Chapter 11: Section 11: Questions and Answers
Hoffman coughed, placed the test paper in his hand onto the desk before the old man who slowly lifted his eyelids to glance at the half-human instructor standing in front of him, "Sir Karlmo, have you already seen this test?"
"I have, and it's impeccable," the half-human's expression was a bit uneasy as she glanced at the spell formation instructor beside her, "But, just like Clark and the instructor Ramir, I have my doubts about teaching Malin. This child is too outstanding that..." her voice trailed off, and then she looked up at old Hoffman, "Your Excellency, this child, he reminds me of my own youth."
"You're a survivor of the Sheflin Town incident, so it's natural for you to have such concerns, but I think this child has already put the complete range of his moral choices on that test paper," Hoffman said, looking at the half-human and the two humans, "Clark, as the instructor of blessing spell formations, how many spell formations have you taught to Malin this month?"
"Apart from Divine Gift, there have been the Fortitude Blessing, Wound Closure, and the Banishment of the Dead," the elderly Clark quickly recited the names of the spells, "I've been deliberately controlling the speed at which this child learns spell formations. His capacity to learn and enhance Divine spell formations exceeds all imagination. Take Wound Closure, for example; a first-level Divine spell that should only handle small wounds, yet he can smooth over large wounds with it, and his spell formations consume only half or even less of the spiritual energy than normal."
"And what about you, Instructor Ramir?" Hoffman looked toward the other instructor.
"The child is also exceptionally talented in curse spell formations. He has learned from me Weakness of Flesh, Weakness of Mind, Touch of Agony, and Touch of Greed," said the middle-aged man with a somewhat darkened complexion.
"Touch of Agony and Touch of Greed! Those are second-level spell formations!" Karlmo, the half-human, shrieked.
"Yes, second-level spell formations. The child is particularly selective about curse spell formations. Originally, I intended to teach him other first-level spells, but he felt that some spells might make him as unkempt as me... He, he even said I smell..." The middle-aged man began to break down in tears, and Hoffman shook his head with an expression of compassion, "Dear Ramir, why don't you take the day off? Go have a good bath and then spend some time in the sunshine, how about that?"
"Thank you, Your Excellency," the middle-aged man said between sobs as he left.