Reader Mage 22-This Is Our Party

The auditorium broke into sothing of a ss as every examinee queried one another in an attempt to each form the strongest party they could. Which, of course, was anything but easy. Everyone wanted an S-Class Mage in their party, but there were only two. Which was not exactly surprising. If anything was to be surprising, it was the fact that there were even S-Class Mages present for the exam to begin with. But they’d been given only thirty minutes to form parties, so the examinees didn’t have the ti to be amazed.

And then, coming in close second to the S-Class Mages, were the A-Class Mages. There were only five of those, Nora included. And they too were the talk of the auditorium. Everyone wanted a piece of them. Which was only normal.

Calls rang out in the auditorium asking who was who, and they were mostly done by the B-Class, C-Class, and D-Class Mages that made up the majority of the examinees. The S-Class and A-Class Mages didn’t seek parties, parties ca to them. And that was why rlin was feeling rather uneasy about what Nora had said. He couldn’t let her force whoever ended up being in her party to accommodate him; what if they all failed because of him? He would have to live the rest of his life carrying that burden. He couldn’t.

“I don’t want that,” started rlin, his voice low. Nora, who had been throwing her gaze around, surveying the rest of her peers to seek who could complent their team, turned to him then. “I don’t want anyone to have to accommodate .”

Nora clicked her tongue. “Just shut up and focus on getting through the exam. This is not the ti for all that nonsense.”

rlin pressed his lips together in frustration. “You don’t get it. If anything happens, it’ll most likely be pinned on . I don’t want that.”

“rlin…”

He pulled his arm away from her hand. “Just…go find a party for yourself. I’ll be fine. There are four hundred of us here. Right now no one is focusing on , but when everyone has ford parties, there’ll be one left that won’t be complete. I’ll just join them and do what I can.”

Nora would surely pass if she had a good enough party, and rlin didn’t want to be a hindrance to her. He had to push her away from his side quickly, because the longer she stayed here the harder it would be for her to find a good enough party. And, most of all, he didn’t want to be pitied.

“You know, you’ve said a lot of nonsense over the years, but this takes the cake,” Nora started with a sigh.

rlin frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“Do you think I’m saying we should form a party because I think you’ll fail without ? Are you nuts? No one in this auditorium understands besides you. That’s why I’m asking you to form a party with , dumbass.”

rlin’s breath hitched at that revelation, a dazed look painting his face.

There was no way that was truly the reason. She was only lying to make him feel better, as she always did.

But… There was really nothing he could say to that. He did know that he was the only one here who knew her capabilities, and most likely the only one who could complent her the best, so he could not argue against that point. Though, he still tried, but when he opened his mouth to say sothing, it went shut just as quickly.

Nora gave a half smile, noticing this. “Good. You’ve co to your senses.”

“Uhm…” Chima’s voice ca at that mont, drawing their attention his way. “I’m sorry. I didn’t an to eavesdrop, but I overheard your discussion, and I was wondering if I could join your party.”

rlin’s expression crumpled so much one would think he was disgusted. No, it wasn’t that. It was just that his shock had skyrocketed.

If Chima had heard their discussion like he had claid, then he knew that rlin was the Deficient Mage. In fact, he didn’t need to have heard their discussion to know that. They had introduced themselves earlier. Who in their right senses would want to team up with a Deficient Mage?

“What are you saying?” asked Nora. It seed that she was just as confused as rlin. After all, her plan had been to get people to accommodate him, she had not envisioned soone volunteering.

Chima shrugged, his bag still in his arms. “I’m saying I want to join your party.”

rlin was so confused he inwardly inferred that perhaps the reason Chima wanted to join them was because he was a D-Class Mage and Nora was an A-Class Mage. He had only glazed over the list on the projection before, but now his eyes scanned through the nas on it as quickly as possible. And his expression further worsened when he didn’t find Chima’s na on either of the D-Class, C-Class, or B-Class Mages list. After all, the boy was an A-Class Mage.

“You can’t be serious!” rlin blurted with even deeper brows. “You’re an A-Class Mage. Can’t you see? Didn’t you say you overheard our discussions? I’m a Deficient Mage.”

Chima blinked owlishly. “But she’s an A-Class Mage, too, right?” he said. “All we need to do is to bring at least a C-Class Mage in and I think we’ll be fine.”

rlin retreated into himself. That was a good idea, yes, but he had a better one. A party without a Deficient Mage.

“And, also,” Chima continued. “I’m not really keen on standing up and announcing that I’m an A-Class Mage. That will bring unwarranted attention onto …” He paused. “And it’ll make seem smug. Like all those proud young masters in cultivation novels, if you get what I an.”

I do…

rlin heaved out an exhale. He knew that he should be glad that two A-Class Mages were willing to team up with him, but he had just been so confused that gratitude had taken the back seat in his mind. Although, he couldn’t keep on being pushy with his questions, lest he chased a potential strong ally away. He shut his mouth. If Chima wanted to team up with him, a Deficient Mage, then so be it. His plan hadn’t changed in any way. He would still do what he could, and hope for the best.

“Hmmm…” Nora still had a skeptical look on her face. She was a far harder person to convince. “Are you sure you really want to do this? I’m not going to accept you backing out at the last minute if a better party approaches you. I don’t like getting my hopes up and being dashed.”

