The Paths of Talent and a Troubled Escape

“O Seeker, your path now lies before an arc, diverging into five distinct routes: the path of the 【Elemental】, the 【Physical】, the 【Attribute】, the 【Alchemy】, and the 【Summoning】. At this crossroads, follow your heart and choose your destined path. Should the seals on these five paths remain unbroken, it signifies insufficient talent, and you must withdraw.”

— Dalia Moriarty

The wooden sign bore an elegant, somewhat archaic description. Its essence was clear: the five paths ahead represented different talents.

Participants in the examination were to approach the crossroads and choose a path that resonated with their inner self. If the magical seals on the chosen path failed to open, it meant their talent was insufficient, and their journey ended there.

“Who is this Dalia?” Freyja asked, pointing at the name at the end of the passage.

“That’s the founder of the High Attribute school of magic, one of the five strongest mages of his era, and the architect of this entrance exam,” Granger patiently explained.

“He was exceptionally skilled in high-tier attribute magic like Space, Annihilation, Regeneration, Life, Soul, and Divination. The entire magic array and the seals we are currently within were all created according to his methods.”

“Is that so? How impressive.”

“Indeed. We’ll go ahead and try it now.”

The three of them greeted Roland, then approached the crossroads one by one.

Granger was the first to attempt. She took a deep breath, slowly positioning herself before the intersection, her posture straight and composed.

Before her, five small orbs of varying colors drifted from the five paths, circling her body once. A moment later, an ethereal voice resonated from afar.

“Your magic is pure and solid, your mind agile and calm. Yet, the most crucial aspect lies beyond this; I sense within you an independent soul, a truly precious rarity… Very well, I understand. This path suits you best…”

The seal on the path symbolizing the 【Attribute】 opened. Granger exhaled a breath of relief, then turned, her face beaming with joy.

“I’m going ahead. You two catch up soon.”

After Granger stepped past the seal, she vanished amidst a spatial distortion. Roland and the others knew this meant she had been teleported to the next stage.

Wesley was next. The process was identical, and the ethereal voice offered its assessment: “Loyal, brave, and resolute, perhaps you are suited to be a knight? However, your conviction in friendship and bonds surprises me. You could also become a Summoner.”

The seals for the 【Physical】 and 【Summoning】 paths opened. Wesley hesitated for a moment, seemingly unsure which to choose, then glanced back at Potter.

“Hurry up and choose! Time is almost up,” Potter said with a shrug, his expression slightly puzzled.

Wesley pursed his lips in thought for a while, his gaze shifting between the two paths. Ultimately, he chose the path of Summoning.

Potter stepped forward next.

“Oh—what a remarkably gifted young man. Your soul has endured prolonged tempering, becoming resilient, yet it remains pure and warm. You appear to aspire to become a powerful mage, and your kindness, ambition, perseverance, and courage are all invaluable qualities… Ah, let me think… Hmm—”

This time, the voice paused for a long moment of contemplation. Then, the seals for the 【Elemental】, 【Physical】, and 【Attribute】 paths all opened.

Roland watched as Potter, without a moment’s hesitation, walked towards the path of the 【Elemental】.

****

Seeing the three ahead depart, Freyja clapped her hands, took a deep breath to calm her nerves, and followed suit.

Those five luminous orbs flew towards her.

“Eh—hmm—”

The voice seemed to stutter, as if struggling to articulate.

“What’s wrong?” Freyja asked, raising an eyebrow, utterly bewildered.

“Strange, strange, truly too strange… Why can’t the Magic Resonance Device detect your magic fluctuations or soul information? Hmm… Let me try increasing the intensity…”

The Magic Resonance Device could generate the same frequency as a subject’s magic, thereby perceiving their magical attributes and personality traits. Increasing its intensity allowed it to draw a wisp of magic for analysis, yielding insights into their soul.

Freyja felt a sensation, as though her magic was slowly being stirred, yet it remained contained within her body, unable to emerge. Her body felt like an impenetrable wall, blocking any external probing.

“Still no… Sigh…” The voice sounded as if it had given up, speaking with a hint of annoyance. “Never mind, I won’t try anymore. Just pick any path you like.”

All five seals opened simultaneously.

Hearing such a defeatist remark, Freyja pouted in dissatisfaction. “Honestly, I thought I’d get to show off again… Why don’t you try one more time?”

“Stop dawdling, just go.”

Before the voice could respond, Roland’s impatient urging came from behind her.

“Hmph.”

Turning back to make a face, Freyja located the path of 【Alchemy】 and stepped through.

****

Once Freyja had moved on to the next stage, Roland’s lingering anxiety finally eased. He slowly walked forward, allowing the so-called Magic Resonance Device to meticulously scan him.

He did indeed feel his magic being unconsciously sensed, and even a sliver of it was drawn out.

‘It works for me,’ he thought. ‘It seems Freyja’s Demonkind body is simply too different for the device to perceive her.’

“Combat and slaughter are your instincts, etched into your very soul. There’s no need to hesitate; the Magic Physical Combat school is undoubtedly the most suitable for you.”

Roland looked at the opened seal, a flicker of hesitation on his face. After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Excuse me, how far is the Magic Physical Combat school from the Alchemy school?”

“Oh? Hehehe… Why do you ask? Are you reluctant to part with that little girl from earlier?”

“Haha, perhaps a little,” Roland replied shamelessly, unfazed. “So, are the two schools far apart?”

“Hehehe… They’re quite far. At least an hour’s walk!”

“Ah, I see…”

Roland’s step forward faltered. He began to worry about what might happen if he couldn’t deliver the potion to Freyja in time.

“Hahahaha—” The voice burst into a triumphant laugh. “I was just teasing you. The Alchemy school and the Magic Physical Combat school are only a few hundred meters apart. Are you relieved now?”

Roland’s expression was one of mild exasperation. He shook his head and stepped onto the path of the 【Physical】.

****

Meanwhile, within a church in Mondstadt.

“I clearly locked this door, so how did that girl Mary still manage to escape…?”

Kilian surveyed the disheveled bedroom, a helpless smile on his face. He tilted his head back, taking a sip of Priest’s Elixir, his gaze falling upon the open window.

A hemp rope extended from the window, one end tied to the bedpost, the other dangling outside. For someone agile, escaping this way would indeed pose no issue.

“She couldn’t possibly have a rope that long; it would be impossible to hide…” Kilian leaned out the window, peering down. The rope’s end extended only two meters past the sill, yet the ground was still eight meters below.

He gripped the coarse rope, feeling its texture, and imagined Mary’s actions at the time. Then, he noticed irregular marks on the ground below.

“Most likely, she fell to the ground and then cast a healing spell…” Kilian murmured, stroking the rope’s surface as he pulled it back in, sighing. “My foolish child, I only wanted what was best for you…”