The Talisman Artisan Guild stood like a fortress of knowledge—marble columns, sweeping tiled roofs, and the low hum of spiritual energy woven into the very foundation. Felix stood at the entrance, heart pounding. The Guild was not just an administrative institution—it was where creators were judged, recognized, and recorded.
A tall bronze plaque near the gate read: Apprentice. Novice. Adept. Artisan. Master. Grandmaster. The path of every talisman maker.
Felix took a deep breath and entered.
Inside, a courteous attendant guided him to the registration hall. Felix presented his old Novice badge, worn and nearly forgotten. The woman behind the counter glanced at it, then raised an eyebrow.
"You've been a Novice for over six years. Why now?"
"Because now, I'm ready," Felix replied calmly.
She tilted her head, curious, then handed him a form. "You'll take the Adept assessment. To qualify, you must fulfill two conditions. First, demonstrate mastery of five different Common or Uncommon talismans. Second, present an original talisman or substantial improvement of an existing one."
Felix nodded. "Understood."
She added, "Also, you'll be ranked alongside others in today's batch. Only those with sufficient scores will pass. And if your original work is extraordinary, it may be submitted to the guild archive for review."
Felix filled the form with practiced strokes. Under "original work," he wrote: Mystic Flame Talisman.
The examination hall was a vast open space—circles of stone lined the floor, each carved with containment sigils. Felix stood among thirty other candidates. Most were older, more flamboyant, whispering about their rare ink techniques or ancestral talismans.
A guild examiner stepped forward, her robe marked with three silver stripes—signifying Artisan rank.
"I am Examiner Varella. Today, you are here to prove your rank. First, you will demonstrate five talismans from memory, without notes. Then, you will present your original work."
Felix stepped into his assigned circle. The containment field flared faintly.
One by one, candidates activated talismans. Light screens floated overhead, recording progress.
Felix went to work.
Warmth Ward. Generates a constant mild heat in a radius (for personal warmth or tents).
Minor Barrier Seals. Form a small barrier that absorbs one light physical or magic strike.
Smoke Veil. He twisted the brush with subtle rhythm, and smoke danced in a sphere around him.
Pest Control Charm. Emits a subtle scent and aura that repels insects and small vermin.
Pulse Barrier. A rare Uncommon defense talisman—he etched a vibrating rune that shimmered like translucent armor.
Varella raised an eyebrow. "Quick hands. Precision."
Then came the second phase.
"Original work. Present it."
Felix inhaled slowly and unrolled a blank talisman sheet. "Mystic Flame Talisman."
Gasps spread through the room as his brush danced faster than most could follow. Spirals within containment rings. Layered glyphs overlapping perfectly.
He poured energy into the talisman.
The paper glowed orange, then red, then deep violet. A sphere of condensed flame hovered, restrained by the containment circle.
"Target: straw dummy. Release," Varella ordered.
Felix nodded. The flame shot forth and struck the target.
It didn't explode like the old Fireball Talisman. It bloomed. Like wildfire. It spread unnaturally fast across the dummy, which turned black in seconds. The fire clung like oil, violet-orange flames licking at the frame.
One of the junior examiners frowned. "Extinguish it."
Another candidate activated a water-element Uncommon Talisman. A heavy splash soaked the dummy—
—but the flame pulsed, shimmered, and continued burning.
More murmurs.
"Another. Mid-tier Water Dissolution."
The flames hissed but clung tighter, growing brighter.
Finally, Varella gestured to a senior member. "Rare-tier Aqua Seal, now."
The talisman activated, flooding the area in a tidal surge of spiritual water. The fire dimmed… and finally died.
Gasps.
"That took a Rare High-Tier talisman to put out," Varella murmured.
Felix said quietly, "That was a Mystic Flame on non-living matter."
A beast handler stepped forward with a caged feral realm beast—a low-tier threat creature used to test talismans on living targets.
"Are you ready to demonstrate live activation?" the handler asked.
Felix nodded. "Yes."
They placed a layered containment around the creature, then released the Mystic Flame.
The moment the flame touched flesh, it changed. From orange to deep purple. The creature howled—then collapsed.
