Chapter 362: The First Meal at the Academy

After bidding farewell to the mysterious and generous "Mr. Kelin," Ma Ke felt as though his life had turned a brand-new page.

Clutching the letter gifted by his kindred spirit and that heavy bag of silver coins, his heart was filled with a soaring ambition known as idealism.

He did not linger at the inn but set off immediately, preparing to find the next ride heading south.

Fortune favors the diligent; perhaps it was the good luck brought by that Prince, for he soon encountered a group of mercenaries preparing to depart.

They were a group of young people planning to try their luck in the distant Jana Continent. They had just finished a job escorting noble children to the Academy and had been living it up in Eagle Rock Territory for a few days.

And then—

There was no "then."

They had spent all their money, every bit of it on the nuns.

Ma Ke was shocked. He had prayed at the church too, but he had never heard that one had to pay to pray with the nuns!

A few of the young mercenaries gave sheepish smiles, too embarrassed to explain, merely brushing it off by saying:

"You'll know once you go next time. That's no ordinary church."

Though curious, Ma Ke shook his head like a rattle.

"Go back? I will never go back there again in my life!"

In any case, the mercenaries revealed their upcoming itinerary, and their next stop would be Dragon Sight City, the essential path from the Northern Wasteland to the south, and also the essential path to the Shengcheng.

The conversation soon turned to Ma Ke himself.

He didn't reveal too much to these rough men, merely packaging himself as a poet in pursuit of ideals, saying he wanted to go to the Shengcheng to see what that Holy Light, which illuminated all ages, actually looked like, and whether it simply failed to shine upon this snowfield.

Those mercenaries, who had spent years licking blood off their blades, initially had no fondness for this tender, naive boy, feeling he talked too much, was completely impractical, and hadn't suffered like they had.

Yet, when they heard Ma Ke use biting rhetoric to curse those noble masters, they instantly became interested. Especially when Ma Ke recited his "straightforward," rebellion-filled poem with cadence and emotion, this group of rough men erupted into cheers.

Good!

They didn't understand what art was, nor did they have much knowledge in their bellies, but the word "class" spoke directly to their hearts!

The most fertile land was always near the castles; how were they not also in a giant cage?

If Ma Ke had only talked to them about knowledge, art, soul, and dreams, he would never have gained their resonance.

But this young man hadn't even expected that the poem, modified by his "kindred spirit," had a line that struck the last remaining soft spot in the hearts of these wretched people, causing them to open their hearts and finally look squarely at the shallow yet fiery "knowledge" in this greenhorn's mind.

Amidst the teasing of the mercenaries, the shy and timid Ma Ke acquired the nickname "Poet."

Soon, those generous mercenaries indicated they wouldn't charge him a cent for travel, letting him ride in the carriage, treating it as having a fun character to amuse them on the road.

Just like that, "Poet" Ma Ke and a group of mercenaries who barely knew a few characters set off on a new journey together.

It was precisely during this journey that he suddenly discovered these rough men were actually quite interesting. They didn't have as many twists and turns as the nobles, but beneath their ruggedness lay their own little thoughts. They weren't kind, even cunning to the extreme, but there were things they absolutely would not do, and they would still speak up when encountering people or things they didn't like.

Whereas his father would surely tell him coldly that it had nothing to do with him, and if he didn't want to end up as miserable as them, he should hurry up and awaken his transcendent power.

A few days later, the team arrived at the seat of the Northern Duke—Dragon Sight City.

Ma Ke had no interest in this military fortress filled with iron-blooded and stern atmosphere, but to pass the time, he wandered through the streets and alleys, treating it as searching for inspiration.

A mature poet shouldn't have only one poem, especially since this poem had been modified by Mr. Kelin; he had to write his own things.

However, just as he passed a street corner, a notice posted on the wall, with black characters on a white background, suddenly caught his attention.

"Dragon Sight City Execution Ground to Publicly Execute Two Felons! Audacious Scoundrel Who Stole the Prince's Personal Property Finally Brought to Justice!"

Good heavens, stealing the Prince's things?

Who was so unafraid of death to be that bold?

Ma Ke looked at it curiously for a few moments.

And this look was disastrous; he actually saw his own name on that execution list!

Ma Ke Gage!

The moment his eyes met his own name, he felt as if all the blood in his body had frozen, his hands and feet turning cold.

