Atbolde's study seemed to be constantly bathed in bright sunlight.
It was like this in the morning, near noon... and now just as the sun had just risen, it was the same.
It seemed that outside the massive force field windows of his study, the sun was always perfectly aligned.
The orange-yellow brilliance was confined by the frames of the windows, forming a square as it slanted onto the floor, enveloping Atbolde who sat in the lounge chair.
His white hair was dyed golden by the sunlight, and a hint of surprise flickered across his aged face as he confirmed,
"Are you saying that Colin has advanced to a First Rank Wizard?"
"Yes," Lillian nodded and added, "Last night he also encountered a Divine Believer...probably devoted to the same Divine as the previous one."
"Divine Believer…" Atbolde murmured softly.
Who would have thought that so much had happened in just one night...
"Guru, since Colin has advanced to a First Rank Wizard, according to the rules of the School, you need to take him to test his Talent and receive subsequent Meditation Methods," Lillian said.
Atbolde nodded slightly, his furrowed brow smoothing out, and a genuine smile slowly spread across his old face.
No matter what, as long as Colin had truly succeeded in advancing to an Official Wizard, that was undoubtedly good news!
Heaven knows how long it had been since their Faction had produced an Official Wizard.
Alas... he had not managed to secure Colin a place in the Alus Association.
Atbolde felt a slight sigh within, tinged with a bit of guilt.
If it weren't for the reasons related to their Faction... If Colin could have normally participated in the Alus Association and gained access to Alus,
the quality of Talent he would have acquired would definitely have been better, and his potential after advancing would have been greater.
But now, although Colin had advanced quickly, this also represented hastiness.
As everyone knows, mastering witchcraft thoroughly requires no short amount of time.
Under such circumstances, the highest Talent Colin could receive after advancing was probably only Second Class...
"Let's go."
Despite his many thoughts, Atbolde did not stop; he slowly stood up and said to Colin and the others,
"I'll take you to test your Talent."
Following Atbolde, they made their way.
Before long, they arrived deep within the School, finally stopping at a huge black semi-circular fortification.
"Good morning, esteemed sir."
Upon entering the fortress, the First Rank Wizard on duty greeted respectfully, looking puzzledly at the aged, Second Rank Wizard whom he had never seen before.
"Register him... he just advanced to a First Rank Wizard yesterday," Atbolde removed his own badge, requested Colin's badge, stacked them together, and handed them to the duty wizard.
This place was one of the most important locations of the School, known as Black Castle.
Only here and a few other locations could afford to have a First Rank Wizard on duty.
"Very well, sir," the First Rank Wizard on duty was about to respectfully receive the badges handed by Atbolde when
a voice came from the side.
"Atbolde, what are you doing here?"
Larrel walked in with Robb, expressing his confusion.
Normally, Atbolde always stayed at his residence and seldom ventured deep into the School.
After Larrel had last rejected Atbolde's request concerning the Alus Association qualification at the ancient castle, he had never seen Atbolde in the depths of the School again.
It was unknown what Atbolde intended by coming to Black Castle this time...
Larrel's expression was cautious, and many speculations surfaced in his mind.
It seemed he thought of something when he frowned and said,
"Atbolde, if you have come to Black Castle so that your student may gain entry into the Alus Association, then I must regretfully tell you again — that is impossible. Your faction cannot obtain the qualification for the Alus Association.
Moreover, the Alus Association meeting is about to begin. The list of participating apprentices has been finalized, and there are no spare slots left... We are here for this matter."
Larrel spoke in one breath, hoping as much as possible to dispel any ideas Atbolde had...
After he had refused Atbolde the last time, one of Robb's subordinates, a First Rank Wizard named Herard, had nearly lost his life, his body covered in fresh flowers.
Although he later learned it was because Herard had provoked Atbolde, if it were claimed that Atbolde had no emotions to vent, Larrel wouldn't believe it.
If it had been an ordinary Second Rank Wizard, it wouldn't have been so troublesome as a Third Rank Wizard himself.
But it was Atbolde...
"Lord Larrel, you misunderstand," Atbolde replied without anger, merely explaining with a smile, "I am here to register my student, who has successfully advanced to Official Wizard."
Larrel's furrowed brow relaxed, and a trace of astonishment flickered across his stern, old-fashioned face.
Successfully advanced to First Rank Wizard?
To know that advancing to First Rank Wizard was never an easy feat, and even in the annual Alus Association where apprentices used Alus's help, the success rate for advancing to First Rank Wizards was only thirty to fifty percent.
Atbolde's student had advanced on his own to Official Wizard?!
Why was such a talented Wizard Apprentice assigned to Atbolde's faction?!
His heart was full of doubts, which then turned into regret.
"Is this the one who advanced to First Rank Wizard?" Larrel looked closely at Colin as he inquired of Atbolde.
"Yes," Atbolde responded indifferently.
"Mm." Larrel nodded and scrutinized Colin carefully, sighing inwardly.
'The School has likely lost another exceptionally talented wizard seed...'
He didn't say anything more but proceeded with Robb to the counter next door to handle the affairs of the Alus Association.
The path of a wizard was fraught with hardships and dangers; sometimes, one wrong step could have irreversible consequences.
A while later.
"Alright, sir."
After verifying Colin's real strength and the School Badge, the duty wizard respectfully handed the School Badge back to Atbolde.
In the badge, which originally had only three silver feathers, an additional brilliant golden feather now appeared.
After Atbolde received the badge.
"Sir, this way please. I will take you to test the specific quality of his talent," added the duty wizard.
Hearing this, Larrel became interested. He handed the list registration to Robb, stood up, and followed Atbolde.
"Do you mind if I observe from the side, Atbolde?" he asked faintly.