"This… is Starlight Academy?"
Looking at the expansive campus and the grand gate before him, Fleming couldn't help but exclaim in awe.
Around him, other boys and girls were equally astonished, their eyes wide as they took in their surroundings. Some were fixated on the towering structure in the distance.
Even from over a thousand meters away, the enormous outline was still visible—a testament to its truly colossal size. Its unusual shape only added to their curiosity.
The gathered youths were all recent qualifiers from the aptitude tests, with ages ranging from twelve to fifteen.
They had been brought together from all over the empire, first convening in Radiant City before being transported to a strange base. Passing through an unusual gate, they suddenly found themselves in this new environment, with the academy standing before them.
Many struggled to comprehend how a simple gate could lead them to an entirely different location, but the experience filled them with amazement and heightened anticipation for the legendary Starlight Academy.
As they marveled at their surroundings, a man and a woman emerged from the academy gates.
The pair looked to be about eighteen or nineteen years old, clad in gray robes. Their sharp eyes gleamed with an unusual light, making it difficult to meet their gaze.
The group of young candidates quickly quieted, their attention snapping to the two figures.
"These must be our guides," someone whispered.
"I am Shechin Blayd, and this is Duvinie Tredway," the man introduced, his tone calm and detached. "We will be showing you around the academy. Follow closely. Stay quiet. Do not ask unnecessary questions, and do not touch anything without permission. If you disobey, you will face the consequences."
Without waiting for a response, Shechin turned and strode toward the gates.
"Follow me!"
The group hesitated momentarily, then hurried to catch up.
"He seems like a tough one to deal with," Donovan muttered to Fleming in a low voice.
Fleming nodded. He had heard that some wizard apprentices were notoriously aloof, and Shechin seemed to fit the bill.
In contrast, Duvinie appeared more approachable, even flashing a smile at the group.
As they passed through the academy gates, the sight before them opened up magnificently.
Buildings of various unique designs dotted the expansive campus, drawing gasps of wonder from the young recruits. Wide streets teemed with other apprentices moving briskly, paying little heed to the newcomers.
A sharp cry pierced the air above.
Fleming glanced up to see a flock of large crows circling in the sky. To his astonishment, these birds were unusually massive, their bodies covered in scales. Their crimson eyes glowed ominously, like pools of blood.
"Those are Red-Eyed Crows," Duvinie explained, noticing the curious stares.
"They serve as the academy's watchful eyes. Any violations of academy rules within their sight will not go unnoticed, and punishments will follow swiftly. Don't underestimate them—they're incredibly intelligent."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, their awe for the crows mixed with caution.
Duvinie and Shechin led the students through various parts of the campus, introducing each area in turn.
"This is the library. Books on the first floor are free to read, but must remain within the library. Accessing materials on higher floors requires a fee."
"This is the lecture hall where your classes will take place. The bulletin board outside displays the schedule for the week. Basic courses are free, while advanced ones come at a cost."
"That's the task hall. Here, you can take on missions to earn contribution points. While some resources are freely available, most higher-tier materials require points for exchange."
Shechin delivered each explanation in a cold, matter-of-fact tone. Despite his demeanor, the newcomers listened intently, realizing the value of his guidance.
"Although all apprentices can accept tasks, there are very few suitable for first-years. I suggest focusing on your studies initially," Duvinie chimed in warmly.
"You can always exchange gold coins for basic resources. Save your energy for higher-tier tasks when you're better prepared."
Many students nodded in agreement, though a few from modest backgrounds frowned at the mention of gold coins.
They soon arrived at a spacious square, where a massive crystal orb stood prominently at its center. A queue of older apprentices had formed before it.
"That's the Attribute Crystal," Duvinie explained.
"It measures an apprentice's physical fitness, mental energy, and health, presenting the results as data. Once you start training, regular use of the crystal can help track your progress and refine your methods."
Excitement rippled through the group as one student asked eagerly, "Can we try it, Senior Sister?"
Duvinie glanced at Shechin, who gave no objection. Smiling, she nodded. "You can, but only for half an hour. Don't take too long."
The students scrambled eagerly to join the line.
When it was Fleming's turn, he placed his hand on the crystal as instructed. A faint tingling sensation spread through his palm, and glowing text appeared on the orb's surface:
[Physical Strength: 2.2 | Mental Energy: 0.7]
[Health Status: Good | Minor right arm strain, expected recovery in two days]
[Fire Element Affinity Detected | Suitable for fire-based magic]
Fleming stared at the results in astonishment.
The crystal had accurately identified a recent training injury—something he had expected to heal in two days.
"This thing is incredible!" he thought, his mind racing.
However, one particular line puzzled him: "Fire Element Affinity Detected."
Before he could dwell on it, he noticed Shechin and Duvinie looking at him with undisguised interest—and perhaps a hint of envy.
"What's your name?" Shechin asked, his usual stern tone softened.
"Fleming," he replied, still unsure of what was happening.
"You've got talent, Fleming," Shechin said, a rare smile breaking through his stoic expression.
