Mana Stones poured forth in greater numbers, quickly forming a small pile.
The flame giant stopped in its tracks and sent a mental message to Edwyn:
"Penalty for breaking the contract: 10,000 Mana Stones. Contract formation: 5,000 Mana Stones. Monthly fee: 100 Mana Stones. Minimum duration: 20 years. During the contract, you are responsible for all mana expenses. I also reserve the right to refuse suicidal commands."
Ten thousand?! Edwyn's face stiffened. That number was a bit outside his acceptable range.
But he quickly thought of an alternative.
"I won't pay the penalty, but I'll offer you 1,000 stones to go easy in the coming battle. Afterward, I'll hire you under those original conditions."
The flame giant paused to consider. During this time, Hodor kept bombarding it with mental commands, which only made the giant more irritated.
Their agreement wasn't a slave contract, but a mercenary one. It was a citizen of Flame Lord Star Domain, not some Mage's lapdog.
"Human, make a contract with me."
"Done!"
Without hesitation, Edwyn pulled a contract template from his pouch and filled it out swiftly.
In this new contract, Edwyn agreed to pay the flame giant 1,000 Mana Stones once Hodor was dead, followed by a formal contract at 5,000 stones upfront, 100 per month, lasting 20 years.
The contract didn't explicitly say the flame giant should go easy, but both sides knew exactly what would benefit them.
"Filster, I command you to attack!" Hodor shouted again.
This time, the flame giant obeyed… just very slowly.
Hodor's face turned ashen. He didn't know what Edwyn had done, but it was clear the giant's behavior was no longer in his favor.
Edwyn flashed him a dazzling smile.
That's what you get for trying to be clever.
Normally, Mages and Elementals signed slave contracts. The Elemental had to obey every command, or face instant death with a single thought.
But that only worked if the Mage was strong enough to enforce it. Hodor, being only an Intermediate Apprentice, clearly wasn't.
And if Hodor had relied on outside Mage support to form a slave contract, the flame giant wouldn't have been allowed into the trial in the first place.
The rules stated anything brought into the trial had to be made or purchased independently by the student.
If not for that rule, Edwyn could've just asked Joron to lend him a full-fledged Mage-level war beast.
That would defeat the purpose of the trial.
So Hodor could only sign a mercenary contract.
And everyone knows, mercenaries serve the highest bidder.
Edwyn simply offered more. Why would the flame giant refuse?
Elia didn't fully understand what just happened, but she could clearly see the flame giant was holding back.
Without it guarding Hodor, she and Edwyn could finish the job easily.
"Edwyn, same plan."
Edwyn nodded. He charged forward to tie up Hodor while the flame giant 'hurried' after him.
Realizing things had spiraled out of control, Hodor yanked a scroll from his pouch, he was ready to run.
Live to fight another day.
But before he could activate the scroll, a loud explosion shook him. His arm trembled.
His mana shield was nearly broken by Edwyn's black sword, and dark flames spread across the barrier, rapidly draining his mana.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Elia preparing another spell.
As for the flame giant, it was still urgently pursuing Edwyn.
Hodor clenched his teeth and ripped the scroll.
A flash of light, and he was gone.
"That quick to chicken out?" Edwyn sneered, then switched to Moony's vision.
"East, 500 meters. Let's go, Elia!"
…
Five days later, Hodor stared in despair at the monstrous fireball flying his way.
Without his flame giant, he was just a stronger-than-average Intermediate Apprentice, no different from Edwyn or Elia.
The fire consumed him, turning him to ash. With his death, the contract with the flame giant dissolved.
Edwyn fulfilled his promise, paid the flame giant its stones, and signed a 20-year mercenary contract.
Thanks to the suicidal behavior of Hodor and the blind apprentice, Edwyn and Elia's scores skyrocketed. Edwyn, having slain the blind apprentice and Kraznys, secured the top spot. Elia, for killing Hodor, moved up to seventh.
That mosquito monster had apparently been killed by another student while they were chasing Hodor. If Elia had gotten that one too, she might've cracked the top three.
But Elia had no complaints.
Getting into the top ten was already her goal.
The five-day pursuit had left both of them physically and mentally drained. There were no weaklings among formal Mage apprentices. Their methods were varied and unpredictable. If they couldn't win head-on, they always had ways to escape.
"Let's take a couple days to rest. The trial's almost over," Edwyn suggested.
Elia, exhausted, nodded.
"Okay."
…
Nine days later, the trial ended.
When the academy's Arcane Airship landed at the center of the trial site, the surviving students wept tears of joy.
It was over. They were still alive.
Back at the academy, the curse mark counts were tallied.
Over 4,000 apprentices had taken part, but only a little over 1,000 survived.
More than half had perished, becoming stepping stones for others on their path to Magehood.
Edwyn had collected 62 marks, equal to 6,200 Mana Stones. Adding in stones, loot, and enchanted gear, his total profit from the trial was around 10,000 Mana Stones.
But Edwyn was calm about it.
The academy soon notified the top ten students about their reward: access to the Chancellor's Secret Dimension.
However, due to the Chancellor's sudden absence, the exploration was postponed for two years, a bit of a disappointment to Edwyn.
…
Central Black Tower, Floor 99.
"The Chancellor's Secret Dimension is a treasure trove," Joron said, handing Edwyn the academy's reward.
"It may not compare to the major realms of our previous, ancient Chancellors, but it's still a fragment from the Magus World itself. A blessed place for you all."
Beside him, Chucks, who had just finished the trial, looked on with envy.
He'd missed the top ten by a hair, and lost the chance to enter the realm.
"Teacher, what exactly is a secret dimension?" Edwyn asked.
He'd searched the library, but found only vague explanations.
Joron cleared his throat and began:
"Edwyn, what we call 'Planets' sometimes split off fragments of space. Most of these fragments disappear quickly, but some survive for a long time.
Those fragments are what we call Secret Dimensions.
The era inside these fragments usually doesn't match our current one. For instance, while we're in the Age of Expansion, a secret dimension might still be in the Age of Enlightenment, or even the Primordial Era of the Magus World."
As he spoke, Joron's eyes gleamed with fanaticism.
"Can you imagine? In the Secret Dimension of some ancient Grand Mage, you might find creatures long extinct in our world. Beasts that died before we were even born, but in there, you can study their behavior, anatomy, and uses firsthand."
"That kind of opportunity, money simply can't buy."