Chapter 20: Boarding First, Ticketing Later - Up
Three months later, Rosak City.
Without marauding bandits, the circus roamed freely throughout the Rosak Province, thoroughly entertaining the southern towns they hadn't visited in a while.
Xia Zuo took leisure time to enhance the colorful fire-breathing act, integrating Sneck and others into the performance.
What was once a solitary fire-breather now shared the stage with the troupe.
Sneck drummed the beats, and the Green Snake danced on the ground. Strongman Pole Pie tossed the clown siblings through the flames, while Audrey caught them on the other side.
A peculiar purple flame skimmed beneath the clown sister, eliciting gasps from the audience.
The clown siblings and the vibrant flames became the center of attention, casting Xia Zuo, the spitter of fire, into a supporting role.
Nonetheless, Xia Zuo didn't mind.
He only wished to leave something behind for his companions before their departure.
Whether it be substantial copper coins, widespread fame, or vivid memories, at least one should be grasped by each member, a testament to their care for him.
That way, Xia Zuo could depart without regrets.
As the sun rose, the morning breeze was refreshing.
Since the initiation of the affinity testing, Rosak City's mornings had been unusually lively. Before the break of dawn, the streets resonated with a faint clamor.
"Xia Zuo, let's go."
Audrey pulled the suddenly taller Xia Zuo along, leaving the inn and heading towards the busiest part of the city.
Over a year ago, Xia Zuo had been around 1.4 meters tall, significantly shorter than the city's peers. Joining the circus meant ample food, good rest, and soon enough, he matched their height.
Now standing at 1.7 meters with a sturdy physique, he looked like a capable young lad. A high nose and a perpetually optimistic smile made his handsome face even more endearing.
"Sister, is it my turn yet?"
Xia Zuo naturally held Audrey's hand, maintaining their sibling-like relationship.
He was no longer the tender, young lad he used to be.
Audrey recognized the shift in their dynamic; she rarely embraced him now, though occasionally, she couldn't resist pinching his cheeks.
"It's almost your turn."
Audrey retrieved a wooden chip from her pouch, cross-checking the number on it with the board at the testing station's entrance.
"Go on, little guy. You've been waiting for this day. Perform well."
She slipped the chip into Xia Zuo's hand, nudging him through the crowd and into the doorway.
---
Starlight Academy Enrollment Testing Station.
The place had expanded significantly since their first visit.
What had been a two-room space on a single floor was now a three-story stone building with intersecting corridors.
Following the guidance of the staff in Starlight robes, Xia Zuo joined the end of the waiting line for testing.
It was the third day of open testing for the innate affinity.
The station distributed wooden chips stamped with entry times in ascending order of age.
Every evening, the board at the station's entrance announced the day's test results.
For the past two days, only young children had undergone the tests. Predictably, none had displayed innate affinity.
This was normal.
The so-called innate affinity was accrued over time. Without enduring rigorous training, one couldn't develop resistance to any elemental forces.
Youngsters like Xia Zuo had a slight chance at displaying innate affinity.
"Moben Liley, follow me. We'll proceed to the next test."
At the front of the line, a robust, muscular, prematurely matured youth followed the staff into a nearby room.
He was the only one so far who could stay within the testing station after the examination.
A stir ran through the line, accompanied by hushed murmurs.
"Who's that? Does anyone know him?"
"I do, I do. Xiao Moben is Old Moben's son."
A boy, sniffling back his runny nose, chimed in.
...Seems like a bunch of gossipers...
Xia Zuo pursed his lips, eavesdropping.
The boy wiped his dripping nose with his sleeve, "He's the blacksmith's son from the south of the city. A bit slow, spends all day helping his old man with the bellows."
Xia Zuo's curiosity piqued, and he cast a probing glance toward Xiao Moben about to enter the room.
[Character Name] Moben Liley
[Identity] Son of the blacksmith from Moben's Forge in Rosak City
[Health] ??? (Healthy)
[Resistance]
[Fire Resistance] 2%
[Strength] 4
[Agility] 1
[Endurance] 4
[Vitality] 1
[Perception] 2
[Willpower] 5
[Spirit] 9
[Charisma] 1
[Specialty]
[Mastery of Forging - Heat Control] Long-time assistance in operating bellows, controlling furnace temperatures, granting Moben Liley a high proficiency in heat control.
His spirit is way higher than mine. Xia Zuo glanced at his own.
[Spirit] 1.5
From 1 to now 1.5, all from studying, without utilizing a single attribute point.
