The Choice

Raphael City was not a normal city. It was more like a small dock, because the city itself was merely a "Sorting Station" where Jungle Home received students from the Outside World before assigning them to its various subordinate academies.

For that very reason, although the wizard academies under Jungle Home had erected all manner of towering, bizarre buildings in Raphael City, not many people were stationed in the city year-round.

Following Desi's guidance, the students who had received Metal Posts entered different streets one after another, filled with unease and anticipation. Only Arro and the bewildered students without posts remained behind.

"Arro, I can only bring you this far. What comes next... you must walk on your own."

Nicole's tone was unusually cold. The students without posts all lowered their heads tremblingly, afraid of angering the Lord Wizard, who seemed to be in a foul mood.

Arro turned around, only to see a sweet smile on his mother's lips. She nodded encouragingly at him, while glimmers of reluctance flickered in her beautiful eyes.

That familiar, gentle smile left Arro dazed.

A scene buried deep in the corner of his memories suddenly surfaced.

When he had let go of his mother's supporting arm and taken the first step of his life.

She—had seemed to wear that very expression then, hadn't she?

A radiant smile spread across Arro's face as he silently bent his arm—

See this?

Muscles!

I'm super strong!

"Meow~"

The Black Cat on Nicole's shoulder let out a soft cry, then stood upright and bared its teeth in a strange expression, repeatedly swiping its paws like a boxer.

Ah—punch, punch, punch!

Smack!

The arrogant Black Cat was ended with a single slap.

"Pfft!"

His past grudge finally avenged, Arro could not help laughing.

Hmm?

The students without posts secretly raised their heads in confusion.

Young Master Arro was this arrogant?

Lord Wizard was obviously angry, yet he still dared to laugh?

Arro hastily composed himself. He did not want to cause any trouble for his mother.

After all—his mother was still using a false name!

"Thank you for your trouble, my lord."

Arro solemnly completed the Wizard Apprentice Etiquette, then quickly turned and strode into the shadow of the buildings.

His ten-year-old body in this life filled him with vigor, while the memories of more than twenty years from his previous life kept him from fearing separation from his family.

His slight melancholy was cast aside in an instant. Following the direction Desi had given him, Arro entered the street marked with Two-Leaf Thorns.

The city's towering, clawing buildings blocked out the dazzling sunlight. The narrow street was somewhat dim, and as Arro ventured deeper, the light grew ever fainter until everything around him gradually blurred.

His hard Leather Boots stepped upon the smooth bluestone road, his crisp Footsteps echoing leisurely through the street.

Tap, tap, tap...

For some reason, the Footsteps became drawn-out and sticky, gradually mingling with faint, fragmented noises.

Arro's steps remained steady and his breathing unchanged as he continued onward as though he had heard nothing.

Rustle, rustle, rustle!

The dense sounds steadily grew louder. Arro felt as though he were walking across a stretch of sand, his every step producing a thick succession of noises. It was also as if a great crowd were hiding in the shadows, Staring At him and whispering quietly among themselves.

Several dark shadows swept across the sky, accompanied by a string of flapping wingbeats.

The eerie surroundings were enough to make one's hair stand on end, yet Arro felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as though he were walking along the small path outside Grandfather's home.

Looking at the faintly visible narrow path ahead and listening to the strange sounds constantly stirring around him, Arro did not stop walking as he thoughtfully observed his surroundings.

Could this be—the dignity of a wizard academy?

Like the dignity of a Wizard Family that Grandfather was always talking about?

Several clusters of Dark Green ghostfire suddenly appeared ahead, drifting unsteadily and drawing Arro's attention.

Have I reached my destination?

As if aware that Arro was looking, the clusters of ghostfire abruptly collided, forming a gently swaying lion's head.

Comparing it with the Wizard Medal Studies he had learned in childhood, Arro recognized the lion's head.

This was the Identification Badge of Lionheart Castle Wizard Academy, a Second-Class Academy.

"Your courage has earned Lionheart Castle Wizard Academy's appreciation. Are you willing to join us?"

While riding in the carriage with Nicole, she had introduced Arro to the academies under Jungle Home. At this moment, the information about Lionheart Castle Wizard Academy rapidly surfaced in his mind.