Seeing Fleming's confusion, Shechin elaborated, "Elemental affinity indicates a natural resonance with a particular type of energy. This makes learning corresponding spells much easier and increases your efficiency in training. Such affinity is rare—less than one in a hundred apprentices possess it."
A wave of admiration and jealousy swept through the crowd as they realized Fleming's unique gift.
Half an hour later, the group resumed their tour and eventually arrived at their dormitory—a castle-like structure guarded by towering iron golems.
"This will be your home until you reach the rank of Level Two Apprentice," Shechin announced.
Curiosity flared among the students, and one couldn't resist asking, "Where do Level Two Apprentices live?"
"The Dragonspire Tower," Shechin replied, his eyes alight with longing. Even Duvinie's gaze softened with admiration.
Following their line of sight, the students realized that the distant tower they had glimpsed earlier must be the fabled Dragonspire.
The mention of the tower spurred whispers among the students, many vowing to one day reach its lofty heights.
But Shechin quickly doused their enthusiasm.
"Don't get ahead of yourselves. Many apprentices spend over a decade trying to advance to Level Two. Focus on mastering the Stellar Ring Meditation Technique first. And remember, if you can't achieve basic mastery within three months, you'll be expelled."
The stark warning sent a shiver through the group.
"Don't worry too much," Duvinie reassured them with a kind smile. "Most of you should be able to manage it within a month or two."
After receiving their keys and dropping off their belongings, the students followed their seniors to the dining hall, ready to embark on their new lives at Starlight Academy.
---
Meanwhile, observing the bustling new class from a nearby building, Rosaline, Scepter, and Voyager exchanged quiet remarks.
"Two hundred and forty-three students," Rosaline remarked, a note of surprise in her voice. "That's quite a sizable intake for this cohort."
"It's to be expected," Scepter replied with a grin. "This is the first aptitude test conducted by the Starlight Empire. Naturally, the numbers would be higher."
In the days of the former Starlight Principality, gaining more than ten new apprentices in a year was considered a good outcome.
Now, with two-thirds of the former Cangjin Empire's territory under its control, the first-ever aptitude tests conducted across these uncharted lands were bound to yield the highest number of successful candidates.
By the time next year's tests roll around, the number of recruits would likely see a significant drop.
"I never thought I'd live to see so many wizard apprentices gathered in one place," Voyager said, his expression tinged with awe. "To think these students could one day grow into Level Two or even Level Three wizard apprentices—it feels like we're witnessing the birth of a new era."
Rosaline and Scepter exchanged glances, their faces also showing a trace of wistfulness. They shared Voyager's sentiment.
In their time, wizard apprentices operated largely in the shadows.
Even among nobility, only a select few knew of their existence.
But now, while the common folk might still be in the dark, wizards were no longer a secret among the noble class.
The establishment of Starlight Academy and its inaugural enrollment had brought wizard apprentices into the spotlight.
It was only a matter of time before their presence became widely recognized across the continent.
A new era of wizardry was on the horizon.
And all of it could be attributed to Su Nan.
He had revolutionized the way wizard apprentices lived and practiced, drawing more people into this circle and expanding the influence of their craft.
"These students are much luckier than we were back in our day," Rosaline said with a sigh. "When I was still a Level One wizard apprentice, we didn't have access to half as many meditation-enhancing potions as they do now."
Voyager nodded in agreement. "Their training speed is miles ahead of ours. I heard that two of Lord Su Nan's apprentices reached Level Two in just five years. Back then, such a pace would've been unheard of."
"You mean Sheman and Korey?" Scepter chimed in, chuckling. "Those two are naturally gifted. Coupled with the academy's resources, I wouldn't be surprised if they reached Level Three before turning fifty."
Voyager's expression grew complicated. He had only managed to reach Level Three when he was nearing eighty.
"Guess I was born in the wrong era," he muttered.
But soon enough, he straightened his posture with renewed resolve.
With the academy's resources at his disposal, his training efficiency had multiplied several times over.
Though achieving full wizard status before his lifespan ran out would still be challenging, he now saw a glimmer of hope—a possibility that hadn't existed before.
For that alone, joining Starlight Academy had been the right choice.
"Well, we'd better get back to work," Rosaline said, stretching gracefully. The movement highlighted her elegant figure. "With the new students here, the basic course schedule has been significantly expanded. We're going to be busy."
Despite her words, Rosaline's expression showed no signs of fatigue or frustration—only eagerness.
After all, as academy instructors, a large portion of their contribution points came from teaching.
The more courses they taught, the more points they could earn to exchange for coveted resources.
Whether it was transcendent potions, magical cores, or even the fabled construction potions and talent crystal models, the contribution costs for these items were astronomical.
Especially the latter, which required long-term dedication to the academy before it could be acquired.
Yet, none of them minded.
Back in the old days, they wouldn't even hav
e had the opportunity to exchange their labor for such treasures.
With that, the three mentors returned to their respective preparations, ready to usher in a new generation of apprentice
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