In addition to the portly Baus, Elandril had another confidant, someone who knew him inside out: Maelie.
She was a young girl who had joined the Dark Realms three years after Elandril and Baus. Currently, she was just fourteen. Despite her tender age, Maelie possessed a remarkable streak of luck and undeniable talent, enough to make even Elandril envious.
Not only did she start with an impressive Psychic Force of 13 points, but by her third year at the Black Magic Academy, she, a recently elevated Junior Apprentice, was already taken under the wing of an official Dark Sorcerer.
Elandril's close bond with Maelie originated five years prior, during a particular dissection class experiment. It was then that he had saved her life. Thanks to Elandril's compassion and bravery in speaking up for her, Maelie narrowly escaped being dissected by the formidable Master Kosolon.
This harrowing experience solidified the bond between the newly arrived, vulnerable Maelie and her newfound older brother figure, Elandril. Even when she later became the disciple of the esteemed Dark Sorcerer, Master Dierse, she never lost touch with Elandril. In fact, they would often discuss academia after public lectures.
Master Dierse was a renowned potioneer. Alas, he rarely graced the public lectures with his knowledge. Maelie's apprenticeship with him was a pure twist of fate.The translation aims to be polished, elaborate, and tailored to suit Western readers' taste:
Lately, the individual in question had been conspicuously absent. More often than not, they had been collaborating with the renowned Master Dierse in various experiments or concocting elixirs.
The bond between Maelie and Baus with Elandril, deep-rooted and genuine as it is, transcends their shared history. An essential element of their camaraderie stems from the painstaking effort Elandril put into nurturing and sustaining this treasured friendship.
Surviving in the Black Magic Academy without ample allies is an endeavor bordering on the impossible.
Although neither Maelie nor Baus are overwhelmingly powerful in their own right, they possess unique assets. Maelie, under the mentorship of a certified Dark Sorcerer, also dabbles in the art of potion-making. Baus, on the other hand, boasts an expansive network and a knack for business.
On numerous occasions, their collective strength and loyalty have been their saving grace, enabling them to thrive within the ominous walls of the Black Magic Academy. At the heart of it all, it's all about survival.
Elandril's fascination with the arcane secrets of magic and the profound truths held by the Dark Sorcerers is palpable. Yet, he is acutely aware that his paramount objective remains - to stay alive.
...
The venue for the annual examination is located behind the largest academic building of the Black Magic Academy, where a spacious training ground beckons. It's a favored spot for many apprentices, keen on honing their newly acquired magical skills. Elandril vividly recalls conjuring his very first flicker of flame right there.
The Black Magic Academy's annual assessments aren't meticulously structured. The lofty Dark Sorcerers evidently lack the inclination to delve into such minutiae. It's a rare occurrence for more than four official Dark Sorcerers to attend these yearly evaluations. This year, consistent with the last, only three have graced the event with their presence.In the vast training grounds, over five hundred magic apprentices sporadically made their entrance.
This accounted for nearly eighty percent of the total apprentices from the Mosobra City's Academy of Dark Magic. The majority were Novice Apprentices and Junior Apprentices.
Around seventy were Intermediate Apprentices, while only a handful, about a dozen, were Senior Apprentices.
This was by no means the entire body of the academy's apprenticeship. For instance, Elandril knew that while his senior apprentice-sister, Phyra, had come for this annual assessment, his esteemed senior apprentice-brother, Zorro, was absent.
There were always those who, for a myriad of reasons, couldn't make it.
The Academy of Dark Magic had never stringently mandated the participation of all its apprentices in the evaluation.
After all, such assessments were a game for the strong. The weak? They risked elimination even in the day-to-day life at the academy.
The crux of this annual assessment was dueling in the arena.
Apprentices of all tiers could take the stage and showcase their combative prowess, with no regard to life or death.
Of course, one could also choose to challenge those of a higher rank. Should they emerge victorious, not only would they secure a top three position, but there was also a significant chance of gaining the recognition of a few official Dark Sorcerers present at the venue.
As for the Novice Apprentices, their grasp on magical knowledge was minimal. Their Psychic Force and Mana values were so low that some might even struggle to cast a single spell.In the circle of the Novice Apprentices, what determines their rank is either their ability to defeat or even slay an opponent without the use of magic or their success in casting a basic spell.
As Elandril and Baus meandered throughout the training grounds, there was no sign of Maelie. Elandril speculated that she might have chosen to be absent this time around.
"You're vying for a ranking this time too?" Baus inquired in a hushed tone.
By then, Elandril had already adorned the "Pale Masquerade". In response to Baus's question, he nodded and replied, "The headmistress mentioned there might be some worthy prizes for this academy assessment. I thought I should give it a shot."
Hearing this, Baus gave an approving nod.
From whispers among other magic apprentices, Baus was aware that apart from the Pale Masquerade, Elandril possessed a particularly potent magic wand, a protective artifact gifted by his mentor, Mosido. With that wand in his grasp, Elandril had the prowess to venture into the circle of Intermediate Apprentices.
...
As the annual evaluation officially commenced, the three Dark Sorcerers, seated at the highest tier of the training grounds, were in position.
"There seems to be an abundance of promising talents this year," mused one of the Dark Sorcerers with a hint of admiration.The dark figure first directed his gaze towards the Senior Apprentices, lingering momentarily. Then, he shifted his attention to the Intermediate Apprentices, and finally, he offered the Junior Apprentices a fleeting glance.
However, the multitude of Novice Apprentices did not even warrant a look from this Dark Sorcerer.
It's noteworthy to mention that as his eyes swept over the lower-ranked apprentices, they paused for a brief moment on Elandril. Yes, he recognized Elandril. Just two months prior, Elandril and Lina had caused quite the commotion in the Black Alley. Among the two official Dark Sorcerers present then, he was one.
The city of Mosobra had its fair share of Dark Sorcerers—neither too many nor too few. Almost every Dark Sorcerer held a position of reverence in the academy or carried out particular responsibilities.
From a certain perspective, Mosobra provided sanctuary for these Dark Sorcerers. Simultaneously, the academy became a melting pot where they could share their arcane knowledge and experiences.
In return for such provisions, these individualistic and often rebellious Dark Sorcerers were bound by an unspoken agreement to contribute to both the academy and the city of Mosobra.
Unknown to the lower-ranked apprentices, the city's ruler was none other than the enigmatic and powerful headmaster of the Dark Magic Academy. Yet, the esteemed headmaster remained a shadowy figure, rarely appearing before the apprentices. Even the official Dark Sorcerers seldom had the privilege of meeting him face to face.At the heart of the Black Magic Academy, ensuring its smooth operations and entrusted with the authority to delegate powers to these Dark Sorcerers, are three vice-principals. Elandril had previously encountered Dathalon, who is one among them. Dathalon holds the most responsibilities, including overseeing the Owl Academy's inspectors.
The other two vice-principals, though equally unassuming in their demeanor, hold significant influence. Among them is the sole female vice-principal, who also happens to be the mentor to Senior Apprentice Lilliana.