Chapter 4 – The Chapter of Talents
by spirapiraChapter 4 – The Chapter of Talents
The sensation of teleportation was anything but pleasant.
Mo Lan felt like a fragile sheet of paper being crumpled and squeezed.
Her body seemed to twist into a ball, tumbling around inside a “wastepaper basket” before being spat out like garbage, landing in something soft.
The next moment, a cool, soothing sensation spread through her entire body, smoothing away the discomfort from the teleportation.
Mo Lan stared up at the bright crystal chandelier on the ceiling and the ancient black bricks, taking a good while to collect herself.
All around her, black portals kept appearing in the air, depositing young witches about her age one after another.
Like dumplings being dropped into a pot, they tumbled down beside her in all sorts of ridiculous positions.
Each time a young witch fell, Mo Lan felt a tremor beneath her.
She looked down to find herself on a large waterbed.
Mo Lan: “…”
What an unexpected way to make an entrance.
It was a bit absurd, but the cool, soothing sensation flowing ceaselessly from the waterbed into her body felt so wonderful that she had absolutely no desire to get up.
Seeing the other young witches also lying motionless as if the fall had knocked them senseless, Mo Lan felt even more at ease staying put.
Blending in with the group was the safest strategy.
“Pfft, ahahaha!”
“How long do you think they’ll lie there?”
“I want to go lie on it again myself.”
“Who could resist Lady Amisha’s magical waterbed? Especially after such a rough teleportation!”
“And it’s their first time teleporting, too!”
…
Mo Lan looked toward the source of the voices and found herself meeting the eyes of senior students who were whispering and stifling their laughter.
The red-haired senior at the front was looking right at her, licking her lips slightly to reveal a pair of dangerous-looking fangs.
Mo Lan was too embarrassed to keep lying there. She scrambled upright in a hurry.
But getting off the bed wasn’t really an option either. She was right in the middle of the waterbed, surrounded by other young witches, and black portals were still appearing overhead, dropping more of them down.
Fortunately, she wasn’t the only one feeling awkward. Mo Lan silently turned her head, facing the back of her skull toward the seniors: “You can’t see me, you can’t see me… Hm? What’s this?”
On the other side of the waterbed stood an adult witch dressed in a black formal gown.
A full-length staff floated beside her, and the magical glow emanating from the colorful gemstone at its tip was connected to the waterbed.
Without a doubt, this wondrous waterbed was a product of her magic.
Mo Lan recognized her — the all-powerful witch who had surpassed the peak, the first among the twelve chief apprentices of the Book Witch, and the Headmistress of the Witch Academy for the past century: Lady Amisha.
She was unquestionably the number one witch beneath the Sorceresses.
The 《Young Witch’s Primer》 even contained an introduction about her.
For Mo Lan, who had taken saving Earth as her personal mission, Lady Amisha was the ultimate role model among role models.
She too wanted to become a powerhouse like Lady Amisha.
Lady Amisha was holding a book and muttering under her breath: “…twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven — that’s everyone!”
She snapped her fingers. The waterbed vanished, and Mo Lan along with all the other young witches were gently set down on the ground.
“Dear young witches, welcome to the Witch Academy.
Without further ado, let the enrollment ceremony begin!”
Lady Amisha waved her hand, levitating the book she held to a height that even the shortest young witch could reach.
Under the puzzled gazes of the young witches, she explained:
“This is a projection of the 《Witch Clan Book》, displaying the contents of the Chapter of New Births, the Chapter of Talents, and the Chapter of the Academy. When your name is called, come forward to have your talent tested. Once you sign the enrollment contract, you’ll be officially admitted.”
Every young witch who had thoroughly read the 《Young Witch’s Primer》 had heard of both the 《Witch Clan Book》 and the Academy Book — their reputations preceded them like thunder.
Even Mo Lan couldn’t help but stare at the book.
It looked so ordinary on the outside, yet it was the legendary 《Witch Clan Book》!
The 《Witch Clan Book》 was a magical tome created by the Book Witch, Traci, modeled after her talent manifestation — the Omniscient Book — and forged upon the foundation of witch bloodlines.
The entire book was divided into different chapters: the Chapter of New Births, which recorded the birth of young witches; the Chapter of Talents, which recorded witch aptitudes; the Chapter of the Academy, which recorded the growth of young witches; the Chapter of Inheritance, which recorded witch magic; and the Chapter of Passing, which recorded the deaths of witches who had departed…
It was the supreme treasure of the witch race.
The original 《Witch Clan Book》 was kept by the Book Witch, Lady Traci herself. Only a projection remained in the hands of the Witch Council.
Even though the projection in Lady Amisha’s hands contained only the Chapter of New Births, the Chapter of Talents, and the Chapter of the Academy —
For the young witches who had only ever seen the 《Witch Clan Book》 described in text within the 《Young Witch’s Primer》, it was already a magnificent sight to behold.
The chapter being used now should be the Chapter of Talents, capable of accurately testing a witch’s aptitude to help her choose a specialization.
So the enrollment ceremony was actually a talent test — the young witches immediately grew nervous.
Looking at her classmates’ expressions, Mo Lan could tell that everyone’s mothers had been just as tight-lipped about the Witch Academy as Shana.
Not a single young witch had known the specifics of the enrollment ceremony.
Lady Amisha was already calling names:
“First up — Alba!”
A blonde young witch walked nervously up to the stage.
The 《Witch Clan Book》 rapidly flipped to a certain page. “Just place your hand on it.”
The young witch carefully pressed her hand against the page as instructed, watching the book anxiously.
The young witches below stood on tiptoe, but could only make out text floating on the pages without being able to read what it actually said.
Before long, a sheet of parchment leapt out of the book and landed in the young witch’s hands.
“Outstanding talent in light-element magic, and above beginner level in all other elements as well — very impressive!”
Lady Amisha wiggled her fingers, and the 《Witch Clan Book》 began flipping its pages again. “Good, now sign your name in the Chapter of the Academy. Make sure to read the contract carefully — its terms are enforced by the Sorceress, Lady Carmela. Any violation will invoke a magical backlash.”
The young witch was clearly pleased with her test results. Face flushed, she nodded.
After reading through the enrollment contract, she signed her name without hesitation.
“Second — Iris!”
…
As young witches completed their talent tests one after another, Mo Lan learned from those who had finished that the parchment contained a detailed talent report.
Which elemental school of magic one excelled in, where one’s talent ceiling lay — it was all laid out at a glance.
According to the 《Young Witch’s Primer》, the extraordinary practitioners of Valen — witches included — were divided into six realms: Apprentice, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Peak, and Beyond Peak.
For a witch to have outstanding talent in a particular elemental school meant she had the potential to cultivate that school’s magic to Advanced level or above.
Non-outstanding elemental schools could still be learned as long as one was willing.
Based on the test results so far, most young witches had outstanding talent in just one elemental school.
Only a handful had outstanding talent in multiple schools.
“Thirteenth — Moira!”
Hearing her own name, Mo Lan gave a start.
Under Lady Amisha’s encouraging gaze, she walked up to the 《Witch Clan Book》 and placed her hand upon the Chapter of Talents.
(End of Chapter)