"Then please... Ice Cone Piercing."

The examiner made a starting gesture towards me.

"Yes, Anduer..."

"Recite the spell slower, with a more aggressive tone, and concentrate harder."

Emile nagged at me while I demonstrated the spell that I had already learned.

If I could touch you right now, I'd punch you in the face...

"Hmm, not bad, next... Refraction."

"Although it's called Refraction, it's actually an ice magic," Emile reminded me in my ear.

"The incantation is..."

Several minutes later—

"Hmm, not bad. Although it was a bit slow in some places, being able to perform all of them shows your foundation."

The examiner evaluated me after the test and ultimately passed me.

"Ah, ha, hahaha, thank you..."

The pause was actually because my magical energy was insufficient, and I had to use magic back and forth with Emile to pass...

The maid took me out of the fifth level and went to the sixth level for the next test.

"Even though it's over, don't suddenly cut off our spiritual connection, okay?" Emile reminded me for the umpteenth time after establishing our mental connection.

"I know, I know, something bad will happen, right?"

"After all, it's a part of our exchanged souls, even for me, suddenly cutting off contact with my own soul is not good."

The two major conditions for cheating that Emile and I completed were magical energy flow, which allowed me to handle the magical energy required for the test, and mental connection, which allowed me to recite the spell verbatim through remote communication.

There's no need to worry about mana flow. I just cast ten low-level first tier spells, five low-level second tier spells, and two low-level third tier spells continuously, and I couldn't feel any loss of mana from that side. It felt like it was replenished in an instant.

However, the mental link is not as simple. It involves exchanging a part of each other's souls, which is more secure than a contract and has greater consequences.

The exchange method is to use one's own blood to draw characters on the other's forehead, similar to contract magic.

According to Emile, if one side suddenly breaks the link unilaterally, the other side will not be able to bear it and will suffer a mental breakdown.

She was referring to examples that ordinary people have experienced, and it is unclear what the consequences would be if it happened to me.

Well, as long as I don't suddenly lose consciousness, it's not something to be too concerned about.

The intermediate magic assessment is also successfully completed, and the examiner selected a domain magic called the "Wisper Domain," which is a weakened version of the "Silent Domain" that Emile previously released.

Due to the special nature of domain magic, it needs to be sustained for five minutes to pass. However, with the continuous replenishment of mana from the mana flow, I easily passed the assessment.

The examiner even asked me if I wanted to change the topic when he selected this magic because it is quite obscure, and sustaining it with mana is not something that a newly promoted intermediate mage can do. Little did he know that I was lucky to have picked this topic.

"Congratulations," the maid handed me a badge and giggled, "only you and your partner passed the intermediate assessment this time."

Well, Nalesha is really amazing.

I took the badge and secretly rejoiced that I had passed the assessment.

"Next up is your welfare. All mages who pass the intermediate assessment will receive the benefits awarded by the guild."

She led me to the seventh floor, showing me the true domain of the magic guild -- a spacious area with clear divisions, hurriedly passing robed mages, and various books and test tubes.

"Before intermediate level, we emphasize comprehensive development and a certain understanding of all aspects, but after intermediate level, mages must begin to specialize."

She led me into a gorgeous corridor, introducing me to the countless doors.

"The first benefit we offer is the spell book you need to specialize in. Since mages will decide their future direction based on this choice, it is very important, and there is no opportunity for regret, so please consider it carefully."

Choice...as a typical Libra, I hate making choices.

"Emile, which one should I learn?"

"Hmm, it doesn't matter. You can decide for yourself."

This jerk...

"We offer destruction, restoration, enhancement, protection, and other types. You can freely choose according to your preferences."

"Oh, wait a minute, let me think about it."

The maid saw my dilemma and kindly said, "If you're not sure, do you want to test your magical attributes first?"

Magical attributes, paired with magical resistance, are innate and predetermined, and every mage must consider them when choosing their path.

"I didn't expect you really haven't done this type of test before," she said to me like this.

"Haha...hahaha."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you must have already done this kind of test since you've reached the intermediate level."

"It's okay. Maybe I was too focused on practicing that I didn't pay attention to this."

I casually made up an excuse and followed the maid into another room, where I coincidentally met Nalesha.

"Oh," she greeted me, "Are you here to test your magic attribute too?"

"Yes."

"Hey hey! Renaus!! Tassili's attribute is nature! Not wood or grass, but nature!"

The maid next to her shouted excitedly at us, with an exaggerated expression as if witnessing some big event.

