Special Alchemist Candidates

"We're here." Mo Del announced as he continued walking to the entrance of the building which looked looked like the Parthenon of Athens where different kinds of vines were wrapping the marble pillars, and at the top of the building, two olive branch surrounds a profound flame symbol and ancient characters that spell the word ALCHEMY was engraved.

"Whoaw." Lu Ciel can't help but admire this simple yet majestic building. The feeling was not intimidating, but, it was revering.

The interior was wide and long. In the open wide entrance and exit of the building, you can see that the reception area was divided into two. Mo Del gave a brief introduction of the building. "The reception on the left side mostly handles with Pill Recipes, and on the right, mostly handles with the Pills itself."

In the receptionist area, there is only a doorless path to the inner areas of the building which was laid with a bright red carpet that symbolizes the color of fire. On the walls of the receptionist area, you can see wide mission boards being displayed according to the ranks of Alchemist. Mo Del explained, "On the right side, the two mission boards are for the Alchemist Apprentice Rank. On the left side, the two mission boards are each for the Novice and Master rank Alchemists."

"Lu Ciel just nodded as he absorbed these information as the entered the path to the inner areas. The path or the hallway was very long where at the end was a wooden door with the symbol of Alchemy was engraved on it. The roof that covers the hallway was made of glass for the light of the sun to shine through at day, and for the light of the moon and stars to shine through at night. Mo Del explained once more, "The hallway is divided into six sections. The six sections are divided into three access according to the Alchemy rank; Apprentice, Novice and Master. The sections on the right side is called Enlightenment Area, it is where you learn things about alchemy according to you rank. While the left side is the Refinement Area, I don't think I need to explain this area anymore."

"I presume that the door at the end of this hallway is for the Alchemy Grandmasters?" Lu Ciel asked as he pointed at the only wooden that can be seen at the far end.

"Yes." Mo Del confirmed. "That is where elder Bai presiding as one of the judges, assessing Alchemy Masters becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster."

"How does the assessment work though?" Lu Ciel asked implying about the assessment for Alchemy Grabdmaster.

Hearing this question, Mo Del looked at Lu Ciel with a raised eyebrow as he simply replied, "Try to become an Alchemy Apprentice first."

After giving a brief introduction of the building, Mo Del stopped as he faced right the Refinement Area for Alchemy Master since the area for Apprentice and Novice are already filled with candidates. He began to explain, "Elder Bai must have already told you that this is the second to the last day of the Alchemy Assessment Week which is meant for individuals who wants to become an Alchemist, correct?"

Lu Ciel only nodded in confirmation.

With that, Mo Del opened the door and entered the refinement area as Lu Ciel followed. Inside the refinement area, Lu Ciel 49 cauldron organizedly placed at certain equal distances. 46 out of 49 cauldrons were occupied by three individuals.

Lu Ciel was directed by Mo Del at the 47th cauldron which will be occupied by him only as Mo Del gave his instruction. "Currently, you are queueing to take the assessment which will be held on the refinement area for Alchemy Apprentice. 81 candidates will be assessed together in the simulation that I've explained to you earlier. Right now, it should not take too long for your turn to be assessed."

"Gotcha." Lu Ciel nodded in understanding. "So, where are you off to now?"

"I'll be watching the semifinals of the Alchemy Grandmasters." Mo Del replied as his moutch slightly twitched in annoyance, remembering that the semifinals must be about to end right now. He could have watched it from the very beginning if not for this young man being very late.

"See you later then, Del-bro." Lu Ciel waived off his hand.

"I hope not." Mo Del mumbled as he got even more annoyed. It was inevitable that he'll see Lu Ciel again as he is an apprentice on elder as well.

"Next!" After Mo Del left, one of the Alchemy Novice who supervised the assessment announced. "81 candidates, come with me."

81 candidates stood up from sitting in a lotus position and organizedly lined up as the Alchemy Novice led them to the botanical garden which then turned right after towards the path to the Refinement area for Alchemy Novice. Right after the 81 candidates left, the other candidates stood up and moved to fill up the former occupied cauldrons. Observing this, Lu Ciel followed as he occupied a cauldron which he is now sharing with another person.

