No sooner had he finished speaking than
"I'll find time to take the arcane examination through the 'Mage Management Department,'" Lucian replied in a casual tone, as though discussing what to have for dinner. But both Simeon and Lazar assumed he meant he would apply for the exam as soon as he finished studying those arcane and magical texts and filled in the gaps in his foundation.
After waving goodbye to Anick and the other magic apprentices, Lucian followed Lazar toward the four districts.
"Mr. Simeon just became a Second-level Archanist, and he has a strong chance of breaking through to the mid-tier," Lazar remarked as they walked, sighing to Lucian. "I wonder when I'll manage to earn thirty arcane points."
Lucian asked with some confusion, "How many arcane points are needed for each arcane rank increase?"
"Originally, it was said to be multiples of ten, but that would make the requirements absurdly high at the upper ranks — after all, there are only ten to twenty thousand Archanists in the entire world. So later, a legendary mage who was fond of the philosophical concept of 'everything in threes' inserted a 'three' tier in between, creating the current system. Ten arcane points to become a First-level Archanist, thirty points to advance to Second-level, one hundred for Third-level, three hundred for Fourth-level, one thousand for Fifth-level, three thousand for Sixth-level, ten thousand for Seventh-level, thirty thousand for Eighth-level, and one hundred thousand for Ninth-level." Lazar enjoyed the feeling of being asked questions.
As they walked, beams of light occasionally shone toward them from either side, but the arcane and magic badges Lazar wore emitted a faint glow that made them shrink back on their own.
…………
The "Mage Management Department" had an open-plan lobby furnished with pale yellow sofas, coffee tables, a bar counter, and wine cabinets, giving off a relaxed and open atmosphere more reminiscent of a salon or club than an administrative office.
Beside the corridor leading from the lobby to the offices, lounge, and archives in the back, there was a reception desk made of silvery-gray metal, manned by two lively and charming young women. Most mages who passed through — at least those who weren't the overly brooding type — liked to exchange a few playful words with them, and among them were no shortage of young men who were genuinely courting their affections.
"Mr. Lazar, you're back from your reception duty?" the taller of the two, a girl with flaxen hair, asked with a cheerful bow. She wore a sprout-yellow long dress, her features delicate and pleasant.
Lazar's smile beamed once more. "Of course, sweet little Cindy. Don't you see Mr. Evans beside me? A twenty-year-old official mage."
Then he gestured toward the two girls. "Evans, this is Cindy and Donna — the sweethearts who keep the 'Mage Management Department' filled with laughter. Both graduated as high-level magic apprentices, working here while preparing to strive for official mage status."
At Lazar's teasing use of "sweetheart," Cindy merely rolled her eyes and said nothing more, then turned to Lucian with a charming smile. "Welcome, Mr. Evans. A twenty-year-old official mage is considered a genius wherever you go, especially one with an ancient lineage. If I still haven't broken through when you become a mid-tier mage, would you take me as your apprentice? A real apprentice?"
"Mr. Evans, I want in too — don't forget about me!" Donna, shorter but fuller-figured, tossed her auburn hair.
Lucian hadn't expected such enthusiasm from them and felt momentarily bashful, unsure how to respond.
Lazar burst out laughing at the sight. "Evans, it looks like you don't have much experience around women. They just like to welcome new mages with this sort of playful banter."
"In fact, both their arcane and spiritual talent are quite good — they were already high-level magic apprentices at seventeen, before even coming of age, and there's a good chance they'll become official mages before they turn twenty. They've also decided to specialize in force fields, electromagnetism, and light and darkness, which don't really align with your expertise in stars and elements. Besides, mid-tier Mage Nicholas has already expressed interest in taking them as his students."
"I thought I'd suddenly become irresistible, receiving such an enthusiastic welcome from the girls," Lucian quipped with dry humor.
Cindy fixed Lucian with her clear, beautiful eyes and said earnestly, "Actually, Mr. Evans, you really are charming — handsome, gentle, and composed, with just a touch of melancholy and mystery about you. Heh, you're more attractive to me than Mr. Lazar."
"That truly breaks my heart," Lazar said, pulling a wounded expression before composing himself into something resembling seriousness. "Mr.
Giggling, Donna pointed toward the corridor behind them. "The other gentlemen are all busy — only Mr. Eric is waiting for you and Mr. Lazar."
Lazar grumbled about his diminished appeal as he led Lucian past the two girls' amused gazes to the third office, whose nameplate read: "Eric, Steward of the Mage Management Department."
He knocked lightly, and a commanding voice called from within, "Come in. The door's unlocked."
Through the slowly opening door, Lucian saw rows of bookshelves inside. But what stood on them were not books — rather, sheets of silvery-gray paper, utterly free of any crease or curl, resembling thin metal plates that flickered with an eerie glow. From them extended brilliant silver lines that connected to the pale blue luminescent walls surrounding the room.
Apart from the shelves, the room contained a deep-black cabinet, an iron cage with a bell hanging from it, and a metal shield.
Before the shelves sat a desk, behind which was a balding man in a black suit and black tie, with a half-high top hat resting beside his right hand.
The man, of ordinary appearance and roughly forty years old, raised his head. His pale gray pupils, clear as polished gems, seemed to peer straight through Lucian's heart as he cast him a measured glance, then lowered his gaze and continued writing something.