"I... I'm dead?!"

The image was of a blood-stained execution ground; his brain went blank, buzzing, remembering only that he fled in two or three steps, turning and diving into the nearby alley, just like a mouse scared stiff.

But that was, after all, an execution notice, not a wanted poster with a bounty, so no one noticed this coward being scared silly by the bloody portrait.

Ma Ke didn't know how long he ran, until he leaned against a wall, exhausted, and stopped, trembling with lingering fear, sitting paralyzed in the snow to think.

He didn't know that "Milos" who was to be executed with him, nor did he know why his own name appeared on it.

As for the charge of "stealing the Prince's property," it left him even more confused.

Could someone at least tell him—

Which Prince's property he had stolen?!

He returned to the inn where the mercenaries were staying, his soul lost.

During the meal, the group of mercenary brothers looked at his dejected appearance, all glancing at each other, not knowing what had happened.

But people always have their low points.

Having eaten and lived together along the way, they still somewhat regarded him as one of their own, rather than a client paying for a service.

So, one fellow patted him on the shoulder and struck up a conversation.

"By the way, Poet, we've chatted all the way here, we all call you Poet, but we still don't know your name?"

"Yeah, tell us?" a freckled young man encouraged curiously, eager to hear him tell his own story.

Ma Ke shuddered, the blood-stained portrait flashing in his mind again, and this time the person on the guillotine became himself.

Amidst the strange gazes of the crowd, his lips trembled, and he squeezed two words through his teeth.

"... Hungry Wolf."

At this moment, he truly looked like a wild wolf that had been hungry for three days and three nights, nothing but skin and bone, shivering in the biting cold wind of the North.

He needed time to digest the weight behind this heaviness.

"Hungry Wolf?"

"Hahaha!"

"Good name!"

The mercenaries let out a burst of good-natured laughter, not digging any deeper, continuing to drink beer and divide the burnt, mushy meat.

These guys who came out to make a living mostly used fake names, just like those nuns working in the camps. As for the reason, of course, it was fear of being found by past enemies, or planning for a pastoral life after hanging up their swords.

There weren't many clean people on this pure white snowfield; people were born rolling in the mud, the only difference being that some could see the mud on their bodies, while others would still be stubborn to the end, claiming they were clean.

Perhaps this "Poet" also had his own hidden bitterness!

The Academy of Sages, Apprentice Canteen, here it carried out the Academy's pragmatism as always, and was as busy and fulfilling as ever.

In the magnificent and spacious hall, hundreds of apprentices sat along simple, unadorned long tables, and there were a dozen more such tables, all filled to capacity.

The only bright spot was the small magic trays slowly rising in the center of the tables, precisely delivering portions of steaming wheat porridge and bread sprinkled with powdered sugar and jam to everyone.

This thing was rare in the Empire; it was said that it was only recently that the Academy's professors had realized the mystery from the Void.

Of course, the Empire might not necessarily have use for it anyway.

Regardless, this was the first breakfast for many preparatory students upon enrollment, and it was said there would be an even more sumptuous banquet waiting for them in the evening.

Barrett, who had just become an apprentice, rubbed his hands, his face full of excitement, devouring the food ravenously, all the bumps from the journey from the border dissolving into his surging appetite.

Actually, to be precise, he wasn't yet a formal apprentice. Academy students had five levels: Preparatory Student, Apprentice, Mage, Honor Student, and Graduate.

Graduates were also called Associate Mages, who could enter the Empire's army to serve as chanters for the Mage Corps, or stay at the Academy as teaching assistants to continue delving into the mysteries of magic.

By the way, teachers here were also clearly stratified; the initial and most common were Teaching Assistants, followed by Mentors, Professors, Sages, and the Grand Sage.

There were twelve Sages in total, and only one Grand Sage, who was the head of the Thirteen Towers—the Tower of the Grand Sage, and the co-lord of the Council of Sages!

At the level of Sage, it basically depended on fate; those who could serve were, without exception, top-tier transcendents, and they also had to have sufficient achievements in the field of magic.

However, although ordinary people had no hope of becoming any Sage, they could still challenge the relatively "higher-ranking" Professors.

At the level of Professor, if one wasn't a dragon among men, one was at least a tiger among men; their status was basically not inferior to the dukes of secular kingdoms, and even if slightly inferior, if they didn't see eye to eye, both sides were on equal footing in terms of status.

