Philip kept his eyes on Maddy. He took a deep breath and straightened his posture, his expression softening into something like reverence.
"You surprise me, girl. From the very start, you caught me off guard. In my fifty years of serving this nation and testing thousands of hopefuls, I have never seen a form like yours. It is... a breath of fresh air. It made me remember my own early days and reminded me why I chose to be an adventurer in the first place."
His sharp eyes glinting with a teacher's wisdom.
"Listen well. The flame you ignite in that bowl does not represent your whole self. It only shows what you have right now. It is a snapshot of your current power, not a limit on your soul. A person's rank is a shadow, but their skill is the substance."
He looked back at Maddy.
