Teachers

The old man's words echoed through the room, carrying an ironic and provocative tone. "It seems you've picked up a child to raise... Have you turned into a mother?"

He adjusted the hat on his head, looking at Marcelina with a mischievous smile. The way he said it made it seem like this was a recurring joke between them.

Marcelina, contrary to what I expected, didn't explode as usual. Her attitude shifted in a surprising way. Like a child trying to impress their father, she straightened up and pulled Oliver to her side. He looked happy but didn't dare to utter a word.

She seemed almost proud, as if presenting the boy like a trophy. "I've already made a contract with him! He's now my personal apprentice! Hurry! Finalize the procedures for him!"

She pulled out a stack of forms from the heavy bag she carried and handed them to the old man. He looked at the yellow papers and raised an eyebrow.

"A Sun? Well… I expected nothing less."

The old man then pulled out a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, which he perched on his nose. He seemed to analyze every detail of the parchment as he asked, "So, Oliver! Are you willing to become Marcelina's personal apprentice?"

The boy glanced at Marcelina with a mix of reverence and fear. "I accept," he replied in a low voice, almost inaudible.

"Good!" The old man wrote something on the yellow parchment with a firm gesture and then handed Oliver a set of clothes, some books, and a potion containing a shimmering liquid.

"These are yours. Hold onto them!" Marcelina said with an authority that left no room for hesitation. Oliver obeyed silently, clutching the items as if they were relics.

When she eagerly inquired about the procedures, the old man nodded in confirmation. Marcelina then pulled Oliver out of the room, leaving quickly.

As soon as she disappeared, the old man let out a heavy sigh, leaning against the table. His eyes turned to us, and his expression became more serious.

"Welcome to the Tower of Sun Mountain. This is where you'll live for about five years. Of course, that time may vary depending on what happens in the magical community of this world."

He stood up and walked toward one of the shelves filled with books and scrolls. His fingers glided over the leather spines as he murmured, "Where is it..." as if searching for something specific.

Suddenly, he stopped and took a deep breath, as if deciding to change his approach. Turning partially, he said aloud, "Umbiril, where's the technological prototype that Mage Miguel designed last week? The one used for selecting teachers for students who don't yet have a master."

At the mention of the word "technological," I frowned. I thought to myself, "This was to be expected. The mages of this world are like scientists on a higher level. Despite following paths vastly different from those I knew in my previous world, they still share the essence of the pursuit of knowledge, blending it with magic."

Before I could delve deeper into these thoughts, something caught my attention. In the air, a creature began to manifest.

It was a small being that looked like a gnome but had a peculiar aura. He wore green clothes, a hat adorned with a four-leaf clover symbol, and a rainbow shimmered under his feet, as if he were stepping on solid light to float.

"Sorry, master," the leprechaun said in an apologetic tone. "I was using it to run some tests."

The old man returned to his chair, clasped his hands on the table, and fixed the leprechaun with a stern look.

"Bring it here. I need to choose the teachers for these children."

The leprechaun nodded obediently and vanished into the air. Seconds later, he reappeared with a strange device floating beside him. The object was a jumble of colorful wires and lights, all connected to a glowing triangle that seemed to serve as a power source.

The leprechaun made the object float gently onto the old man's desk. The old man examined it for a moment before raising his eyes to us.

The old mage, with the patience of someone who had repeated this procedure countless times, began to explain, "There are two methods for choosing a teacher. The first method is the simplest: this completely random device will select, by chance, the teacher who will be your mentor. This method is absolutely free."

His voice, though calm, carried a hint of teasing, as if he knew the word "random" wouldn't sit well with most of us.

"Excuse me, great mage…" A timid voice broke through, trembling. "Will this depend on my luck? What if I end up with a teacher who doesn't suit me, or worse, one who can't teach me?"

The old man smirked slightly, adjusting his hat with ease. "Oh?" He chuckled. "There is also another method. You can choose your own teachers. Here with me is a list containing brief profiles of various teachers and their requirements. Everything so you can make your choice. Of course, if you opt for this method, you'll need to pay with a magical crystal!"

The murmurs among us began to grow. Magical crystals were rare, and that requirement weighed heavily on many.

The old man, noticing the unease, raised his voice to calm the group. "It doesn't matter which method you choose, but know this: once you decide who your teacher will be, you can never change!" He cast a firm look at the acolyte who had asked the question earlier. "Understood?"

"Y-yes, sir!" The boy replied quickly, almost stammering.

The mage then declared, "Next, I will call names. Each of you will come forward and tell me your choice. Understood?"

A heavy silence fell. We were all nervous; the weight of that decision felt suffocating.

Wallace, beside me, whispered worriedly, "Now what? How should we choose?"

I knew Wallace came from a humble family, but even so, they had managed to gather some resources. I answered pragmatically, "Paying is definitely better than not paying! That's just common sense!"

Wallace seemed hesitant. "You still have some magical crystals left, right?" I asked, intrigued.

He sighed. "I only have one magical crystal saved. My family sacrificed five thousand soldiers to obtain just two magical crystals! If I spend this one, I'll be risking everything."

His words made me pause. My own pockets suddenly felt heavy, though not for the same reason. I had obtained a few crystals from Charles through a stroke of luck, but now I understood their true value.

"The price of these crystals is much higher than I ever imagined…" I thought. "That explains why they were so scarce on the worthless islands we came from. Here, they're worth even more!"

I looked at Wallace and shrugged. "This is a decision only you can make."

He nodded, still reluctant, as the old man called the first name.

"James!" With disheveled hair, he hesitantly stepped forward.

"Which method do you choose?" the old man asked.

"I… I don't have any magical crystals saved… Can I pay on credit? I'm a fourth-degree acolyte!" James said, his expression pleading.

The old man raised an eyebrow. "Not a bad aptitude, indeed. A pity, though… rules are rules!"

James swallowed hard, left with no choice. The old man activated the device in front of him. The triangle in the center glowed intensely, sending energy through the wires connected to the apparatus. A blue magic circle began to form in the air, pulsating like a living heart.

"James, step forward!"

The boy approached with nervous steps. "Now, I need a drop of your blood. Raise your arm for me."

James obeyed, raising his hand. The old man touched his palm with a finger, and James winced slightly, as if an ant had bitten his skin. A drop of blood was extracted and placed at the center of the floating circle.

The blue of the circle shimmered but soon began to change to red. Names started appearing within the circle, flickering rapidly until the device emitted a concerning hiss, as if about to fail.

Suddenly, one name stopped spinning and remained fixed in the center.

"James! Your mentor will be Gael," the old man announced. He then handed the boy a set of acolyte robes, an identity badge, a crystalline potion, and a scroll. "Here are the instructions for your elemental meditation technique, your room number, and the key. Good luck."

The old man snapped his fingers, and a strong golden light illuminated the room for a moment. Out of nowhere, a male figure appeared in the air, dressed in an impeccably tailored suit that fit his body perfectly. He floated a few inches above the ground, motionless and expressionless. "Follow this servant of light," the old man said, his voice filled with authority. "He will take you to meet your mentor."

James, with slumped shoulders and a vacant stare, followed the floating creature, which moved silently like an illuminated shadow, passing through the grand doors.

The old man didn't even watch as James left. He simply snapped his fingers again and firmly called, "Next! Wallace!"

Wallace took a deep breath, clearly nervous. In a swift motion, he pulled a shimmering magical crystal from his robes and extended it to the old man. "I want to choose my own mentor!"

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1569 Words