Barrett's dream was to become a Professor; he dreamed of it!

And now he carried not only his own and his parents' dreams, but also the dreams of Leo, and the dreams of Finick and Ilara who had unfortunately failed the interview—

He had to move forward together with their unfulfilled ideals!

Toward that unreachable tower!

However, those were matters for later.

The first thing he had to do was to study the most basic magic theory diligently during the three-year training period as a preparatory student, and successfully transition to a formal apprentice in the assessment three years later.

Then—

They would head to the Mage Tower of their dreams based on the aspirations determined when they passed the initial interview, just like the delicious and sweet little bread on their tables.

And then, the road ahead would be smooth sailing!

Barrett took a fierce bite of the bread in his hand, savoring the fragrant strawberry jam, tasting the sweetness within all by himself.

The air was filled with the aroma of food, yet no matter how rich the aroma, it couldn't suppress the buzzing sound of discussion.

"Senior Kurs, Ilara, have you heard?" a slightly childish male voice rang out; it was Finn, a preparatory student who had just enrolled, looking around curiously, "What is everyone talking about? It feels like something incredible has happened here!"

He came from a remote countryside in the Kingdom of Luo De, his face still bearing the simplicity from the fields, as well as the purest longing for this magical holy land.

As for Senior Kurs and Ilara, they were friends he had met on the road. Because he was diligent, took on all the dirty and tiring work, had no airs of self-importance, and didn't have the ambition of "wanting to be a Sage written on his face," he was very well-liked.

Who would dislike a harmless little honeybee?

Ilara, sitting opposite him, was also a newly promoted preparatory student, but her demeanor was much more realistic. Perhaps due to her noble background, she stirred the wheat porridge in her bowl in a measured manner, turning a deaf ear to the surrounding clamor, and making no comments.

As for Kurs, he was probably a sycophant of this Lady Ilara, that fawning energy written all over his face.

It was true he was a formal apprentice of the Tower of the Grand Sage, but having already entered this tower, what was a senior in charge of admissions anyway?

Moreover, he wasn't even in charge of admissions, just helping the Teaching Assistants responsible for admissions.

Those gimmicks might be a little useful for young girls from ordinary backgrounds, but for those who had seen the world, it was a joke.

However, to demonstrate his erudition and his familiarity with the "internal affairs of the Academy," he cleared his throat forcefully, and using the "cloud ladder" handed over by Junior Finn, launched an attack toward the "flower" hanging high above the city wall.

"Big deal? Finn, this can't be described as a 'big deal,' this is simply a legend worthy of being recorded in the Academy's history!"

He leaned forward, his eyes flashing with the unique light of worship for the strong, leaving the confused junior stunned.

"Le, legend?"

"That's right!"

Kurs's voice involuntarily rose, attracting a few curious gazes from the neighboring tables. He lowered his voice, but his excitement didn't diminish, continuing to narrate vividly.

"Listen well, Finn, this story has to start from the beginning. Just when you rookies were taking the exam, a big shot came to the border recruitment point—his name is Luo Ke Sai Kelin! That guy is a genuine Prince of the Empire, rumored to hold a recommendation letter from the Empire's real power-holders, even the King of the Kingdom of Luo De is a little brother in front of that person, understand?"

Finn nodded blankly, his face turning slightly pale, then slightly flushed.

It was fine to discuss the King of the Kingdom of Luo De at the Academy, but he was from Luo De after all, and still couldn't adapt to this transformation.

Kurs took a deep breath, as if accumulating strength for the climax to come.

"The innate title is nothing incredible, but the incredible part came soon! This Prince could have come in comfortably, but he chose not to! I heard from my buddy that he was the one who did the exam registration for the Prince, and he saw with his own eyes the pity and sparks flashing in the Prince's eyes! He wasn't willing to be mediocre, he hid his title, he wanted to be like us, starting from the lowest-level entrance trial! If you ask me, just this courage alone is something not everyone has!"

Finn couldn't help but want to applaud, but after clapping his little hands, he quietly stopped, turning into a prayer gesture with hands clasped.

"Saint Xisi above... this is truly... I heard that the exam hall produced a paper that three examiners gave full marks to at the same time, could that paper have been written by him?!"

