Two hours later, all thousand children had tested their magical aptitude.
Among them was Orion, who shone with a dazzling 2-Star talent and an affinity for the Earth element.
However, he wasn't alone in his magical potential; about ten other kids showed some aptitude too, though their talents were on the lower end.
Three had a 1-Star talents with a connection to water element, four boasted 2-Star talent linked to wind element, and three others held 1-Star tied to the fire element.
As tears flowed from many of the children, including Orion, only eleven stood out as having any magical aptitude, and even then, their talents were modest at best. The highest among them was just 2 Stars.
Those fortunate enough to possess magical abilities buzzed with excitement while the rest could only shake their heads in disappointment, casting envious glances at the eleven lucky ones.
"Alright everyone, listen up!" Felix stepped forward, his voice booming across the platform like thunder. The children turned serious at once.
"Even if you don't have an aptitude for magic," he continued reassuringly, "don't be disheartened! As I mentioned earlier, you'll still receive Knight Cultivation techniques to help you grow. And for those of you with magical potential, just because you can practice magic doesn't mean you should act superior or look down on others. Remember Rule No. 3."
The kids nodded vigorously, especially those blessed with magic.
"Great! Now here's something crucial: those without magical aptitude will receive cultivation techniques as well," Felix explained. "But there's a catch, you have three months to sense Mana and absorb it into your body to break through to Tier 1 Beginner Knight.
If you can't make that breakthrough by then... well, you'll transition to another part of the family where you'll study management and other skills vital for running our family business."
A hush fell over the crowd as shock rippled through them. If they couldn't become Tier 1 Beginner Knights within three months?
They'd be relegated to ordinary lives, far from their dreams of becoming powerful Mana Cultivators! Determination sparked in their eyes; they were ready to rise above.
Seeing this fierce determination made Felix smile. "The Morningstar Family operates on a ranking system: Servants, Outer Family Members, Inner Family Members, and Elite Family Members."
Gasps filled the air as whispers spread among the crowd; they were intrigued by this hierarchy.
Felix stepped forward, his voice steady yet charged with excitement. "Listen up! To transition from being a Servant to becoming an Outer Family Member, you need to rise from a Tier 1 Beginner Knight or Mage all the way up to a Tier 3 Master Knight or Apprentice Mage.
As a Servant, you'll earn 10 Copper coins each month, receive 3 Mana Gathering Pills, and gain access to a basic Cultivation technique along with a skill.Tier 1 to Tier 3 are Outer Family and will receive a 100 Silver Coins monthly, 6 Mana Gathering Pills, plus a solid 2-Star Cultivation technique and Skills!"
The crowd buzzed with anticipation.
Felix continued."Tier 4 to 6 are Inner Family Members and will receive 1,000 Gold Coins each month!10 Mana Condensation Pills and can choose from Cultivation techniques and skills ranging from 3 Stars to 5 Stars. Tier 6 to 9 are Elite Family Members and will receive l million Gold Coins per month, 100 Mana Condensation Pills!
Plus, you'll have access to any level of Cultivation technique or skill your heart desires."
Gasps echoed through the crowd as they processed this information.
"Wait, are we really getting those Copper coins every month? That's enough for months' worth of food!" one child exclaimed.
"Forget the Copper coins; did you hear about the skills and techniques?" another chimed in.
"I need to become a Mana Cultivator as soon as possible!" someone shouted excitedly.
Felix raised his hand slightly, commanding attention. "Alright everyone, quiet down!" Instantly, silence fell over the throng of eager faces filled with hope.
He continued, "In our Family system, we have something called Family Contribution Points (FCP). Think of these points like currency in the outside world, but here? They're crucial! You'll use FCPs to purchase everything from Cultivation techniques and spells to potions and weapons. Each month, every one of you will receive an allocation of 100 FCPs. Want more?
There are two ways: complete missions within the family or break through to new Tiers! Each breakthrough grants you an additional 1,000 FCPs."
The seriousness of his words resonated with the crowd of children who listened intently.
Felix took a deep breath before adding with enthusiasm: "See those hundred people behind me? They're your Instructors! They'll guide you through everything related to Cultivation and this vast world. If you have questions about anything ask them!"
Elyse caught it with a mix of surprise and intrigue. "What do I do with this?" she wondered aloud.
"Just drop a bit of your blood on the token," he instructed with a reassuring smile.
With a slight frown, Elyse made a small cut on her finger. A drop of blood fell onto the token, which instantly flickered to life, absorbing the crimson drop like magic.
"Now hand me your token," Instructor Max said. Eagerly, Elyse passed it over, her eyes sparkling with anticipation about what would happen next.
"What's your name?" he asked as he examined her.
"My name is Elyse," she replied confidently.
A grin spread across his face as red light glowed at his fingertip. He carefully carved "Elyse" into the token; it shimmered and then vanished into thin air.
"How old are you?" he inquired next.
"I'm eighteen years old," she answered promptly.
Once again, Instructor Max etched her age onto the token along with a few other words that quickly disappeared too.
Turning to the crowd of children watching intently, he announced, "Now look closely!"
The kids leaned forward in unison, their expressions a mix of seriousness and wonder as they focused on the token in his hands.
With another smile, Instructor Max infused Mana into the token.
Suddenly, glowing runes lit up around the token as a floating white screen suddenly appeared before everyone, a simple yet striking display featuring the emblem of the Morningstar Family in the background.
On that screen were words that read:
Name:Elyse
Age:18
Race:Human
Family Rank:Servant
Cultivation Level: None
Family Contribution Points: 100
"Wow!" gasped thousands of children as their eyes widened at this magical sight before them.
"This is how you'll view your information! As long as you inject Mana into your tokens, it will display like this," Instructor Max explained enthusiastically. "But for now, since you're not yet Mana Cultivators and don't have any Mana yourself, just know that your FCP will be updated on these tokens until you gain access."
He returned Elyse's token to her with an encouraging nod. "Now everyone line up so we can register your names and details and receive your resources!"
Instantly motivated by excitement and curiosity, all the children formed an orderly line while instructors began carving names into their tokens one by one.
One hour later, everything was wrapped up. Each one of them were holding their uniforms in their hands and also a small pouch, the pouch contains this month resources: 10 Copper coins and a bottle containing 3 Mana Gathering Pills.
Instructor Max stood in front of the eager children, his voice booming with authority. "Alright, listen up! Your training kicks off tomorrow. When you hear the bell ring, make sure to hustle over to the training grounds, it's just a hundred meters from your dorms. If you're late, be prepared for some serious consequences!"
With a wave of his hand, he dismissed them. The crowd of kids filed out of the Mission Hall, their faces serious yet buzzing with excitement as they chatted about what lay ahead.
Tomorrow's training was clearly on everyone's minds!