He reminded Kayden of a modern teenager. Sitting down at the table, David began:
"Well, first you should know that the amount of mana in the dash doesn't mean much." This was something he had asked before. "Normally, a talented or genius person uses 2 times more mana than an ordinary person when advancing." David stopped talking.
The man continued his irritating habit of pausing in his lines.
"But that doesn't have any direct facts with the strength that the person has. We have cases of people using 10 times more mana and having the same strength progress as a person who used the usual amount." This time the man stopped to open the wine.
"What we consider as a factor of genius and talent is the amount of mana a person can store more than one of the same rank. Usually 2-3 times is talented and 3-6 is genius."
"But does that alone help with rankings?" Kayden had his doubts. If someone cultivated a technique that expanded the core, he would be considered a genius even though he wasn't.
"Not. We also have the comparison in average strength, casting speed, and mana expenditure per spell." This time, the man didn't stop and vomited dozens of times more than he normally did.
"David, David, stop. You are confusing me." Kayden had to pinch the man to get his attention.
When the scientist got excited about something, he didn't pay attention to anything else around him.
"I wanted to know if there's any way I can spot a strong opponent as soon as I see one." Kayden voiced one of his main concerns. It reminded David that the boy was still an apprentice.
"Mana Sense," David said without expressing doubt. "Right now, you might not even know what that is, but once you reach mage rank, you'll be able to feel the vibration people cause to the mana around you. The more she causes, the stronger she is."
It sounded simple in theory, but Kayden knew that a lot of what David said couldn't be taken literally.
"Not much to explain to you." David noticed the confused look on the boy's face. "Believe me, it would be like explaining what colors are to a blind man. You have no basis for imagining."
David paused to swallow a piece of pizza, then resumed his monologue:
"But you won't find genius people. Usually, they go to the big 10 universities..." David was interrupted by Kayden.
"I'm going to Sol Academy, David," Kayden said without a hint of doubt. That was a decision he made in his heart when he reached the 4th realm at that age.
At his age, Heimer was ranked 5th, but Kayden knew it was only a matter of time before he reached higher ranks. His determination would do that and if she couldn't get him where he needed to be, his obsession would.
"A Tier 3 university is a really good goal, Kayden..." At that moment, David realized the boy's words. "SUN ACADEMY!!?? Fuck boy, that's a very high level. It's not enough just to have rank."
The number of teenagers reaching the ninth rank was not so absurd in just one city, but if we consider that the kingdom has thousands of cities and each one easily reaches a few million people. Just a few dozen per age already make the number reach the hundreds of thousands.
"I have no doubts, David. What we created here is enough for me to enter on research merits, but I want more, I want to pass on my skills." The boy's eyes seemed to be on fire, there was no doubt about it. David felt a feeling that Kayden always passed on to him again:
Do or die trying.
"You're going to have to work hard for that, Kayden." David sighed.
"I will make it happen." Kayden reaffirmed.
"Very well, then I have some tips." David retrieved everything he knew about the subject in his head. "First, you should try to participate in the national grassroots championship." David was interrupted by a question from Kayden:
"What is it, David? I never went or paid attention in class." Kayden expressed in an embarrassed manner.
"Jesus, kid, what are you going to do there? Eat free lunch?" David snapped at Kayden and squeezed his temples. "Well, in short, every town has a championship between the schools in different fields, yours is combat, I believe."
"Yes, no doubt," Kayden confirmed to David.
"Five students per college are chosen between the 5th and 10th grade, below that most don't even know what they're doing." David seemed to be deep in memories. "It's a group battle between the different schools in the city in the first half of the year, and in the second half it starts between the states."
Kayden was at base school number 7, as far as he knew, in his city there were about 400 schools, not counting private ones like Heimer's. But even though it was private, Heimer paid nothing, exceptional students were exempt from fees.
Considering it was just one school in a state with thousands more, the number was frighteningly large.
"I don't think you have any difficulties, David. I have already fought other students in my school who are ranked 5th or 6th, usually I only lost by strength and sometimes I even won." Kayden foolishly expressed his confidence, which earned David a smack in the head.
"Idiot, you've only fought useless students so far, the real challenges are those who are in the institution's closed training, Moreover, you've probably never fought those from private schools." At that moment, Kayden realized something, he was always fighting expendable students, that is, he never faced the real cream. Seeing his understanding expression, David continued.
"With your strength and talent, you should be able to enter closed training now in the 5th year even, but only in the next few years should you be part of the chosen 5."
'Did Heimer participate in this?' Kayden thought in his mind. It seemed quite possible, he until now had never seen another free scholarship student from elite schools like his friend. Probably Heimer was even training to fight in that championship. His friend was always busier this January period. Kayden had never really paid much attention to anything other than his training.
"Your focus here is to gain experience, and fight hundreds of talented people from different places, This will be your best gain, don't care about victories or titles." David finished talking to Kayden.
The two finished their lunch in silence, each lost in their thoughts. Kayden wasn't sure how he would go about what David proposed, but he was willing to try, this action would probably make a huge difference in the future.
A few hours later, the two could be seen outside waiting in the sunshine. Strangely, the day was similar to his first fight against wolves years ago. The wind was constant and the sun pleasant.
The difference is that this time his hand wasn't sweating, his heart was still beating fast, but it wasn't from nervousness or anxiety anymore. His body yearned for the fight, for the feeling of being alive that only when facing something with the danger of life he was subject.