Talia's Self-Doubt

Before they knew it, the carriage had entered the bustling Commercial District, passing all kinds of restaurants, Coffee Shops, bars, and specialty stores. The broad streets were increasingly filled with the vibrant atmosphere of everyday life.

From ancient classical architecture such as Iketerite Central Station and Saint Brian Cathedral to modern magical Glass Curtain Wall buildings like Hutton Walking Plaza and Erica Magic Tower, diverse architectural styles coexisted in harmony, adding much to Ikelite's skyline.

It was nearing the afternoon.

The sightseeing carriage arrived near the academy.

The legendary Ikelite Magic Academy stood at the heart of the royal capital.

The academy had no walls. This entire area, along with every building within it, was known as Ikelite Magic Academy.

Lanchi carried his suitcase and entered the campus with Talia.

After only a few steps, Lanchi seemed to be greeted by a melodious peal of bells.

The bells came from the iconic Red Brick Clock Tower. They rang only three times before abruptly stopping, marking three o'clock in the afternoon.

The clock tower stood tall in the middle of a vast lawn, surrounded by verdant trees. Sunlight filtered through the dense leaves onto the lush grass, creating dappled patterns of light and shadow.

He and Talia followed the map on the signposts, passing between all sorts of buildings.

There was the Gothic Sage Institute Ancient Tower Library, its outer walls adorned with exquisite reliefs and its interior holding an unknown number of mysterious tomes.

There was also the Victorian-style Knight Institute Arena, whose pointed arched windows were full of classical charm.

And there were no shortage of strikingly novel buildings, such as the Alchemical Biology Laboratory and the Magical Engineering Research Institute, their walls made of Magic Screens reflecting the blue sky and the shadows of the surrounding trees.

After more than ten minutes of walking.

Lanchi arrived at his destination.

A massive building with smooth lines and a distinctive appearance: the Learning and Education Building, jointly used by the Knight Institute and the Sage Institute.

Lanchi and Talia went to the Student Service Center on the second floor.

With the friendly assistance of the staff, Lanchi quickly completed the changes to his examination information, switching his intended institute from the Alchemy Institute to the Sage Institute.

Next, to complete his full registration for the Sage Institute Entrance Examination, he needed to go to the third floor for an attribute assessment.

He carried a small suitcase in his left hand.

In his right, he held the application form and his personal information documents.

After wandering around for a while, Lanchi found the Basic Attribute Measurement Room on the third floor.

Numerous magical measuring instruments stood neatly arranged in the spacious office. Compared to a magic academy, it felt more like a radiology clinic.

Students applying to the Knight Institute and Sage Institute generally completed the required attribute tests early on when they applied. Lanchi had switched institutes midway, so his timing was different. With only two days left before the examination, there were no other students waiting in line.

The teacher seated behind the desk quickly turned her gaze toward the two visitors.

"I didn't expect there to be such an impressive new student this year... It looks like the Sage Institute has found a treasure."

The teacher in charge of attribute testing gave off a particularly gentle impression. The moment she saw Talia, delight and warmth appeared on her face.

Talia's composed, restrained, unfathomable magical power alone was enough to make her marvel.

"I'm not the one taking the test. He is."

Talia said flatly.

"Hm?"

So the one carrying the suitcase was the Young Master?

The female teacher behind the desk, whose staff badge read "Theresa," hurriedly looked toward Lanchi.

"That's right."

Seeing the teacher finally direct her surprised gaze at him, Lanchi gave an awkward smile.

Talia had wandered around for so long that she had no luggage at all.

With him carrying the suitcase and forms while standing beside Talia in the guise of a human girl, coupled with Talia's icy aura, they really did look like The Young Miss and I.

"Ahem."

Teacher Theresa coughed twice, looking rather awkward as well.

It was not merely a visual misconception that had led her to that conclusion. As mages, they trusted their perceptions and judgments of magical power more than their eyes.

Yet the pitiful magical fluctuations around Lanchi gave her little hope that he could become an outstanding spellcaster.

Even without professional instruments, as an experienced teacher, she could tell that Lanchi's Mana Attribute was weak, though his mental strength seemed sufficiently formidable.

Perhaps he was more suited to... becoming a priest?

After all, many of a priest's support spells were not tied to the strength of their magical power, but to the strength of their mind.

But if he wanted to become clergy, the equally famous Holy Teaching and Research Society or Sacred Craftsmanship Academy on the Southern Continent would both suit his talents better than Ikelite Magic Academy.

Still, since he had already come here, she certainly could not say anything that would discourage a student.

And her job at the moment was precisely to help Lanchi complete his attribute test.

If his calculated overall results met the standard, she would handle the formal examination procedures for him.

They soon began and completed the test.

Aside from exceptionally high mental growth potential and above-average stamina growth potential, Lanchi had absolutely no talent in Mana or strength.

Although the Mental Attribute carried less weight than the Mana Attribute in the Sage Institute's evaluation of spellcasting professions, Lanchi's exceptionally high individual mental score still put him well above the passing line after weighted calculation.

Thus, Theresa began processing the procedures for his subsequent assessment.

Lanchi looked over his attribute test results to pass the time while waiting for Teacher Theresa to finish processing everything.

In this world's simplest "four-dimensional testing method"—

The Mana Attribute affected the damage, healing, and enhancement effects of most spells.

The strength attribute was directly tied to physical attack power.

The Mental Attribute affected Mana capacity and magical resistance.

Stamina combined vitality, endurance, and physical defense.

"Student, what is your profession?"

Theresa entered Lanchi's detailed test results into a tablet-like magical device. When she reached the field labeled "Role," she looked up at Lanchi and asked.

Lanchi had outstanding survivability, but no means of dealing damage.

Based on her guess, Lanchi was probably not in a highly offensive profession. He should lean toward support or logistics.

Though Talia gave nothing away, she also paid a little more attention to the answer Lanchi was about to give.

Because she genuinely did not know the answer.

Nor did she know how Lanchi would respond.

Mad sorcerer? Cult priest? Neither seemed quite suitable.

In any case, she could not think of an apt term for the system formed by the cards Lanchi possessed.

"Obviously, I'm a White Mage."

Lanchi said with a warm smile.

Beside him, Talia's eye twitched involuntarily when she heard that.

This guy really dared to say it!

If she had not traveled through human lands for so many years, she would have first suspected that she had misunderstood the language rather than suspected there was something wrong with Lanchi.

Most absurdly, Talia could not even tell that Lanchi was lying.

He truly believed he was a White Mage.

Teacher Theresa nodded with an expression of understanding.

"So that's how it is... I'm also a healing mage. If you are admitted to the Sage Institute, perhaps we'll meet again in class someday."

Such a sunny and cheerful young man certainly looked like a healer with a compassionate heart.

Teacher Theresa smiled and handed the Examination Bracelet, already inscribed with his information, to Lanchi.

Though his healing and support effects might be quite low, his Mental Attribute was linked to his Mana reserves. He could cast spells continuously, so his endurance should be fairly good.

Most importantly, compared to other roles, healers needed gentle, kind hearts.

"For the formal examination two days from now, simply bring this bracelet to the seventh floor for the combat simulation. The examination will be difficult, but may the Goddess of Fate watch over you. I wish you success."

Teacher Theresa, seated behind the long table with her chin propped on one hand, wore a gentle smile as she added this.

She believed that all gentle people would be treated gently.

Even if this young man had little hope of standing out and passing the assessment.

"Alright, thank you."

Lanchi nodded in thanks.

Then, together with Talia, whose eyes could not hide her confusion, he left the building.