Chapter 7: Let the Show Commence
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
It was soon Mia's and Baiyi's turn after the debacle with the three previous Soul Armature Practitioner and their Soul Armature. As he watched the anxious expression on her face, he could not help but gently ruffled her hair. "Everything's gonna be fine, Mia. We'll be alright."
A smile of relief formed on her face as she nodded. "That's right!" She replied mirthfully. "I have total faith in you, Mr. Hope!"
At least, that was what she was showing outwardly. She did not place any expectations in his words but she did not want to hurt Mr. Hope's pride by suggesting otherwise.
Now, the point of conducting Soul Armature Appraisal was more than just trying to correct misconceptions and faulty techniques that newbie Soul Armature Practitioners usually make (like those three before her), but also, more importantly, it was to assess the level of synergy and potential of the Soul Armature teams.
To put it down simply using examples, let's imagine a duo where the Soul Armature Practitioner was a sorcerer while his Soul Armature was a cavalier, whose forte was in their incredible teamwork— these two would make a perfect tag team, scoring high on synergy. On the other hand, if there was a duo made up of sorcerers who both employ magic that complement each other's affinity, this team would be a perfect tag team that would score high on potential instead. An example of a doomed pair with little synergy would be a sorcerer with a lone wolf assassin type or a sorcerer teaming up with the magically-ignorant berserker.
Practically speaking, if a student of Celestial Fortress Academy managed to score well in the appraisal, that would guarantee monetary and resource support for that new team. After all, the world was a pretty pragmatic place— money spurs all kinds of growth.
Now Baiyi had little regards when it came to getting resources for his Mia's Grooming Plan since he was an exemplary teacher to begin with. What was getting to him though was the money issue— his financial status could be used to apply for social welfare while Mia's cute little kitty purse had more oxygen than it had any kind of pennies. In other words— those two really needed that funding.
It did not take long for Baiyi to arrive before the appraisal teacher. There were two other teams that was with him and one of the team had already gotten their results.
"Chi prowess— third tier!"
"Wow, that's some weak ass Soul Armature—"
"HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A MAN SCORNED, MY FRIEND! VERILY I SHALL RETURN NEXT YEAR WITH MY ALMIGHTY FORCE AND YOU SHALL ALL TREMBLE… BEFORE MY MIGHT!"
That sounded way too familiar for Baiyi's liking. His eyes met with the young lad's face, his face had a persecuted and indignant look, as if it was just him alone against the world.
Baiyi was most certain that the kid must have at least time-travelled from somewhere else. At the very least it had to be some weird timeline where people spoke like that.
On Baiyi's other side was a different picture altogether— one that made even the most experienced Voidwalker cooed in amazement. The armor was otherworldly. Its plate, mail and gauntlet showcased nothing but the dexterity of its craftsmanship while its design was futuristic. The cuirass was embellished with intricate motifs and breathtaking embossments and the torso area was covered with only a satin. The figure donned a somen— a type of armored mask— that also depicted regal facial features.
The exquisite armor set was unquestionably a piece of art all on its own. A more perceptive viewer would be able to see that the chest area of the cuirass protruded slightly— the armor was clearly designed for female fighters. Even the frame of the armor seemed tailor-made and designed to showcase the curve and grace of the female form. Men and women alike were equally mesmerized. The men were probably thinking of questionable things, while the women, like Mia-chan, watched the Soul Armature in jealousy.
The only flaw in that beautiful scene was how the Soul Armature was using a melodious and feminine voice… to speak in a language that sounded a lot like she was speaking in tongues. No one had any idea what she was even talking about and to make matters worse— she appeared to be as equally dumbfounded by the language everyone else was using.
The appraisal seemed to have grinded to a halt because of that.
"Excuse me." Baiyi walked to the front with confident steps, deciding to get the Appraisal going. He stood before the Appraisal teacher.
The crowd's attention naturally turned towards him— or more specifically, the sorry armor he was clad in. Standing beside the radiant piece of art that the female Soul Armature wore, the ugliness of his armor was even more prominent.
Baiyi ignored all the looks he was getting. "Hello. I'm Hope and that is Mia. We are both sorcerers."
"Magic duo, huh? Just by that fact alone, your team is already a team with good foundational synergy. It's just, hmm, that armor of yours may require a bit of… work." To the appraisal teacher's credit, he did not look down on Baiyi. "I, um, sincerely hope that the both of you achieve good appraisal results so that you can request for a… ah, more deserving gear."
Mia's heart had fluttered when she listened to the first half of the teacher's sentence but it promptly sank when she heard the latter half of the sentence.
"Miss Mia here is still just an intermediate level sorcerer, while you sir— oh. Uhem. It's… also… just average...? Hold on. You just haven't regained your full strength, right?" The teacher tried his best to be tactful.
Seeing that there was not much a reaction, he added helpfully, "Maybe I can gauge your true strength using my Psychic Energy? Perhaps I could perform a quick work of clairsentience."
