Alvin and Felia then left sometime later. They also had to take missions since their training with Linfel was a lot more expensive than before. As for Linfel, he wasn't much different. He did get a source of Magic Energy, but that was a truly very poor Yellow Magic Energy. After cleaning it, he would be left with way less Magic Energy than if he used Low-Grade Magic Stones.
The trio made their way to the Mission Hall, ready to take on whatever tasks came their way. However, Linfel noticed a peculiar change. "Strange, some of the missions I saw yesterday are now offering fewer Academy Credits," he remarked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"It's the time," Felia explained. "Because it is late at night, it is considered worse, so the payments get a 10% bonus. You probably saw a few missions or tasks worth 33 Academy Credits. During the day, however, they are worth only 30. It's that simple."
"I see..." Linfel looked at Alvin, who selected a cleaning task. "Is this enough?"
Alvin, undeterred by the challenge, shrugged. "Clearly, it's not enough. But I'm accustomed to this type of task, so I reckon I can finish in four to five hours. I'm aiming to complete at least two per day, maybe even three. With Felia's assistance, I believe we can make it happen." His words were filled with a quiet determination.
"Even so, that would be only 60 Academy Credits," Linfel spoke. "That would give you only 60 Low-Grade Yellow Magic Stones. We use a lot more during the night."
"Nothing to be done there," Alvin sighed. "I'm already happy enough we can train in that manner, even if it is just a few days of the week."
Linfel thought about Lucau and the day he was saved, so he made the decision. "Alright, I'm going to join you in these simple tasks. The Academy Credits we make during the day will go toward your training."
Felia and Alvin looked at Linfel, surprised. "Why?"
"This is me repaying your father, and there was also your help and the fact you are keeping my secret," Linfel spoke the reason straight away. "However, the Academy Credits I make in the night will be mine alone. Don't forget, I don't need to sleep, so I can keep taking missions day and night nonstop."
Alvin obviously accepted. "Thank you, Linfel. I will try to make it up to you someday."
Just like that, the trio decided to spend the rest of the week working on missions. Linfel was an independent Familiar, so he could take missions of his own as well. They worked together, completing two to three missions during the day. As a result, they were making between 120 and 180 Academy Credits every time at least. Of course, Linfel was saving his own Academy Credits from the pillars at night, too.
Even though they were getting quite a sizeable amount of Academy Credits, each Low-Grade Yellow Magic Stone cost 01 Academy Credit. The training they did in Alvin's room used more than three hundred every time, so it obviously wasn't enough.
That said, they only did that training once every two days. On the days in between, they went to the Floating Blades Faction during the early night. All the equipment that Alvin usually had to pay Academy Credits to use was free there, so he made the most of it.
Even Linfel and Felia used that Soul Strengthening Equipment, which brings quite some good benefits for Familiars. Linfel was a Wisp, but he also had no problem with the equipment.
Just like that, the last day of the week arrived, and the Field Exam was about to start again.
"Alvin!" As Alvin, Felia, and Linfel waited in front of the Academy's Gate, Connor also appeared with Tratil, his Familiar. "How was it? I've seen you going crazy with missions these last few days."
Alvin seemed a little tired, but the excitement in his eyes was obvious. "The free equipment in the Floating Blades Faction is truly worth it. I can feel myself improving a lot faster." Of course, he wouldn't mention his work with Linfel. "Still, you two truly came for the Field Exam. I had my doubts."
"After what I heard that day in your Faction, I couldn't possibly stay still anymore, right?" Connor sighed in response. "I'm not exactly brave, but I'm not just stay put and die either. Well, that is if what they said was true."
"I don't think they were lying," Linfel commented. "If anything, that feels a lot more like what a world with beings like Maguses and Familiars would usually be. This peace you have feels like quite a miracle, in my opinion."
Connor looked around but noticed Alvin, Linfel, and Felia were alone. "What about the other Floating Blade Faction members?"
Alvin pointed away. "All the way there with their classes. You don't really think that just because I'm in their Faction, I would join the same group as them, right? I'm still a Rank F Student for all intentions and purposes. Those are the A and B classes."
"That makes sense," Trail and Connor nodded.
"All of you, gather up!" Suddenly, the academy instructor responsible for Alvin and Connor's class called everyone. Following that, tens of airships landed near the various classes, each one capable of carrying hundreds of students.
The Academy did have over a hundred thousand students, but the Field Exams were indeed dangerous. Some ignored it completely, while others only took the exams once in a while. Thanks to that, there wasn't the need for too much of this transportation. There were only around eight thousand students total this time.
Linfel and Alvin found a place to sit with Connor, Tratil, and Felia. Not long after, the airships took flight, disappearing in the distance. While it flew, the instructors inside began to explain this week's exam. "Alright, this week we are going to the Dark Canyons. The place is pretty much a maze and has quite a few Magical Beasts. Don't drop your guard."
