Chapter 1575: Empathy

Dien's answer made Xia Duo realize that there were likely quite a few people within the Progress Society who supported building a branch in the Territory, but most people were not as radical as Jibusen; instead, they would consider the practical reasons more rationally and would not easily express their stance when it was not yet determined which territory it would be.

However, to a certain extent, this also highlighted the mainstream view of lordly authority in Netheril; even in a group as advanced as the Progress Society, it was still unavoidable to be influenced by old ideas.

And it was not just the concept of lordly authority; there were likely countless old ideas constantly encroaching upon the members of the Progress Society!

Fortunately, most members of the Progress Society were recruited from the apprentices of the Tower of Time; apart from a small number of old apprentices from before, the vast majority were new apprentices under the new system after the Tower of Time's transformation.

Moreover, these apprentices were not old, having just reached adulthood (16 years old), and were highly malleable, which was why Xia Duo could guide them so easily.

If they were adults from the outside world, it would likely not be so easy to change them.

Thinking of this, Xia Duo could not help but sigh; the common saying that hope lies in the next generation was indeed true!

"Dien, what do you think about the moral education classes for the apprentices?"

"Moral education classes? They're great! The apprentices all like them very much; they are very happy to have a rare chance to relax!"

"I am not asking how the apprentices see it, I am asking how *you* see it!" Xia Duo emphasized the word "you."

Upon hearing this, Dien was slightly stunned for a few seconds. He knew that Xia Duo would not just be chatting about this topic simply, but the attitudes within the Progress Society regarding the Tower of Time adding moral education classes were actually not the same, and he was not sure which part Xia Duo wanted to hear.

After hesitating for a moment, Dien finally decided to talk about it all, "I also think moral education classes are very necessary. In the past, the distance between spellcasters and ordinary people was truly too great; it was almost like two different worlds.

"Even among relatives, I have often heard of people who stopped going home after becoming an Official Mage. Although I cannot think of a specific explanation, I intuitively feel that this phenomenon is wrong.

"How can there be any logic in accepting the sacrifices of one's family yet providing no feedback at all!

"Now, the Tower of Time's moral education classes let the apprentices work together with their families, which can at least let them experience the hardships of their families, so they won't end up abandoning their families."

"Then won't they hate ordinary people even more because they don't want to do physical labor?" Xia Duo asked.

"Of course not!"

Dien gave Xia Duo a strange look, "Xia Duo, don't you know how much academic pressure the apprentices at the Tower of Time are under now? A small exam every ten days, a big exam every month, and there is a ranking for every single exam. Almost everyone's nerves are pulled tight, fearing being overtaken by others."

*Cough—*

Xia Duo had originally hoped that Dien would mention the guiding role of the moral education teachers, but he did not expect Dien to suddenly shift to the issue of the apprentices' weekly and monthly exams.

In fact, for the apprentices of the Tower of Time in the Main Plane, exams were not just pressure, but also a continuous source of motivation.

Using exams to check one's learning status over a recent period was a treatment that Mage Apprentices in the past had never had.

Although Xia Duo had also heard many complaints about the exams, they were at most grumbling about the high pressure or that some classmate was too hardworking; he had never heard of anyone wanting to give up on exams or give up on learning!

Almost everyone knew they had to tightly grasp this opportunity—which might disappear and never appear again—that could change their own and their families' future destinies!

Compared to the current learning enthusiasm of the Tower of Time's apprentices, Xia Duo dared to say that students in any school in his hometown on Earth could not compare.

Of course, with the continuous popularization of Magic Education, more and more people would have the opportunity to receive an education, and in the future, all kinds of people might appear; people who did not cherish the opportunity to learn, like those on Earth, would also almost inevitably appear.

Even now, Xia Duo did not dare to guarantee that these seemingly very diligent and very focused apprentices did not have a hint of a desire to retreat in their hearts.

Once they confirmed that they could never catch up to others, "giving up" was almost an inevitable choice, or one could say "leveling their mindset."

Thinking of this, Xia Duo reminded Dien: "At the current stage, exams are unavoidable, and in the foreseeable future, exams cannot completely disappear either.

"For the apprentices at the bottom of the rankings, have more patience and pay more attention. Even if it is difficult for them to achieve any major results in the field of Magic in the future, they can still become enlightenment teachers and cultivate a large number of talents for the new era.

"Closely monitor the apprentices' psychology and do not let them have thoughts of self-abandonment, especially the moral education teachers; they must pay extra attention to guidance."

"I understand, I will personally keep an eye on this area."

Regarding Xia Duo's worries, Dien actually felt it deeply; if he hadn't met Xia Duo in the past, he might have given up on himself.

And now, although his development in the field of Magic had gradually fallen behind most of his peers, and the gap would only grow larger, he had already found a new direction in life and did not feel that life was without hope; on the contrary, there was hope everywhere.

Xia Duo was quite at ease with Dien. Although his ideological awareness in pursuing progress might not yet keep up, there was one point Xia Duo greatly appreciated: Dien's empathy for ordinary people was likely at the forefront of the entire Progress Society.

Compared to most apprentices from families of Merchants, craftsmen, landlords, and wealthy farmers, Dien, who came from a poor family, had a deeper identification with ordinary people.

Of course, this was also thanks to Xia Duo; otherwise, who knows how much he might have wanted to cut ties with his past, regardless of how much he identified with it before.

"By the way, let me give you a heads-up: before long, I will issue an invitation to the members of the Progress Society in the name of Daxia Territory to come to the Territory to serve as Magic Affairs Officers."

"Magic Affairs Officers?"

Hearing this strange yet somewhat familiar name, Dien did not react for a moment. After he reacted, he was immediately surprised: "You are still going to build a branch in the Territory?"

"Not a branch." Xia Duo shook his head, "The proposal for a branch didn't pass at the general meeting, did it? This is initiated entirely by the Territory and has nothing to do with the Progress Society."

"This is a good method. I think Jibusen and the others will be overjoyed when they hear this news."

"Do not approve Jibusen and the others' applications for the time being. I know they have sufficient enthusiasm for progress and are firm supporters of our cause, but many things are not enough with just enthusiasm; they also need the Wisdom to handle affairs. Let's observe them for a while longer!"

Dien could tell that Xia Duo was not dissatisfied with Jibusen, but rather had higher expectations for them. A hint of inexplicable jealousy appeared in Dien's heart.

Of course, he would not specifically target Jibusen and the others because of this; mutual suppression was the biggest taboo within the Progress Society, and unity was the main theme.

"I understand."

Afterwards, Dien asked again: "Then what exactly do Magic Affairs Officers do? What should I pay attention to when selecting people?"