A fraction of the teacher's Psychic Energy broke away from his body immediately after he spoke, approaching Baiyi.
Baiyi shook his head at the suggestion. He drew a little of his own psychic energy and gently deflected the foreign force, smiling at the teacher. "Thank you very much, but there's no need for that. This is the extent of my power."
"Ah… I see." The teacher did not hide his disappointment as he nodded dejectedly. However he stopped his attempt because using clairsentience without permission was generally frowned upon.
Mia shook her head quietly. She knew very well that it was seriously difficult for a Soul Armature to level up normally. Hence, the pragmatic way to achieve that effect had always been to upgrade the armor and their body. Yet, with her current capabilities and financial status, it was definitely out of the question. In other words, Mr. Hope was stuck at the intermediate level with no hope of surviving high-level battles, which meant there was no hope in getting a high grade from this appraisal!
Others would have taken the cue and immediately start thinking on summoning a new Soul Armature but Mia was as stubborn as she was kind. She tightened her grip, her mind racing. Okay, first step! Get money. Second, get a new body for Mr. Hope. Third step, improve myself! I don't know how but I can do it!
After all, she could not abandon the only Soul Armature who had answered her summon when she was all alone, failing time and time again…
The teacher scribbled on a blank form and peered at Baiyi.
"Alright, Sir Hope. Would you be so kind as to demonstrate the magic you practice."
Baiyi did not reply. Instead, he raised his right hand and on his index finger, he conjured a lively bright flame. The flame danced for a while and then suddenly, it stretched itself and branched out, as if it was kneaded and molded by an unseen hand. The flame flexed and twisted until it began resembling a cheerful young lady— in fact, she looked identical to Mia, dancing at the tip of Mr. Hope's finger.
"Astounding! You must have been truly exceptional in fire magic while you were alive!" The teacher exclaimed, his face was even more expressive than his words. As an educator, he could tell right away from his knowledge in techniques and technicality that although conjuring a small flame like that did not require much mana but bending the ever wayward flame, right down to its tongue, to your precise will— required a precise control of your Psychic Energy.
It was definitely not something just anyone could do.
"Ooh, how beautiful..." Mia sighed in admiration at the sight of the little flame princess. Her skill was not high enough yet to realize the implication of such a feat.
The bystanders were just as stunned at the display of his skill.
Someone from the crowd drew a sharp breath."Shiiiiiit. That level of mastery? From someone that looks so shabby? Who is this fella?!"
"Mastery? Isn't this just another one of those parlor tricks? What's the big deal?"
"You mean you don't know? This level of Psychic Energy could not even be found among the teachers and lecturers of the Academy!"
Mia looked at them in shock. In her opinion, the teachers and lecturers in the Academy were already masters in their own right. She never thought that she would have anything or anyone related to her that could be stronger than them— but the people around her was already ranking her Soul Armature higher than her teachers and lecturers!
"What a waste though! If his mana isn't so limited, he could have been an incredible MVP among the Academy's formidable lineup of Fire Wizard!"
"I know right! He was summoned too late, damnit. Is there a way to improve the innate capabilities of a Soul Armature?"
"Uhh… Not really. I want to help that poor lady but it's just too damn difficult to level up a Soul Armature! That would require a great deal of money and resources…"
When she heard everyone's murmuring and muttering, Mia lowered her head in shame. She clutched onto her kitty purse, scrunching it as she murmured to herself. "It would have been so much better if I was rich."
That soft and somber sigh reached Baiyi's ears.
His little show was supposed to end with the dancing flame princess but something within him seemed to be urging him to continue.
After all, Baiyi was the Fifth Voidwalker and he was given the name Hope. It was kind of his duty to bring hope to people like Mia. If he could not do that, he should just resign himself to an early retirement.
He flicked the flame princess from his finger and the flame bounced off and landed on his middle finger.
Instantly, the flame disappeared as water droplets bloomed from where the flame once was. That little flame princess had just turned into a transparent and gleaming water nymph.
As soon as the crowd saw that, there was a collective gasp. The crowd could not hide their astonishment.
"Hold on, th-that's water magic! It's the conflicting element of fire mana! T-to be able to interchange with a directly conflicting element within such a short amount of time…" The teacher could not even finished his own sentence as his eyes widened.
It was a seemingly simple transformation, from fire magic to water magic. Yet, to trained eyes, they knew that Baiyi was the real deal. When sorcerers performed magic, they could only conjure magic of the elements that they had cultivated within themselves. To perform magic like that, they would first have to convert one element to another.
Converting an element to its polar opposite, like fire and water, was not only cumbersome but it was also dangerous. A slight miscalculation or a minute slip would be enough to throw the entire body's mana system into complete disarray. As a result, very few sorcerers would actually be so bold as to perform a feat this risky, let alone perform it so perfectly.
It was executed so flawlessly and the quick switch between fire magic and water magic was way too seamless to be real. The flame princess did not even stop her dance before it transformed into a water nymph!