Lip of faith

At dinner the family gathered together like always. The two brothers, Greg and Felix got back from the goblin dungeon. They honed their skills in this dungeon for almost every day. Those bloody battles helped the two brothers to earn some coins, increase their efficiency with knight skills they learned and help them to increase their level of cultivation. Both brothers were graduates from a second rate knight academy and were in a pretty good ranking when they graduated. The older brother Felix was the leader of the "Shmidt adventurer's" and the "Smidt mercenary's" groups in the adventurers groups. The names were very simple as the brothers founding them. Most of the time the brothers worked as an adventurers because they did not like to hurt or kill people. Both of the adventurer and the mercenary teams were "D rank" on the lower side. From all the members only the two brothers were "D rank" adventurers and mercenaries. It was understandable because they were close to a level of a knight. Sometimes their friend that was also a "D rank" adventurer from the academy named Felix went with them, but that was a pretty rare occurrence. So most of the time only the two brothers had to coordinate and take care of their team. Both brothers were really happy to see their little sister back. When they heard what happened with their sister they both were enraged. They told her that in the next time they will be accompanying her. They also told her that they will teach this little brat that used her desperate situation for his own goals a lesson. As older brothers they were overly protective of their younger sister Elly.

"Hold your horses. You cannot offend this little guy. I'm pretty sure that even if you attack him together you will most likely lose. I'm not sure if I can win against him in a one versus one fight. If this guy has some strong spell I will have a big problem facing him. Also he is an earth type mage. It is the best type of mage to fight knights head on. They have a sturdy defense and good attacking skills. This is the most balanced branch of mages in term of attack and defense capabilities. So don't do anything stupid you regret later." Elen said.

The two brothers snorted but didn't said anything. Elen understood that they got the point.

After dinner Elly came to her fathers office for a talk. Elen did not walked in circles and said what he had on his mind.

"Elly I have a gift for you. Maybe it will change your and our life for the better in the future. Maybe it wont but it still worth a try. Do you know what it is?" Elen asked while getting the magic crystal out.

Elly shook her head.

"It is a magic crystal. Tomorrow we will got and check your aptitude in the mage association. I know that our ancestors had magic abilities. It was around two hundred years ago. I don't know the details but I want you to try your luck Elly. Me and your brothers don't have the character to become mages. We are knights in heart. We will continue walking this path. Even if we have aptitude we most likely wont be ready to study a new profession from zero. If you have some aptitude for magic I will make my best to make you get on the path of a mage. There is nothing to lose." Elen said.

Elly stayed silent for some time and then said: "Father there is no need for that. It is better to sell this crystal and help my brothers get to a level of a knight."

"We have a lot more chances to get wiped out before we sell this magic crystal. We need to use it as fast as possible." Elen said with a stern tone.

Elly lowered her head and said: "I understand father."

After they finished their discussion it was decided to go to the mage association after breakfast. Elen informed Elly to not let anyone know about that. Not even her two brothers. As long as the magic crystal was located in their residence they were in grave danger.

In the day after the father and daughter duo took the family's carriage and rushed to the mage association after having breakfast. When they arrived there they saw the same image Leo saw before. They stood in one of the lines for the clerk and after around fifteen minutes their turn arrived. The clerk this time was more friendly from the one Leo saw and he looked at them with a puzzled expression.

"Hello Sir, Miss. What is your goal coming here? Can I help you with something?" The clerk asked with a genuine smile that surprised the father and daughter duo. They saw few people look at them with distain. Mages were a very privileged group of people that had big amount of power. They had longer lifespan and could wipe out a baron family with no real consequences.

"I would like to check my daughter's aptitude for magic. Here is the magic crystal needed for this." Elen said while handing the magic crystal like it was some kind of biological weapon that could erupt at any moment.

The clerk looked at the baron with understanding. He knew what danger this item possessed for this family. He took the payment and said, while pointing at a door nearby : "Please take this token and go to this room please. There you will have a magic aptitude check."

Elly went to the room the clerk pointed to. She was very nervous. She did not want to disappoint her father that put so much hopes on her. She knew that her chances to have even a small talent was extremely low. When she entered the room she saw the same female clerk that took care of Leo and greeted her.

The clerk had the same instructions for Elly as she did for Leo: "Please put your hands on the magic sphere. It will show your aptitude if you have one."

Elly nodded and complied to the request. She putted her hands on the ball and prayed that this opportunity will not go in vain.

Soon the sphere shown with blue weak light.

"Congratulations, you have a low aptitude for the water element." The clerk said with a smile.

Elly was elated. She did not understand what did this gave her but she knew it was a positive result.

"Now please circulate your magic power into the ball to measure your level as a mage" The clerk said.

"How can I do it?" Elly asked.

The clerk smiled and said: "Don't worry. Just concentrate on the ball as much as you can."

Elly nodded and soon the expected result came.

"Magic power is one." The clerk said.

"Is it good?" Elly asked. She had no idea what was the meaning of the result.

The clerk did not want to disappoint the girl to much so she said: "You need 100 magic power for level one mage apprentice."

Elly nodded and asked: "What is the process now?"

"I will record your data and send you back to the clerk in the main hall to record your data." the clerk said.

When Elly got out of the room Elen looked at her with an expected gaze. When he got the news he was over the moon with joy! He thought that this was the turning point for his family. A magic bloodline. His family had a chance to nurture a mage! Even with her low talent for magic if Elly will get to a level of a mage apprentice she will be on a level of a knight! It sounded like a dream for Elen.