It appears that the education system on this continent shares some similarities with that of Earth.
Commoners at the age of six starts going to Kindergarten Schools where they learn about world and other basic things like reading and writing. For the next 3 years they rigorously train under the guidance of teachers till their Awakening Ceremony.
Nobles' children are tutored by expert in their family.
These Kindergarten school have high-ranking officials as teachers, they are supported directly by the Kingdom.
You can only find out if you're good at magic or have a talent for auras after going through the Awakening. The ratio is
magic : aura = 1 : 100
Next they enters Arcane Academy for Mages and Knights also known as the Awakeners' Academy among common masses. This is where the actual journey as a mage or an aura users begins...
Aunt Merry's daughter, Meyana is studying in this academy.
In order to Graduate from the academy, they must reach 2nd Circle as a Mage or 2nd Level Aura User within 16 years of age. Else they will be kicked out of the academy.
In other words most mages will not be able to study further to become an Archmage.
Aura users can join the Kingdom's army or any factions.
*Archmages are the strongest individuals in a kingdom.
After graduation :
Mages enters Academy of Master Mages
(After passing) —⟩ Enters University of Archmages / University of Mage Lords(Which is an Indipendent faction made by the union of 3 empires)
Aura Users enters Academy of Aura Grandmasters (After Passing) —⟩ Enters University of Aura Lords
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Observing the newly acquired 'Mana Vein Formation' grimoire that cost 15 gold coins, I couldn't help but curse the manufacturer mentally as the paper quality didn't match the hefty price, despite its dimensions of 50 cm in length and 40 cm in width.
The long journey back to village was boaring so aunt started telling me about Meyana and I also asked about Arcane Academy and various things.
"Aunt, why are grimoire so expensive yet the paper is so fragile and rough??" I asked the question which has been bothering me.
"Oh? papers are thin and fragile its their characteristic. A gust of wind is enough to tear them apart, its just they are like that..."
As my aunt delved into explaining the paper's properties as if guiding a child, my thoughts wandered elsewhere.
'What the fuck! The papers in this world is so damn bad quality even though they have magic, they suck with scientific things..Damn it!! The worse quality recycled paper on Earth is 10 times better than this '
Merry's next words managed to pull my attention back from my wandering thoughts.
".....papers are made by Wood element Archmages with the help of tier 7 wood element plant..Thats the reason for its expenses. No matter how much paper they make, its never enough."
"I see...." I realised the reason, as a buisness idea popped in my head. I tried to remember the process of making paper but couldn't find anything... Those unnecessary memories were vague, as I never needed those on Earth...'Damn it God'
"???"
Merry was puzzled seeing Zeun's sudden lack of interest in her words...
'It has only been around 3 days but I already learnt so many new things about this world...I will get to know more as time passes.... ' Zeun thought.
Upon arriving Kroton my days resumed as usual with occasional guidance from my mom and aunt Merry on matters related to magic.
Wake up around 4:30 am (we didn't have a clock), followed by morning chores and jogging, then mom's training. After that, have breakfast, take a short rest before attending Aunt's and Mom's classes (since I didn't attend Kindergarten, Mom and Aunt took on the job of teaching me)
I take a bath in the noon before having lunch, a habit from Earth that I can't get rid of even after death... funny, right? Follow by a nap in the afternoon which seems very weird from mom and aunt's perspective.
Then from afternoon till dinner at around 8pm probably? I absorb mana to clear my mana vein, which is generally done after age 10, but some people are different.
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One year later :
"Good Zeun, yes just like that...." Aunt cheered as I did a peculiar stance that mom added newly in my routine..It was quite similar to eka Pada Galavasana.
Sweat was trickling down every pore of my body as I was like a flying pigeon...
"haaaaaaa....phew ...fuuuuuu"
I took deep long breaths as time tickled slowly...
Next I spent some time talking with my mom and aunt....'It has been already more than a year and a month, Mommy's tummy is fully bulged, but why isn't sister born yet? I know that the human anatomy of people of earth is different from those in here.... but its still odd..'
