123 Appraisal Part 1

The forging process of a Magic Structure wasn't easily accomplished just like how the two made it look like, especially for a structure that approaches the Grade 3 level. A structure that reaches this level wasn't easily appraised even by a licensed Magic Engineer. There are cases like for those original creations that needs to be analyzed by multiple engineers just like how Bryson from NMTI called several more magic engineers to appraise or grade Wallace's Floating Drive System.

So right now, they needed someone not only well-versed in terms of recognizing the Magic Formulas infused, but someone who can also properly gauge the power, usefulness, simplicity to it's difficulty in terms of utilization, method of creation, and destructiveness that the structure can potentially apply to an artifact. After all, those were the main points to determine what Grade of Mana Artifact it should be.

"It seems that we can try getting some help from him..." Wallace muttered softly. He approached the door to immediately inform the Magician as the gentleman might leave quickly.

During the competition this early morning, he had felt Troy's presence multiple times due to his dedicated task to guard the surrounding arena from any internal or external threat. He was constantly moving so Wallace wanted to catch his attention quickly.

"Who?" Van asked as he hadn't felt the presence of the nearby Troy. His presence was actually concealed very well and it was only due to Wallace's abnormal senses that he managed to feel the Peak Adept Mage's mana fluctuation.

Wallace ignored the senior student and opened the room's door. He sent his gaze to Troy as he tries to think how to call the Peak Adept. The latter had surely felt that Wallace was looking at him but he didn't bother to look back.

Walace had no choice to call him deliberately.

"Sir Troy, can we please have a moment of your time?"

His voice wasn't loud but it was enough for Van and Troy to hear him.

Troy halted his steps and turned his gaze at Wallace as if waiting for an explanation. They were only away for about 3 rooms apart so he didn't approached Wallace for now.

"Ugh... It was like this... I've made an original magic structure but the Artifact Forging Box's function to appraise it couldn't give me a proper evaluation. Can we ask for your help?"

Troy observed Wallace then to Van behind him before approaching the two. It seems that he was willing to assist them. He then looked at his wristwatch to check the time.

"Alright. It should be fine as long as it won't take 15 minutes. Let me have a look." Troy said as he entered the room. His cold demeanor and those black eyes that seems to see through everything was something that scares half of the participants from Zairus. But Wallace seems to not mind this as Van surprisingly looked at the former.

Troy glanced at the two Artifact Forging Box in the room as he understood what was happening. He waited for Wallace to give him the magic structure they wanted to be evaluated before going in silent.

Van had been silent all along as he marvelled about Troy's presence within the room. This man wasn't just anyone they could approach and ask for help since he had a special status that divided him from the student aside from his unapproachable aura.

He was actually a bit impressed that Wallace had the courage to call him and ask for help.

'Very well, his evaluation would definitely be correct, fair, and just since he also had a reputation to consider.' Van smirked upon realizing the advantages that Troy could give here. His words would surely be acknowledged by anyone and Wallace wouldn't have a chance to dispute it at all.

'You even wanted to involve this reputable man, you're just making it more difficult for you.'

There was an invisible Mana that was moving strangely around Troy as soon as he touched the Basilisk Stone that was now a vessel for magic formulas or the so called Magic Structure Stone.

Based on Wallace's Divine Sense, the Mana seems to have pierced through the Magic Structure. But the connection was something entirely different that Wallace couldn't properly explain.

'What's this? Wait. Is this perhaps--?' As soon as he reached this thought, a familiar notification from the Pathfinder was heard.

It was mission that he had been waiting for. He immediately check the mission but could only frown after reading it.

[ Attain Enlightenment ]

[ Any path that requires practicing of Mana must learn the core method of it's utilization.

Mission: Learn the Arcane Link.

Mission Item: Memory of Arcane Link Flow

Reward: Memory Crystal containing a Lost Technology ]

'Arcane Link? That should be something I'll be dealing with once I'm about to be Arcane Artificer...' Wallace frowned as he felt that the mission was too early for him.

'Anyway, there should be a catch on this. I'll just think about it later... Ah right, looking at this, there's no time limit or any penalty, so there shouldn't be a problem whether how long this would take.' Wallace thought before glancing at Troy who was silently checking the Magic Structure Stone. He wasn't worried that he would be defeated by Van but  was just thinking whether the mission item that was listed was something like a memory crystal that would help him learn the Mana Manipulation method.

He doesn't dare to materialize the mission item at the moment as it may be noticed by the two magicians with him, so he silently waited for Troy to finish. It took the man about 7 minutes before opening his eyes.

"Sir Troy... How was it?"

Van was so eager to hear the result that looks like it was his own magic structure that was being appraised.

Troy chuckled a bit before glancing at Wallace.

"This is an interesting application of Magic Spells. I have detected exactly 100 magic spells aside from the core magic inside

and all of them were heavily modified. Forty spells from it were  somehow with the same function of a Light or Torch Spell, a Grade 1 Magic Spell, another forty were Fire Amplification spells, an auxiliary Grade 1 Magic Spell, ten modified Remote Mirror Magic Spell, and ten modified Dedicated Flame Spell, a Grade 2 Magic Spell."

Troy said after reviewing Wallace's creation.

Van was about to burst in laughter but tried to keep his demeanor.

"Thank you for the praise." Wallace humbly replied.

'Haha, you don't even have a single Grade 3 Magic Spell. It's my win!' The senior student thought as he was about to celebrate but was stopped due to Troy's next words.

Yes, unfortunately for him, Troy wasn't finish evaluating the spell. Although Wallace had only used modified Grade 1 and 2 spell, there was still something else on it.

"Also, the formula for this magic structure shows that it requires a fortified or enchanted metal to create better results. If it was made successfully, it can surely rival or could even kill an Adept." Troy said after giving full review on the Magic Structure.

Those last words made Van stiffen for a bit. Something that could threaten even an Adept wasn't simple.

"I-is that so? Then if in case you'll grade the Mana Artifact... What grade would it be?" Van was a bit nervous and was clearly hoping that if would still be considered a Grade 2 Magic Spell.

"Well, it's difficult to properly gauge it since everything was almost new. Even the application of Remote Mirror Spell to control the offensive attack spell and further add in it's destructiveness was something that can only be called as innovation. Aside from that, remember that there are 100 spells in it. Even if it's mostly Grade 1, a hundred spell was still a hundred and the scary thing about this was that all of them can be activated at once. So its hard for me properly grade it."

"Activated all at once? Is that even possible?" Van gawked at the mention of those words. He was having trouble believing this Peak Adept's words.

"That's right... So it will be tough even for me as I don't really focus in this. I only have some knowledge due to my status." Troy explained but after seeing the disappointed look of two magician's faces, he added.

"Well, luckily... Aside from Yumi and your own manager that brought you here, we have someone who specializes in these type of things. Rest assured that she's not related to any of you so it will also be a fair judgement."

After hearing this, they learned that Troy was aware about their mini competition here. Luckily, he didn't mind it and was cool with it. Anyway, he wasn't informed what was the bet.

"I see, can we ask who was it? I'll be happy to call them for you." Van even volunteered as he really wanted to get this over with.

"No need. I already informed her to visit here."

Wallace nodded in realization upon hearing this. He noticed a strange utilization of Mana a while ago that went outside the room. That was probably a message that was sent to call the appraiser.

'Is that also an Arcane Link? Just how many things could that method do.'  Wallace was getting even more intrigue at this.

They didn't wait long as someone that Wallace recognizes visited the room.

It was Erza.