Sorinus strolled towards the Yageshtra Academy, observing the giant floating magic book and the stone-made magic staff suspended in mid-air. It resembled unique sculptures seen at universities in his previous life. This was the emblem of the Yageshtra Academy of Magic: the magic book symbolizing knowledge, the staff representing magical power, and the mental force supporting them. They symbolized the three sources of power for magicians.
Sorinus was deeply impressed. He could feel the word "heritage" deeply ingrained here. As he withdrew his gaze from the magic book, Sorinus's eyes lit up once again. He spotted a woman—a remarkably beautiful woman—with azure long hair, skin as smooth and fair as milk, a delicate straight nose, and cherry-red lips that exuded a captivating charm. Even the oversized black mage robe couldn't conceal her exquisite figure. Compared to the elven maiden Elara, this woman exuded a mature and intellectual beauty.
Suddenly, Sorinus's pupils constricted. He noticed that the woman's mage robe on the left chest was embroidered with... six golden threads!
A sixth-rank Archmagus!
"Sorinus Alduran," the woman spoke, her voice crisp and melodious like the nightingale's song. "I am your mentor. You may call me, Teacher Valensia."
Sorinus snapped back to attention. "Hello, Teacher Valensia."
Valensia nodded, her eyes showing a hint of curiosity and admiration. A student with dual superlative talents was indeed a rare sight, apart from the Headmaster.
"Although your talent is enviable, Sorinus, I must remind you that talent is merely a gift from the God of Magic. Your future achievements depend solely on yourself..."
"I understand," Sorinus replied calmly, nodding.
Valensia was pleased with Sorinus's humble attitude. She sensed a rare calmness in Sorinus that few ordinary youths possessed.
With a slight smile, Valensia said, "Let's go meet your classmates... They are very eager to meet you."
Following Valensia into a spacious room, Sorinus saw thick carpets covering the floor and several long tables with various bottles and jars of different sizes placed on them. More than twenty youths dressed in deep blue mage robes were staring at him, their slightly inexperienced faces showing expressions of surprise, curiosity, envy, and speculation.
"These will be my future classmates..." Sorinus thought to himself.
"Welcome, new students..." Valensia encouraged Sorinus with her eyes. "Introduce yourself."
Sorinus nodded and performed the standard mage salute to everyone. "Sorinus Alduran, pleased to meet you all."
There were sparse responses from the crowd. Suddenly, a slightly mocking voice rang out. "Quite arrogant, aren't you..."
Laughter followed.
Sorinus remained expressionless. If he had known that his talent would be improved, he wouldn't have exerted himself during the test. He understood the principle of being a tall tree attracting the wind. With a dazzling talent, he would inevitably attract many envious and malicious gazes.
Valensia frowned and said coldly, "Shut up, Olaf!"
Sorinus noted the displeased expression on someone's face in the crowd and silently remembered that face.
"Sorinus, you may take your seat," Valensia said gently, pointing to a spot. "This class is about magical potions. You can observe, and I'll help you catch up with the others as soon as possible."
Sorinus thanked Valensia and then walked into the crowd.
The classroom at the Yageshtra Academy was different from those in his previous life. There were no desks or chairs. Sorinus could feel everyone around him curiously watching him, their minds not entirely on the class.
Finally, someone couldn't resist.
"Hello, new student!"
It was a chubby-faced boy with freckles, extending a chubby hand towards Sorinus.
"I'm Tenerius Cambria, nice to meet you."
Sorinus hesitated for a moment and then nodded.
Tenerius looked at him cautiously and asked, "May I ask, are you a noble... or a commoner?"
Sorinus furrowed his brow slightly. "Is that important?"
"Of course," Tenerius explained. "It determines which circle you'll be accepted into."
Indeed, class divisions existed everywhere.
Sorinus glanced around, seeing everyone leaning in to eavesdrop, clearly concerned about this issue.
"My father is a baron," Sorinus replied truthfully, causing a small commotion.
Sorinus noticed that some people distanced themselves from him while others showed joy on their faces. Though he was only a baron's son, Sorinus was still considered a noble.
"Excellent," Tenerius exclaimed excitedly, becoming more intimate with Sorinus.
Tenerius was the son of a viscount.
"Cambria!"
Tenerius wanted to say something else to Sorinus, but Valensia's stern voice interrupted, addressing Tenerius by his surname.
Tenerius shrank his neck and immediately shut his mouth.
Sorinus then focused on listening to the class.
The class on magical potions was somewhat similar to chemistry in his previous life. Valensia had over ten different items in front of her—roots of unknown plants, strange red liquids, shiny gemstone fragments...
Sorinus even saw cat eyeballs and frog eggs.
"Magical potion studies are a profound discipline and vital for every magician... Master Glayston is an excellent grandmaster in magical potions..."
"Many magical potions offer tremendous benefits to magicians. For example, a bottle of the lowest-grade mental potion can increase meditation efficiency by five percent for a first to third-rank magician!"
There was a slight commotion among the crowd.
All the youths showed expressions of surprise. Meditation was the source of improvement for all magicians. Although a five percent increase in meditation efficiency seemed insignificant, when accumulated over time, the gap it created would be terrifying. Moreover, this was only a low-grade mental potion. If it were intermediate or high-grade...
The effect would be much more powerful.
Sorinus's expression changed slightly. He seemed to have grasped something.
"Who wants to try making a mental potion under my guidance?"
All the youths were eager to try, but one voice spoke up first.
"Me."
Sorinus noticed it was a stern-looking blond youth.
"Blinchov, it's him again..."
