare thoroughly for his next adventure.
There was also the matter of the Mage’s Assessment to resolve.
Zellier was eager to explore the world’s magic system.
According to his predecessor’s memories, Blackstone Town had a Mage’s Guild, but due to cowardice and self-doubt, he had never dared to approach it.
Now that he had chosen the path of a mage, he would inevitably have to interact with this organization in the future.
Perhaps he could even witness high-level mages casting advanced spells, allowing his formulaic evolution to take effect.
“Well then…
I’ll visit the Mage’s Guild today and get myself assessed,” Zellier muttered as he climbed out of bed.
After a quick wash, Zellier enjoyed a breakfast of salted minced meat with roasted potatoes before leaving the inn.
However, his first stop wasn’t the Mage’s Guild, but a clothing store.
Zellier’s current attire was rather shabby—not quite homeless, but not much better.
His rough linen clothes, stained with wolf blood and mud, made him look both wild and disheveled.
At the Adventurer’s Association, no one cared—everyone dressed similarly.
But the Mage’s Guild would never tolerate such attire.
Those mage lords might mistake him for a beggar and kick him out.
Standing before the mirror, Zellier admired his new look.
He had chosen a gray, long-sleeved tunic cinched at the waist, paired with black linen trousers and mid-calf soft leather boots.
Though a fairly common outfit, Zellier’s Charm stat of 46 clearly worked its magic.
Years of farm work hadn’t tanned his skin dark or roughened his features; his complexion remained fair.
His low body fat percentage gave him a sharp jawline and defined facial contours.
Combined with his black hair, dark eyes, and soft features, Zellier possessed a youthful, almost boyish handsomeness.
In the mirror, he looked less like an adventurer and more like a young instructor at an academy.
“Not bad,” Zellier murmured, straightening his collar and smiling faintly.
He had purchased the outfit for five silver coins, leaving him with three gold and fifty-three silver in savings.
After asking for directions several times and winding through the streets, Zellier finally arrived at his destination.
Compared to the Adventurer’s Association, the Mage’s Guild was undoubtedly far more luxurious and grand.
It wasn’t a single building, but rather a sprawling complex of interconnected structures enclosed by a high stone wall.
The main entrance was marked by a massive white marble arch.
Even the guards stationed beneath the arch looked more disciplined and better equipped than those at the Blackstone Town gate.
Zellier took a deep breath and stepped forward.
“Halt,” the guard raised his hand.
“Present your identification.” Zellier produced his Adventurer’s Badge as usual.
The guard examined it, his voice tinged with suspicion.
“Do you not possess a badge issued by the Mage’s Guild?” “This is my first time visiting the Mage’s Guild,” Zellier explained.
“I’m here today for the Mage’s Assessment.” “Please wait here.” The guard turned and entered a small room beside the arch, rummaging through drawers before emerging with a small crystal orb.
At the guard’s instruction, Zellier placed his palm over the orb.
He channeled a small amount of mana, and a faint glow bloomed within the slightly cloudy crystal sphere.
Looks like a mana detection device, Zellier mused inwardly.
“Alright, you may enter now,” the guard said, stepping aside and gesturing toward a direction.
“The Comprehensive Affairs Office, responsible for assessing mage ranks, is that way.” “Thank you,” Zellier nodded.
The Mage’s Guild interior was surprisingly quiet.
Zellier glanced around and saw only a few people passing by sporadically.
This was to be expected.
Mages were inherently fewer in number compared to other professions.
If Blackstone Town hadn’t possessed the Blackstone Vein and Graywood Forest—two major resource hubs—the Mage’s Guild wouldn’t have even established a branch here.
Typically, only city-level settlements qualified for such a presence.
After crossing the lawn, Zellier arrived at the Comprehensive Affairs Office the guard had indicated.
The interior was a spacious, brightly lit hall filled with the pleasant aroma of old books.
The receptionist was an elderly mage with a long, white beard, slumped behind the counter, half-asleep.
“Excuse me,” Zellier said softly, waking him.
“I’d like to undergo the Mage’s Assessment.” The Old Mage didn’t even lift his eyelids, merely gesturing toward a nearby bench.
“Wait over there for a while.” Zellier followed the gesture and noticed a girl already seated on the bench.
She appeared to be around Zellier’s age, dressed in a well-tailored pale purple mage’s robe.
Her beautiful long golden curls cascaded down her back, and an exquisitely crafted crimson wand hung at her waist.
Sensing his presence, the girl tilted her head slightly, her gaze meeting Zellier’s.
Jewel-blue eyes…
quite striking, Zellier thought.
Zellier gave the girl a polite nod and sat down a few seats away from her.
Perhaps bored by the wait, the girl took the initiative to speak.
“Hey, are you here for the ranking assessment too?” “Mm-hmm,” Zellier nodded.
“I’m Bev Alberti.
What’s your name?” Bev introduced herself with easy confidence.
“Zellier.” “Zellier…” Bev repeated the name, her tone tinged with curiosity.
“No surname…
so you’re not from a noble family, then?” “No, I’m just a commoner.” Zellier chuckled softly.
“I taught myself magic and thought I’d try the assessment.” (End of the Chapter) —————————————————— What happens next?
Find out on CinderTL (just search it on Google!).
You can read the free chapters up to [Ch52] without even needing to sign up, or unlock up to [Ch184] by becoming a member.
Details can be found on our site.
Go to CinderTL for more details.
🏆Giveaway Grand Prize: 2 Months UNLIMITED Reading + Download and 25 More slots.