Chapter 180: Allen Has a Girl as His Mount
"I'll take that bet."
Agatha had come around. If being a mount didn't involve actual riding, then it wasn't that humiliating after all.
"Are you sure you don't want to try out the 'Happy Girl Horse'?" Allen asked with a sleazy grin.
"No need."
Agatha flatly refused.
That kind of thing was for real women to ride.
In her heart, she was already planning to sell Allen to some old, ugly dark witch.
Word had it that those who practiced black magic often had twisted, perverse minds. Many old hags took pleasure in tormenting fresh young flesh—they'd love someone as tender as Allen.
One group after another stepped up to the trial, with a failure rate exceeding seventy percent.
So far, only two people from the first two batches had successfully completed the portal spell.
Even causing a single spark was enough to count as passing.
Many participants clearly understood this was just the first phase of the test, and there were still elimination rounds to come.
Some were hoping to scrape by, but it wasn't guaranteed they'd ever become true mages.
Before long, only Agatha and Allen remained. The rest had finished in groups of ten.
Those who didn't pass gathered together.
They would soon be sent back down to the city at the foot of the mountain via a collective portal, and left to make their own choices.
Agatha casually picked up her Sling Ring and slid it on, glancing over at Allen—who was seriously debating whether to wear his on his left or right hand.
"Good luck, Allen."
At that moment, the Ancient One offered him a few words of encouragement, genuinely hoping he'd pass.
After spending some time with him, she'd come to realize Allen wasn't quite right in the head. Wandering alone out in the world, he probably wouldn't survive long. At the very least, he'd have a place to stay at Kamar-Taj.
"Don't worry, Sister Yao."
Allen slipped the Sling Ring onto his right hand and gave the Ancient One a wave.
Meanwhile, Agatha had already begun casting her spell, every movement textbook-perfect.
With one hand, she traced a circle.
A burst of sparks shimmered into view before her.
Clearly, she had met the standard to pass.
The old mage gave a pleased nod—this one had potential.
At Kamar-Taj, background meant nothing. What mattered was magical aptitude.
Once someone became a full-fledged mage, their status was equal—no hierarchy, no noble or commoner. Power brought position, responsibility, and with it, access to greater authority.
Of course, if you happened to be Agamotto's illegitimate child… that was another matter entirely.
Agatha kept refining the portal spell, drawing circles without pause.
She snuck a glance at Allen—only to find nothing in front of him.
No magical talent.
Agatha couldn't help feeling disappointed.
Since he hadn't passed the trial, he couldn't remain at Kamar-Taj, and naturally wouldn't have to honor their bet.
The Ancient One let out a sigh. It seemed fate had decided they would part ways.
She was already considering placing Allen in the city and visiting when she had the time.
The process ended.
Allen still hadn't formed a portal.
To Agatha's shock, she'd completed a full-fledged portal—something she'd failed to do even in practice. She hadn't expected herself to perform so well under pressure.
"You can't be my mount. It's a bit disappointing, but I guess that's just how fate works. Too bad you don't have the potential to become a mage," Agatha said, not forgetting to throw in a jab.
"Have you ever considered the plot twist where I'm the one who won? Keh keh keh…"
Allen's smug expression immediately drew sneers from those around him.
Bold-faced lying—what a load of crap.
The truth was obvious.
There was no portal in front of him, not even a spark. Did he really think everyone else was an idiot?
"You won? With what, exactly?" Agatha sneered, eyes fixed on him.
If he kept playing dumb, the old mage certainly wouldn't indulge him.
"With this, of course."
Allen raised his hand and pointed toward the portal in front of Agatha. As his finger moved, the portal shifted to the side—
—and revealed an incomplete portal at its original location.
Gasp…
Everyone around sucked in a sharp breath.
In an instant, they understood what had happened.
Allen's portal had overlapped Agatha's, making it look like she'd conjured it, leading everyone to a false conclusion.
"You… how did you do that?"
Agatha was completely stunned.
Beginner mages had no control over portal placement. Yet Allen had moved one effortlessly. Was he really a mage disguised as a novice?
The others were equally shaken by Allen's talent.
Even the old mage's eyes gleamed.
Just grasping the basics wasn't impressive—many students picked it up quickly but couldn't maintain it. Mastery required practice over time.
But for someone like Allen to surpass others' hard-earned results on his first try—his talent was monstrous.
In truth, it all came down to his innate arcane affinity.
How could Allen not know whether he had magical talent?
But no one was more stunned than the Ancient One.
Her feelings were complicated. She genuinely hoped Allen would stay, but his shocking aptitude stirred a tiny pang of envy.
"You just need hands."
Allen casually opened another portal—
This time, without even going through the casting motions.
The old mage's eyes bulged.
The second portal appeared with the steps skipped entirely—and both portals remained stable.
This was the kind of talent they dreamed of in a candidate for the title of Sorcerer Supreme!
"Yeehaw…"
With a sudden yell, Allen leapt through the portal—
—and before Agatha could react, she felt a sudden weight on her back. Turning around, she saw Allen straddling her. Puzzled, she asked, "What are you doing?"
"You lost. You're my mount now. Giddy up! Giddy up!"
Allen was as gleeful as a 130-pound kid at a carnival.
Agatha's entire face fell. She suddenly remembered their bet.
Being this lunatic's mount…
What a damn disaster.
...
For the first time, Kamar-Taj welcomed a batch of new apprentices.
The once-silent sanctuary of mages had become lively.
Next up was the second trial: within one month, each apprentice had to master five spells.
Portals and combat magic were mandatory. The other three could be freely chosen.
Allen's outstanding performance immediately drew the attention of the senior mages—many believed he was a strong contender for Sorcerer Supreme.
Of course, nothing was certain. A dark horse could always emerge.
In the training field, the apprentices all wore Kamar-Taj's practice robes and were working on their portal spells together.
Only Allen stood out—sitting alone in meditation, eyes closed.
"Allen, don't think that just because you're gifted, you can slack off. Don't waste your talent."
The supervising Black mage frowned at Allen's rebellious attitude.
"Sorry, I'm cultivating immortality. My true identity is that of a cultivator. I just have to glance at magic to master it."
Allen didn't even open his eyes.
"Fine, whatever."
The Black mage looked both disappointed and frustrated. He made up his mind to report this to the Sorcerer Supreme and let her decide what to do.
When morning training ended—
The mage announced it was time for lunch. Allen's eyes popped open in an instant. With a spring-loaded bounce, he leapt onto Agatha's back as she tried to slip away.
"Lunchtime! Lunchtime!"
As he spoke, Allen conjured another portal and shouted to the Ancient One, "Skipping lunch means you've got a problem in your brain! Sister Yao, hurry up!"
The Black mage stared at the three disappearing into the portal and furrowed his brow as he watched Allen retrieve his Sling Ring.
Suddenly, it hit him—this guy didn't even need the ring. Or hand gestures. He could open portals at will.
"This is insane. He's absolutely insane. So this is what talent looks like… No wonder he skips training."
All his previous resentment toward Allen instantly vanished.
With talent like that, what right did he—a mere standard instructor—have to teach or interfere with the student's growth?
He wasn't some elder mage, after all.