Reyn sat up on the couch and, glancing at the wall clock, froze in astonishment himself.
The soul check had lasted a full twenty-five minutes. Subtracting five minutes each for initial and intermediate pain levels, he'd endured a full fifteen minutes at high pain level!
"Damn, got carried away listening. Too impressive a result."
Reyn mentally scolded himself.
To earn the right to the Soul Transformation Ritual, five minutes at high pain level sufficed.
The longer the test subject endured, the higher the transformation success probability.
Those who withstood high pain longer than five minutes were either exceptionally gifted or possessed unbreakable will.
Reyn was among them. Even without music, he'd have performed admirably.
Those enduring ten minutes were true talents, one in a hundred among test subjects. Failure in the ritual was virtually impossible for them—they inevitably became superhumans.
Fifteen minutes signaled utterly exceptional giftedness.
Such people gained maximum benefit from the Soul Transformation Ritual: they could fuse with demonic souls of all types and freely choose any superhuman path they liked.
The Plant Shepherd, the middle-aged woman conducting the check, examined Reyn closely and, extending her hand, said quietly:
"My name is Tarini, second-rank Plant Shepherd. Congratulations on successfully completing the check, Mr. Reyn."
She'd overheard the maid say his name; it hadn't registered at first, but now she remembered it clearly.
"Lady Tarini, just call me Reyn."
Reyn politely touched her hand and released it.
"Very well." Tarini's gaze swept the crowd of onlookers behind the glass, and she smiled: "Reyn, I haven't met such an outstanding young man as you in a long time. With your gift, undergoing the Soul Transformation Ritual is just a matter of time. Congratulations in advance on becoming a superhuman."
"Thank you, lady," Reyn smiled, feeling genuine joy.
Tarini nodded. She intended to cast a healing spell to ease residual pain, but noticed Reyn in perfect condition: calm, no signs of fatigue, just light sweat on his forehead, as if he'd taken a short jog.
"What incredible physical endurance! Possibly not inferior to mine. Rare!"
Tarini admired inwardly, with a touch of envy. Mindful of her duties, she asked quietly:
"Mr. Reyn, are you ready for the Soul Transformation Ritual?"
Many alchemical shops offered free soul checks not out of mercy, but to promote their Soul Devouring Potions and subsequent ritual services.
The check cost little, but built relationships with potential superhumans, securing key clients and earning hundreds or thousands times more in the future.
The "Violet House" was no exception.
Reyn understood the ploy but didn't mind—he'd come precisely for the Soul Transformation Ritual.
"Yes, I'd like to perform the ritual as soon as possible."
Tarini's lips twitched in a smile. She realized she'd brought an incredibly promising client to the shop. If Reyn rose high, it would benefit her too.
She stood:
"Let's discuss details elsewhere."
Emerging from the partition, Tarini instructed a maid to summon another superhuman for checks, then left with Reyn amid envious stares.
They chatted en route. Tarini probed his origins with leading questions.
Reyn stayed guarded, revealing nothing useful.
Tarini led him to a steam elevator. Ascending to the fifth and top floor of the "Violet House," they walked an elegantly decorated corridor like an art gallery and stopped at a door. Tarini knocked.
"Lady manager, it's Tarini."
"Come in."
A light, slightly languid voice came from beyond, possessing unique individuality and layers of inexpressible emotions.
"With a voice like that, she'd be a dubbing star. If she sang too—priceless," Reyn thought. Without seeing the office owner, he already imagined a beauty and felt vague anticipation.
Tarini pushed the door open and entered; Reyn followed.
Entering, he found a spacious office with a panoramic view of Brent Street, the Tower of Mages visible nearby. Yet it didn't feel stern like a typical office—it was cozily furnished. Sofa, desk, fireplace, rug, crystal chandelier, flower pots—all arranged in artful disorder, creating a homey living room vibe.
Even with his limited sophistication, Reyn knew every furnishing detail screamed top-class luxury, everything reeking of gold shields.
For instance, the massive ceiling chandelier—a rare, precious magical energy lamp.