"Of course, a commoner must seize every opportunity he can get, hmph..."
"I really want to see what he looks like when he messes things up..."
...
Sorinus noticed that most of the gossip came from the mouths of noble youths. However, the youth known as Blinchoff seemed oblivious to the mockery around him. Sorinus glanced around and noticed that the commoner students' eyes towards Blinchoff were mostly filled with admiration. Wait, was someone looking at him? Sorinus turned his head and met a pair of bright emerald eyes, like shining green gems. Being discovered, the person quickly turned away. Sorinus saw a blushing pretty face—a cute girl with blue curls. Ah, the joys of academy life...
"Alright, Blinchoff," Valensia looked at Blinchoff with approval. "Five grams of ghostvine stalks, ten drops of venom from rhinofrond snakes, three grams each of fire and water elemental gemstone powder..."
As Valensia guided Blinchoff to add various magical materials into the flask, she introduced to everyone, "The production of a basic mental potion is relatively simple, and the materials are relatively cheap. After returning home, you can try it yourselves..."
Tenerius, the chubby boy, leaned close to Sorinus and whispered, "I actually drink this stuff every day, ten gold coins a bottle, and it helps me sleep like a baby."
Sorinus gave him a speechless look. Using a mental potion, which could enhance meditation efficiency, as a sleep aid? That was unexpected. Ten gold coins per bottle would suffice for several years' expenses for a commoner family. The class divisions between noble and commoner students were indeed rooted in differing values.
Wait... ten gold coins per bottle?! Sorinus's eyes flickered, and an idea emerged in his mind. He had been worrying about not having enough money to upgrade Iya's dragon's nest. Iya had already reached the fourth rank. The small-sized fire elemental dragon's nest was a bit small for her now, and Sorinus urgently needed to increase the gold capacity of the dragon's nest. With that, the gold coins generated by Iya daily would be enough to support his magical practice expenditures. If he could learn the method of making mental potions...
Sorinus's mind focused instantly as he watched Blinchoff's actions on stage.
"Blinchoff, be careful. Mistakes in this step might cause an explosion..." Valensia reminded.
Laughter erupted from the audience. The noble youths were eagerly anticipating a classroom explosion.
Blinchoff became nervous. Holding a small test tube, he added too much reagent to the flask. The various magical materials in the flask reacted violently, causing a commotion among the crowd.
It seemed like an explosion was imminent.
Valensia remained calm and gracefully extended her fair arm. With a slight movement of her lips, an invisible force lifted the flask into the air.
"Bang!"
The flask burst open, but the invisible force enveloped it, preventing harm to anyone.
"I failed!" Blinchoff muttered, visibly disappointed. He clenched his lips tightly, looking quite disheartened.
"It's okay, Blinchoff. You did well," Valensia comforted.
As Blinchoff stepped down, the mocking laughter and jeers continued.
Sorinus noticed his clenched fists. Blinchoff was clearly struggling.
"Each person will receive a mental potion to consume and then meditate..." Valensia pointed out Blinchoff's mistake and demonstrated the correct method before distributing a potion to each person for experience.
The commoner students were excited; this was a rare benefit for them. The noble youths, however, seemed too casual.
The successfully prepared basic mental potion exhibited a beautiful light blue color.
Sorinus carefully examined it and drank it. It had a slight sour taste and wasn't as bad as he had imagined. After consuming it, he felt his mental energy become much more active during meditation, improving his ability to capture magical elements slightly.
"Sorinus, let's go. I'll introduce you to some new friends," Tenerius invited Sorinus after class.
Sorinus declined, "No, I have something to attend to. Maybe next time."
Tenerius didn't insist and bid farewell to Sorinus before leaving with the crowd.
When most of the people had left, Sorinus approached Valensia. "Teacher Valensia, I'd like to consult you about something."
Valensia was somewhat surprised. "Go ahead, Alduran."
"I want to learn more about potion-making," Sorinus said.
Valensia blinked. "Are you interested in potion-making?"
"Yes," Sorinus replied.
Valensia looked pleased for a moment but then frowned. "However, Sorinus... you're lagging behind in your magical studies, and delving into potion-making now might distract you."
Sorinus thought for a moment and said, "How is the progress of other students in their magical studies?"
Valensia replied, "Everyone has mastered at least three first-level spells."
"I see," Sorinus muttered to himself.
Next moment, Valensia's eyes widened slowly. A faint red light enveloped Sorinus, growing thicker until it formed a shell resembling an egg, encasing Sorinus within it. A first-level spell—Magic Shield!
Then, Sorinus calmly extended his right hand, and a small flame suddenly appeared in his palm, expanding to the size of a human head in an instant. This was the effect of casting Fireball after reaching the second rank. A first-level spell—Fireball!
"I have already mastered two first-level spells, Teacher Valensia. Could you teach me another new first-level spell now? I believe I can catch up with the others soon," Sorinus said calmly.
Valensia was completely shocked! Sorinus... had already learned two spells. "You didn't chant? Instant-cast first-level spells?!" Valensia exclaimed in disbelief. This required an insane level of control over fire elements! Moreover...
Judging from the thickness of the Magic Shield and the intensity of the Fireball, Sorinus's mental power had already reached the second rank, nearing the level of the third rank. Oh my god, how old was Sorinus again?
Was this what they called genius?! Valensia was speechless, unable to say a word. She was utterly overwhelmed. Once, she had been hailed as a genius by countless people. But at the age of sixteen, what was she doing? Still struggling to break through to become a first-level mage.
"Sorinus..." Valensia sighed weakly. "Alright, what do you want to know about potion-making?"