Arvin took the broad sword off of his back and kept it beside him. And then he took a seat. People that were present in the room were mingling among themselves. Some people were talking to each other had big groups while some were in pairs of two. Everyone here was talking to each other but Arvin was the only one who was sitting in the front row, quietly.

Arvin was never a mingler. One of the reasons for him, not mingling was that he looked like a freak with a big a** scar on his face. So not many people tried to approach him in the past. So he had become some sort of a loner because of that. But being a loner has its advantages that a popular person might not be able to see. The advantage of being a loner is alertness. ​​

A loner who is penniless and friendless has all the time in the world. Arvin was one such a loner. He didn’t have a good phone, and after he did get one he did not spend a lot of money to buy a good plan for his phone. So when people were either mingling or looking at their phones he would just live that moment and look around here and there.

One might underestimate what that knowledge could be gained by staying alert at the moment…

While Arvin was sitting quietly for something to happen two girls were talking to each other in the back row. Both of them were teenagers and were wearing fancy clothes. They were giggling while talking and were gossiping…

“You gotta be kidding me. And the stable boy? Really?” The first girl said with astonishment.

“Yes. A stable boy. And the best part is that he was not the only one there…” the Second girl said with excitement.

“What do you mean?” The first girl asked.

“When Lord Vactor found her, she was in the bed in her birth suit. The stable boy was with her but there was also another person with her. Can you guess who it was?”

“Another servant?”

“No.”

“Another stable boy?”

“No.”

“A dog?” the first girl exclaimed with surprise.

“Eww… No! What the hell is wrong with you?” the second girl exclaimed with disgust.

“Well tell me!” the first girls insisted.

“Her daughter.” The second girl finally let out the big secret.

“What!!”

“Yes.”

“Eww… That is just… Eww….” the first girl said with disgust. While on the other hand Arvin was thinking the exact opposite….

‘Damn… Didn’t see that coming. I have to meet this stable boy. He is a MAN.’ Arvin thought.

“Cassandra, is that true?” The first girl asked the second girl whose name is Cassandra.

“Yes, it is true. I don’t think you don’t believe in Phyllis but it is true.” Cassandra said.

“What happened to her then? Did he divorce her?” Phyllis asked.

“Lord Vactor sent her and her daughter to an estate in the North.”

“He did that? That is worse than death.”

“She got what she deserves.”

“Still I feel sad for her,” Phyllis said.

“You gotta do what you gotta do.”

“Hey Cassandra, as long as we are talking… Is Arcane city safe? You know what will commence in the future?”

“Of course it is secure. Did you forget about the treaty and everything? Plus did you forget who is the Lord Commander of City Watch?”

“But still I am a little bit worried,” Phyllis said.

“Don’t worry everything would be just fine,” Cassandra reassured Phyllis.

While Arvin was busy listening to the talks of Cassandra and Phyllis, he did not notice that two-man came into the hall carrying a folding chair and table. Both men erected the table and chair in front of all the chairs. And then they went away. Soon an old man came into the hall. That old man was very old. He had a long white beard. He had wrinkles all over his face and looked like he was barely opening his eyes. Despite his appearance, that old man wasn’t slow as many old people are. He was able to walk at a normal pace.

That old man simply went towards the table and chair and sat down. While this was happening not many people had noticed that old man. Many were still talking while some who had to notice him quietly sat to their nearest chair. That old man then took out a small hammer from a pocket of the white robes that he was wearing. Then he banged the hammer on the table…

BANG

Soon all the people in the room noticed the old man. Then took a seat nearest to them and sat down on it. After that old man started to speak in his zombie-like voice…

“Being an HTC is an honorable job. Not everyone is qualified to become one. Because all the HTC has something that most people lack. That is the Morte Andort Neutron Amalgamations. Or Mana for short. Those who possess mana are the only people in the world that can become an HTC.

So today I will test mana in your body. From the right side front row, start coming to me one by one. No cutting in the line. I don’t care about which family or house you belong to. There will be no second chances.” The old man said

“…..” Everyone.

“What the F**k are you staring at? COME.” Old man bellowed.

The fat boy was sitting on the right side in the front row. He abruptly got up as he listened to the bellowing of the old man. He walked up to the old man. The fat boy was sweating like he was in a sauna or something. The old man then takes out two small crystal balls from his pockets. He gave the fat boy a ball. The fat boy took the ball and held it in his hands.

Nothing happened for about 20 seconds.

“Fail. No mana in the body.” Old man announced. Dejected that fat boy walked out of the room. And he might be crying as he walked out. Turn by turn all the people in the front row finished their evaluation. And finally, Arvin’s turn came. He was feeling nervous, as this was his first exam when there was nothing he could to control the situation.

That old man passed Arvin the first ball. Surprisingly as soon as the ball touched Arvin, it started glowing. And soon a red color letter ‘F’ appeared on the ball. As Arvin saw that he didn’t know what he should take from this phenomenon. The ball glowed which means something good. But what did the letter F meant?

As the old man saw the glowing of the ball and the letter appeared inside the ball, the expression on his face didn’t have any slightest change. He simply grabs the ball from Arvin’s hand and gives him another ball. The same thing happened with this ball too. It also started glowing up and in this ball instead of a letter number, ‘1’ appeared.

Arvin didn’t know what to take from this phenomenon either. He looked at the old man. The old man still had an expressionless face.

“Pass. Mana value-F. Mana sensitivity-1.” Old man announced.

Then the old man looked at Arvin and said “Go back to your seat and sit down boy. We will talk more after I deal with the remaining idiots.”

#edited by Hocther

#10 power stones collected within one day

#30 power stones more to reach the targetted value!!!