"Keli Muller, come with me for the next test."
Another person finished their test and was led into a room.
This time, it was a girl in a shoulder-baring satin gown.
In a realm where long tresses of flaxen cascaded to the small of her back, a girl fastened her wavy, silken strands with a crimson ribbon, revealing a fair neck and smooth, delicate shoulders.
"The miller's daughter."
A sniffly-nosed lad tilted his chin upwards amidst the crowd's gaze, seemingly relishing the attention.
"Her family is wealthy; half the city's flour comes from their mill."
Xia Zuo observed Keli's slender figure, activating his probing technique.
【Character Name】 Keli Muller
【Identity】 Rosack City, daughter of Miller Muller
【Health】 ??? (Healthy)
【Resistances】
- Water Resistance: 1%
- Wind Resistance: 1%
- Strength: 1
- Agility: 1
- Endurance: 2
- Vitality: 1
- Perception: 3
- Willpower: 4
- Spirit: 10
- Charisma: 5
【Specialties】
- Mill Mastery - Hydrology: Long-term monitoring, maintenance, and improvement of hydro mills, granting Keli insight into water elements.
- Mill Mastery - Aerodynamics: Long-term monitoring, maintenance, and improvement of wind mills, allowing Keli to sense the essence of wind elements.
Keli's mental attributes edged Moben's by one, but her willpower lagged by one.
Could it be that her family lavished a fortune on acquiring numerous items and books to enhance her spiritual attributes? Xia Zuo jested inwardly, "With all that cash, they write question marks on her specialties. Who are they trying to fool?"
Over the next fifteen minutes, youths from diverse backgrounds were ushered into the room.
They all exhibited minor elemental resistances due to prolonged exposure to certain elements.
The most prevalent resistance was 【Earth Resistance】.
Most who gained this resistance were descendants of herb gatherers.
【Fire Resistance】 was the rarest.
After all, flames were inherently dangerous, encountered only by a select few professions.
The majority possessed at least two resistances, making individuals like Xia Zuo and Moben with singular resistances the exception.
After the sniffling lad's elimination, Xia Zuo calmly placed his hand on a transparent glass sphere.
Crimson patterns, symbolic of fire resistance, emerged on the smooth surface of the sphere.
"Xia Zuo... oh, I remember now. You're the firebreather from Audrey's circus, right?"
A staff member, with goodwill in their smile, remarked, "Your departure will worry Audrey. Follow me; let's proceed to the next test."
Xia Zuo trailed the person, puzzled, "Isn't postnatal affinity sufficient?"
The staff hesitated, pondering their response.
Ruffling their sandy hair, they eventually stopped and whispered, "Postnatal affinity alone isn't quite enough. Those without innate affinity suffer immense pain during elemental meditation. Even those with postnatal affinity only fare slightly better than regular folk; they still endure the torment of elemental infusion."
"Thank you for clarifying. I'm Xia Zuo from Rosack. And you?"
Xia Zuo smiled genuinely, extending their right hand for a brief handshake.
"I'm Miles Morton. If you pass the second round, I wouldn't mind chatting more."
Miles opened the door, gesturing for quiet, and murmured, "Hurry in; it's already begun."
Xia Zuo nodded in gratitude, noting Miles's uncommon hair color, planning to probe deeper after the test.
Once Xia Zuo entered, Miles gently closed the door behind.
In the center of the room lay a square area enclosed by thick curtains, obscuring the specifics within.
Surrounding it were wooden chairs, where youths waited in a circle against the walls.
Xia Zuo took a seat on the nearest chair to the door, patiently awaiting their turn.
"Apologies, Your Grace. I can't endure further."
A desolate-looking girl emerged from behind the curtain, followed by a familiar voice, "Number 6, step forward."
Arching a brow, Xia Zuo recognized her as Taelus Meisou, the resident mage of Rosack City.
The called girl was also a female. As she walked in, the curtain drew closed.
Taelus's gentle voice drifted from behind the curtain, "Young lady, you possess two postnatal affinities. So, choose either from these two elemental vials."
"Sky blue and aquamarine... I'll take the sky blue one, Your Grace. I adore that color," the girl deliberated for a few seconds before deciding.
"Good. Uncork the vial and cover the mouth with your palm."
A "pop" followed by a stifled gasp resonated.
"Your Grace, something's creeping into my hand, it's hurting me a bit."
"Quiet your mind. Endure for five minutes," Taelus spoke gently.
The girl seemed to say something else, but her words devolved into pained, guttural sounds.
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