The next apprentices results were not as shocking as the two prospective Marikeen's, making their evaluations dull and boring. The spectators, aroused by the Marikeen prospectives results, were more interested in forming relations with them, than watching the results of more red, orange talents.
Within the raucous cacophony of the apprentices, two green glows flashed from the two rooms. In an instant, the noisy hall turned silent.
Apprentices and elders turned disbelieving eyes towards the rooms to find two unknown apprentices reappearing before them.
The shock and astonishment was clear on their frozen expressions.
Because the two apprentices that reappeared before the crowd were the fourth individuals to receive green level evaluation from the stone rooms.
"Impossible! How is that possible?" Someone yelled uncontrollably, their ear-piercing shriek resounding in the enclosed hall.
The buzzing whispers and hushed murmurs were long replaced with shocked silence. The silence persisted under the tense atmosphere, causing the two individuals to shift uncomfortably from the glaring gazes.
The white hall was now a mess of tangled and turbulent emotions. Apprentices and elders alike looked on with stunned amazement interrupted only by the droning of the floating globe and shriek of the shocked student.
"Did...what did...I just see?" The blue haired apprentice stammered. She was so astounded that she had to force the words out with difficulty.
"Exactly what I saw! Those two girls are green level apprentices!" The student next to her exclaimed dazedly.
"I know that! But why the hell are they green level talents? They are not prospective Marikeen!" As soon as the words left her mouth, her gaze shifted to the two apprentices encircled by the new apprentices.
"It is understandable if those two turn out to be green level talents. But why are these two green levels as well?" She asked in agitation.
Two Marikeen prospectives turning out as green level talents was acceptable. But two unknown, obscure girls turning up as green level apprentices was preposterous!
'No! Since they are not even Marikeen prospectives and have green level talent, does that not mean that I could be green level talent as well? Of course! If they can be green level, I can too!'
Filled with confidence, the girl proudly raised her head, impatient for her turn to arrive.
On the other side, the two green level Marikeen prospectives were panicking inside. Now that they were not the only green level magicians, they felt a drop in their status. The fact that they had to share the limelight with others made matters only worse.
'They, green level talents? Than what is the difference between me and them?' Marui Osklain raged in anger, feeling nothing was going to the she wanted.
'How can they be green level talents as well? Where will be the difference between a prospective Marikeen and ordinary students, then?' Aarya Quime was similarly dissatisfied. She had only gotten her evaluation results a short while ago, but before she could even fully enjoy it, this happened.
The two prospective Marikeen's eyes flashed with venom, as they looked at the blonde and brown haired girls.
Stali and Rin felt self-conscious, nervously grabbing each other's hands for moral support, as the whole crowd's attention fixed on them. Never in their wildest dreams did they expect to possess green level talents.
Just a while ago, they were envying the two prospective Marikeen's when they came out of the stone rooms with green level talent evaluation. Now that it was their turn, they did not even get the chance to feel happy before getting overwhelmed by the heated gazes focused on them.
They realized desiring something and actually possessing it, were two completely different situations.
With lowered heads, they scrambled back to their original spots, dying to fade out of the crowd's radar.
"They are green level talents, too." Elder Yun emotionally remarked.
It has been too long since they last experienced such fortune. Way too long since last they received more than two green level apprentices in the same batch. Now, unexpectedly, four appeared at the same time. Haha, now things were going to get a little more interesting.
"Yes, maybe this is a sign that our Sealand Academy will no longer be under the fear of declining and going extinct. We may no longer remain mediocre in the Seven Academy Competition." Elder Kang was more hopeful towards the future.
With four green level talents appearing within the same batch, it would be only a matter of time before their Sealand Academy took the other six academies by surprise.
Rong Li was in a turmoil. Last year, he was the only green level talent of his batch. This year, there were no green level talents from the yearly selection. And yet, an unplanned, last minute selection put on in the middle of the year, fished out four green level talents at one go.
"Is this why the Great Magician held a selection in the middle of the year, this year?" He felt the Great Magician must have had an inkling of occurring green level talents from this batch. Hence, the reason why he held the competition for admission, even when the selection period had already passed.
Rong Li felt a little unsettled with the sudden inflex of green level magicians. He was glad to see the Sealand Academy gaining more talented individuals, however, he also felt like his talent level was not as special as he believed it to be. At least, not at this moment when there were four present in the same room.
The white room was suddenly enveloped in a strange tension. Some people sighing in self lamentation, some feeling more optimistic about their own upcoming evaluation, and some disgruntled about the direction things were proceeding.
And it was in such an atmosphere that the testing continued.
A strange gleam flashed through her eyes, as a blue haired girl walked up to the white door.
Behind this blue hair girl, was a silent individual heading towards the other room. Completely ignored by the rest of the crowd, there was only one individual that was wholly aware of this silent girl's presence, his unmoving sight fixed on her ethereal figure.
