Maguza Academy was built shortly after the Magic Tower's establishment. The purpose of the academy was to train young students from ages 12 to 17. Initially, after it was built, the academy only admitted mage students. However, 50 years later, it opened its doors to martial arts students as well. The academy now loomed within their view.
"Woah! It is big!" Liliya exclaimed in fascination upon seeing the vast front building of the academy with its expansive front yard. Lucas was also fascinated when he saw the academy firsthand. It seemed no exaggeration when someone mentioned that the academy rivaled the royal palace in size.
"Mother, will we be allowed to make a visit?" he asked.
"Of course, so long as we don't disturb the students and cause mayhem, then we are fine."
"Then we shouldn't bring Lili. We'll get kicked out even before we enter the building because of her."
"Huh?!" Liliya's head snapped toward him instantly. Her face promised pain on him. "You! Don't spout nonsense!"
"What nonsense am I spouting?" Lucas shrugged his shoulders cheekily. "I am only speaking facts."
"Then take this fact!" She launched a punch, which he dodged. Missed her target, Liliya fumed in anger and continued to attack him. Yet, Lucas easily dodged and blocked all of her assaults.
"My…. I didn't know that you are a martial artist," he teased again with a wide grin on his face.
"I will be if I can just hit your face!"
"Children behave!" their mother interjected with a firm tone.
Their carriage entered the academy's premises and proceeded toward the front building. Along the way, they noticed a man standing alone, seemingly awaiting their arrival. Once they disembarked from the carriage, the man bowed slightly to them and spoke.
"Welcome Lady Harren, Young Lord Harren, and Young Lady Harren. My name is Arnold, and I welcome you to the academy."
"Thank you, Mr. Arnold. I and my children here only come to visit my second son and have a tour around if that is not a problem?"
The man, Arnold, shook his head. "Certainly not, My Lady. Please follow me to the Headmaster's office."
The Headmaster's office was on the second floor of the front building, so it didn't take long for them to arrive.
"Lady Harren, welcome!" Greeted the Headmaster with a wide smile. He was an old man around sixty years old, and his age was evident on his wrinkled face. Slightly chubby with a tall stature, he resembled a bear, and his facial hair only enhanced that image.
"Headmaster Persce, thank you for having us." Their mother nodded with a grateful smile.
"Think nothing of it, and they must be your youngest children. Hello, my name is Albus Persce. Nice to meet you both," the Headmaster greeted them.
"Hello, my name is Lucas Harren, a pleasure to meet you, Sir."
"Liliya Harren, likewise."
"My! You both are so polite! If only my son were this polite back then," the man laughed and then turned to their mother.
"Ahem, yes, for formality. What's the reason for your visit?"
"We would like to meet Eric Harren."
"Ah, young Eric! A bright child he is! However, I must ask you to wait since everyone is currently in the classes. Meanwhile, why don't we sit down and enjoy some snacks and drinks?"
"Ah, I wouldn't want to impose," their mother refused out of formality.
"Nonsense! Come sit down!"
Once they were seated on the sofas, Lucas activated his EoO and observed the Headmaster.
.
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Name: Albus Persce
Race: Human
Age: 63
Gender: Male
Magic tier: 6
.
Strength: 51/78
Dexterity: 64/86
Speed: 35/89
Endurance: 57/70
Will: 87/90
Mana: 80/81
Magic: 70/72
.
Talent:
Major Non-Elemental Mastery
.
Skill:
....
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
.
Lucas' eyes widened upon seeing Albus' tier. A tier six mage! This was the first time he had encountered someone of tier six. While Albus' attributes limit was high, Lucas speculated that he might have lower physical attributes due to his age and potential lack of recent training. His mana and magic were still high, but they didn't reach the limit, leading Lucas to believe that Albus felt content and didn't push himself further.
Lucas then opted to see Albus' talents. His talents were quite diverse. Albus excelled in anything that didn't require specific elemental mastery, and his skill list served as evidence of his versatility. Most of his skills showcased non-elemental mastery at tier 6, while his elemental magic mastery ranged from tier 3 to 4. However, there was a drawback. His mastery of elemental magics was reduced to 40%. It was a substantial reduction, but more than fair considering his proficiency in a multitude of magic skills.
