Watching Lila's gentle smile, Morde's heart beat faster and faster. Even if Moransiu had better potential, the tuition fee, even with a fifty percent reduction, was still five thousand. With just over a hundred gold coins, it seemed they could only take a brief look around. Learning magic would take several years, and with a tuition fee of ten thousand gold coins per year, it was indeed not something ordinary families could afford. No wonder those nobles had been pointing fingers at them at the beginning. Morde looked at his own leather clothes, feeling a desire to retreat.
But when he saw Moransiu's clear eyes, he couldn't bring himself to mention the idea of going back home.
"The academy has regulations. For talented students like Moransiu, the academy can waive all fees," Lila finally said the last sentence.
"Free?" Morde's reaction was even faster this time, dissipating the awkwardness from earlier in an instant.
"Yes, if Mr. Morde agrees, you can bring Moransiu to the academy tomorrow, and we will arrange for someone to familiarize Moransiu with the academy," Lila nodded.
She had to stay here all day today until all the assessments were over. This year, Mulan Academy planned to recruit fifty students in Sofei City, but so far, only one-fifth had been recruited.
"Okay, we will definitely go to Mulan Academy tomorrow," Morde replied repeatedly.
Under the envious gazes of the crowd, Moransiu and his father left the Mage Guild.
Early the next morning, Morde took Moransiu and put some gold coins in a bag on Moransiu's body. The eight-year-old Moransiu would have to stay alone in Sofei City and needed some money.
"Father, are you really going back?" Moransiu asked with some reluctance on the way.
"Yes, Moransiu, I told you that you've grown up. In the future, you have to learn to take care of yourself. When you become an intermediate mage, you must return to Algu Village and build the village walls. That way, the village won't have to worry about being attacked by beasts. Oh, and you need to buy some good-quality weapons for the villagers to hunt more animals," Morde envisioned the scene ahead and couldn't help but smile comfortably.
In Morde's view, having good weapons and sturdy defenses for their home was a very happy thing.
"I will do it," Moransiu clenched his fist, his voice firm and immature.
Mulan Academy was in the southwest corner of Sofei City. There were over a thousand students in the academy, some of whom had been living there for decades, and their status was still that of students. The reason they hadn't left the academy was mainly that their magic level hadn't reached that of an intermediate mage. If they hadn't reached the level of intermediate mage after fifty years of study in the academy, the academy would expel them and not issue a certificate.
At the entrance of Mulan Academy, Morde and Moransiu were immediately surrounded when they appeared.
"Hello, I am..." Everyone introduced themselves one after another, eager to make friends with Moransiu, this genius mentioned by Lila. Of course, they were all students of Mulan Academy, mostly from lower-middle-class noble families.
The attention a magical genius received far exceeded what this father and son had imagined.
"Hi, Moransiu," a girl in a green magic robe holding an emerald-colored magic staff shouted to Moransiu from afar.
"Who are you?" Moransiu spotted the girl at a glance.
"I'm Ziyun, a third-level mage of Mulan Academy. Instructor Lila asked me to wait for you here," Ziyun walked through the crowd and came to Moransiu's side, looking interestedly at this genius mentioned by Instructor Lila.
"Oh, I see. So... what should we do now?" Moransiu sighed helplessly as he looked at the bustling crowd around him.
"Well, is your father Mr. Morde? I wonder if Mr. Morde wants to enter the academy with you?" Ziyun looked at Morde beside Moransiu.
"Oh, Miss Mage. Moransiu has arrived here, and I'm going back," Morde said seriously and solemnly.
"Father..." Moransiu looked at Morde.
"Moransiu, work hard," Morde said, then turned and quickly left. A hunter's speed was indeed very fast, and in just a moment, his figure disappeared into the crowd.
Ziyun took Moransiu into the academy!
Mulan Academy was much larger than Moransiu had imagined. He looked left and right and ahead, but there was not a single direction where he could see the end. Mountains, rocks, grass, and trees were all here.
"Ziyun, how did you know I was Moransiu?" Moransiu asked curiously.
"Well, Moransiu, your father and son's attire is not common in Sofei City. It's very easy to recognize you. Besides, Instructor Lila described your features in detail," Ziyun said with a smile.
"I see!" Moransiu walked beside Ziyun. Ziyun should be twelve or thirteen years old, a head taller than Moransiu.
"Well, you see, that's Liuli Mountain, in the middle of the academy. Liuli Mountain is not accessible, the academy has designated it as a restricted area, remember that," Ziyun pointed to the distant mountain range covered with dense forests.
Mulan Academy surrounded Liuli Mountain in the middle.
"Why aren't we allowed to enter the mountain?" Moransiu didn't quite understand. Were there powerful magic beasts on the mountain? But if that were the case, they would have been killed long ago.
"I'm not sure about this either. Anyway, that's the rule of the academy. Apart from that, you can go anywhere in the academy. By the way, professional courses are arranged from Monday to Friday, one class per day. If you can't miss them without special reasons, because they are important. As for some elective courses, you can go to listen if you're interested. The 'History of Magic in the Mainland' is very interesting," Ziyun took Moransiu around the academy for a while, then took him to the dormitory area.
"Ziyun, what are professional courses?" Moransiu was completely clueless about this.
"Well, professional courses are explanations of the three elements. The more you understand the elements, the easier communication becomes, and the more elements you can absorb. You'll know when you go to listen. Also, make sure not to go to the wrong place. The academy is divided into six grades, from the first grade to the sixth grade, which are places for first-level mages to sixth-level mages to study. I'm studying in the third grade now, and I've been at Mulan Academy for three years," Ziyun stopped and looked at Moransiu, a hint of pride flashing in her beautiful eyes.
Three years, one level of advancement per year, was indeed not easy.
"Oh!" Moransiu nodded.
"By the way, Moransiu, I heard your perception has reached seven stars, is that true?" Ziyun suddenly asked curiously.
"Well, it seems so,"
Moransiu said.
"Moransiu, you're amazing. When I entered Mulan Academy, my perception was only six stars. If you're willing to work hard, you'll definitely reach the level of a third-level mage in less than three years," Ziyun said somewhat enviously.
Magicians, talent was very important.
"Hehe, Ziyun, maybe I should call you sister?" Moransiu looked at Ziyun.
"Okay, Moransiu little brother, if anyone dares to bully you in the future, I won't let them off," Ziyun patted her chest as if she had to protect Moransiu.
...
Along the way, Ziyun told Moransiu a lot about magic and the rumors of Mulan Academy. Soon, they would arrive at the dormitory. The dormitory area consisted of rows of wooden buildings, with two people in each house, usually of the same level of mage, to facilitate their communication and learning.