Professor Hawthorne’s smile contorted as he straightened his suit and turned back. He opened the door with a polite smile.
"Good evening, VP Doris."
Skyler and Charles peeked from either side of him, taking in the room. Numerous thick books were stacked everywhere, and many papers were scattered across the floor.
The room was a complete mess, and amidst it, an old woman dressed in robes, sat on a chair behind the only table in the room. All around her, transparent screens filled with symbols were floating in the air.
Doris lowered the writing brush in her hand, and Skyler wondered why the VP was using a brush when she could use a pen.
A frown creased her aged face as she stared directly at Professor Hawthorne.
"Stand in a corner with your face turned to the wall for an hour. It’s your punishment for disturbing me out of nowhere."
Hawthorne wanted to argue, but her sharp gaze was enough to shut him up. Without further questions, he did what she asked.
Doris glanced at Skyler and Charles.
"So, Miss Riya had sent her son. I thought she wouldn’t, considering how she said the education here isn’t up to standard."
She was a bit sarcastic at the end. After all, even though Doris didn’t say anything when Riya Ironhart said her older daughter, who is studying in their academy, had developed some undesirable habits, she didn’t like it.
Doris’s eyes paused on Charles.
"You even brought another person with you? Who is he? Care to explain?"
Skyler stepped forward, avoiding stepping on any scattered papers as he entered the room and greeted the Vice Principal, along with Charles, before explaining everything. Charles joined him and introduced himself.
When they were done talking, Doris tapped the table before her with her finger, wearing an unreadable expression. She stared at the two young men who looked nervous.
"Skylor, or was it Skyler? My decision to let you join was a bit impulsive, but I stand by my word. You will join this academy. As for your friend, if what you said is true, I see no reason why he shouldn’t join with you."
Hearing her, their faces brightened.
Finally!
Doris checked her storage ring and pulled out a flat, square device. Eight ores, each representing a different element, were fixed in pairs at each of its corners. She cleared the table and set the device down.
"Come here."
Her voice was authoritative, and the two, despite their hesitation, rushed toward the table. She pointed at the square device.
"This is for record purposes. I will check your potential and affinities."
They nodded, and she continued.
"It doesn’t matter what Skylor’s potential is or how many affinities he has since I gave my word to let him join the academy. But..."
Skyler’s eyebrow twitched at how she pronounced his name wrong. However, he could only watch as she turned her gaze to Charles and completed her words.
"Your potential should be above 15-star. That’s the minimum requirement for those who receive a special pass to join us. This will clear any doubts about you."
Charles wiped his sweaty forehead. He wasn’t worried about his potential, but the VP’s presence was really intimidating.
Skyler took a step closer to him and whispered with a confident expression.
"Make sure to shock her. You can do it. Also, remember this: we can always go to another academy. There is no pressure on you. I said we would join the academy together. It doesn’t matter which one."
He wasn’t worried about Charles. He knew that no matter what Charles’ potential was, the man would keep getting stronger. They had spent enough time together for Skyler to know that. He was just letting him know there was no pressure on him.
Charles was speechless at his words. Skyler was the one who had dragged him here. After all they had been through, this jerk was saying that they could join any other academy? He wouldn’t consider it!
His lips curled upward into a smirk. His potential was the only thing his friend had yet to know. His words were faint, barely above a whisper, but Skyler heard them.
"I can’t let my employer down now, can I?"
Doris was amused by their interaction.
However, she could only shake her head when she gazed at the square device which counted everyone’s potential and told them their limits using the 25-stars system. To think this was only the tip of true danger many are facing within the Battle Royal.
How laughable.
Charles stepped forward first to check his potential. Doris told him to place his hand on the flat, square device and that was it.
He complied with a nod.
Even Professor Hawthorne, who was standing facing the wall in a corner, could not resist a peek to see the two youngsters’ results, so he could mock them later.
Dense Evol particles emanated from the ores fixed in the device, and Skyler watched, more nervous than the one who had placed his hand on it. The Evol enveloped Charles’s hand, and then a screen flickered to life directly above the glowing device.
Professor Hawthorne tripped when he saw the screen displaying Charles’s results. His eyes widened in shock as he refused to believe what he was seeing!
Doris mirrored his shock. However, unlike him, she remained rather composed. She had seen far more shocking results.
It was Skyler who let out a laugh with a sparkle in his eyes, as if it were his results on display in front of everyone.
"Damn, Charles, this isn’t just shocking. This is mind-blowing!"
Charles chuckled as he stared at the screen, which was created with both the power of technology and the Evol of eight main elements recognized in Eldoria.
_______
Age: 20
Elemental Affinity with:
1) Wind
2) Earth
3) Fire
4) Lightning
Potential: 23-star (Mythic tier)
_______ Read exclusive content at FreeNovelFire
He removed his hand, and the screen vanished. His gaze turned to Skyler.
"Told you, I won’t disappoint my employer."
Skyler rolled his eyes and stepped forward.
"Great job. Now my turn. However, don’t expect too much and be disappointed."