Chapter 18: Learning Career (Part 2)
Nearly a month had passed since reaching the level of a second-rank magician.
Inside the Wind Element first-grade classroom.
Linley only occasionally attended Earth Element classes once a month, but he never missed a single Wind Element class. Today, as usual, Linley sat in his usual spot.
“Linley, you’re here.” As soon as Linley sat down, a very cute young girl took the seat beside him.
Linley glanced at the girl and said with a smile, “Dylia, you’re quite early. There’s still a good while before class starts.” Sitting next to a pretty girl was indeed a rather enjoyable experience, and Linley had no reason to refuse.
This Dylia was no ordinary person.
Her older brother—Dixie—was the top genius of the entire Ernst Institute, hailed as a once-in-a-century magical prodigy. He was also a dual-element magician, with an elemental affinity rated as super-grade. His mental strength was an astonishing 68 times that of an ordinary person of the same age. This Dylia, being Dixie’s sister, wasn’t far behind.
“I knew you’d come early.” Dylia’s eyes narrowed into crescents as she smiled.
Time flew by as they chatted, and before they knew it, class had begun. Teacher Trey was passionately lecturing at the podium, while Linley listened attentively below. Dylia, on the other hand, kept stealing glances at Linley every now and then.
“Alright, that concludes today’s lesson. But before we dismiss, I have something to tell you all.” Teacher Trey said with a smile.
The students below immediately began murmuring among themselves.
“Senior students should already know that Ernst Institute has a tradition. Every year, during the last month or two, we hold the ‘Grade Tournament.’ The annual Grade Tournament is the liveliest event in our entire institute. Winning in the Grade Tournament will also make it easier to be rated as an outstanding student upon graduation. By the time you graduate, the four great empires will likely extend warm invitations to you.” Teacher Trey laughed.
The students below immediately grew excited.
At Ernst Institute, geniuses gathered in droves. And geniuses all shared a common flaw—they were hard to convince of others’ superiority!
Thus, the annual Grade Tournament became the perfect opportunity for geniuses to make a name for themselves. Over ninety percent of the students paid close attention to it, and anyone with some strength would participate.
“Our Wind Element class naturally needs to compete. Anyone willing to sign up, come and tell me.” Teacher Trey said with a smile, but his gaze flickered toward Linley.
“Teacher, I’m willing!” Many students below immediately began signing up excitedly.
“Good.” Trey immediately took out paper and a quill to start recording. But after noting down over a dozen students, he noticed Linley and Dylia chatting away, showing no intention of coming up to sign up.
Trey walked over.
Linley looked up and immediately greeted respectfully, “Teacher Trey.” Dylia beside him also bowed politely.
Teacher Trey nodded with a smile and said, “Linley, this Grade Tournament is an excellent opportunity for training. I believe almost all the elites in the first grade will participate. Why aren’t you signing up? Such chances are rare.”
“I’m not interested.” Linley said directly.
Teacher Trey was taken aback.
“Linley, you don’t know this, but winning the Grade Tournament comes with some rewards.” Teacher Trey tempted him further.
“Rewards?” Linley was in dire need of money.
His family’s financial situation wasn’t great. If he could earn some money himself, participating in this Grade Tournament wouldn’t be a big problem.
“Right. You should know that ordinary students live in standard dormitories—the kind with single courtyards. But the top three in each Grade Tournament get the right to live in two-story apartment buildings for a whole year. That’s a status symbol, and the apartments are much more comfortable.” Teacher Trey continued.
Linley understood in his heart.
Throughout the dormitory area, there weren’t many two-story apartment buildings. Most were occupied by powerful magicians like seventh-rank or eighth-rank ones. Now he understood—each of the six grades’ top three had the right to live there for a year.
Living conditions?
Linley couldn’t care less about that.
“I won’t participate.” Linley said firmly.
Teacher Trey grew a bit anxious. In truth, Trey himself was a sixth-grade student. If he could get his own student into the top three, he’d not only receive rewards but also gain face. Young people all cared about their reputation.
Teacher Trey leaned closer to Linley and whispered, “Linley, are you worried about revealing your strength? I already know you’ve reached the second-rank magician level.”
Hearing this, Linley looked up at Teacher Trey in surprise.
How did Teacher Trey know his strength? After all, it was hard to judge someone’s power just by appearance.