Alvin and Connor didn't look well after hearing the place of the exam. "Is there something wrong in this Dark Canyons?" Linfel asked.
Felia and Tratil sighed. "Don't worry. Regardless of the place of the exam, these two would probably look like that. They haven't taken a single Field Exam yet, after all."
The instructor's voice boomed from the front. "The objective of this exam is to collect the Flags scattered along the path. But don't worry, you won't need to carry them. Once you're within ten meters of a Flag, your Magical Energy Signature will be detected, and the Flag will be added to your Field Exam results."
"Be aware that Flags in the same region are all connected to each other. That means it is useless to keep walking near the start of the exam location and collecting the Flags in that place. The points for that kind of easy Flag will only be computed once."
"You will know if you already have that kind of Flag through its color. If the color is the same as some of the Flags you got previously, then there is no need to try to approach it. You won't get anything from that."
"To accumulate more points, you will need to go further into the Dark Cayons' Maze. Usually, it takes around ten hours to reach the deepest parts."
Felia whispered to Linfel. 'Ten hours is in the case of the A and B classes. For Rank F Maguses and Familiars like us, it would already be a miracle if we could make it halfway to the end at all.'
Linfel nodded, expecting something like that.
The instructor didn't stop. "Each flag is worth 50 points. However, the last flag at the deepest party will give you 100 points. Not only do these points get added to your exam result, but they will also be converted into Academy Credits once the exam is over. In total, it should be possible for you to get a thousand Academy Credits if you collect all Flags."
'A THOUSAND!' Linfel's eyes lit up. That's the same as ten days straight of work in the Star Magic Energy Receptors. Linfel then looked at Alvin, excited. "To the very end, we go!"
Alvin and Connor felt a chill on their backs. "Out of question! Do you know what kind of Magic Beasts you can find in the deeper parts of the Dark Cayons? Near Level Two! Near Level Two Magic Beast! If you are truly unlucky, you might really find a Level Two Magic Beast in there! We will die for sure if we get close. Let's cover 20 or 30% of the way. It should be safe enough."
Felia couldn't help but show a disappointed expression. "I wonder what Milia will say when she hears that a member of her Floating Blades Faction didn't have the courage to leave the initial area. Would Alvin still be part of the Floating Blades Faction by tomorrow? No, that matters little. All I can imagine is the disgust on her face every time she looks at you two from now on..."
Alvin and Connor were taken aback. "T-This is blackmail!"
Felia nodded without care. "You can be certain it is!"
Alvin and Connor struggled for a while and gritted their teeth in the end. "Fine! However, we will not commit suicide either. If it truly gets too dangerous, we will turn back!"
Felia was satisifed. "That's good enough, Master."
Tratil agreed. "Indeed, Master. The important thing is for you two to get experience in this kind of perilous situation. Don't forget what we heard back in the Floating Blades Faction."
Linfel looked at all of that and couldn't help but mention it. "It is impressive what the prospects of procreating with good genes can do. As evolved as humans got, their search for the opposite gender is still very much a deciding factor."
"P-Procreation..." Alvin and Connor had their minds wander for a second as the image of the goddess of the Floating Blades Faction appeared in their minds. With two young men still at the age of fifteen, such a dream situation was enough to make them risk their lives.
The instructor obviously didn't pay attention to Linfel's group and continued his explanation. "Students will be dropped on different outer regions according to their ages. Everyone here is between twelve and fifteen, so you will dropped in the southwest region. You will find the higher-ranked students of the same age being left there as well. Whether you want to join forces or go alone is up to you."
The instructor then warned the students. "However, the entire exam field is being closely monitored. Anyone trying to follow stronger students while doing nothing to help will have their points removed. We didn't come here to breed cowards."
There goes Alvin and Connor's idea of simply tagging some strong A and B Classes...
As for Linfel, he already decided that he would take a different path from everyone else. Of course, he would drag Alvin and Felia with him. Exploring with big groups could be considered safer, but it was also slower. Besides, he wanted to try out his combat power in this world of Magic Energy.
"Last but not least," the instructor added. "there are 100% bonuses for the first ten students to add a Flag to their names. So, 100 points for each Flag and 200 for the last one if you are within the first ten. Of course, I know what some of you are thinking. It would be too unfair since we even have students in their last year of the Academy already at the age of 25. However, Life is not fair, let alone the Magus World. Deal with it."
In fact, the exam was still slightly fairer than everyone thought. That's because older students would be dropped at much harder-to-progress regions while younger ones like Alvin and Connor would start from easier ones. It's just that the instructor and the other workers and teachers of the Academy wouldn't tell anyone about it.
"Alright, we should be arriving in the next thirty minutes. Organize everything you find necessary, and be prepared to jump!"