"Yes! And this is also the most dramatic part—this perfect paper was actually swapped!" Kurs changed the subject, his eyes full of anger, his tone becoming increasingly impassioned.

"Swapped?! This, how is this possible! This is the Academy! Is that guy crazy?!" Finn exclaimed, and this time it was the other apprentices nearby who exclaimed Saint Xisi above.

The Academy had an old saying: offend anyone, but don't offend a mage.

Of course, there was a similar saying in the Kingdom of Luo De, only the mage was replaced by the knight master.

"Yes! I simply couldn't believe it, Senior Milos, who was diligent, serious, and helpful, was actually that kind of person! It really is true that you can't judge a book by its cover, I even admired him before! And the result? He was actually so audacious, using a loophole in the procedure, to swap the Prince's full-mark paper without anyone knowing! How dirty must this person's heart be? Simply rotten to the core!"

Kurs cursed in a low voice, spilling all the inside information he knew.

However, this couldn't be considered inside information anymore; the Tower of the Grand Sage had already publicly handled the result and printed it in the Morning News for public notice, it was just that these newly arrived preparatory students didn't know yet.

Ilara raised her delicate eyebrows, truly surprised, but not surprised by Milos's audacity, but surprised that a small apprentice could utilize a loophole in the procedure, which was rare in her motherland.

Finn subconsciously clenched his fists, completely drawn into the story, and the story also reached its final turning point—

"However! In the end, we still won!"

A sunny smile bloomed on Kurs's face, placing his hand on Finn's shoulder, while his eyes secretly watched Ilara, as if confirming whether that beautiful face, like this kid Finn, was flashing with the light of worship.

"... The story ended with two heads rolling; the Northern Duke wouldn't shelter two thieves. This cunning fox actually didn't run far, hiding right under our noses, in that knight's fief on the border! The most ridiculous thing is that he actually took the money he earned to go whoring hahaha! So he earned money just for this?"

"The other mastermind, Ma Ke Gage, also confessed shortly after, repenting at the execution ground, but it was too late! As for Prince Kelin, he originally planned to return to the Shengcheng, but Professor Hector personally chased him back and made an exception to hire him as a Mentor at the Academy! That's a Mentor! Saint Xisi above, I'd be thankful if I could become a Mentor before 50, yet he is so young... but then again, if it's this Prince, I approve!"

Kurs finished in one breath, his cheeks flushed with excitement.

Finn listened with glowing eyes, viewing Prince Kelin as a spiritual idol and an academic role model in his heart!

He thought of himself, a poor kid from the countryside, who had walked here precisely because of his faith in knowledge!

The fairness that the Kingdom of Luo De lacked was all here; as long as it was real gold, even if buried in dust or dropped on the snowfield, there would be good people like Professor Hector who wouldn't hesitate to rush through a snowy night to bring him back to this sacred pure land!

This story wasn't just gossip to him, but a shot of adrenaline, dispelling his confusion and fear about the future.

"This is the Academy!" Kurs said excitedly, "This is the true 'Knowledge is Power'! Not only that, the Academy's fairness and self-correction have also been perfectly verified; scumbags like Milos, who are guilty of heinous crimes, were finally ferreted out and dealt with! We will never let go of every cockroach we see!"

"Finn, don't get too excited yet."

Ilara didn't want to speak, but seeing the kid who had carried her luggage about to burn his brain, she still gave him a few pointers.

"Your senior is right, gold can shine anywhere, but you must also have a scale of your own in your heart, don't let your piece of gold be swapped for a stone by someone else. Whether you admit it or not, the identity of 'Prince' played a significant role."

"If it were you or me, even if framed, I'm afraid we would only be like fallen leaves on the snowfield, buried in the endless white. You don't have to be suspicious all the time, but you must keep a clear head, don't be led by the rope of madness into an abyss without a bottom."

Finn was stunned, just like someone shaking his shoulder when he was sleepy, seemingly having some realization in the dark, although it was still very blurry.

Ignoring Kurs, who was gasping with his mouth wide open, Ilara cut a small piece of bread with a knife and fork in a measured manner.

Before putting it into her mouth, she continued calmly.

"Of course, I admit that the Prince's strength is beyond doubt. However, relatively speaking, I am more curious about what kind of changes such a young Mentor will bring to the Tower of the Grand Sage... I hope he stays with us for a long time."

