Robb was a bit surprised. "How did you know...?"
"Heh... I've been around this marketplace for many years. I'm more than familiar with how the academy's processes work."
As she spoke, Madam Elena pulled a crystal vial from a locked drawer. "Here, this is yours."
Robb took the vial and immediately recognized it—it was the bottle of Artificial Starlight Dew that Holt had once gifted him.
"Remember? I promised to keep it safe for you until you passed the apprentice assessment. Now that you've made your breakthrough, it's time to return it."
Her usual stern expression softened slightly, revealing a warmth akin to that of an elder pleased with a younger relative's growth. "Now that you've advanced, it rightfully belongs to you again."
"I almost forgot about that promise," Robb admitted honestly. "Thank you for taking care of it, Madam."
"And take this as well." Madam Elena handed him a sealed letter bearing a strange stamp. "Present this letter of recommendation when you apply for your first resource allocation."
Robb took the letter, puzzled by the ancient-looking seal. "What is this...?"
"As a newly promoted Elementary Apprentice, you're entitled to a one-time resource allocation from the academy," she patiently explained. "Usually, the quality and quantity of resources you receive depend on your potential rating."
She paused, her eyes reflecting concern. "With your initial aptitude and the timing of your breakthrough, your rating probably won't be high. This letter should bump your access level by one tier."
Warmth rose in Robb's chest. He hadn't expected this kind of support. "Madam... I truly don't know how to thank you."
"Silly brat, don't get all sentimental on me."
Madam Elena instantly reverted to her usual gruff tone, waving her hand as if swatting away an annoying fly: "I just find you more tolerable than those arrogant slackers and don't want to see you get shortchanged by the system."
Robb tucked the recommendation letter and the starlight dew safely into his inner pocket, unsure what to say next. He was about to speak—
"Alright, enough. Get going. Don't make me late for closing the shop."
She waved him off, her tone impatient, but the gentle gleam in her emerald eyes told a different story.
"Don't forget—show up for work tomorrow, same time as usual."
...
The academy's central hall sat at the outer edge of the Black Mist Forest. It was an ancient and grand building, crowned with dozens of glowstones embedded in its high spire. Even on the darkest nights, their soft radiance illuminated the surrounding area.
Robb approached the entrance with measured steps, a trace of nervousness stirring within him.
Though he had personally confirmed his spiritforce met the standard for an Elementary Apprentice, this would be his first official qualification test.
"Let's hope this doesn't end up like Locke's, with half the dorm crowding in to watch…"
He recalled the scene when Locke tested his spiritforce—half the dorm wing had shown up, forming a noisy crowd that pointed and whispered around the crystal ball at the center of the hall.
That kind of attention would make anyone uncomfortable. In a place like the Black Mist Forest, drawing too much notice could be outright dangerous.
Robb had always been cautious. After the conflict with Marcus, he was even more aware of the importance of staying under the radar.
Fortunately, the central hall was quiet today. Most apprentices were likely busy with their experiments or out on assignments.
Robb let out a small breath of relief and walked calmly toward the duty desk in the corner of the hall.
The duty desk was in a semi-enclosed section of the hall, where several apprentices in gray-and-white uniforms were handling various academy matters.
Robb observed the scene for a moment, then approached a female attendant who looked relatively unoccupied and approachable.
"Good morning. I'm here to take the Elementary Apprentice qualification assessment," he said politely, but with quiet confidence.
The attendant looked up at him. She appeared to be in her early thirties, attractive but with a tired expression. A pale blue badge on her chest marked her as a mid-tier apprentice.
"Name?" she asked briskly, though not unkindly.
"Robb Reyne."
"Affiliated zone?"
"Apprentice Dormitory Wing, East Sector," Robb replied clearly, trying to keep a low profile.
The attendant nodded, flipping through a thick register beside her. Her finger slid across the page quickly. "Your name... doesn't seem to be on the projected breakthrough list?"
"That's right. I advanced while in confinement," Robb answered honestly.
The attendant's pen paused. She looked up, clearly surprised. "Confinement? That place doesn't exactly support meditation or training."
"Exactly why it helped me," Robb replied vaguely. "The isolation allowed me to focus entirely on meditation."
She studied him for a few seconds, comparing his responses to the notes in the logbook. Her gaze gradually turned intrigued.
"Robb Reyne… Found it. Your initial spirit aptitude test placed you at six-star rating, didn't it?"
Robb tensed internally but kept a neutral expression. "Yes, ma'am."
"Six-star… and you've been here for just over nine months…"
She sounded genuinely surprised, her eyes filled with curiosity. "For someone with that level of spirit aptitude to break through in the allotted time... that's quite rare."
Closing the book, she stood up. "Follow me. We'll conduct an official spirit measurement."
Robb felt a wave of relief—at least he wouldn't have to be tested in the middle of the main hall.
She led him down a side corridor and stopped at a small door etched with ancient runes.
Inside was a private testing room. In the center stood a crystal orb similar to the one used in the main hall, surrounded by intricate symbols etched into the floor.
"Place your hand on the orb and release your spiritforce," she instructed calmly, though the curiosity in her eyes was now impossible to hide.
Robb nodded and gently placed his right hand on the crystal.
He closed his eyes and guided his spirit energy into the orb, following the smooth rhythm of the meditation method he had already mastered.
As the energy flowed, the orb began to glow softly.
Dark red mist swirled within, gradually condensing into a clear, stable symbol.
It was completely different from the faint, barely-formed symbol he'd produced when he first arrived. Now, the mark was bright, solid, and entirely stable.
The attendant's pupils contracted slightly—clearly impressed.
"Your spiritual fluctuations are nearly impurity-free… the stability exceeds most Elementary Apprentices by a large margin. How did you manage this?"