"Hello." Lu Ciel greeted the female half-human half-elf.

"Hi there." The female flirtatiously greeted back, extending his rosy soft hand. "Seems that you have a powerful backing to be led by an Alchemy Master. May name's El Fae."

"Haha. I guess so?" Lu Ciel laughed awkwardly as he extended his hand also to shook the half-elf's hand. "I'm Lu Ciel."

"What a nice name for a human!" The female half-elf, El Fae, seductively praised.

"Thank you." Lu Ciel only nodded and smiled in acceptance with the nice comment."

"Your surname is Lu, are you perhaps from the Royal Lu of Eastern Moon Kingdom?" El Fae inquired.

Lu Ciel was surprised that someone knew about his royal family in the Central Divine Region. Even if this place is only at the periphery of the region, people should have little knoweldge about the Eastern Moon Kingdom, and knowing that the kingdom is ruled by Lu family is barely part of that little knowledge only. However, since this half-elf is a half-human as well, there's a possibility that he knew a thing or two about his family.

Still, Lu Ciel denied that he's not part of that freaking cursed family in an exaggerated yet believable manner. "Really? I didn't know that the Eastern Sun Kingdom was ruled by a family with the same surname as mine!"

"Is that so?" Though Lu Ciel's reply is undoubtable in this place, El Fae was still skeptic because she can't think of other reason for this young man to have a powerful background.

Observing this, Lu Ciel can only shake his head as he explained further with his made story. "Though I also live in the Eastern Moon Region, my place is at the periphery of Southern Planet Region. Me and my friend traveled for six years just to get here, and circumstances only led me to here taking the alchemy exam."

"I see.." With that story, El Fae finally believed Lu Ciel. Even though, she also lived in the Eastern Moon Region, in the periphery near to the Northern Star region. To think that this place is one of the intersection cities of the three races; Humans of the east, Elf of the north and Angel of the center, it still took him two years to get here.

"Eh?" Lu Ciel was surprised and got confused. Before El Fae can think further about Lu Ciel's background, the door of the entrance opened and another 89 candidates enetered one by one, filling up the remaining vacant cauldrons. "I thought I'm the very last candidate to take the assessment?"

Hearing this, El Fae can't help but chuckle as he cleared up the confusion within Lu Ciel. "There are still, I guess, over a hundred candidates who are still queuing in the Enlightnement Area. We are actually the second and last batch for the morning assessment."

"What?!" Lu Ciel was taken aback as realization dawned in him as why El Fae assumed that he has a powerful background. It seems that Mo Del made him cut in line. 'I guess this was a previlege to have an elder as your master.'

"Sis!" A very young half-elf about 14 to 15 years old called out to El Fae and coughed as he approached towards Lu Ciel signifying to move to the other platform to sit. Understanding this, Lu Ciel laughed awkwardly as he complied with the brat's underlying request.

"Fio." El Fae nodded as he can't help but chuckle at his brother's manner. "Silly, kid."

"Who's this fatty?" Fio, the young boy inquired to his sister. "To think that he abandoned his own queue just to fall in line next to you. How gracious!"

Hearing his brother's comment, El Fae can't help but slap the back of the young elf's head as slight blush on her cheeks was showing. "This is my little brother, El Fio. Don't mind his childish manner, Lu Ciel."

"It's okay." Lu Ciel can't help but just smile as well as his eyebrow was slightly twitching. To think that he would be thought as a pervert by a brat.

Observing that the two stopped talking, the young half-elf, Fio looked the board that was placed on the wall of the refinement room. "Look, sis! Another two individuals were placed on the Special Alchemist Ranking!"

Hearing this, Lu Ciel also looked at the board where El Fio waa pointing at. There, he saw that out of the 36 lists, 33 of the lists were occupied. "What's the list all about?"

"The list is for the alchemists who are able to qualify for the special alchemy license." El Fae answered.

"Hehe." Observing that his sister was being attentive to this young human, he can't help but chuckle and make a cheeky remark. "If you can attain the special alchemy license, I'll approve you as her man. and if you'll use it as your dowry, I'll approve you with marrying her."

"Fio!!" El Fae can help but shout at his little brother as her face was flaring up in embarrassment.