The False Star
As elder of the Alchemy Hall, Merrick had the keenest eye for reading a person's gift.
Looking at the state of Lucian now, his eyes nearly fell out of his head.
"A muddled five-element false gift! This—this is beneath even the lowest dregs of a mixed gift!
"With aptitude like this, forget the Ashveil Order. Not even the most third-rate little band of hedge-mages would take him!"
The moment the words were out, the whole hall erupted.
Everyone stared at Lucian as though they'd seen a ghost.
The favored genius they'd cradled in their hands, the future they'd cherished, was actually... a worthless dud who couldn't even set foot on the path to power?