Qanda quickly began explaining. "There are two things that determine the resources allocated to our Factions. First are the Field Exams. The overall score achieved during it can be added to the Faction itself at the end of each month."
Linfel found it strange. "Then we are pretty much fucked, no? With Alvin, we only have five members, after all. Other Factions have several tens, if not hundreds. How can we even compete with it?"
Qanda agreed with him. "Indeed. If the Field Exams were the only possible method, it would be a lost battle. However, that is the one that is worth the least towards the Faction's overall ranking. The part that really determines most of the score for the Rank is the Faction Wars. Well, the official name is Faction Competition, but no one really uses that name."
"Faction Wars?" Alvin and Connor had heard about it, although they never participated or paid attention to it. "How does it work?"
"There are five types of events during the Faction Wars, and the wars happen once every six months only," Wanca continued. "They are the Magic Diagram Runes Exam, Magus Combat Exam, Master Familiar Combat Exam, Familiar Combat Exam, and last but not least, the Team Combat Exam."
"So many combats..." Alvin couldn't help but feel a chill on his back. Even though he made up his mind, it wasn't like he became an incredibly brave Magus out of nowhere.
Both Maguses and Familiars of the Floating Blades Faction smiled at the same time, and that even included the shy Rin. Right after, Milia commented. "Magus have a great status in any country. They can be famous, can build their own companies and have great chances of success, can remain anonymous, pursue their own dreams, it doesn't matter."
Her malicious smile increased as she looked straight at Alvin and Connor. "However, you must never forget. Maguses and Familiars are ultimately the country's strength! The planet's strength! They are raised ultimately for combat! To protect their home if it is attacked. To conquer others if it is needed. Maguses and Familiars exist for that sole purpose! Now that you have become a Magus, even if you are only a Level One Magus, you will not be able to escape this reality."
Alvin swallowed hard. "G-Good thing we are in a quite peaceful time..."
"Hahaha!" Pamil laughed even more. "It is so good to be naive. As the saying goes, ignorance is bliss." He then added. "There is no such thing as peaceful times."
Alvin, Connor, Felia, and Tratil looked all genuinely shocked by the revelation. From the looks of it, things weren't as simple, and they had no idea.
However, Qanda noticed that Linfel didn't share the same shock as his companions. 'Does he know about it?' He thought to himself.
To be more specific, it wasn't that Linfel knew anything. Instead, it was just that he never believed a country with something like Maguses and Familiars could truly be considered peaceful. He came from a time where wars occurred every second, where strength reigned supreme. Horan made absolutely sure Linfel understood this principle. From the very start, Linfel expected the background of things to be a lot more chaotic than what could be seen on the surface. Pamil's words just confirmed the obvious to him.
Milia took the opportunity to mention a few examples. "Have you followed the news? If you have, you should have heard about the conflict that broke out in Rasfol Country against Wenfis Country around a year ago."
Alvin and Connor nodded with their Familiars. Linfel was the only one who didn't now anything, although he could guess what Milia was about to say.
"Those two countries were just like ours, they were living in 'peaceful times.' However, go to the magical network and search for it. Search for any clues that could lead these two countries to such a conflict," Milia asked. "I'll tell you what you will find... Nothing!"
"If you are still skeptical, you can search for Kramandel and Sosmari Countries. Same thing, no clues of a possible war, but now those two countries are at their throats," Milia gave another example.
"You mean..." Alvin seemed to finally understand.
And Qanda confirmed. "Yes, all the conflicts between Maguses of each country always happen behind the curtains. You will hear absolutely nothing about it until it finally explodes. Every country has its own keg powder waiting to be ignited, and ours or our neighbors are no different. You just have never heard about it because it is never made public."
"However, the reasons are usually extremely simple," Pamil didn't stop either. "Maguses and Familiars need resources to continue improving. Resources are acquired through the many sources of a territory. In the end, more territory, more resources, more High-Level Maguses and Familiars."
Linfel faintly smiled. "When there are not enough resources for the Maguses and Familiars anymore..."
"Exactly," Qanda confirmed. "You will have to look for it elsewhere, and this elsewhere always has an owner... or a country, if you may. Will that country just sit still and wait for it to be taken away? Absolutely not, and we are no different."
Qanda then looked at Pamil as if asking for permission. Pamil noticed that and pondered a bit before ultimately nodding. Finally, Qanda spoke. "To be honest, our Heffal Country is reaching saturation, and because the other countries around haven't had any wars in a while, they aren't much different. Do not go around spreading this news, but it won't take long before a powder keg finally explodes, and this explosion will immediately ignite the other kegs around."
"What?!" Alvin and Connor were shaken. "It can't be, right?"
"It totally can," Pamil confirmed. "Because of my background, I know that small skirmishes between Maguses have increased severely in the past few years, and it is only growing. Once again, you won't hear about it anywhere, nor should you spread this news if you don't want to be silenced. However, you guys better put your all into your Magus training. It might not be long before you are put at the forefront of a real combat field."
