Another new Monday.
Link walked into the classroom with full energy, followed closely by Jasmine.
"Have you heard, Link? Someone in our new New Blood class has ascended to the rank of First Rank Wizard Apprentice. It is said that the person's qualification is between fourth and fifth rank. Surprisingly, they advanced faster than the other rookies with fifth rank qualification. It's quite amazing!"
The moment Jasmine sat down, instead of immediately starting to read, she began to share the news she had seen on her portable smart device, her mood slightly complex.
Although she had spent the previous two weeks with Link, they rarely spoken and chatted. Their longest chats were in the mornings before class and at night after class.
With that said, she seemed a little downcast.
"When will I be promoted to First Rank Wizard Apprentice? My qualification is only at the advanced third rank, far worse than that guy!"
Link was taken aback by her words. After some hesitation, he replied: "Based on your description of meditation progress yesterday, I estimate that it will take about two weeks to complete the first layer of the Meditation Technique and ascend to the rank of First-Rank Wizard Apprentice."
In these past few days, seeing Jasmine's earnest studies, Link had shared some experiences with her about meditation.
To his surprise, Jasmine seemed to be eager to learn more and starting asking Link about his meditation experience. Starting from the day after Link began sharing, she would describe her previous day's meditation progress in detail. Jasmine certainly knew how to seize an opportunity.
"How would you know?"
Jasmine's initial reaction was incredulous. "You haven't ascended to First Rank Wizard Apprentice, how could you be so sure!"
Muttering to herself, Jasmine suddenly turned around. Her eyes sparkled brilliantly as she lowered her voice in surprise, "You... you... you've ascended to First Rank Wizard Apprentice?"
"Yes."
Link casually confirmed, "I was promoted not too long ago."
Jasmine eagerly asked, "Did you report it to the academy yet?"
"No."
Link shook his head.
"Oh my."
Jasmine gasped, grabbed Link's right arm and began shaking it vigorously, looking incredibly excited. "Why didn't you report it? Someone on the forum just mentioned that the first five apprentices who get promoted in every class will receive rewards. The first one gets five Magic Stones and a Zero Ring witchcraft, the second one receives four Magic Stones and a Zero Ring witchcraft, so on and forth. After the top five, you won't get anything."
"I hadn't seen that news."
This time, Link was genuinely startled. Forgetting the Magic Stones, the Zero Ring witchcraft was something he had been desperately searching for recently.
After leaving the cafeteria earlier, he had indeed felt his portable smart device vibrating, but he hadn't checked it yet.
"Hurry up,it's immediate. Report to the academy. Magic Stones, witchcraft, rewards!"
Jasmine was acting incredibly anxious, wishing she could make Link operate his portable smart device immediately.
"Let go first."
Link retrieved his smart device with his left hand while lifting his chin to indicate Jasmine to stop shaking his right arm.
"Oh."
Jasmine was so excited that she forget about his insistence for her to let go.
Link unlock his smart device, clicked on the academy's official app with a badge icon, and entered the "official website".
In fact, Link knew how to report to the academy a long time ago, but he hadn't done so in the interest of keeping a low profile.
Now that there was already a very conspicuous frontrunner, ascending quietly to keep the reward without standing out too much seemed to be the ideal course of action.
Well... he had only guessed about the rewards and wasn't sure he would receive them, so he reassured himself with this reasoning.
After following the instructions, Link filled in his own information.
The academy "official website" immediately began the verification process.
After Link repeatedly authorized it, a beam of blue light emitted from the "front camera" of his smart device and began scanning his body.
The blue light lingered on his forehead as if it was stuck.
Link immediately delved into his Sea of Consciousness, adjusted the solid and illusion relationship between his Rune and its reflection, and then released the protection of Mind Closure Technique.
The blue light detected the presence of the Rune and finally moved to other areas.
A moment later, the blue light retracted.
Three consecutive notifications from the "official website" popped up on Link's smart device:
"Link Grande, upon verification, you have ascended to the rank of First Rank Wizard Apprentice, making you the third New Blood to ascend in your class. Because of this, three standard First Level Magic Stones and a free study qualification for a Zero Ring witchcraft are awarded as a bonus. Keep up the good work."
"Link Grande, upon verification, you have advanced to the rank of First Rank Wizard Apprentice, fulfilling the basic conditions for receiving an annual subsidy of three standard First Level Magic Stones. Keep up the good work."
"Link Grande, your rewards and subsidies have been put in the mailbox outside your dormitory door. Please collect them as soon as possible."
Third place, not too high and not too low, it was pretty good.
Link nodded contentedly, exited the academy's "official website", cancelled all the previously opened authorizations, and put away his smart device.
"Aren't you going to get your reward?"
Jasmine, having seen the entire process of Link's operation, calmed down, not as excited as before. Seeing that Link looked at ease and was ready to read a book after reporting, she curiously asked.
If it were her, she would have rushed back to her dormitory to secure her rewards.
Link replied: "Accessing the mailbox requires identity verification. Unless someone uses force, they can't open it. Given that it's secure, there's no need to rush, I mean, even if I get the reward early, I can't use it right away."
"Oh."
Jasmine pouted, implying that Link was patient and she wasn't.
Rolling her eyes and putting on a pleasing smile, Jasmine fiercely tugged on Link's right arm and cooed: "Link, you ascended to First Rank Wizard Apprentice and didn't even tell me! I'm upset! Unless you share some experiences with me!"
Link was speechless.
Witch, here you go again?
"When you're on the cusp of ascending, I'll share my experiences with you."
Link said seriously, "Ascending to First Rank Wizard Apprentice isn't that big of a deal. Even if you rush, it doesn't mean you'll always be ahead. There's no need to make it public."
"Yes yes yes, you're absolutely right."
Jasmine cut him off and mimicked his tone: "At our current stage, everything is secondary to learning. Our goal is to ascend to an official wizard as fast and as soon as possible. We've merely crossed a small threshold and it's not yet time to relax."
"It's good that you understand."
Link slightly nodded, no longer wanting to engage in idle chatter, and concentrated on reading his book.
Jasmine watched Link's face closely for a long time before she turned to carry on with her duties.
For some reason, the more seriously Link acted each time she flirted or clowned around, the more comfortable she was with her own flirtations and playful behaviours.
She felt like she'd been poisoned.