"Waiting will be quite boring, isn't it? Would you like for me to guide you around the academy?" Albus offered kindly.
"If that doesn't bother you, Headmaster, then we will gladly accept it."
"Excellent!" Albus clapped joyously. He then turned to Lucas and Liliya. "I hope this tour will be helpful for both of you. Young Lucas, you will enroll, yes?"
Lucas nodded. "I am, assuming I pass the test with my circumstances."
"Circumstances? Ah…. Now I remember," Albus snapped his finger. "My condolences to you. May I ask how you will try to pass the test?"
"By proving something without magic casting."
"A research then? Quite ambitious for you, but I suppose I can't find fault considering our academy won't accept individuals who can't cast magic easily."
"Can't you just change it? Aren't you the headmaster?" Liliya bluntly asked.
Fortunately, Albus didn't take offense to it and simply smiled. "I may be the headmaster young lady, but I'm not the one who makes the rules."
Albus didn't explain further and decided to hasten their tour around the academy.
The academy was vast. It was divided into many sections. The first building, the front building, housed teachers and staff. Two buildings for mage classes, separated into two curriculums, were located on the left side. Similarly, two buildings for martial arts classes separated into two curriculums were situated on the right side. In the middle of it was a garden and a park for the students to relax. Opposite the first building was the back building, designated for student clubs. Behind these structures, there were three fields and then three additional buildings, all used for magical and physical activities.
On their tour, Lucas gathered information about the students and the teachers. All the teachers here were tier 5. The oldest students, at the age of 17, were mostly at tier 3, but some were at tier 4. Unfortunately, he couldn't discern the differences among them up close, such as the number of magic circuits they had and how many links they had forged.
.
Then they heard the bell ring.
.
"Ah! The class is finally over! Come, let us go back to the office, and I'll have Arnold fetch Young Eric," said the Headmaster as he led them back to his office.
In the office, they waited for a moment before Arnold arrived with someone else, Eric Harren.
"Brother!" Liliya immediately hopped off the sofa and rushed toward her second-oldest brother. Eric bent down and opened his arms to receive his sister's hug.
"Lili! Didn't know you were coming!"
"Hehe!"
After letting his sister go, Eric stood up and looked at his mother and younger brother.
"Mom, Lucas, what's the occasion for this visit?" He asked as he hugged his mother and then shook Lucas' hand.
"Why? Can't I visit my son?" Their mother asked with a mock hurt.
"Of course you can," Eric waved his hand around. "But you won't just visit out of nowhere."
"Now, young man, that's wrong but also correct," she chided. "We're here because I accompanied Lucas to the Magic Tower while Liliya is just a tag-along."
"Hey!" The smallest one among them protested.
"Huh?" Eric shifted his attention to Lucas with curiosity sparked in his eyes. "What for?"
"For research, I need another way to enroll at the academy," Lucas replied with a shrug.
"Ah, so you still can't…."
"Yes, but don't worry, Brother. I will find a way, but for now, I am going to do some research."
"Good luck with that," Eric smiled. "While I don't think I can help much, if you need any help, just ask me, okay?"
"Yes, Brother."
"Son," their mother called, and Eric shifted his attention. "How is your preparation for the field training?"
"Ah, it's doing well. We will depart next week since according to the scout, Mount Ortaz will be calm at that time."
"Calm?" Lucas inquired.
"Ah, you see, Mount Ortaz has a season where monsters will go on a rampage, and fortunately, it will end soon. Once this season passes, the monster's numbers will be diminished greatly due to their infighting, and they will be less aggressive," Eric explained.
Mount Ortaz had three seasons. The rampage season, during which the monsters became aggressive, lasted for one to two months. Cooldown season followed, during which the monsters lost most of their aggressiveness, lasting for two to three months, and the normal season, during which the monsters regained their typical aggressiveness and increased their population again until the rampage season returned.
Usually, people would reduce the monsters' population to prevent the rampage season because it seemed the tension between monsters still occurred and caused the area to be off-limits until the season ended.
"Even if it is the calm season, just be careful, okay? Some monsters are still aggressive," their mother gently reminded Eric.
"Of course I will, Mom, and no need to worry. There are 29 other students with me and two teachers that will accompany us," Eric assured with a grin.