Angor glanced at Tulu again, who looked very surprised to hear what Helen said.
“Captain Erwin found Tulu from a small village three years ago. He was only 15 back then. The association only accepts people who are 18 or older. Tulu has been working on the ship as probation. During these years, it’s Erwin who’s been taking care of Tulu’s expenses and payment. Well, he’s 18 now, but the captain is planning to get to Ferran Land before getting Tulu registered. I don’t think that’s necessary anymore.”
“Hey wait, I’ve been getting my salary from Captain Erwin?” Tulu widened his eyes.
“Yup.” Helen continued explaining, “I mean to say, Tulu is not an employee of White Clam, so you don’t have to worry about getting into trouble by taking him away.”
Angor knuckled at the desk. “I see then...”
Helen suddenly stepped on Tulu’s boots, which caused the young man to yell in pain.
Call him teacher! She told Tulu using her eyes.
When Tulu finally realized what he should do and tried to show his manners, Angor released a small trace of nightmare energy to silence him.
“I’m a recruiter from my organization, but I’m not a teacher. I’m afraid you’ll have to listen to the organization’s arrangement once you reach there.”
Tulu tried his best to speak but failed to make any sound.
“Um, sir, since you’re so powerful, you can act as his teacher, right?” Helen helped by asking.
Angor shook his head. “Powerful? No. I’m nothing compared to all the real wizards out there. It’s best for Tulu to find someone better than me.”
Seeing Helen unconvinced, he continued, “This isn’t my idea, but the regulation of the organization. There are different talents in this world. For example, I’m good at illusions, while Tulu may have to study something different. We should let the organization decide who’s the best teacher.”
Both Helen and Tulu calmed down upon realizing that they were being too impulsive. Finding a teacher who couldn’t teach Tulu would only waste everybody’s time.
“I’ll decide how to transfer Tulu back later.” Angor lifted the silencing trick on Tulu. “But I have to make absolutely sure. Do you really wish to follow me and join Brute Cavern? White Clam Association can bring you to Floating Mech City, which is another major wizard organization better than Brute Cavern in many aspects. Think carefully before making your final choice.”
Tulu didn’t reply because he just noticed that he knew nothing about these two names. The only thing he could refer to right now was that he liked Angor and he did not want to end up with someone like Roman.
But he also knew that Roman did not represent the nature of Floating Mech City. Similarly, Brute Cavern definitely wasn’t all full of good guys like Angor.
“You should take the test too.” Angor looked at Helen next. “You seemed fine when the jellyfish was around.”
Helen shook her head and revealed a bitter smile. “I... took the test 20 years ago, sir. I’m not talented.”
“Pity.” Angor was a bit disappointed by this. He believed that Helen’s character and foresight suggested a brilliant witch.
Helen suddenly made up her mind to ask another question. “Sir, can someone without talent become one later by any means?”
“You can, on condition that your spirit level isn’t too far below the minimum requirement.”
“Can-can you tell me what my spirit level is, sir?”
Angor saw her unyielding ambition and nodded. “Sure. I’ll test both you and Tulu. It may be a little painful though. Make sure you keep up till the end, or the result won’t be correct.”
“I will, sir!”
Angor took out the spirit meter and handed it to Helen.
Helen took a brief glance and almost lost balance as she felt dazed all of a sudden. She’d have fallen on the floor if not for Tulu’s help.
“The rune inside the meter will become more disorienting and difficult to look at as the number you’re at increases. You should start from zero.”
Helen waited to recover to her best condition and did as asked.
She saw a golden line slowly and smoothly growing up from “0”.
Upon reaching “3”, it split up into two and kept swirling like a DNA helix structure.
Helen had her spirit power rapidly burnt away as her face grew pale. Her body shuddered as her brain strained to its limit.
The final result was 9.3.
She dropped the meter and collapsed on the floor, drenched in sweat.
“Not bad. No wonder you stayed awake during the monster attack. Yes, you have a chance to become a talent.”
A drop of tear ran along Helen’s cheek.
“But you still need to find a great destiny that gives you the decisive boost,” Angor continued.
“I know, sir. I once helped a witch from drowning at Devil’s Water. I’ll find a chance to speak to her. Maybe she can help me in return.”
Angor was pretty surprised to see the mortal woman actually knew what to do.
“Best of luck then. If I hear the rise of a new witch named Helen in the wizarding world, I’ll make sure to pay you a visit.”
Helen gave him a timid smile.
Tulu had gotten over his concerns and said, “Mister Padt, I will go with you and study at Brute Cavern.”
Angor gazed at him and made sure that Tulu meant those words.
“Very well.”
Since Tulu was mainly under the supervision of Erwin, they probably had to speak to Erwin about this matter later.
While waiting for Helen to bring Erwin here, Angor gave Tulu another test and saw a spirit level of 13, which was... not very impressive.
Erwin had no problem accepting the outcome and gave his best wishes to Tulu.
“It was your grandmother who asked me to take you to the sea. But it seems this is not your final place yet.” Erwin allowed Tulu to decide his own way. “To avoid unnecessary trouble, don’t tell anyone about what happened today. Once we’re back at Ferran Land, I’ll tell others that you’re tired of sailing and that you are going back to your village to settle down.”
It was obvious that by “unnecessary trouble”, Erwin meant to find an excuse to explain the matter to Floating Mech City. Even if Tulu was a “probationary employee”, handing him to another organization without asking for the city’s opinion could be offensive.
“Well, you all can go and have your lunch.” Angor glanced outside the window. “Tulu, come here in the evening, and I’ll tell you the basic stuff about the wizarding world.”
...
Once in the hallway, Helen looked at Tulu’s uncontrollable smile and whispered to him, “Conceal that look while on the ship, will you? Don’t let your tongue slip and cause trouble to Mister Padt.”
Tulu nodded but without removing that big smile. He just couldn’t help it.
Helen sighed. “Think about Mister Roman. Maybe the wizarding world isn’t that awesome as you think. Power always means corruption and violence. Learn from Mister Padt and grow up.”