"Sis...sis, you're overreacting."

My maid frowned and asked in confusion, "What kind of attribute did you say?"

"Nature!"

"Fire attribute?"

"No! It's na-ture at-trib-ute!!"

My maid's tongue twisted and stuttered.

"The most amazing nature attribute!?"

"Yes!"

"Well...well...you don't have to be so excited," Nalesha smiled bitterly at the two of them, "Can I go pick my spells now?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Later, we'll definitely invite the lord to meet you. He will surely be amazed..."

The maid's words paused for a moment, then she suddenly changed her words.

"Cough cough, although the lord may not show any surprised expression, it's still a good thing. We're all very happy to have you in our guild."

“Okay, please take care of me,” Nalesha turned her head and smiled at me. "I'll be waiting for you in the hallway."

The two maids' eyes on me became complicated and resentful.

I guess I'm the innocent one in this situation...

Watching them walk away, the maid sighed and led me into the room to test my magic attributes.

"Please transfer magic to this attribute ball."

A crystal ball was embedded in the pillar, emitting a clear and cold light.

"Just enough magic to activate a small spell is sufficient."

"Okay."

I held it and mobilized my recently restored magic power.

Of course, I couldn't use Emile's magic. As far as I know, she is a legendary all-around mage. She is much more amazing than Nalesha.

With my magic power slowly inputted, the crystal ball was covered with a layer of faint golden light and mist.

"Hmm...this..."

"How is it?" Emile said in my ear.

“So, how is it!?” The maid looked at the attribute ball and filled out something on my record sheet.

In a calm tone, she said to me, "Your attributes lean towards light and water, indicating that you are a kind, gentle, and virtuous person." ...

Ha...

"If you have this attribute, I recommend that you choose the recovery system. It has great advantages. Of course, your charm value is also high. If you don't mind, you can also try the charm spell of the light system. Our Elysis Society happens to have a charm spell called Light Dance..."

"Hmm..." Being told that my attribute is very ordinary, I feel depressed and have no interest in caring about what path to choose.

Well, with Emile as a great weapon, I'll just choose the recovery system...

I followed her gloomily to the corridor just now and walked into the door marked with the recovery system badge.

Inside were rows of bookshelves.

"These are relatively suitable spells," the maid led me from the beginning to the back, "very suitable for people who have just reached the intermediate level of practice. After that, they are more difficult and require greater demand."

"Hmm." I followed her uninterestedly, responding to her nonchalantly.

The maid also didn't care about my attitude and introduced me carefully until the last one. She looked at the dusty scroll on the last shelf and frowned, ready to start from scratch with me.

"Um, what about this one?"

"Oh, that... "She looked hesitant," This one is not really a recovery system..."

"Huh?" I leaned down and looked at the label below the scroll- "Three Lives Link."

"Deny the present, reverse the past, and create the future."

"Even I haven't heard of this magic." Emile's voice echoed in my mind.

Okay, decision is made, it's you.

I just picked up the scroll from the fixed target on the bookshelf, and the badge emitted a white light.

"Huh!? Wait!? You chose it!?"

"Uh, yeah, what's wrong?"

"..."

Her face suddenly turned pale and she mumbled something incoherent.

"Um, I'm sorry..."

"Huh?"

"I'm sorry!! I'm sorry!!! It's all my fault! I should have told you the truth from the beginning! I deserve to die! Please forgive me! I really didn't mean to! I'm sorry for wasting your precious opportunity that only comes once in a lifetime!"

"What's going on?"

"Well...the effect of the Three Lives Link spell..."

It creates shared memories between two parties at the cost of their lifespans. The more lifespan is paid, the longer the memories last.

"So, sacrificing real life to gain false memories?"

"Yes...that's right."

"..."

"And the general usage is to create a beautiful world for yourself or others when you feel despair towards this world."

"Then sleep in that world and die happily?"

"...yes."

The maid lowered her head and dared not look into my eyes.

"'Denying the present' means..."

"Refusing to acknowledge reality."

"'Reversing the past' means..."

"Being able to create a fake past for oneself."

"And what about 'creating the future'?"

"Creating a beautiful spiritual world that belongs to oneself."

..."

Both she and I fell silent.

"Um, Miss Renaus?"

I mentioned the name her sister had said earlier.

"Yes..."

"Why wasn't this useless magic labeled 'for otaku use only' and then thrown into a corner where no one would ever find it and let it gather dust!?!?!"

I shouted angrily at her, completely ignoring her murmuring of "I already did that."