Chapter 109: A New Era

Chapter 109: A New Era

"Is this the Starlight Academy?"

Fleming couldn't help but exclaim in awe as he gazed at the vast expanse of the academy and its majestic gates.

Around him, more young boys and girls were marveling at the surroundings, their eyes wide with wonder. Some of them were particularly fixated on the towering structure in the distance.

Even from over a kilometer away, the massive outline was clearly visible, giving a sense of its colossal size.

The strange shape of the tower only added to the intrigue.

Gathered here were children who had recently passed the aptitude tests, all between the ages of twelve and fifteen.

They had traveled from all corners of the empire to Flash City, then been brought to a peculiar base and through a strange portal to reach this place.

Many were baffled by how a simple door could transport them to such a different environment, with a grand academy suddenly appearing before them.

This new and exciting experience only heightened their anticipation and excitement for the legendary wizarding academy.

At that moment, a young man and woman emerged from the academy gates.

Both appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen years old, clad in gray robes with piercing, enigmatic eyes that emitted a strange glow, making it difficult to meet their gaze.

As the two approached, the gathered young boys and girls fell silent, their attention focused on them.

It was clear that these were the representatives sent by the academy to greet them.

"My name is Xie Qin Bradley, and this is Duvina Tredway. We will be leading you on a tour of the academy. Please remain quiet during the tour, do not ask questions at random, and do not touch anything without permission. The consequences will be on you if you do."

Xie Qin spoke with a flat expression before turning to walk toward the academy gates.

"Follow us!"

The young boys and girls exchanged glances but followed obediently.

"He doesn't seem like someone who's easy to talk to," Donohan whispered to Fleming.

Fleming nodded.

He had heard that many wizarding apprentices had reclusive personalities, and this Xie Qin might be one of them.

On the other hand, Duvina seemed more approachable, even offering them a warm smile.

As they passed through the gates, the scenery before them suddenly opened up.

Strangely styled buildings dotted the landscape, immediately capturing the attention of the young apprentices.

On the wide streets, they saw many apprentices rushing about, briefly glancing at the new arrivals before continuing on their way.

"Caw!"

A somewhat shrill cry echoed from above.

Fleming looked up to see a dozen crows circling in the sky.

What was surprising was that these crows were unusually large, with scaly skin and blood-red eyes.

"Those are Red-Eyed Crows," Duvina explained, noticing the new arrivals' curious gazes.

"They are the academy's watchdogs. Any apprentice who violates the rules within their sight will face appropriate punishment."

"Don't underestimate them; these Red-Eyed Crows are very intelligent."

The young apprentices looked at the crows with newfound respect.

"This is the library. The books on the first floor are free to borrow, but they must be read within the library. Books on the second floor and above require payment."

"This is the teaching building, where you will have your classes. The bulletin board at the entrance lists the schedule for the next week. You can freely choose which classes to attend. Basic courses are free, but advanced courses require payment."

"That is the mission hall. You can take on missions there to earn contribution points. While the academy provides some resources for free, most, especially mid-to-high-tier resources, require contribution points to obtain."

Despite his cold demeanor, Xie Qin was thorough, explaining each location they passed in detail.

Fleming suspected he was probably assigned a task, which was why he was being so diligent.

"Although the academy allows all apprentices to take on missions, there are very few suitable for new arrivals. I suggest you focus on your studies at first. Once you've gained some strength, you can take on missions more efficiently."

Duvina chimed in with a friendly smile and a helpful suggestion.

"Most basic resources can be purchased with gold coins, so don't waste your time and energy on things you can buy with a little gold."

Many of the new apprentices nodded in agreement.

However, a few of the more plainly dressed new arrivals looked troubled, remaining silent.

They didn't have much gold to spare.

Soon, the group arrived at a spacious plaza.

In the center of the plaza stood a massive crystal orb, with over a dozen students queuing up in front of it.