Seeing Linley’s expression, Teacher Trey thought he’d hit the mark and said with a smile, “Linley, don’t hide your strength. Even if you don’t participate in the competition to keep it secret, be careful—I might spill your secret.”
“Whatever. I’m still not participating.”
Linley stood up indifferently, bowed respectfully, and said, “Goodbye, Teacher.”
Then, ignoring Teacher Trey’s stunned expression, he walked away gracefully.
“Hey, this kid.” Teacher Trey came to his senses and couldn’t help but laugh. Beside him, Dylia was covering her mouth, snickering.
******
The Wind Element class ended at around six in the evening, and it was almost dark. Linley ran toward his dormitory. The four brothers of Dormitory 1987 had a very close bond and usually went to dinner together.
“Linley, you’re back.” A curly-haired youth from Dormitory 1986 greeted Linley warmly.
“Harry, have you had dinner yet?” Linley replied with a smile.
Linley had a fairly good relationship with the students in the surrounding courtyards. Harry nodded with a smile and said, “Of course I have. Your three brothers in your courtyard are all waiting for you.”
“Linley’s back. Let’s go, everyone, time for dinner.” Yale’s voice rang out.
Clearly, Yale had heard Linley’s voice from the courtyard. Yale, Reynolds, and George all walked over, greeted Linley, and the four brothers headed to the dining hall. Ernst Institute also had luxurious restaurants inside, but Yale, persuaded by Linley and George, no longer frequented those big places.
The small dining hall had affordable dishes, and the food was satisfying.
They ordered some dishes and started chatting again.
Linley learned most of the institute’s internal activities from his three brothers. Otherwise, always training in the back mountain, he’d be completely in the dark about what was happening on campus.
“Hey, there’s just over a month left until the first year ends. Every year, during the last month or two, the whole institute holds the Grade Arena Tournament. The top three in each grade get to live in the two-story apartment buildings for a year.” Yale began.
“Grade Arena Tournament?” Linley smiled. He’d just heard about it in the classroom.
“Haha, I’m definitely joining.” Reynolds said confidently.
Yale curled his lip and said, “You became a first-rank magician during the journey from the O’Brien Empire to Ernst Institute. By now, you’re probably not far from second-rank. This is so unfair.”
Reynolds had spent a whole year traveling from home to the institute.
During that year on the carriage, Reynolds had studied magic under his steward’s guidance and had already become a first-rank magician by the time he arrived.
George looked at Linley with a smile and said, “Hey, don’t forget Linley. He was already a first-rank magician when he enrolled. And with his intense training and dual-element magic, I think he’s the strongest in our dormitory.”
Linley grinned. “George, stop flattering me.”
“Linley, have you reached second-rank magician yet? Tell me honestly?” George stared at Linley.
“How could it be that fast? From beginner to first-rank magician, with our talent, it might take a year. But from first-rank to second-rank, at least two years.” Reynolds wrinkled his nose and said.
“That’s not necessarily true. I think Linley’s pretty mysterious.” Yale also looked at Linley. “Linley, have you reached second-rank magician?”
Linley nodded casually.
What was so strange about reaching second-rank magician? He’d already been a first-rank magician before the magic test, and after another year of training, if he still hadn’t reached second-rank, all his hard work would have been for nothing.
“You really have?” Yale, Reynolds, and George all widened their eyes. They hadn’t expected it to be true.
“Join the Grade Tournament, Linley. You have to participate. Go crush them and bring honor to Dormitory 1987.” Yale immediately said.
Just then, the waiter brought the dishes over.
“Eat, eat. I’m not interested in the Grade Tournament.” Linley couldn’t be bothered to spar with those weaklings. That kind of arena competition was nothing but showing off!
Yale, Reynolds, and George exchanged glances.
They knew Linley trained very hard. Among the first graders, there were geniuses with super-grade elemental affinity and mental strength, but none of them matched Linley’s diligence. Plus, Linley was dual-element… So deep down, they believed Linley was probably the strongest in the first grade.
“It’s a real shame you’re not joining. This Grade Tournament will just let someone else steal the spotlight.” Yale pouted. “If only I had your strength, Linley, I’d go show off and charm a few beauties.”
Linley smiled. “Alright, let’s eat. Stop daydreaming.”
Linley couldn’t care less about the Grade Tournament. But most people in the institute were very enthusiastic about it—not just the students, but even some of Ernst Institute’s magicians paid close attention to this event.