* sigh*
"What's up Zeun?" Hearing me aunt asked.
"Nothing much, just wondering why my sister is not born yet!"
"Fu fu fu...so my baby is worrying about his sister even before she is born? fu fu fu ..." mom replied with a light laugh...
"Worried huh?" I mumbled as I lost myself in thought, 'when was the last time I was worried about something?am I really worried about her or am I worried that I would have a sibling....just like back on Earth.' my younger brother's face flashed before my eyes....
I shook it off my head and went for my mana vein training...
"Merry, don't you think my son is behaving increasingly strangely with each passing day?" Helena asked her best friend looking at her son's departing back which seemed a bit lonely....
"Hmm...now that you mentioned it, I did feel something different though... he is getting more and more diligent each passing day... He.... seemed to be insecure about something....." Merry replied with careful consideration....
I sat in Lotus position and started absorbing surrounding mana, I did as aunt and mom taught me.
Humans in this world used to have mana cores like wild beasts in their heart6, but they don't have mana core anymore.
Its similar to how early humans had appendix before but it is not required anymore,a dormant organ.
Since the mana cores vanished from heart after evolution, there still left a very small depression in the heart's core.
Mages discovered that these dormant organs can absorb surrounding mana faster than any other part of the body before the age of 10 (1st awakening).
After 1st Awakening, mana can be absorbed not only by heart but also by skin and other efficient means.
And just like that another months passed. I was training as usual when I heard mom's painful cry from the house. I rushed over and saw aunt supporting mom's big tummy.
Before I could ask what happened aunt shouted, "Zeun go bring a pot of water..."
Me: "??"
"What are you doing!GO FAST" she screamed... I was very afraid seeing mom's face distorted with pain.. Rushing out I brought a pot of water as instructed.
Hearing the water with fire magic she ordered,"Go to the village and call the old healer lady. Tell that I am calling her for an emergency."
Without wasting anymore time, I rushed out....
Ten minutes later I arrived with village healer, Melinda."Wait outside Zeun and don't come near the house." Melinda ordered as she entered the house.
My heart raced with worry 'will mom be alright? nothing will happen right? yes what could go wrong.... its only a child's delivery.. Its nothing just a bit maybe, one of the greatest pain a woman sufferes in life.....
No no no.. she is mother. Nothing will happen to her... She is the strongest mother of all'
I console myself as I was moving in circles around the house. But when I stopped hearing any sound from the house, my heart panicked. Worried, I climbed on a tree branch to peek inside the room. I saw my mom screaming as she was pushing the baby dowm..
My sweaty first clenched and heart ached like never before.... An hour later, I saw two little hands covered in blood and mucus moving in air.
A warm feeling grasped my heart as a smile appeared on my face. The view was unlear as I was unable to see the faces of the women.
After Melinda left , I went into the house. Aunt was done cleaning and mom was sleeping cutely with a little baby in her arms. Aunt how is mom and sister?
"Oh !So you knew you will have a sister?"
"Mom ,told me..."
"I see. Yeah they are good but I can't say for how long...."
*Thump* *thump* *thump*
My heart started beating faster with anxiety. I instinctively started imagining the worse.... slapping my self from the daze I asked with a dried husky tone
"A-aunt wh-what happened to.."
But before I could finish she said, "Don't worry. Its just that a lot of money is needed to heal you mom from her weakness, and your sister needs you mom's care.... so we can't afford to waste time"
'I can't tell Zeun that his mother's in this condition because she dropped from an Archmage to a 5th circle can I? All the money I and Helena have can only buy an Intermidiate healing portion. She can be cured but will be stuck at 5th Circle for the rest of her life. It might be a big blow to her and Zeun might fall into darkness if he gets to know this.... I can only do my best'
Aunt ruffled my hair
*sigh*
" I shall buy the necessary portion to heal your mother.... Son, don't worry.. Just take care and I shall be back before night falls"
I nodded firmly as my heart calmed down a little.