"Isn't it way too unfair? I thought the academy still tried to be somewhat reasonable," Linfel couldn't help but comment.
"That's not the issue. The issue is the missions themselves," Alvin explained. "You see, if you ignore these simple tasks that the academy throws out, the high-paying missions are usually issued not by the academy but by other organizations that need a Magus Level of help."
Connor continued. "He is right. These organizations don't care about the academy's rank. What they care about is that the missions they issue are completed as fast and perfect as possible. Otherwise, they will go after other Magus Organizations outside the academy."
"First of all, the only reason they even bothered to give the Academy these missions was because it truly charges a lot less than a normal Magus who has already graduated would. But, if these missions aren't completed in the end, what's the point if the academy charges less?" Felia asked Linfel.
Linfel could only mentally sigh. It all made sense now. It is not that the academy doesn't want to give these missions to lower-ranked students. Instead, it is all about keeping a good name in the Magus Market. If they open these missions to the 'less capable' Maguses of the academy, there are higher chances of these missions failing. The academy can't afford to lose the support of outside organizations, so the priority goes to higher-ranked classes.
"How does the priority system work?" Linfel asked.
"Time," Alvin quickly answered. "The missions get unlocked to lower-ranked students as time goes by. In the first hour, only Rank A Classes can take the missions. In the second hour, the mission becomes available for Rank B Classes. Three hours for Rank C, four hours for Rank D, and so on and so forth."
Linfe nodded. "So Rank F, like us, can only take a mission after six hours, uh?"
Connor and Alvin confirmed. "That's pretty much it. We can only hope no one takes these good missions until enough time goes by, which hardly happens. Even when it happens, there will be plenty of maguses ready to snatch it away, so you truly need some good luck to be here at the right time."
Linfel then turned off the terminal and returned to Alvin's side. "I understand how it works. Should we go meet Milia now?"
"Yes, it is about time," Alvin and everyone else agreed.
The west side of the academy was quite far due to the academy's huge size. Over a hundred thousand students were no joke, and you still had to count in dormitories and things like that. Fortunately, there were many academy vehicles that transported the students everywhere, running 24/7. Everything was controlled by AI.
On their way to the west side, Linfel took the chance to ask. "So, with Rank being so important, how do we increase our rank exactly? It doesn't seem like it is related to your level as a Magus or Familiar."
"That's obvious," Alvin said before speaking about the process. "We talked about it before, remember? It is all about talent and prospects. Nonetheless, you will hardly find a Level One magus in Classes A and B, for example, except for those who just joined the academy at twelve. If they are in Classes A and B and aren't Level Two yet, that's just because they didn't have enough time for it. Like Milia, for example, they would all be Level Two by the age of 15. But look at us, our hopes are to reach level two in the next ten years only. In that, you can already see the difference."
"Is there no way to increase our Rank as students faster?" Linfel had to ask.
"Yes," Alvin took out his MCOM and opened a page for Linfel to see. It was a page regarding the end-of-the-week Field Exams. "I told you we have Field Exams on the last day of the week, right? That's also where you can increase your rank. The missions during that day vary, but it is also field related. That means you will be tested as a Magus and Familiar."
Tratil, Connor's Familiar, continued from there. "One thing is certain, though. There will be battles. It might be against other students. It might be against Magic Beasts, it might be against Magic Puppets. Usually, for safety's sake, Magic Puppets and Student battles are the most used since there is a certain degree of control. However, a real Magus can't grow within a greenhouse. So you will definitely have Field Exams against Magic Beasts or similarly dangerous operations at some point."
Felia shrugged her shoulders. "Well, as mentioned before, these exams aren't obligatory. You can totally skip the field exams that you feel are too dangerous, and no one will say anything. But then again, these ones are usually the best when you want to increase your rank."
"Have you guys tried any of them already?" Linfel asked. After all, everyone here was still a Rank F Student.
Alvin looked through the window, checking the view. "One must know their limits."
Connor nodded as he thought this was quite a nice day. "There is hope as long as you are alive."
Linfel's mouth twitched. Obviously, these two skipped all Field Classes they deemed even a little bit dangerous. perhaps they haven't take a single one at all. No wonder they are still Rank F Students. "Alright. Alvin, we are taking all Field Exams from now on. No exceptions."
Linfel was a Wisp, and his old friend, Horan, made sure to pierce into his mind that fact. He trained Linfel many times, and Linfel went through quite a lot of dangerous moments because of that. Linfel was still weak after all of that, but he at least understood how to do everything to keep himself alive.
"What?!" Alvin was taken aback. "No way! Slow and steady, slow and steady. There is nothing wrong with it, you know?"
"You ass!" Linfel complained. "Wasn't you who told your father you wouldn't lose when it came to determination? Where is it now? Stop complaining, and let's do it."
"I'm not doing it!" Alvin immediately refused. There were real risks of death during these field exams.
Linfel then whispered in his ear. 'Otherwise, forget about your Red Magic Energy.'
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!"