"That's the Attribute Crystal. It measures the physical attributes, mental strength, and health of wizard apprentices, displaying the results as data."

"Once you start your training, you can use the Attribute Crystal periodically to better track your progress."

Duvanie pointed at the Attribute Crystal and explained.

As soon as she finished, an eager freshman spoke up.

"Senior, can we try it out?"

Duvanie glanced at Xie Qin, seeing no objection from him, and smiled, nodding.

"Sure, but don't take too long—just half an hour."

With permission granted, many freshmen eagerly broke from the line and joined the queue.

Fortunately, the individual use time for the Attribute Crystal was short, and within ten minutes, it was the freshmen's turn.

Fleming was the first to step up.

Following Duvanie's instructions, he placed his palm on the surface of the crystal orb.

A slight tingling sensation spread from his palm, and soon, a row of text appeared on the orb.

【Physical Attributes: 2.2, Mental Strength: 0.7】

【Health Status: Good, Right Arm Ligament Slightly Strained, Expected to Heal Naturally in Two Days】

【High Affinity with Fire Element, Suitable for Fire Magic】

Fleming was taken aback.

A few days ago, he had strained his right arm while practicing martial techniques. Based on his past experience, he expected it to heal within two days, but he didn't expect the Attribute Crystal to detect this as well.

This Attribute Crystal is truly amazing!

"But what does the last part mean?"

Fleming wondered, turning to see Xie Qin and Duvanie looking at him with a strange, almost envious expression.

"What's your name?"

Xie Qin, unusually, asked Fleming, his tone much more friendly than before.

"Fleming."

"Fleming, you have a good talent," Xie Qin said.

Seeing Fleming's confused expression, he explained patiently:

"Elemental affinity refers to the degree of harmony with certain energy particles. The higher the affinity, the easier it is to control those particles and learn the corresponding spells."

"Overall, wizard apprentices with elemental affinity have a significant advantage in their training, with many benefits."

"However, those with elemental affinity are extremely rare. Out of a hundred wizard apprentices, you might not find even one."

Hearing this, the freshmen's gazes towards Fleming were filled with envy and jealousy.

Fleming was also taken aback.

So, he was a genius?

The subsequent freshmen went through the test, but none of them showed the same elemental affinity as Fleming.

After half an hour, Xie Qin interrupted the testing and led them to their residence.

It was a castle-like dormitory.

Two towering steel golems stood guard at the entrance.

"This is your dormitory. You will live here for the next few years until you advance to the rank of Second-Class Wizard Apprentice."

Many freshmen had already learned about the ranks of wizard apprentices through various channels.

As soon as Xie Qin finished speaking, a freshman couldn't contain his curiosity and raised his hand to ask.

"Senior, where do Second-Class Wizard Apprentices live?"

"Dragon's Bone Tower."

Xie Qin uttered three words, his gaze drifting towards a certain direction. His usually expressionless face revealed a clear sense of longing.

Even Duvanie's eyes sparkled with admiration.

Following their gazes, many freshmen realized that the tall tower they had seen from the college entrance was likely the Dragon's Bone Tower Xie Qin mentioned.

Several freshmen from noble families exchanged glances, suddenly wondering if the legendary figure they had heard about resided in the Dragon's Bone Tower.

"Is the Dragon's Bone Tower better than the college?"

"Of course. It's a place only Second-Class Wizard Apprentices can enter, so it must be better."

"I want to go there too."

The freshmen chatted excitedly, many clenching their fists with determination and admiration in their eyes.

But Xie Qin quickly poured cold water on their enthusiasm.

"Don't get your hopes up."

"Many talented students in the college have trained for over a decade and still haven't advanced to Second-Class Wizard Apprentice. You have a long way to go before you can live in the Dragon's Bone Tower. Start by mastering the Star Ring Meditation Technique."

"Don't say I didn't warn you. According to college rules, anyone who hasn't mastered the Star Ring Meditation Technique within three months will be expelled."

