Chapter 119: Soul-Ascending Water

The Seris School of Magic, as an ancient magical academy established thousands of years ago, has a fully developed organizational structure and departmental setup.

The highest leader of the academy is Dean Xie Er, responsible for overall management and decision-making.

Below him are two vice-deans who assist the dean in handling daily affairs.

Then comes the core department overseeing the entire academy’s teaching and operations: the Committee.

Its duties include curriculum design, mentor evaluations, student management, budget allocation, and other teaching activities; next are the three teaching departments: the Magic Skills Department, the Spells Department, and the Fundamental Knowledge Department.

Finally, there is the academy’s logistics department, responsible for daily operations, maintenance and repair of buildings and infrastructure, and ensuring the academy’s security.

The two mages currently shouting at each other are both committee members.

“Mage Tiro, the allocation of ‘Soul-Ascending Water’ was settled six months ago—why are you suddenly demanding that my apprentice’s share be given to some unknown wild mage? What do you mean by this?”

The core of the argument is the allocation of ‘Soul-Ascending Water’.

‘Soul-Ascending Water’, as a crucial auxiliary potion for mage apprentices seeking ascension, has always been one of the most sensitive topics within the academy.

The committee member known as Mage Tiro was equally hot-tempered and did not back down, shouting back: “Mage Lar, don’t think shouting makes you right—I’m acting strictly according to academy regulations.”

“You call him a wild mage, but he arrived with a recommendation letter from Dean Gavin. According to our rules, we must admit anyone with such a letter under the highest possible treatment.”

“The highest treatment for him includes not only assigning him an elite mentor without conditions, but also granting him a vial of ‘Soul-Ascending Water’. If you object, go argue with Dean Gavin—why are you yelling at me? Do you think I’m easy to bully?”

“But—” Mage Lar’s words were cut off. Dean Xie Er had the authority to override former dean’s rules, and as a mere committee member, he dared not challenge that—he could only plead desperately:

“But that wild mage hasn’t even reached Third-Class Mage Apprentice. Giving him ‘Soul-Ascending Water’ would be useless. Trif has been stuck at Third-Class Mage Apprentice for three years—if he doesn’t get it this year, he’ll waste another year.”

Seeing Mage Lar’s voice grow quieter and his tone soften, Mage Tiro also calmed down and spoke slowly: “I’m not targeting your apprentice. I know Trif has been stuck at Third-Class for a long time, but his exam scores have consistently failed to meet the standard—that’s why he’s never received a vial of ‘Soul-Ascending Water’.”

“The royal family has already been generous in allocating ascension potions to our academy.”

“Every Third-Class Mage Apprentice who meets our evaluation criteria receives a vial of ‘Soul-Ascending Water’ without condition—and on top of that, we’re given five extra vials annually for internal allocation or emergency use.”

“It’s just Trif,” Mage Tiro shook his head, sighing. “Mage Lar, I know he’s your sister’s only son, but you know better than I do how weak his magical talent is—even among students who failed the evaluation, he’s the lowest.”

“I’m not against him—he simply isn’t trying hard enough.”

“If not for your years of service to the academy, he’d never have been eligible for this vial in the first place.”

“Now someone has arrived with Dean Gavin’s recommendation letter. By the rules, we must give up one vial of ‘Soul-Ascending Water’ for him.”

“The five extra vials for this year were already allocated at the start of the year—none remain. According to the previously established allocation sequence, if we must give one up, it can only be Trif’s.”

After Mage Tiro finished speaking, Mage Lar’s face flushed red and pale in turns, and he ultimately had nothing to say.

Because Mage Tiro’s words were entirely in line with the regulations—and he himself knew it.

He had raised this issue at the meeting today only in hopes that a loud argument might create an opening for change.

“I understand Mage Lar’s feelings,” said another committee member who had been watching silently for a long time. “Trif will be twenty-one next year—if he misses this year, he’ll miss the golden window for ascending to First-Rank Mage.”

“Mage Lar has served the academy faithfully for years and made many contributions.”

“Moreover, Mage Lar has devoted his entire life to magical cultivation—he has no wife, no children. Trif is his only relative. We shouldn’t make him feel this heartbroken.”

“What, Mage Red? Do you think you can override Dean Gavin’s recommendation letter?”

Mage Tiro glanced at the speaker and sneered: “Or are you prepared to selflessly give up your own family’s vial of ‘Soul-Ascending Water’?”

“Of course not. Although Dean Gavin is no longer here, as a former dean, how could I ever disrespect him?”

The middle-aged mage known as Mage Red ignored Mage Tiro’s barbed words and asked calmly:

“I just heard Mage Lar say this wild mage with the recommendation letter hasn’t reached a high mage rank?”

“Yes, our staff have tested him thoroughly. He’s young—only thirteen or fourteen—but he’s already a Second-Class Mage Apprentice. He doesn’t meet our admission standards, but for a wild mage, his talent is actually decent.”

“With our academy’s resources, he’ll definitely reach First-Rank Mage, and there’s even a slight chance he could reach Second-Rank Mage,” said Mage Lar, though he still disliked this “uninvited guest,” he gave a fair assessment.

Mage Red clapped his hands. “There you go.”

“Huh?” Mage Lar stared at Mage Red in confusion.

“This wild mage is only a Second-Class Mage Apprentice—he won’t be able to use ‘Soul-Ascending Water’ anytime soon. Why don’t you borrow his vial now and return it to him next year?” Mage Red said leisurely.

“That way, we don’t violate the former dean’s rules, and Mage Lar gets what he wants—perfect for both sides, wouldn’t you say?” He turned his gaze to Dean Xie Er, seeking his opinion.

“Borrowing is allowed, but no coercion. Otherwise, it wouldn’t just be disrespect to Dean Gavin—it would damage the reputation of the Seris School of Magic,” Dean Xie Er said flatly.

“I understand, I understand!” Mage Lar, emotionally shaken, immediately patted his chest and swore: “I’ll handle this properly—no one will have any grounds to criticize me!”

With Dean Xie Er’s nod, the matter was temporarily settled.

“This month, including the wild mage with the recommendation letter, we have six new students.”

“The wild mage with Dean Gavin’s recommendation letter and Jie Li Ka will be admitted under the highest treatment and must be assigned a Third-Rank elite mentor,” Dean Xie Er added.

(End of Chapter)