Chima smiled. “Eh… It’s fine. I’m not that kind of person. And, besides, I think our party will have better coordination because of you guys, since you’re siblings and all. It’s always nice to have people that understand each other in a gathering of strangers. Makes things a lot easier. There’s also the fact that this is just an examination; I’m sure it’lI most likely be focused on our intellect and teamwork. I doubt the Class of a Mage really matters that much. It’s not like they’re gonna throw us into a high ranked Dungeon—”

“That’s enough!” Nora shushed Chima with an outstretched palm, startling the boy slightly—rlin, as well. “Don’t jinx it.” She then sighed, glanced at her wristwatch, and stood up. “Ten minutes left. I’ll look for our last party mber.” And she left.

“Phew…” Chima exhaled when Nora was gone. “She’s feisty.”

“You have no idea.” rlin chuckled stiltedly. He felt like he shouldn’t be feeling this at ease, but he couldn’t help himself.

“Also,” Chima continued. “Did you know that the reason no Deficient Mage has ever passed Prestige Academy’s exam in the ten years of its existence is because ninety percent of the ti they don’t take the exam?” rlin turned to the boy, taken aback by that revelation. “Granted, in the first two years, a couple of Deficient Mages tried, and, yes, they failed. But since then no Deficient Mage thought it was worth it. They believed that they would just fail as well. At least that’s what the statistics say. Because I can’t think of any other reason why in the last eight years, you’re the first Deficient Mage to walk into this auditorium to take Prestige Academy’s assessnt exam. So, yeah. There’s no need for you to be worried. The sa year those Deficient Mages failed, other Classes of Mages failed too. Theirs wasn’t just recognized as much because they were of large numbers. What I’m saying is, a Deficient Mage has the sa probability of passing as any other Mage.”

rlin was lost for words. He had not known that about Prestige Academy, but what baffled him the most was the fact that this person that he had just t was saying all this to him.

Why? Why did Chima think he felt the need to clear a stranger’s doubts? Was it because they were in the sa party? That was a possible reason, but, for so reason, rlin felt like there was more to Chima than what t the eye.

However… He only smiled. He was grateful.

“Thank you,” said rlin.

“You’re welco.”

There was a brief silence between both of them.

“So, how did you find that out?” rlin asked. “The whole statistics about Prestige Academy?”

Chima shrugged slightly. “I’m just a sucker for researching.”

rlin almost laughed. They were sowhat alike.

“What’s your favorite novel?”

“Huh?” Chima tilted his head slightly.

“You read novels, right? I got that from the Xianxia reference.”

“Ah. Yeah, I do.” Then Chima seed to realize where this was headed. “Wait. You read too? Not books, web novels?”

rlin smiled. “Yup.”

“Woah. It’s rare to see soone who reads web novels these days. This is nice.” Chima was visibly ecstatic. “My best, huh? I’m not really sure. I enjoy a wide range, and I’ve never really thought one was far better than the other. But if I was to pick, it would be The Omniscient Scholar’s POV.”

rlin’s brows jumped up. “I’ve read that one too. It’s really good.”

“Is it your favorite as well?”

rlin’s lips twitched. “Uhm… Not exactly. My favorite’s sothing else.”

His favorite was a failed novel no one wanted to read, and no longer existed anywhere on the internet.

“Na?” Chima went on.

rlin felt slightly embarrassed. “Singularity Mage.”

“Hmmm…” Chima fell into his thoughts. “Never heard of that one. It’s good, right? I’ll check it out.”

rlin was about to tell Chima not to bother when Nora returned, and seemingly successful in her scouting too. A girl with cerulean eyes stood beside her with short black hair that didn’t reach her shoulders, wearing an amiable smile on her face.

“Enjoying yourselves, are you?” started Nora with a snort. She then turned to the girl she had brought over, gesturing at rlin and Chima. “This is our party.”

The girl nodded and faced rlin and Chima, waving. “Hi. I’m Kim Minji, a C-Class Mage. Nice partying up with you guys.”

“Hi. I’m Ken. But you can call Chima. I prefer that,” Chima replied.

Kim Minji blinked rapidly. “Chima? Nigerian? Cool. I have a friend from there.”

Chima laughed. “Is that so?” It was apparent that he was atrocious at keeping casual conversations with girls going.

rlin wanted to introduce himself. But first… He glanced at Nora. She sighed.

“She knows,” Nora said.

rlin then turned back to Kim Minji and with only a brief second of hesitation. “I’m rlin Tyrrell. Nice to et you.”

Kim Minji nodded. “Nice to et you too.” She then raised both her fists slightly. “Let's do our best.”

rlin tried to smile. “Sure.”

At that mont, the sound of a mic thumping resounded through the auditorium, and all the examinees turned to the podium. Ms. Jung had stood up from where she was seated before one of the banners.

“Your thirty minutes are over,” she said. “We will now proceed to the Open field. If you have not yet completely picked your party mbers, you no longer have the ti to be selective. If by the ti we arrive at the Open field you’re still unsure, you’ll be disqualified.” Everyone sucked in their breaths. “Now, may we proceed?”