Through it all, Adamas sat on the ground next to Silver, terrified but excited by the whole situation.
"Are you OK? I already cured you, so you should feel good now." Alexander said, with a puzzled look directed towards Adamas.
"Ehm...im fine, thank you so much for everything! Now, if you'll excuse me, I should just..." but without being able to finish the sentence, the powerful wizard appeared in front of the boy, blocking his path and looking at him inquiringly.
"Okay okay, I wanted to earn a little more than my monthly allowance, so I took advantage of it by taking Silver out for a walk, found a tavern and won a couple of hands at the WO card game, but the man noticed on the last hand that I was counting cards... I'm sorry, sir."
"Counting cards? Boy, how old are you?"
"I'm 13 years old...sir. "
Only 13... and already smart enough to understand that complicated card game and counting cards? Impressive. Alexander thought
Witch Out wasn't your average card game. Fifty-two cards, five clans, and a limit of 35 points. Add bonus multipliers, hidden witches, and strategic hits or stands... Most adults barely kept up. And yet, this boy played like a veteran.
Considering all this, it is beyond surprising that a 12 year old knows about calculating probabilities!!
the crimson wizard was entranced by what the boy had just said
"Boy, what is your name?"
"Adamas Tural, sir."
"You can also call me by name, Adamas" Alexander said in an amused tone.
"My mom always tells me to respect older people."
Alexander Rubino was indeed his age, with a face hardened by the years and framed by a thick but short gray beard, contrasting with his dark midnight blue eyes, long white hair gathered in an bun, but a well-built body that exuded experience and strength.
"Ohoh, wise woman! Look, I have a proposal for you and your family" the wizard said in a soft but firm tone
"Mhh, I don't know, can you tell me first what it's about?" Adams said with a gleam in his jade eyes, knowing that he could pull the string a little more thanks to his age
When could he ever get an offer from the commander of the red tower!
It's surprising me more and more.
"Alright boy, I want to recommend you to enter the scientific section of the red tower, obviously you will have to take the entrance test, what do you say?"
Adamas he couldn't believe what he was hearing!
The famous red tower, one of the 4 Great Towers, facilities for the training of magicians, as well as for scientific research on "mana" and magical power, and he was receiving an entrance test recommendation from the commander himself!
Trying to hide his smile at the grand offer, pointed to the middle-aged man locked in the cage of fire
"What will become of him?" he asked, trying to divert the wizard's attention to something else, as he wanted to go home and talk to his parents before the wizard himself revealed the news
"He will probably be locked up for child abuse, but now I don't remember for how long, the Magical Association takes care of the law..."
in the meantime that Alexander finished his sentence, Adamas had run away with Silver through the fence.
"Ahh, youth." the magician chuckled. Then, with a soft pop and a burst of crimson sparks, both he and the prisoner vanished from the alley.
Tural's House
"I'm home!" Adamas called out as he stepped through the front door.
Next, he took off his shoes and wore slippers around the house.
The house was moderately large: two floors with a garden; on the ground floor there was a living room connected to the kitchen, while on the first floor there were the master bedroom, Adamas' room, his sister's room and two bathrooms, for a total of 5 rooms, not counting the living room.
As soon as he entered the living room, he saw his mother talking to an elderly man
"Oh, welcome home, Adamas! Everything went well on your walk with Silver?" said the boy's mother with a warm smile, checking with her beautiful sapphire eyes that her son was okay
Adamas' mother was Alice Winter, a 40-years-old woman of unimaginable beauty, which was highlighted from her silver hair with some blue shade on the tips, so fine it looked like silk, all accompanied by a face that exuded maturity and sweetness at the same time.
However, Adamas couldn't answer his mother's question, all his attention was focused on the man in front of him
A crimson red robe, hair tied in a bun... how can that be... the boy thought, shuddering
"Adamas, this is Alexander Rubino, the commander of the red tower" Alice said in an enthusiastic tone
"Ohoh, good to see you again Adamas! I anticipated you to talk about my proposal with your parents"
"Ahah... it's nice to see you again, sir." Adamas said, with a formal smile
"Oh? You've already met?"
"Yes, just today, Mrs. Tural"
"I was doing some shopping, when I saw a man chasing him with bad intentions, so I intervened, and we started talking, I wanted to accompany him to here, but he ran away...
"Anyway! I didn't come here just to share my encounter with your son, Mrs. Tural."
"What is it about, Mr. Rubino?"
"I'll get straight to the point: I would like to recommend your son for the science section of the red tower."
After saying these words, a light crunch announced the opening of the door upstairs.
Silent, a girl looking like a fifteen-year-old girl began to descend the stairs, the old wood groaning slowly under her footsteps.
She wore a cream-coloured shirt with slightly crumpled edges and a broad dark green skirt, convenient for the home.
Her silky purple hair was loose, barely moved by movement, and the irises of the same color drooped for a moment on the people in the living room, before returning straight to her. Just a slightly deeper breath before she finished the descent.
When she stopped in front of them, the light filtered through the window caressed her face slightly pale, balanced by slightly almond-shaped eyes and slightly meaty lips.
No smiles. No theatrical gestures.
"Mr. Rubino..." she said in a quiet but firm voice, "I would like to take the entrance test myself. But not for the scientific section, but for the magical one.
"The problem is... the cost of the exam is too high for our family."
Alexander Rubino remained impassive in front of the girl, indeed, since she had laid her violet eyes on him, his eyes widened for a second.
I see he thought
"Ambra Tural! Apologize at once for your tone!" Alice snapped, a mix of embarrassment and anger on her face.
"Don't worry, it's better this way, I like direct children" said the crimson commander with a smile on his face, and immediately afterwards he looked at the girl
"I like your character, miss...?"
"Ambra, Ambra Tural... Sir."
"Alright, alright, enough with the 'sir', already... Since you've made such a bold request, how about showing me you deserve it?"