"Understood," Alira replied.
"Say, Schillian. Look at this." Arshen chanted a spell, and at the tip of his finger, ice formed. "You said you can use magic by observation—can you replicate this?"
Schillian nodded. "I can try. Should I chant it, or not?"
Arshen laughed.
"You're saying you can do this without chanting a spell? I'd like to see that. Do as you like."
Schillian thought for a moment. I should just do the same thing he did, right?
He pointed his finger upward, gathering Aether around him. The mist formed thick at his fingertip and then—frost crystal appeared.
Everyone in the room stared in awe. They couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"This is the first time I've seen him cast a spell… yet I can't believe my eyes," Alira said, stunned. Eamon could only widen his eyes in disbelief.
"Hahaha! You, kid—you're something else," Arshen said. "I think you could be something great in the future. Head Mage like me? No, much bigger. The Sage himself!"
Schillian stood silently. He didn't know what that meant.
But someday, he would.
—
They left the chamber. Schillian was once again in the office with the Head Mage, Alira, and Eamon. Arshen issued a command:
"Schillian is to be provided magical education. He will be appointed a temporary teacher until he reaches the minimum age to enter the Council Academy."
"I'll pay for the tutor myself. When the time comes, he'll be admitted to the Academy free of charge—under my recommendation."
Schillian was amazed. He bowed his head. "Thank you…!"
"It's fine. You deserve it," Arshen said.
They left the office together. Alira and Eamon were tasked with bringing Schillian home safely.
As they walked back, Lila was waiting at the street corner.
"Are you okay, Schillian?" Lila asked, worried.
"Lila! What are you doing here?" Schillian looked surprised.
"I was waiting for you, what else?" Her face looked even more worried than before.
"I'm fine. Let's go to the inn," Schillian said.
He gently grabbed Lila's hand, and they walked back to the inn together, with Alira and Eamon following closely behind.