As soon as those words were spoken, the freshmen's expressions tightened.

They had emerged from a sea of tens of thousands of peers, bearing the hopes of their families and loved ones, to enter Starlight Academy. If they were to be expelled and return home, not only would their own reputations be ruined, but their families and loved ones would also lose face.

This was something they absolutely could not accept!

"Alright, no need to be so tense," Du Vanni said with a smile, seeing the atmosphere grow somber.

"Under normal circumstances, most of you should be able to master the Star Ring Meditation Technique within one or two months, so there's no need to worry too much."

"Now, everyone go and collect your keys. You have twenty minutes to settle in your dorms, and then we'll take you to the cafeteria."

The freshmen all responded in agreement and rushed into the dorms. A few of them curiously touched the iron golem, which turned its head slightly, glanced at the freshmen, and then turned back to its original position.

Meanwhile, in a building about three to four hundred meters away, three individuals stood by the window, observing the freshmen's movements.

"Two hundred and forty-three students, that's quite a number for this batch," Rose said.

"Considering this is the first talent assessment in the Starlight Empire, it's not surprising to have so many," Staff said with a smile.

In the old Starlight Principality, it was already a good year if they had more than ten new students.

But now, with two-thirds of the former Azure Empire's territory added, this first talent assessment in an area that had never held such an event before naturally saw the highest number of qualifiers.

Next year's talent assessment is likely to see a significant drop in the number of new students.

"I never thought I'd see so many wizard apprentices in one place," Traveler said with a look of amazement. "Just thinking about how these students will grow into second and third-level wizard apprentices gives me a sense of witnessing a new era."

Rose and Staff also showed a touch of wistfulness, agreeing with Traveler's words.

In their time, wizard apprentices were mostly hidden behind the scenes.

Even among the nobility, only a small number knew of their existence.

But now, while the common people might still be unaware of wizard apprentices, among the nobility, they are no longer a secret.

The establishment and admission of Starlight Academy have brought wizard apprentices to the forefront.

It's foreseeable that, in time, more and more people across the continent will become aware of wizard apprentices.

The age of wizards is swiftly approaching.

And all of this is thanks to Su Nan.

He has changed the way wizard apprentices live, attracting more and more people to join this community and expand their influence.

"These students have it much better than we did back in the day," Rose said with a sigh. "When I was a first-level wizard apprentice, we didn't have so many potions to improve our meditation efficiency."

Traveler nodded in agreement. "These younglings are advancing much faster than we did. I heard that two of Lord Su Nan's students became second-level wizard apprentices in just five years. That speed was unimaginable before."

"You must be talking about Xie Man and Coray," Staff said with a smile. "Both have excellent natural talents and the support of the academy. They have a good chance of reaching third-level wizard apprentice by the age of fifty."

Traveler's expression was complicated. He had only reached third-level wizard apprentice when he was nearly eighty.

He could only say he hadn't caught the good times.

But he quickly perked up.

With the academy's resources, his cultivation efficiency has increased several times over.

Though it's still very difficult to advance to the rank of a full wizard before his natural lifespan ends, at least he now sees a glimmer of hope.

Just for that, he feels joining Starlight Academy was a wise decision.

"Alright, we should get back to our preparations," Rose stretched, revealing a graceful figure. "With the new students, the number of basic course hours has increased, so we have a lot of work ahead."

Despite her words, Rose's expression showed no signs of difficulty, only contentment.

After all, as mentors, a significant portion of their contribution points comes from teaching.

The more courses they teach, the more contribution points they earn to exchange for resources.

Whether it's transcendental potions, magic pattern cores, construction potions, or talent crystal models, the contribution points required for exchange are enormous.

Especially the latter, which requires a long period of service to the academy to obtain.

But even so, they are content.

In the past, they wouldn't have had any way to exchange their work for such resources.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end