Mage Adam

t held their questions.
They had never heard of a noble like him, but the Black Mage made it clear that he had the greatest talent among the five.
It's better to keep a good relationship with him.

“I'm Adam,” he said flatly.

They waited for his surname.

“I'm a commoner.
I have no surname.”

The smiles of the three male teenagers stiffened.
A commoner? Crystal got in by luck, but Adam too?

Crystal smiled.
She instinctively hates nobles, but now she has a companion to relate to.

The three males mentally drew a line between them and Adam.
They didn't express it physically though.

Crystal left to bid farewell to her family.

The three male teenagers continued to discuss among themselves.
How could a commoner live in the mansion? They saw Adam leave to go to the mansion's inner chambers, and no servants were allowed in there.

They decided to leave to ask their fathers.
Perhaps they would have a better idea of who Adam is.

Adam stayed in his room, while the Earl awkwardly converses with Ophelia.

“Congratulations on becoming an apprentice.
Do I call you the Great Mage Ophelia Johnson now?”

“Johnson, you say,” she snickered sarcastically.
She didn't feel like family.

The Earl didn't care.
All he cared about was that Ophelia had his surname.

“Two-fifths of the income we get from the energy lode will be handed over to the Black Mage, so I can track your record from here.
The remaining three-fifths will be given to you as income.
I will mobilise manpower to find more of these energy lords.”

Ophelia was silent.

“I let Crystal in.
I predict that Crystal may get preferential treatment.
Befriend her, she seems kind, she would surely be of great help to you.”

Ophelia frowned.

“Don't stick around Adam too much.
He is as emotionless as that mage.”

Ophelia frowned again, “I didn't ask!”

The Earl continued, “Look into your heart.
Do what is best for you.”

Ophelia remained silent.

“It's fine.
If you can give Adam the resources he needs, then he will do what is needed of him,” the Earl explained.

“I too made a deal with the Black Mage.
I could have easily driven out the other apprentices, but I let them stay.
Conquer them, use them by any means to get to the top.”

“Congratulations, by the way,” he then left the main hall without looking back at Ophelia.

Ophelia was in a sombre mood.

If it was Adam, he would've told her that humans are burdened by emotions and desires, but she wasn't with Adam.

The night was silent.

Morning came and the five apprentices gathered outside the mansion with mixed moods, and the Black Mage announced, “Let us depart.”