Versatile Mage Chapter 5 — Natural Dual Element 1
Previously on Versatile Mage...
“Next…”
“Next…”
“Next……”
“Zhang Hou!”
Positioned a short distance from Mo Fan, the monkey-like Zhang Hou turned back to catch Mo Fan’s eye. “Brother Mo Fan, it’s my turn.”
“Go ahead, good luck.”
“Hmph, I hope you end up with the Water Element too,” Zhao Kunsan interjected with a sneer.
Zhang Hou was thin, resembling a lanky monkey. The moment his palms made contact, a strange vortex of wind swirled upon the Awakening Stone, causing the teacher’s robes to flutter slightly.
“Very well. Wind Element. You possess quite a decent talent. Ensure you practice diligently and avoid laziness!” A look of genuine satisfaction crossed Xue Musheng’s face.
Xue Musheng, the homeroom teacher, was feeling quite pleased. He had only processed about ten students so far, yet two gifted individuals had already emerged. With proper Cultivation, they were almost guaranteed admission into a prestigious University.
Of course, the true source of his pride was student number 1, Mu Bai. Between his exceptional Ice Element talent and the backing of his Ice Element Family, his future potential was an invaluable asset!
It appeared that Class 8 had a real shot at being the top-ranked class this year.
“Next…”
“Next…”
“Next……”
“Pu~~~~~”
Suddenly, a vibrant orange flame ignited atop the Awakening Stone.
The sight caused every student in the room to stare in shock.
“Fire… the Fire Element!!!”
“Damn! It’s actually a girl. What’s her name?”
In an instant, the girl who had awakened the Fire Element became the center of attention. This Element was considered the most formidable of the basic types. It was also the primary choice for any Apprentice-level Mage during their awakening. If one could actually pick their Elements, then…
Regrettably, the Fire Element was as elusive as it was fierce, and the odds of awakening it were quite slim. In a typical class, there would be three at most; that wasn't even one out of every ten students.
“Her name is Zhou Min. Word is she’s a teacher’s daughter,” someone whispered.
“She’s actually really pretty. We should try to get close to her.”
“Better be careful. Zhou Min might look quiet and well-behaved, but she’s actually got a violent temper. How else do you think a girl could awaken the Fire Element?”
“That makes sense.”
“Like mother, like daughter. Mrs. Wenhua will be thrilled when she hears about this,” the homeroom teacher, Xue Musheng, remarked.
“Thank you, teacher.”
“Next…… Wind Element.”
“Next…… Light Element.”
“Good grief, I’m heading to the roof. Nobody stop me,” the student who got the Light Element lamented.
“Next… Water Element.”
“Hey, Light Element classmate, wait up! I’m joining you on the roof.”
“Next……”
……
As the awakening process for the class neared its conclusion, Mo Fan gripped his tag, student number 48, while his heart hammered against his ribs. It was unlikely anyone was as anxious as he was. His first real contact with magic had only been three months prior, and he was terrified that his Awakening would result in total failure!
“Number 48, Mo Fan!”
“You’re up!” Zhang Hou turned around to offer some encouragement.
“You sacrificed everything just to get in here. Don't get your hopes up. If you're lucky, you'll get the Water Element. But if you never reach the rank of Intermediate-level Mage, it’ll be a waste. If you're unlucky, the awakening will just fail. Tsk tsk tsk… and then you’ll be kicked out,” Zhao Kunsan mocked.
“Will you shut your damn mouth?” Zhang Hou snapped, his anger rising.
Zhang Hou looked up to Mo Fan like an older brother. Even though Mo Fan’s Magic grades were poor and he had used the backdoor to enter the Magic High School, Zhang Hou truly hoped his friend's awakening wouldn't be a disaster.
The nine years of compulsory magic education were designed to prepare the Foundation for the Awakening and teach the theories of Cultivation. Failure to study properly often led to a failed Awakening or a total lack of progress in one's future Cultivation.
Mo Fan took a deep breath and walked through the crowd.
“That’s him. The one who got in through connections.”
“Who is he? He’s actually quite handsome,” a girl whispered dreamily.
“He’s a total loser. I used to be in the class next to his,” another girl with a mushroom haircut and a wide mouth replied.
“Really? Then his awakening is probably going to be pathetic.”
“The real question is if he can even succeed at all.”
“To those of you who got Light or Water, don't feel bad. Just wait until you see Mo Fan’s awakening… it’ll make you feel much better. This guy’s test scores were in the single digits; his foundation is total garbage. He’s probably going to fail,” Zhao Kunsan shouted over Zhang Hou, his voice dripping with ridicule.
Hearing this, the students with Light and Water Elements perked up. If someone actually failed the process entirely, it would certainly make them feel much more relieved about their own luck.
“Stop the noise!” Xue Musheng barked, glaring at Zhao Kunsan.
A smirk played on Mu Bai’s lips. He relished the thought of Mo Fan being shamed in front of the whole school. What right did a loser like him have to even be near Lady Mu Ningxue? He was nothing. Someone like himself—handsome, talented in magic, hard-working, and a relative of the Mu family—was the only one who should be close to her.
“You failure… I heard your family sold their home just so you could be here. If you actually fail this awakening, you might as well find a river to jump into. It would solve all your problems and save your family from further embarrassment,” Mu Bai whispered maliciously as Mo Fan walked past.
Mo Fan shot a glance at Mu Bai, suppressing the urge to curse the brat out as he stepped up to Xue Musheng.
“Mo Fan, place your hands right here,” Xue Musheng instructed in a calm voice.
As the teacher in charge, Xue Musheng was well aware of this student’s background.
His middle school performance had been bottom-tier. He had only secured a spot at Tian Lan Magic High because of influential people pulling strings. In Xue Musheng’s eyes, Mo Fan was unremarkable: no family backing, no inherent talent, and grades so poor they were painful to look at. Having such a student in his class was a burden, as he would likely drag down the overall class average.
Well, there’s nothing for it. I’ll just have to deal with my bad luck. I just hope the boy doesn't fail outright, or he’ll be the laughingstock of the entire grade.
Mo Fan’s hands wouldn't stop trembling. Despite his resolve, he was still incredibly nervous.
“Keep steady, don’t shake,” Xue Musheng reminded him.
Mo Fan used his left hand to steady his right, finally managing to press his palm firmly against the Awakening Stone.
It felt cold. He wondered if it was because the previous student had awakened the Ice Element, leaving the stone chilled to the touch.
Wait, something felt off. Why was a numbing heat starting to spread?
“Close your eyes and focus on your Spiritual World!” Xue Musheng commanded.
What a difficult student; he doesn't even know the basic steps.
Mo Fan quickly shut his eyes as he was told.
The so-called Spiritual World was what one perceived upon closing their eyes—a vast, internal void. Normally, a person would see drifting thoughts or blurry images like movie clips in this space. But when the mind was emptied and all thought ceased, it became a pure void… like a night sky devoid of stars.
Initially, there was nothing within his Spiritual World. However, as Mo Fan’s hand remained on the Awakening Stone, he began to feel the crackle of lightning…
The energy flowed from his palm into his body. Suddenly, a miraculous force manifested within his empty Spiritual World, causing a brilliant purple arc of lightning to tear through the darkness. It was stunning, powerful, and a sensation that vibrated through his very soul!