Once again, when inner disciple Tang finished writing down the amazing results, he proceeded to guide the disciple candidate to the next test.
Right up to when they reached it, he was half guessing in bewilderment and half in wonder about what the candidate's next performances would be like.
The third test in front of them was rather simple compared to the others, both in nature and appearance.
It was overseen by only one elder, elder Murok. He had black hair, and he was sitting on a chair behind a table. Atop it, many small pieces of magic crystals were scattered. They were of a lot lower grade than the ones rewarded to and used by the official disciples to train but still contained sufficient amount of magicka inside them to be useful for the disciple recruitment tests.
The elder had his arms crossed, and he was looking at them in all seriousness but was shocked inside, nonetheless. He, too, had witnessed both the previous tests and the candidate's performances but still couldn't rope his head around them.
Fortunately, he prided himself on being able to retain an expressionless countenance no matter what unexpectedly occurred before him. The other elders called him Golem Murok for that - from the soulless constructs popular in the Cosmic Tower of Magic.
The seemingly unfazed elder Murok gestured for the candidate to sit at the empty chair across from him and then began explaining the contents of the test and its purpose.
He went on to explain that absorbing the magicka inside the magic crystals was a quick and efficient way for someone to increase their energy reserves as well as refine them. It was a crucial part and a cornerstone of sorts for any who followed the path of magic.
The speed of this absorption was also very important as it concerned an individual's speed of practice and advancement. How much faster could someone absorb a magic crystal compared to others meant they would have a significant advantage over them.
When elder Murok was done explaining, he expected the candidate to quickly grab a piece of magic crystal and start attempting to absorb it. Instead, he found him watching him back unmoving.
Slightly irritated from the lack of enthusiasm from the candidate in front of him but still patient enough to wait a few more moments for him to act, he waited for a response. When the candidate still didn't move even after a while longer, he felt perplexed, wondering why the inaction from the candidate's side.
Every single other candidate so far didn't dally; they were even rushing in eagerness to start the test.
As he was pondering why this candidate acted like so, or rather, not acted at all, an impossible theory popped in his mind. A theory so implausible to be true that it would never have crossed his mind otherwise, but perhaps it was the only reasonable one for explaining the candidate's current inaction.
'Does he not understand our own race's language?!' incredibly thought elder Murok.
Removing the "whys" such theory should be impossible to be valid from the equation; it was the most logical one he could think of.
His thoughts only lasted for a few seconds before he organized them.
'As weird as it was for someone not to know their own language, the tests must go on.'
For that reason, he stopped waiting for a response from the candidate and instead started making a practical explanation for him.
He grabbed one magic crystal and began absorbing it in front of the candidate. He took breaths in a specific rhythm, following his personal technique for a more efficient absorption.
After a while, he stopped and opened his palm, revealing to the candidate the same crystal he took earlier. The only difference it had from before was its size as now it was smaller, a result of the absorption.
He placed the piece of crystal in front of the candidate and signaled him to take it.
'Even if he doesn't know our language, he should understand by now what he must do right? I mean, what was the point of him coming here if he doesn't even know of the magic crystals use?!'
Elder Murok didn't have to wait long for the candidate to act, as he saw him moving to grab the crystal.
Knowing that his explanation was finally understood by the candidate he could only wait and see if he would be successful in absorbing the crystal and how long he would take to do it.
'Based by the overall results of this test in the past decades, even if he is able to absorb it, it would take roughly at least ten minutes to absorb all of it.'
Estimating in his head the duration for total absorption, he leaned back on his chair to be comfortable.
But in his shock, he didn't have to wait long this time either.
His back didn't even touch the backrest of the chair, when the candidate opened his palm, revealing empty air in it! There wasn't even a speck of the crystal left!
'How is this possible, did he already absorb it?! Are my eyes playing tricks on me?!'
It was so absurd, his brain refused to believe such thing was even possible.
In his denial, he gave a second piece of crystal to the candidate. He wanted or rather needed to see it again to prove to himself that he wasn't losing his marbles.
After passing the crystal to the candidate, he moved his chair as close to the table he could, his eyes glued on the candidate's every move.
Not even four seconds later, the candidate opened his palm again, revealing it to be empty, just like before.
Elder Murok was stupefied. He didn't know what to believe anymore. If the disappearance of the crystal piece the first time was his mind playing tricks on him, what about the second time?!
Unable to come to terms with what happened, he froze on the spot, looking blankly ahead.
The candidate had already stood up and walked next to inner disciple Tang, but elder Murok didn't seem to notice.
Inner disciple Tang on the other hand, after being surprised for the third time by this candidate, he could only sigh at elder Murok's shocked and speechless response all the while starting to feel numb himself from the incredible performances.
Knowing that no words from him could help the elder face the truth, he let him be and instead focused on his job.
Disciple Candidate #197
Strength Test: Passed
Size of damage caused: Testing Boulder pulverized
Time taken: Instant (with two seconds of delay after the impact)
Gravity Test: Passed
Level of difficulty for the test taker: None
Time endured: Until the end
Absorption Test: Passed
Degree of absorption: Total
Time Taken: 1st one - two seconds, 2nd one - three seconds