APTITUDE TEST

While Max follows the white robe man, SECOND finished its task. Max already tasked it to scans and records all major information about the Mages and trial since he arrived at the camp. With a lot of applicants in the area, everyone created many small groups and shared their pieces of information. SECOND can scan and record all their conversation.

[Task completed! Unable to scan 100% due to mana interfering]

'''Mana interference? SECOND detected irregular mana phenomenon surrounding those white robes. Based on the record SECOND just compiled from those conversations, they are the Mage Apprentices. These peoples must already learn to manipulate mana freely considering SECOND unable to scan them. From their expression, they don't show any reactions from SECOND's scanning despite failed to scan them but I cannot take the risk. Real Mage might interfere with Mana changes in the atmosphere. '

Max sort out all the information received from SECOND. The community here on the beach is the temporary camp where all applicants from the whole continent gather and take the trial to enroll in Mage Academy. Many factions of Mages from the same alliance established their booth here to find fresh blood as their recruit. This so-called Beach of Gate is only one of the assembly checkpoint. They set up others checkpoint at the others part of the world.

The most important thing is these factions came from the same alliance called the Holy Union. This union is heavily dominated by a faction called the Church of Light. Their principle is against darkness. All those Mages found associated with the dark will be hunted and kill!

'If assuming if the black light that is the dark element, I will be in deep danger if it exposes.', Max worried.

'[SECOND! Regulate my body to make those black lights stay away from me! '

Max learned to control the lights by tweaking the mana emitted from his body. SECOND took six months to create a method to manipulate the lights by using mana inside the body.

[Affirmative!]

'From the conversation of those applicants, they test on their compatibility with the elements. I need to ensure none of the darkness element can be detected with me.' , Max planned.

Max arrived at a small tent shaped grander than others. He entered it alone and another white robe man inside. No. SECOND detected the figure is an old lady and terrifying mana radiation came out from her body.

[Alert! Alert! Discovered a dangerous mana radiation source. Recommend to host to evacuate!]

'This must be the real Mage. SECOND recorded a huge amount of radiations'

"Boy, come here and touched the orb in front of you. ", the Mage ordered. Her voice sounds dreamy and enchanting.

[Warning! Host's brain has irregular activities. Judge host entered the state of hypnosis!]

Max approached and place both of his hand on the orb.

"Tell me what you see."

"There whirlpool of blue lights and gray lights mixing together. ", Max answered.

"What else do you see? "

[Alert! Proceed with back up plan. Discriminate all black lights from the host.]

"There are small green fishes and white fishes swimming. ", Max answered again.

"Which fishes are more? Green or white? "

"I don't know. They look the same amount "

"Alright! That enough." The mage stopped and Max woke up from his stupor.

'What just happened! ', Max released cold sweats. 'SECOND! Reproduce what just happened to me! '

[Affirmative]

'I in a hypnotized state? The mage cannot see what I can see but she hypnotize me into telling the truth. Fortunately, I already anticipated this test and prepared a few plans accordingly. '

"You clean. You compatible the most with water and wind elements with a bit of plant and light. The next test is to measure your talent. The longer you can stand, the better the talent. I start now. "

Abruptly strong pressure directly to Max's mind.

[Warning! A strong wave of mana oppressed host mind. Harm to host's mind if expose over 100 seconds]

'SECOND! Increase the production of endorphins in the brain and shut pain cognition!', Max shouted in his mind.

[Affirmative!]

The test already passed ten minutes. Max gritted his teeth because the pain by-pass all reasons and directly affect his soul.

[Warning! 100 more seconds until host life force depleted!]

" Stop!" Max collapsed to the floor. His breath is irregular and sweats soaked his whole body. He stopped the vomits from disgorging by covering his mouth with his hand.

"Impressive", The Mage claimed. She took out a piece of paper and start whispering to it. Lines of word magically appeared on the paper. She passes to Max who just watched his breath and forced himself to stand. "Don't lose it. This is your result. Pass it to the examiner at mainland later "

"Thank you. " Max received the paper with both his hand before the bow and leave the tent.