The Velari used a few minutes to engrave the clan symbol into Simon’s palm, and Simon observed the symbol with slight intrigue.
The symbol of the Shadowgrave Clan was that of a 45° tilted coffin half-sunk into its own shadow.
’I can feel a sort of connection with the symbol. If I do this, then...’
Simon moved his demonic energy into the symbol, and the symbol slowly vanished like it was sinking into his palm.
"Ohh? I see you were able to grasp one of the basic functions of the clan’s symbol without me telling you. How impressive." The Velari praised with surprise evident in his tone.
"You must either have a high shadow affinity or your talent and potential as a Chaotic Rune Master must be high."
Simon shook his head. "I very much doubt that."
The Velari looked at them, then he chuckled. "I see, you’re one of the humble and modest types."
Simon gave no response, and the Velari continued speaking.
"A piece of advice to you, boy. There are usually kids like you who act humble and modest to not draw attention to themselves, and to hide their abilities. But let me tell you that there are times when you need to be proud and arrogant, you need others to know just how great you are so that none would look down on you."
Simon smiled behind the mask, then he bowed slightly.
"Thank you for your words of advice."
The Velari nodded. "You’re respectful. That’s a trait many kids your age lack... Give me your plaques for the trials. The scores you got in the trial would be exchanged into merits."
"Merits?" Simon asked while bringing out the plaques he got from the first and second trial.
The Velari was not expecting much from Simon’s trial scores, so when he took the plaques and looked at the scores, his mind did not register what he saw immediately.
"You’ll know what merits are very soon. Your teachers would explain more to- hmm?... What?"
The Velari’s eyes widened in disbelief the moment he saw the numbers on Simon’s plaque.
He rubbed his eyes, then he looked at Simon.
"Are these real? You didn’t forge them?"
Simon shook his head. "I did not and I don’t have the ability to do so."
"But- but- but how can this be?"
The Velari stared at the plaques in his hands in disbelief, then he looked at Simon like he was looking at an incomprehensible being.
"You obtained first position in the first and second trial. Most importantly, you shattered Lumen’s orb. What in the world? And you’re just a Lesser Demon?"
’Lumen’s orb? Who or what is Lumen?’
Simon’s focus was not on the Velari’s shock or disbelief, but on the Velari’s blunder as he said out the name of the pure white crystal sphere.
Simon had been curious about it ever since he saw it because it reminded of something he just couldn’t put his hands on yet.
’Maybe he didn’t make a mistake, and maybe I would have gotten to know about it after I’m done with all these processes.’
Meanwhile, when the Velari saw that Simon was silent and was just staring at him, the Velari coughed and regained his composure.
"My goodness. I’ve made a mockery of myself."
The Velari shook his head, and the way he looked at Simon changed.
Previously, he was only intrigued by Simon slightly because Simon was the first person who had nearly pierced the veil he placed over himself.
And how Simon composed himself in front of him, and the questions he asked caused him to be intrigued in Simon.
But now?
Now, he saw Simon as a diamond in the making.
’I have to know more about him and observe him. A talent like him rarely appears in the clan.’
’But once the others know about him, they might want him too. This might be annoying.’
The Velari sighed out loud, then he pointed at a particular spot on his table.
"Place your right hand on that place so that you can get your merits."
Simon looked to his right, and he saw a hand print on the table. He had noticed it earlier, but he had no idea what it was used for.
He did as he was told, and the moment he did this, black chaos runes moved across the table, and Simon felt a change in his right palm where the clan’s symbol was.
Meanwhile, the Velari observed and read the chaos runes that formed on his table.
"Doing this would update the information on your clan symbol so that you’d be recognized by the formations and arrays of the clan."
"Hmm... Your name is Blackmoon... A Supreme Common Bloodline... Duskfang Tribe? A tribe? And it’s not one of the six great Tribes?"
"Hmm... There’s more?... Classified? That’s surprising... I guess I’ll check it out later... And... you’ve been marked as a... slave of the clan... That’s... very much unexpected."
The Velari mumbled every single word he said, and Simon’s expression behind the mask remained the same... Indifferent and calm.
This was despite the annoyance he felt at the Velari for giving out his information to everybody in the hall.
’Some might not have heard, but I’m very certain those with good ears heard his words clearly. If he wanted to hide my information, he could have created a noise cancellation zone with his power or he could have kept quiet... He probably did it on purpose so that the others can know more about me.’
Simon could feel the gazes of some of the other Initiates, but he was not so concerned about that or the fact that the Velari gave out his information without any care or consideration of him.
What he was more concerned about was the tone the Velari used when he mentioned that he was a slave of the clan.
He had a terrible premonition when the Velari said those words out loud, and in many instances, his instincts were usually right.
And unfortunately for him, it was.
A few moments later, the chaos runes on the table vanished after Simon’s information was updated. The Velari looked at him, shook his head, then he sighed.
"Let me just give you a summary of what it means to be a slave of the clan. In a single sentence, every achievement and merit you gain would decrease by eighty percent (80%)."