*Pah!*
*Ouch!*
Suddenly, a hand came flying, hitting Pamil's back head. pamil turned around, feeling wronged, just to see Natalie there with a dark expression. His face froze for a second, and he looked away.
Well, Natalie didn't let go, though. "Why the hell are you scaring the newbie? Does it feel good or anything?"
Alvin, Connor, and their Familiars were taken aback. "Wait! Were they lying?!"
Natalie shook her head. "No, they were telling the truth." She looked at Milia right after. "Why didn't you stop him? Even worse, you joined the group and said everything."
Milia didn't seem to care. "They should know the truth. Simple as that. As part of the Floating Blades Faction, they will be soon or later exposed to it."
"It might be true," Natalie spoke. "However, that would only happen once they became Level Two Maguses and Familiars. The reason Rin even knows about it is because of her and Pamil's Rowester Entreprise background. She was raised in the midst of such intrigues, so she isn't affected by it. Alvin is different. You didn't need to throw it all on his face at once."
Linfel looked at Alvin. "They don't even know you yet, and they already think you are a weakling. Just how did you manage to get such a reputation?"
Alvin's concerned expression immediately changed into anger. Obviously, Linfel was talking about Alvin's unwillingness to take part in any of the Field Exams. "Shut up! I will get over it!" He then pulled Connor to his side. "My brother is also with me, so I can definitely get better."
"Cough, cough..." Connor quickly distanced himself. Connor said he would join the Field Exams with Alvin, but this conversation made him change his mind. "I just got a message that my dog caught fire. I need to go."
"Your ass!" Alvin kicked the guy's but before he could take a single step. "You don't even have a fucking dog, so just quit the bullshit and bear the pain with me."
Tratil quickly joined the conversation. "He is right, Master. This is not the time to run away. If something really happens, you will need to be as strong as possible! If you are as weak as now by then... wouldn't you be selected straight away as a cannon fodder?"
Connor instantly straightened himself. "I just got another message. Seems like my roommate put out my dog's fire. Let's continue." Cannon fodder? That was even worse!
Alvin was speechless. How much more shameless can Connor be? Everyone had their own rooms in the dormitories. They are all Maguses, after all. There was no such thing as roommates. Yes, the academy was that big.
Natalie looked at Connor before speaking to Alvin. "Alvin, it is one thing that you now know about it, but another one for your friend here. You better make sure he keeps quiet. You don't need to worry about us going after him. If he opens his mouth, the academy and the government itself will make sure he will not see the sun rising tomorrow."
Connor was terrified of the notion. "I... will absolutely say nothing..."
Natalie nodded. "If you care for your life, then I'm sure you won't. In any case, you would also know about it once you become a Level Two Magus, although a lot later than Alvin here in the Floating Blades Faction."
"Alright, alright, let's end it here," Qanda intervened. "This conversation is getting too gloomy. What we were talking about was the Faction Wars, so let's continue that."
Linfel was happy to hear that. "Right! When is the next one? Also, what are the rules?"
"The rules are determined a day prior to the wars," Qanda explained. "As for the date, as I mentioned, it is every six months. It has been only two months since the second semester started, so it will only happen at the end of the year. Four months. We can try to do better in field exams, but with how little they contribute to the Faction Rankings, it won't matter much for us at the moment. Just do your best."
Linfel could only leave it at that. "Well, we will see when the time comes then."
The two groups then talked for a while as Qanda finished explaining some other rules in the Faction itself. In the end, the day gave way to the night, and it was time for Alvin and Linfel to go back to the dormitory with the others.
On their way out, Qanda also mentioned. "The Faction equipment is open for its members to use all day long, even if you want to use it during the late night or early morning hours before the sun even comes up. There will always be an attendant at the entrance to attend to your requests as long as they are within his duties."
"Hum?" It was then that Linfel noticed something. "By the way, Milia, Pamil, Rin, and Alvin are only four members of the Floating Blades Faction. What about the fifth one?"
Pamil smiled. "You will meet him soon. Until then, it is a surprise."
Alvin and Linfel looked at each other, not understanding the reason for the secrecy. Nonetheless, it wasn't like they absolutely needed to know the guy. "If you say so..."
Alvin and Connor bid their farewells after a while before Alvin returned to his room with Linfe and Felia.
"Sigh..." Alvin crumbled on his bed. "Could it truly be the case? Were we in such danger all this time?"
"Seems like it," Felia confirmed. "So, master, you must get strong to protect yourself and your father."
Alvin could only nod in the end. "I will try." He then sat on the bed and looked at Linfel. "Alright, the best way to do it is through our deal. Linfel, ready to clean some Low-Grade Magic Stones?"
Linfel nodded. "Sure. Will you take it all, or will you share it with Felia?"
"Share it!" Alvin didn't need to think twice. "We aren't really Master and Familiar. If one day you decide to leave, it will be only Felia and I again. It's not that I don't trust you, but I still prefer her."
Felia was happy to hear that, and so was Linfel. "You are right. I will stay in the academy for now but might leave at some point. Very well, give me the Low-Grade Yellow Magic Stones you have. Time to pay my debt."