Evaluation (5)

It had been about a month since I had moved into this new house and since Alistair, as well as Elena, started to train me. I had made a lot of progress and even ranked up although I wasn't at the same level as the main cast it was still a level I was satisfied with. 

I had also mastered a part of my technique. Essentially what I was able to do now was coat the tip of my sword with electoral mana and when it made contact with the target it would cause a lot of damage. 

As for me being able to expand the technique I was forced to stop that. 

The reason was simply my gift. 

The Lost Eye of Wisdom And Knowledge was an eye that belonged to the god of the Norse realm, Odin. In order to gain more knowledge and power he sacrificed his eye to the world tree where he was able to drink more sap of the world tree. 

However, when the eye was sacrificed to the world tree it had soaked up the sap of the world tree thus it absorbed all the knowledge the world tree had to offer. 

Later on in the novel, a villain discovers The Lost Eye of Wisdom And Knowledge and uses it to fight the MC. He was able to copy his technique but thanks to that the MC was able to figure out how to use the final part of his technique to kill him. 

But that was what Odin planned. 

A few years back he had discovered what had happened to his eye and wanted to retrieve it however, it was in a different realm. Despite his knowledge, he still had no idea how to travel between realms. 

So he tried to connect to the eye through his minimal connection with the world tree. He had somewhat succeeded as he could only see for around 2 minutes a day before the backlash hit However, he was also able to plant thoughts and ideas in the person who had his eyes. 

Odin's plan kicked off another arc but we didn't need to get into that.

Also, there was no way Odin could watch through me or plant ideas in my head which was thanks to the sap of the world tree. The sap acted like a firewall not allowing him access, now could he get past that firewall?

Probably but he'd need to be in this realm which wouldn't happen for a while. 

But this also means I made an enemy out of the entire Norse realm. 

Now was it worth it? 

Of course!

You see this was something I discovered that I was able to gain some knowledge from the world tree as the eye contained it. Of course, that meant I had to learn to master my gift. 

Oh and if you're wondering why the skill I copied didn't appear on my status screen it's because the skills I copy are considered to be "gifts". The eye copies the formula of the skill and activates it when I activate The Lost Eye of Wisdom And Knowledge. But this also meant that I could only copy a few skills at a time.

The maximum number of skills I could copy was four. I thought that it would be a cool fight for the MC. But back on topic I couldn't increase or decrease it not unless I wanted to blow my head. And I mean it literally, like it'll blow up!

Which is why I was going to test it. 

You see tomorrow was my evaluation day. And considering that I had no limit the talent orb wouldn't work…or well it would but too well so I made a plan. 

While I could've gotten an artifact I didn't know where to get it or couldn't as I felt like Elena had guards watching me 24/7 or the house at least. Considering she was probably monitoring my every decision I couldn't just buy one or order it. 

However, I did have a plan.

As I walked and went through my plan I caught something out of the corner of my eye.

'Cigarettes'

In my previous life, I was a smoker. It was something I used to relieve some stress from work. However, it wasn't every day but every once in a while.

'I can buy them right?'

In this world, people unlocked the ability to use mana in their early teens. With it, people's bodies were extremely resistant to the position of the old world. Well, the alcohol at least. Smoking was pretty much allowed for any age. In the academy, there were a few students who smoked but despite it being allowed it was still frowned upon and was seen as "delinquent behaviour". But cancer didn't exist anymore soooo….

I entered the store and was greeted by the monotone voice of the store clerk. Looking around at the brands I didn't recognize I chose one randomly. 

***

Entering the White Lotus's building I saw that there were many youths around my age standing with an adult who I assumed to be their parent or guardian. 

'Speaking of age doesn't that technically mean I'm 42?'

I was 26 in my last life however, here I was possessing the body of a 16-year-old. But does the other 16 years count if I didn't even remember them?

However, I was pulled out of my thoughts as Amanda patted my shoulder "Ms. Elena is waiting for us in the training room,"

Nodding I followed her to the elevator all while I heard whispers around me.

"Hey, its that guy again,"

"Is it true? Is he the guild master's student?" 

"Yeah, he's been coming here for the past month,"

"You think his rank is going to be high?"

"I hope not,"

"Hey is that a cat on his head?" 

'Assholes!'

Internally cursing them we made our way to the elevator and entered it. Once we made it to the training area I noticed that many people were exiting and entering rooms.

The cat on my head they were referring to was Alistair who came to watch. When Amanda noticed I brought him with me she asked why.

I simply responded with "good luck," 

"The training rooms aren't where we usually conduct our evaluations. We usually do them in the duelling arenas." Amanda started to explain "So I'm guessing we are going to do it in the training rooms because of me?"

She nodded

Once I entered the usual training room, room 2007 I saw Elena who wasn't in her training suit. 

Smiling at me she greeted me "Ah you're finally here,"

Greeting her back we exchanged pleasantries but then the conversation turned to Alistair who was sitting on top of my head and I gave the same excuse "Good Luck," and then our conversation shifted to the evaluation. 

"Just place your hand on the orb," 

Looking at the grey orb I thought about how humanity obtained it in the novel. 

After demons took some parts of the earth they focused their attention on the dwarves as their weapons would make the war 100 times more annoying. They didn't focus on humanity yet due to them thinking that they had the support of the other races.

Anyway, humans had grown strong enough to the point where they could compete with the vampires. So in exchange for some benefits, they helped the dwarves relieve some pressure. The talent assessment orb being one of the benefits. 

With humans having limited talents they wanted to know who would be powerful enough to lead humanity.

I had researched all night about how the orbs worked. Thankfully I had a plan. I did ask Alistair for an orb. I told him I'd bring him with me when I had my talent assessed by the White Lotus Guild which was why he was here. However, I used the orb he brought to test my theory. 

Of course when he wasn't looking or was around. 

Once I placed my hand on the orb I felt the mana drain from my body. However, as it did I forced some mana in the orb. 

Soon a white dot appeared. Then another, then another until there were around 13 dots floating around the orb. 

Right now I was using a part of my gift so my eye wouldn't glow while the other half I used to suppress the stars from increasing.

If I didn't use my gift then the orb right now would turn into the sun.

"13," I could see Elena's eyes sparkle when she saw the number of stars "Congratulations Arthur," 

Taking my hand off and at the same time, the white dots also disappeared. 

"Thanks," I said

Smiling Elena then said something that was surprising "We should hold a party in celebration," 

"...I don't think that's necessary," I said which caused her to tilt her head.

"But don't parents usually celebrate when their child does something extraordinary,"

'I think you're taking this parenting thing a bit too seriously…'

Despite thinking that I did enjoy the feeling "Can I ask a favour?" 

"Anything you need,"

"Can you keep my talent a secret?" I asked 

"Why is that?" Elena knit her brows in confusion 

"I don't like attention," I quickly delivered the excuse I made

In reality, I hoped to steer the plot toward my novel if I could. Even though it was probably risky I wanted it to go the way the novel went as it had a higher present chance of beating the demon king. 

Thinking about it for a minute she nodded "Alright then," 

Exiting the training room "I'll head out first,"

"Congrats," Hearing Alistair whisper I whispered a "thanks" back.

I then made my way to the elevator but as I did I suddenly felt someone grab my shoulder. 

"Hey-" I was then face to face with a youth who was slightly taller than me. He had a bulky build with brown hair that was tied into a ponytail.

"Hey, are you the guild master's disciple?" 

I tilted my head "Who's asking?"

"Damian Stone,"

'Well…shit'