His mother's assessment of Lionheart Castle Wizard Academy was: "Fanatical lovers of war. Their strongest wizardry research direction is Limb Suturing. They have yet to solve the key problem of limb rejection. It is easy to gain formidable Combat Power, but unfortunately, most do not have long Lifespans."

Fanatical lovers of war?

Although I ruled the kindergarten for five years and beat up countless little kids, I'm actually a lover of peace!

Besides—their Lifespans aren't even long!

Arro stopped, placed his Right Hand over his chest, and assumed the standard Wizard Apprentice salute before bowing respectfully. "Thank you for your academy's appreciation. Please forgive me, but I have other ambitions."

"Hmph!"

The lion's head formed from ghostfire dimmed, burst into scattered sparks, and gradually vanished.

Arro continued onward. Before long, a cool breeze swept through, stirring a cluster of white Gray Mist that slowly formed into a flickering bolt of lightning.

This flickering lightning Identification Badge represented Medivh Wizard Academy, a Second-Class Academy.

It was a wizard academy founded seventeen hundred years ago by Medivh Karma, Jungle Home's strongest Elemental Wizard.

Excitement welled up in Arro's heart. This was the powerful wizard academy that both his mother and Grandfather had always wished to enter.

After all, the only First-Class Academy, Heart of the Jungle Wizard Academy, was not particularly skilled in elemental wizardry.

Among the academies at the Two-Leaf Thorns level, Medivh Wizard Academy was the one Arro most wanted to enter.

"An irrational hothead. Your powerful Mental Strength is worthy of our research."

Those icy words were like a basin of cold water poured from head to toe, utterly extinguishing Arro's restless excitement.

Be researched by wizards?

They definitely wouldn't spare me from having my brain dissected, would they?

"No, no."

Arro forced out a stiff smile and hurriedly refused, afraid that if he said another word, someone would directly abduct him.

Whoosh!

A fierce wind rose, and the drifting mist immediately dispersed.

It seemed that Medivh Wizard Academy did not like Arro either.

Buzz, buzz, buzz...

Countless mosquitoes flew out from the corners, tracing a leaping elk in Mid-air.

Elk Wizard Academy, a Second-Class Academy.

His mother's assessment was: "An academy founded by a group of fools brainwashed by Jungle Home's propaganda slogans. Useless wizard apprentices are trained in specific directions and turned into cows that produce materials, making it the primary source of materials for the Jungle Home alliance."

"Paradise for geniuses, hell for fools."

"Its strongest wizardry direction is Bloodline Side Wizardry."

"Your compassionate heart moves us. Elk Wizard Academy welcomes you to join us."

Arro saluted. "Thank you for your kindness, but please forgive my refusal."

Elk Wizard Academy primarily studied Bloodline Side Wizardry. Any apprentice who entered the academy would be implanted with a bloodline.

But Arro had a mother at the Formal Wizard level of the Elemental Side. His best choice was undoubtedly the path of a Pure-Blood Wizard.

What was more, after his optimal academy had rejected him, among the next two academies of roughly equal standing, Owl Wizard Academy—where he had an acquaintance—was the better choice.

As the mosquitoes dispersed, the earlier voice rang out again. "Compassionate one, the gates of Elk Wizard Academy will forever stand open for you."

Arro bowed again. Only after the mosquitoes had completely faded away did he resume walking.

Now, only Owl Wizard Academy among the Second-Class Academies had yet to appear.

Arro could not help feeling uneasy.

Could it be... Owl Wizard Academy doesn't think much of me?

If it still doesn't appear, I might Can Only Be forced to leave Two-Leaf Thorns Street and try my luck on Three-Leaf Thorns Street.

Whoosh!

The surrounding shadows began to flow, forming an enormous owl's head before Arro.

Relief washed over Arro. It had finally appeared.

This Identification Badge belonged to Owl Wizard Academy.

Owl Wizard Academy's strongest wizardry direction was the Mystic Side.

However, the Mystic Side was far too mysterious, and its practitioners were very few.

Therefore, Owl Wizard Academy had also achieved results in other fields. Though it could not compare to the other Second-Class Academies, it was still far stronger than Third-Class Academies.

"Unity is your finest quality. But while standing united, do not lose your reason."

Arro's expression turned solemn as he saluted respectfully. "I will remember your teachings. Thank you for taking me in."

After Arro made his choice, the dark shadows swiftly receded, revealing a small path branching off beside him.