An academy-wide assembly.
The venue stood on one side of the Main Academy, a vast cylindrical building shaped like an arena.
As Ian walked inside, he looked around.
At the very center, right at the front, stood an enormous platform with several massive round tables arranged on it.
Two names were displayed at the front.
They were Aaron and Vice Dean Simon. Neither had arrived yet, and their seats remained empty.
Below the platform, the first row was reserved for the deans of the five branch academies and the commanders of the Academy's three warbands.
Behind them sat the heads of the various departments and the Academy's deputy deans.
Only after those came the deputy department heads, along with Wizards representing the major Lineages affiliated with the Academy and its subordinate academies.
Next came newly advanced Second Ring Wizards, ordinary Second Ring Wizards, and others.
Beyond these people lay a clear dividing line.
Ian looked over.
His seat was in the first row behind that dividing line.
Around him were the chief students of the other academies, important warband members, and others.
They all shared one trait.
They're all First Ring Wizards!
Ian could not help feeling a little wistful.
In this Wizard World, where everyone fought for supremacy, combat strength was the most important link in a Wizard's chain. And to First Ring Wizards, the Second Ring meant absolute, crushing superiority.
Even though Ian was already very powerful now.
He still dared not claim he could hold a Second Ring Wizard in check. In fact, he felt that in a real fight, he probably would not last long at all.
That was also why he wanted to advance to the Second Ring.
At least if he truly encountered one on the battlefield, being at the Second Ring would give