'Finally, it is her turn!'
He clenched his fists tightly, feeling nervous on her behalf.
Seeing the evaluation results of Stali and Rin, the man felt that she would not worse than them, and she was also a Marikeen prospective. As such, he was more concerned about her feelings.
As the blue hair girl passed the crowd, she confidently approached the door.
"Look, it is Rima's turn. Do you think she will be a green level as well?"
"Another green level? If it was anyone else, I would immediately say no. But seeing how confident she is, maybe she will be another green level talent?"
"That is highly possible. After all, I heard that Rima would have been selected as Marikeen prospective if it had not been for an unfortunate incident that caused her to lose her arm."
The spectating apprentices murmured in hushed tones as they watched the girl.
The self confidence oozing off her figure was so strong, that the crowd were unconsciously attracted to her receding form. One by one, all of their gazes fixed on her, raising feelings of expectations and anticipation in their hearts.
This included the elders as well.
Having already witnessed the appearance of two green levels that were not Marikeen prospectives, the notion of another one appearing did not seem too far fetched to them.
"Will she be another green level?" Elder Yun's eyes were practically exuding light as he watched the apprentice with concentration.
"We will know soon enough."
Rima Yulan stood at the white door, calming her racing heart.
"This is it. It is time to shine, Rima. You can do it!" She quietly cheered herself, before her figure disappeared from the spot.
On the other hand, Princess Qamari indifferently approached the left room, her silent steps and restrained aura, masking her presence. Unseen and unnoticed, she gazed at the room beyond the door with excitement.
"I will finally know my elemental ability and talent level." Her violet-purple eyes swirled with a silver radiance as her heart pounded in her chest.
The moment of truth was finally here.
Without hesitation, she stepped forward.
A split second later, she reappeared inside the crystalline room, the stones faint glimmer drawing her attention. Curiously, she looked at her surroundings with fascination.
From floor to ceiling, the whole room was covered in glimmering grey crystals, their crystalline brilliance adding an enchanting feel to the space.
She watched with bated breath as the grey crystals glowed and released soft glows of light, their radiance heightening with every heartbeat. The soft hum of magic slid over her skin, sunk into her blood, and settled in her heart. She felt a strong resonances with the grey crystal gems that she had never experienced before.
It was as if they were connected with her.
Instantly, white, milky light, soft and warm, filled the room. Its silver brilliance was as untainted, clear, and pure as the bright moonlight radiance, enveloping her figure in a shower of sparkly, creamy, snow white light.
It felt as if they were welcoming and showering her with love.
Princess Qamari felt her heart clench, whether in joy or loss, she did not know. Tears unceremoniously streamed down her face, making her perplexed.
'What is wrong with me? Why am I tearing up without reason or rhythm?'
On the other side, Rima Yulan remained fixed in place, her face as pale as a corpse.
"No. No! Come on, move! Change! This cannot be!" She could not believe her eyes. Of all things that could have happened, such a result was not within her expectations. She could not accept such an outcome.
The moment she appeared inside the room, the crystal gems faintly glowed with a yellow light, before changing into red and remaining stagnant. They did not move or change color, they just remained fixed in red.
Red!
This meant her elemental ability was air and her elemental level was weak, her talent being red, the lowest of all.
Overwhelmed by the unbelievable outcome, she spurted a mouthful of blood as her body disappeared from the room.
The next moment, she found herself under the ridiculing and scornful gazes of the crowd. The hushed murmurs and mutters, making her flush in shame.
Pale faced with blood leaking from the corner of her mouth, the mockery followed her through the crowd as she nestled into a corner, trying to hide her presence.
The contrast in her aura before and after the evaluation was drastically different.
"Chee! With the way she carried herself, for a second there, I was almost cheated into considering her to be a green level talent." A student disdainfully spat at her feet.
"You only considered? From her confident aura, I was convinced that she was a green level talent, but look at the outcome now. She is not even an orange level, let alone green."
"And that is why we should never be too full of ourselves. Overconfidence is another word for failure!"
"Definitely! If she had not been so overconfident, why would we even bother to pay attention to her?"
The apprentices felt cheated after seeing Rima Yulan's trashy result. It would have been fine if she was just another red level talent, but the girl had been putting on airs, talking rudely and disrespectfully to them since the beginning of the selection competition.
Even now when she was going for her evaluation, she had put on the same airs, making herself seem like a hidden genius when she was nothing but trash.
Elder Yun and Kang were similarly disappointed, feeling embarrassed at their previous expectations.
"We got ahead of ourselves. As elders, that was unbecoming of us." Elder Yun sighed in disappointment.
"Yes, we got carried away by the students, when we should have remained calm." Elder Kang replied in the same defeated tone.
They were about to speak up to silence the apprentices, when at this moment, a bright light flashed from the left room.
The pure white radiance of the light was so bright, that it drew the whole crowd's attention.