Chapter 148: The Crystal Refiner (4)
The first person undergoing the quality inspection was Delia. The crowd and the other test takers watched excitedly, believing her to be the best among the eight.
The clerk pulled a tool out. The tool was built like a spoon with a wide bottom and thin handle. Seven gems were embedded in the handle.
"The inspection is simple. We will place each crystal in the little bowl. The tool will suck a bit of energy feeding the gems in it. These are sensitive gems. They require little energy. The higher the quality of the gems, the smoother the flow towards the gems. No light means Ruined, one light means F quality, six means A quality, and seven lights means Supreme quality."
The clerk patiently explained the way the tool worked and how the score was determined. The citizens were either familiar with it or heard about the tool but Hex saw it for the first time. He was impressed out of his mind by it.
’Humans truly are great and terrifying. The things they come up with are worthy of Heaven’s envy.’
The clerk inserted the crystal, and with a buzz, the gems lit up.
"Six gems. A quality."
Even before the clerk announced the result, the crowd cheered and clapped. Delia looked calmly. The clerk didn’t stop. He continued to insert crystals, all lighting six gems on the tool.
"All ten of Miss Delia’s crystals are of A quality. She is qualified to wear the title of Adept Refiner."
The clerk’s announcement made it official. People clapped. Some tried to talk to her but Delia didn’t react. There was a smile on her face but her eyes wandered to Hex’s box.
Those who noticed it understood her intention. As the student of a Master Refiner, she couldn’t afford to lose to some unknown gray-haired man.