Alvin's expression froze for a moment before he complained. "That's not part of the deal!" He didn't care about hiding his voice at all.
Linfel shrugged in response. "I'm the one who can do it, so it is up to you to accept or not. Hahaha!"
"That's blackmail!" Alvin still complained.
"I have no idea what blackmail is," Linfel couldn't care less. "Field Exams once per week, and you will get what you want."
Felia heard all of that and was quite happy. "Thank you, Linfel. Finally, Master will start his journey to become a real Magus."
Alvin wanted to cry. "I thought you were on my side, Felia..."
"I am," she answered. "That's exactly why I'm doing it for your own good. Master has been running away from it all this time while others are steadily advancing. What would your father think if he saw you like that? Now, you have a real motivation to do it."
Connor was as puzzled as ever. "Just what kind of deal you did with your Familiar? Just ignore it. Remember our motto. The world has no need for dead Maguses."
Linfel just smiled, saying nothing. It wasn't like he cared about it anyway. He got his independent status, so he can do as he pleases. Besides, he also thinks this is the best for Alvin if he truly wishes to leave rock bottom.
Seeing Alvin struggling to reach a decision, Felia remembered something. "Well, seems like Master truly doesn't wish for it. I'm sorry, Linfel. But you can ask Milia since she definitely takes part in all of the Field Exams. She's a Rank A student, after all. Try to help Master and explain to her why he isn't taking the exams. There is nothing wrong in trying to avoid danger."
Linfel sighed and nodded. "Fine, I'll tell her everything."
Alvin was terrified by that notion. Linfel had no filter whatsoever. He would put it bluntly for Milia to hear that he was simply a coward afraid of danger. If it was before, Alvin wouldn't care since he and Milia would never interact in their lives. Now, however, he is closer to her and has even entered the same Faction, so how could he let that happen? He might even be expelled from the Faction altogether!
"Ahem!" Alvin coughed a little. "I was obviously joking. Linfel and I got a nice Master Familiar Connection, so the Field Exams are perfect to try it out. Yes, definitely. I must do it for my father, who trusts in me back home."
Felia was obviously happy. "Well said, Master! This is all for your father!"
Linfel agreed. "All for your father!"
"All for my father!" Alvin added once more.
"YOUR ASSES!" Too bad Connor was still there. "You are just fucking terrified of what the goddess will think about you! Are you truly leaving me behind in the Rank F Classes, Alvin? I thought we were friends!"
Tratil, Connor's Familiar, whispered in his ear. 'But what if you help Alvin, the new hot member of the Floating Blades Faction, during the field exam? Milia is sure to be watching him since she was the one to recruit Alvin. If you show your qualities... perhaps she will notice your qualities?'
"On the other hand," Connor continued. "I'm sure your father also weighs heavily in your heart. Alright, as your best friend, I can't possibly let you take these risks alone. I'm going to the Field Exam with you."
Alvin's mouth twitched. How could he not tell what Connor's real objective was? "There is no need. You will only get in my way."
"Is that what you think about your best friend?!" Connor asked back in anger.
"Like hell you are considering our friendship! You only want to catch Milia's attention now that I'm part of the Floating Blades Faction!" Alvin struck back.
Connor didn't seem to care. "And you are saying you wouldn't do the same thing?"
"Of course, I would! Fuck your opinion! It's Milia we are talking about!" Alvin... has completely forgotten about his father already...
Linfel looked at Felia and Tratil before asking them in a low voice. 'These two... are they okay?'
Felia and Tratil nodded together. 'Don't worry. They are always like this. They will forget about it before we even reach the west side.'
Sure enough, by the time the Academy's Transport reached the west side, Alvin and Connor were already discussing other things as if the previous argument had never happened.
They walked for a few minutes and soon found the Founder's Statue Milia mentioned. Yet, there were still fifteen minutes before 6PM, so Milia wasn't there yet.
"Seems like she hasn't arrived yet," Connor commented.
Linfel looked at the statue. It was a young man with a mustache and wearing a long robe, quite different from the clothes people usually used in the city. "Who's this guy?"
"It's the founder of our Academy here in Sastasha City," Felia spoke. "He is also the actual Academy Principal, although he is much older now. This statue was from when he was much younger, over 300 years ago."
"300 years?" Linfel was surprised. "Do humans live that long?"
"Not normal humans," Tratil commented. "Normal humans live an average of 100 to 120 years. Maguses, however, can extend their lifespan much further. By the way, the oldest Magus in our country is the patriarch of the Frondor Family, senior Lutian. He is 537 years old by now."
"I see..." Linfel nodded. "Hum? Frondor? Does he have anything to do with Milia?"
"Yes," Alvin confirmed. "She is from the same family. Of course, she is probably like a great, great, great, a few more greats in there, great-granddaughter or something like that. No one knows for sure since their family is quite big. The Frondor Family has quite a few members in the academy, both in the student's midst or among the teachers and administrators."
It was then that a cold voice came from behind Alvin. "Lutian Frondor is my father."
Alvin turned around and saw the dark expression on the woman's face. "M-Milia!"