A fist-sized crystal lamp cost two or three gold shields; this meter-wide wonder of a dozen such lamps—its daily glow fee alone would terrify any commoner family.
"What a rich woman!"
Reyn suddenly felt his dozens of gold shields in his pocket were pocket change, embarrassing to show.
But the office owner astonished him more.
In the corner stood a large musical instrument very like a grand piano, black lacquered body and black-and-white keys. Before it sat a woman. She wore a simple yet elegant robe, posture relaxed, holding a sheet music book she studied intently.
When Reyn first saw her, her dazzling golden hair shone first, like molten gold.
Then—lake-blue eyes, their gaze shimmering, speaking volumes.
Her features were perfect, sculpted by a master yet utterly natural. Snow-white skin, smooth and tender, with loose golden curls, gave the impression she glowed faintly—though closer inspection revealed mere illusion.
Someone with weaker psyche or less experience might feel insignificant before this living painting.
"Damn! Holy hell!"
"What a beauty! A real, indescribable beauty..."
Reyn was stunned. He realized his vocabulary's poverty: unable to describe her, he could only mentally yell "Damn!"
He also noted her ears slightly unusual: upper ear rims subtly pointed, but not sharply like elves'—not overly sharp or long. Hair-covered, she'd pass for human.
"Is she a half-elf?"
Reyn instantly understood. No wonder rumors said an elf managed the "Violet House." Not pureblood, but half.
Half-elves—offspring of human-elf unions, possibly the world's rarest race.
Elves rarely appeared in human states; those marrying humans, rarer still. Even married, offspring probability was minuscule.
A hundred human-elf pairs toiling day and night for years might not conceive.
Ellunes had billions of humans, but half-elves might not reach fifty—rarer than legendary dragons.
Each half-elf birth signaled the goddess of luck's favor.
Though blending two races' blood, the Blood Soul Curse prevented inheriting elven talents. Beyond longer life, they differed little from humans.
Moreover, with strained elf-human relations, elven society scorned half-elves as "half-humans." Thus, all lived in human states.
Reyn had seen pureblood elves several times in Silver Star District. Beautiful as books described, but none matched this one!
Compared to them, this beauty seemed more truly elven.
By skin and hair, one parent wasn't mere elf, but likely from a high elven house.
Reyn discreetly used Soul Eye and saw her soul form nearly human.
Yet he was still surprised: this beauty was a superhuman too—a sixth-rank mage!
Her soul core showed a ghostly tall tower structure. Silver flame burned at the pinnacle. Through tower walls gleamed six levels, each holding varying demonic souls.
These demonic souls were intact, alive-like, summonable anytime.
"All Souls Mage!"
As an academy student and frequent All Souls Cards player at the "Basilisk" tavern, Reyn knew this famed superhuman profession.
Today he finally beheld a true All Souls Mage.
At that moment, the mighty All Souls Mage rose from the piano.
Very tall, nearly Reyn's height—over 175 cm. Her statuesque figure with enticing curves outlined seductively under the robe with each move. With a light smile, emanating faint fragrance, she seemed stepped from a canvas.
Even Reyn, from the info-explosion era, seeing countless pro-edited top-star photos/videos with some immunity, faltered briefly.
Luckily, just a moment; he recovered quickly, showing no fluster.
She approached the sofa, sat, and indicated the opposite seat:
"Please, sit, gentlemen."
"Tarini, won't you introduce this gentleman?"
Reyn calmly sat. Tarini, beside, said respectfully:
"Lady manager, this is Mr. Reyn. He just completed a soul check here, lasting twenty-five minutes, and is preparing for the Soul Transformation Ritual."
"Twenty-five minutes?"
Surprise crossed the half-elf's face. She instantly caught Tarini's hint: huge-potential client.
Her gaze fixed on Reyn, scrutinizing his face; admiration flickered in her eyes. Smiling, she said:
"Mr. Reyn, I am Viola, owner of the 'Violet House.' What service level would you prefer for the Soul Transformation Ritual?"