To tell the truth, she quite appreciated this professor's looks.

Especially after listening to Kurs brag for so long, she was even more interested in this mysterious Prince, perhaps she could sign up for his class to take a look.

Someone as smart as him must not only have profound insights into magic, maybe she could learn something even more powerful than magic!

"Forget about what changes! That's not something we apprentices can worry about! And even less something you preparatory students should worry about!"

Kurs coughed, emphasizing the hierarchy of status not too lightly or heavily, like a child whose toy had been snatched away, trying to use the authority of an elder to forcibly grab the initiative of the conversation back.

"Anyway, I've heard that Prince Kelin will officially move into this Tower of the Grand Sage today! He will be familiarizing himself with the academic affairs for a while, you rookies might have a chance to take his class!"

This sentence was like a giant rock thrown into a calm lake.

The apprentices around who seemed to be eating intently but were actually pricking up their ears to eavesdrop all stopped their movements in unison.

The buzzing sound of the entire canteen experienced a brief stagnation at this moment, and then erupted with an even more enthusiastic wave of sound!

Awe, curiosity, anticipation, and even a trace of jealousy, various complex emotions intertwined on the faces of the apprentices!

This Mentor Kelin, whom they hadn't met yet, had already been labeled as a "legend" in their hearts!

And in a corner of the canteen, a figure shook violently.

Barrett, eating alone, widened his eyes, his hand frozen in mid-air, his spoon dropping into the wheat porridge with a "clang," splashing a few drops of white juice.

Mr. Kelin!

That companion who was steady and reliable during the adventure, but unfortunately "failed the exam" in the end!

Was actually... Prince Kelin?!

Saint Xisi above... after all this, he didn't fail because of lack of strength, but because his paper was swapped?!

But—

Why didn't anyone tell me?!

At the same time, in the office above the high tower, Prince Kelin, leaning on the soft sofa, finally waited for the explanation he wanted from the respected Professor Hector.

Those were two newspapers.

One was the "Sage News" issued within the Academy, and the other was the "New Magic Vision" issued in several major cities in the Northern Wasteland.

That bulletin was truly written with righteous indignation, making people want to applaud, yet it was so full of holes that it made people want to laugh.

A mere three million gold coins were enough to buy a mage's dignity, then this dignity was simply too worthless.

Do you think this Prince hasn't seen money before?

Gently stroking the newspaper with his index finger, Luo Yan wore a proper smile on his face.

He felt like a diner holding a bell in his hand.

As long as he shook it gently, Professor Hector sitting opposite would clench his legs, and with a bitter face, serve a delicious meal for Mentor Kelin.

Just like now—

He flipped through the newspaper in his hand and said not too lightly or heavily.

"Oh, his name is Milos, a magic apprentice... tsk tsk, this kid is truly hateful, don't you think? Professor Hector."

Professor Hector secretly wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a tense face.

"That is of course... we also couldn't have imagined that the Tower of the Grand Sage would produce such a scumbag, but we have already found his Teaching Assistant and dismissed that guy, which can be considered as patching this loophole."

He had already cursed these people ten thousand times in his heart; these people were truly crazy for money, daring to take any money! However, he also knew that hating them alone was useless; he was just an old scholar acting as a mediator, the key still depended on whether this Prince in front of him nodded.

In fact, this Prince should have nodded!

Even standing from the standpoint of sympathizing with those "apprentices with real talent," he felt that this Prince was slightly overstepping.

After all, you are just a Prince, not the Emperor himself, are you here to cause trouble at the school or for academic exchange?!

The Academy has already given you enough face!

What else do you want!

Do you want me to chop up two more meat fillings for you?

"Oh."

Luo Yan nodded; he didn't want anything, and even less did he want to make things difficult for those children who were far weaker than him, but this didn't prevent him from gently shaking the "bell" for serving dishes in his hand.

"Clatter—"

Watching the newspaper in the Prince's hand flip another page, Professor Hector finally breathed a sigh of relief, thinking this was a signal that the matter was over.

However, before he could finish breathing that sigh, this Prince from the Shengcheng suddenly changed the subject and added a few extra words—

"What about the money?"

"Even if it was only 3 million gold coins, how come I didn't see where every bit of money came from, whose hands it passed through, and where it went?"

"It couldn't have all been spent on the 'girls', right?" ===== CHAPTER 363 =====