The flames didn't just burn—they dug in, like spiritual corrosion. Even the beast's regenerative essence couldn't push it off.
The examiners scrambled.
"Extinguish! Quickly!"
Three talismans activated in sequence. Low-Rare. Mid-Rare. Nothing. Only when a High-Rare talisman was used with focused control did the fire begin to retreat.
Varella's eyes narrowed. "This isn't just an upgrade. This is a different class."
Felix bowed slightly. "It's a derivative evolution. The Mystic Flame Talisman uses structured flow manipulation and an essence. It refines fire into a condensed corrosive form. It acts differently on living versus non-living matter."
Varella stood in silence for a moment. "This must be submitted for archival review. Possibly even advancement categorization."
Another examiner stepped closer. "Name?"
"Felix Mavis."
"You're currently a Novice rank. With this? You're more than qualified for Adept."
The candidates nearby stared. Some are in awe. Others with narrowed eyes—envy rising.
Felix didn't respond. He was focused. Controlled.
Varella raised her hand. "We have seen enough. Felix Mavis, by demonstration and unique contribution, you have earned the title of Adept Talisman Creator. Your Mystic Flame Talisman will undergo deeper evaluation. Pending full guild review, it may be ranked at the high end of Uncommon or even preliminary Rare."
Felix exhaled. His hands shook slightly.
This wasn't just a test. It was validation.
The city of Greyveil—sprawling, fortified, and gleaming with both spiritual wealth and mortal ambition—was home to the Artisan Guild and the famed Azure Pavilion Auction House.
At the Guild's registration desk, a silver badge was pressed into Felix's hand.
"Adept," the clerk paused and confirmed. "Officially recognized. And with your creation, you may petition to have it registered under your name, sir. You'll receive a portion of any guild-certified sales going forward."
Felix bowed deeply.
He had arrived with uncertainty. He left with recognition.
And soon, with that badge and registration, he would return to Eastwell—not just as a seller of talismans but as a creator. A recognized force.
The next day, the Azure Pavilion Auction House buzzed like a nest of hornets. Within its glittering crystal dome and tiered, redwood interior, nobles, merchants, sect members, and unaffiliated cultivators packed the seats. Private sky booths with shimmering veils hovered above the floor, where exclusive bidders awaited without being seen.
Felix had delivered twenty Mystic Flame Talismans for auction. They were one of the highlights of today's list.
Each talisman sat in its own glass case, protected by formation runes and lined with spiritual padding.
The auctioneer, a sharp-eyed woman named Yselle, tapped her hammer gently. "Lot number nine: Mystic Flame Talismans. Twenty in total. Newly approved by the Talisman Artisan Guild of Greyveil. Starting bid: 2,000 gold."
A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Inside a private booth, Lord Etrien of the Riverlight Sect leaned forward. "That fire… I saw the demonstration. It corroded through a soul beast's defenses. Bid."
"2,500 gold," his steward announced.
From another booth, House Verrick, rival of the Riverlight Sect, countered immediately. "3,000 gold."
A merchant from the Black Dag Union muttered, "If this is mass-producible, it will redefine low-tier battle tactics."
"3,500!"
A middle-aged woman in the crowd shouted, "4,000! We'll equip our expedition teams!"
The price skyrocketed. From 5,000 to 7,200 to 9,800.
One elder cultivator narrowed his eyes, examining the flame essence residue through a magnifying lens. "Structured flow refinement… that technique hasn't been seen outside Searing Lotus Sect's archive scrolls."
"10,000!" shouted a voice from the veiled sky booth above. Murmurs broke out.
"That's a Golden Emblem Mercenary. They've taken interest."
Yselle's voice rang. "Do I hear more than 10,000?"
Silence.
Hammer dropped.
"Sold. All twenty Mystic Flame Talismans to the Sky Sea Faction. 10,000 gold."
Felix earned 80%. Eight thousand gold—in a single sale. 20% commission for Azure Pavilion Auction.
He exhaled from the balcony seat he'd taken. Rin stood beside him, wide-eyed.
"That was insane," she whispered. "You're rich."
He smiled faintly. "No. I'm getting started."