"Twenty-five units, huh… I wonder how good or bad is this…"

Reiji muttered to himself as doesn't have an idea on how to use the 25 units of Mystical Energy… He will probably need Odette's assistance later on…

​​

After confirming that there are no other changes, Reiji spoke to his student with their Sense Link.

'Rufus… Tell your friends to have their weapons or Arcana tapped on this pond's water… Right, the energy within it has lessened a lot, so I assume that it can only be used four more times, so they have to carefully choose the weapon they want to enhance…'

Rufus heard his master and finally realized what was going on… The invasive energy was probably from this pond.

However, it wasn't meant to harm them but to improve or give enhancements to their weapons…

'So this is why the gray-robed man asked whether we brought our weapon just now… I understand, Master…'

Rufus replied as he looked at the other four.

"Everyone, place one of your weapons in this pond. It can give enhancements to your weapons but it can only be used four more times. So you have to choose carefully…"

The young Arcanists who heard his words looked at each other.

This was a sudden revelation to them and it was also quite weird that only Rufus managed to realize it while they are still confused about the situation.

"Haaa~ You already found a solution… You really deserved to be the top one…" Lexi muttered…

She smiled wryly as she approached the pond slowly…

Everyone did the same and held their Arcana in their hands…

Lexi was seen hesitating as her true Arcana, the battle axe, was only a Unique-Rank while her other equipment-type Arcana is an Epic one…

She doesn't know what kind of enhancement she'll get so she couldn't easily decide.

She looked at her Epic Ring and her Battle Axe…

"What weapon will you place on the pond?" She asked the other three…

Rufus already completed his part which was why the pressure has lessened a lot… The surroundings became a bit more bearable so she wanted to discuss this a bit.

"I only have my Revolver as my weapon. I don't really a choice here…" Nika answered immediately. She didn't bring her other equipment as they are being repaired.

"Mhmm… I have a Rare-Rank Mirror Arcana with me… Of course, I do have other Magic Weapons but I feel that by using this chance to improve my mirror, I would have an easier time in its Awakening Process…" Chrisome replied…

"I'll use it with my Cloak instead… This is only Magic Equipment but this is a gift from Sir Sven… I think that it's better to improve this than my Common-Rank Arcana…"

Ned answered as he pulled out his black cloak…

"I see… Thank you for answering me…"

Lexi appreciated their prompt replies. She finally decided on what to do…

Her battle-axe is something that would always accompany her in her journey. It was also already Awakened and improving it might be the best course of action. After all, all her other equipment and weapons were dispensable…

Nika decided to go first and copied Rufus's action.

She just tapped her Revolver on the pond's water enough to make a small ripple.

As expected, she also noticed the changes in her Arcana…

"Dispersion Bullets, huh." Nika was quite amazed that her Arcana gained such an incredible ability.

"The pressure lessened again… What Rufus said is right… Every time a weapon was enhanced by the water, the mysterious pressure would get weaker." Chrisome said after noticing the changes.

"Let me try it now…"

Chrisome said as he gently placed the Mirror on the water, enough to submerge half of it...

"Reflection Tracker?!" The young man exclaimed after realizing that he just got a skill that only an Epic-Rank Arcana could have…

However, he immediately realized that it was a weaker version of the skill.

But even so, he was still quite happy for having the new ability.

This ability is very powerful considering that it could track anyone as long as they had their bodies reflected in any objects that could make clear reflection.

As Chrisome celebrated, Ned decided to soak his cloak with the pond's water…

Ned only smiled and didn't share his ability…

However, after noticing that everyone was looking at him, he decided to give them a hint…

"It just enhanced my Stealth Skill…"

Finally, as the pressure lessened by quite a lot, Lexi threw her battle axe in the pond.

After a few moments, she shared the skill that she got…

"Axe Intent…"

Lexi gulped. She couldn't help but be excited after getting such a precious ability…

"The pressure was also gone…"

"Yeah… It's back to normal."

They wanted to ask Rufus about his enhancement but they heard footsteps approaching them. They immediately glance in the direction of the sound and found the two old Arcanists… In front of them were Sir Sven and Sir Kael wearing their long Arcanist robes…

"Impressive… Only a few seconds was all you needed to discover the Mystical Energy…"

"That's true, congratulations everyone… You should've received your weapon's new ability… I know you want to experiment with it but you still have several things you need to do…"

The two old men then explained to them the consequences of joining the Arcanist Tower…

There weren't any harsh conditions included… As a matter of fact, most of it was benefits that they would willingly stay within the Tower…

However, as red-robed members, they were still tasked to make connections to the outside world in order to increase the influence of the Tower…

They are not required to live forever in the tower as they are being encouraged to explore the outside world and only return once they needed to use the top-grade facilities within the tower…

It was such an odd rule. Once they became a red-robed member, they will have access to advanced-level Arrays, and even be allowed to study a Level 1 Forbidden Arcane Magic for academic purposes.

Who would want to leave the Tower with such benefits?

"You guys know that we have another Restricted Library on the underground floor, it contains information more valuable than Level 1 Forbidden Magic… and you will only be allowed to have access to that library if you can provide valuable information or knowledge that is unknown to the administrator…" Sven added.

'I see… So that was why we need to explore the outside world. It is hard to discover something new if we are just staying within the tower… Unless we're doing groundbreaking research or something…'

"The administrator?" Everyone asked.

"Yes… You can meet that after this meeting." Kael said…

'That?' Reiji noticed the term that Kael used…

"Ehem… May I ask why only the five of us managed to qualify?"

Chrisome asked after noticing that the mood was quite pleasant. If the two Arcanists weren't amicable, he wouldn't dare to ask such a question. After all, it might look like he was doubting their ability to judge talents.

"Well, we found all of your creations very useful and we wanted to build teams that would further study and improve them. Of course, we want you to supervise this group…"

Everyone felt excited about this… Who wouldn't be glad to hear that their creation was acknowledged by these esteemed Arcanists?

"We are also planning to build another Arcanist Tower that matches the scale or even larger than this tower… So the research might even be taken in that place once it's finished…"

Kael suddenly revealed such incredible news.

He then hinted to them that it will happen in the southern region of the kingdom to strengthen their forces against the orcs.

After a few questions and answers, everyone agreed to join the Tower…

Even though they can still refuse after receiving their weapon's new ability, they do not have a reason to back out…

They will be given a special robe, Tower's token as proof of identity, 200 gold coins as monthly allowance, permission to enter various facilities without any limits, and other benefits in exchange for their loyalty, expertise in different fields, and their cooperation in case the tower needed their help…

Aside from this, they also have to do various things like making contact with the Tower's information network around the kingdom and perhaps work just like them if necessary.

Finally, they were allowed to meet the administrator of the Tower.

The two old men will not accompany them and they even have to leave their weapons outside.

'Mhmm… The administrator, huh…'

None of them had seen this administrator and only heard that they are tasked to monitor everything that is happening within the tower.

Clank... Clank... Clank...

There are several unlocking sounds before the door separating them from the administrator was opened.

They initially thought that this administrator is similar to the tower's security personnel but they realized that they were wrong…

In front of them is a floating Chalice…

Thud!

They heard the door closed.

Soon, a voice spoke within the minds of the five young Arcanists including Reiji…

***

About half an hour had passed before the door to the administrator's room opened again… The five went out as they thanked Sir Kael and Sven that are waiting for them.

At last, they were now official members of the influential and powerful Arcanist Tower!