After that, no one mentioned the clan’s determination of his future, but Gerard still felt something had changed. While lecturers taught him magic-related knowledge, his brothers and sisters played by the fountain in the garden; when other children went to sleep early, he had to follow his teacher to the gloomy basement to practice simple magic with gems.
Gerard had been confused and angry about this, but his father would only order him not to say another word, threatening physical punishment for any resistance; his mother would embrace him after the beating, telling him to be obedient. The young Gerard endured the pain and lay on his mother’s chest, occasionally looking up at her complex expression that made him feel sad. Following her gaze, he saw his silent father standing by the window.
To avoid making his parents sad, Gerard gave up resistance and accepted the arduous coursework.
In the overwhelming reading, Gerard’s mind matured rapidly. He gradually understood that he must become a Naissier wizard, the only requirement from the vast family he was part of. From the day he understood his mission, he began to call himself by name, just like his younger brothers and sisters.
This was his only resistance to the family responsibility.
After three years of preparation, the day finally came when the Sage’s Tower messenger arrived. The messenger would assess all children of appropriate age, but both sides knew the true candidate.
A series of seemingly ordinary small tests – drawing with sand, building fortresses with stones, finding answers in water waves – only Gerard, who had been trained, could truly comprehend the examiner’s intent.
Only Gerard’s sister, after the test ended, excitedly rushed over and grabbed his sleeve, shouting, “Brother, you’re so amazing!”
Gerard just smiled, patted his sister’s head, and followed the clan leader through the beautiful winding corridor to the front yard of the ancestral home he had never been to before.
“This time, it’s not just the messenger,” the clan leader suddenly stopped and said flatly, “the Grand Sage himself is here.”
Gerard immediately understood that this old man would definitely make a demand, and no matter how unreasonable, he would have to fulfill it.
