Fake One, Compensate Three

A few days later.

The annual freshman ceremony began once again, right on schedule.

Orn wore the simplest, most unadorned scholar's robe, pushing forward through the crowded square. The noble formalwear he once owned had been splendid, yet it never brought him true joy—it only seemed to label the price tag of his body, never paying heed to his inner soul.

But now!

Orn finally felt he was truly alive.

His heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of fulfillment—a longing for the unknown, a brand-new journey through life, infinite anticipation for the next moment, and like-minded new friends.

"I wonder if Reilo made it here?"

Thinking of the companion he had met by chance a few days ago, Orn couldn't help but glance around. Unfortunately, the crowd was far too dense, and he didn't spot the figure he was hoping for.

Driven by a thirst for higher degrees, an eagerness to explore deeper knowledge, or simply the desire to forge connections, scholars from all over gathered at the Grand Natural Academy.

The vast majority of those seeking further study here came from wealthy noble families, possessing refined manners, inherited knowledge, and enough gold coins. Orn was merely the most ordinary among them.

Every family also hoped to shape new interpersonal networks for the future through the interactions of their younger generations!

Under the guidance of erudite mentors, noble scholars studied and progressed together, getting to know one another, building deep friendships, and laying the groundwork for the future power structures of the duchy. Even family alliances formed through marriage were common as a result!

"Hey there, junior, I can tell at a glance you're no ordinary fellow—a brilliant scholar of the Natural Law, destined for great achievements! This Engraved Inkstone is only three gold coins, and if it's fake, I'll pay you triple. Interested?"

In the crowd, Orn was stopped by a buck-toothed senior sister wearing glasses.

He could sense a mercenary air about her—the kind shaped by a commoner's life, always worrying about making a living and haggling over small gains. It reminded him of that classmate named Reilo he'd met on the road.

Orn studied this unfamiliar senior sister who had grabbed him.

Away from the strife of family interests, on a brand-new journey through life—everything was so wonderful. A calm smile spread across Orn's face. Even this buck-toothed senior sister, trying to sell him an Engraved Inkstone, seemed elegant and beautiful.

Orn asked, "How did you know I'm a scholar researching the Natural Law?"

The buck-toothed senior sister's eyes lit up. She pushed up the glasses on her nose and smiled. "Buy one Engraved Inkstone from me, and I'll tell you."

Three gold coins—though not a small sum—was nothing compared to the ample funds Orn had prepared for the next three years.

"Alright."

After a brief hesitation, Orn took out three gold coins and handed them over.

Engraved Inkstone was a relatively high-quality energy ore.

In crystal mines, large quantities of ordinary energy crystals were often accompanied by a few higher-grade ones. Engraved Inkstone was one such type, and a fairly common one at that, with prices generally fluctuating around five gold coins. It was a consumable Magic Material frequently used by scholars of the Natural Law when guiding energy or etching energy runes.

"Hehe, here you go!"

But the buck-toothed senior sister handed Orn four pieces of Engraved Inkstone?

She said smugly, "The answer is, I say that to everyone I meet. You just happened to be one of them, hehe!"

Huh?

Orn was taken aback for a moment, then let out a wry chuckle. He pointed at the four crystals in his hand. "But senior sister, I only bought one Engraved Inkstone."

The buck-toothed senior sister grew even more smug, wiggling her eyebrows. "If it's fake, I pay triple—that's your three extras. Don't say I cheated you; we're both following the agreement!"

This time, Orn was completely stunned. Then he burst into laughter, mocking his own foolishness.

Orn could certainly tell the difference between real and fake Engraved Inkstone, but it had never occurred to him that something like this could happen. Back home, during his early studies, all materials were delivered by servants. His tutors had taught him to identify specimens, but never these life lessons. In an instant, this senior sister had led him around by the nose.

"I was careless."

Orn wasn't angry.

He examined the four crystals carefully. Though they weren't Engraved Inkstone, they were a type of energy ore called "Purple Plating." All four together were worth about the same as three gold coins anyway.

Seeing that Orn had good composure, the buck-toothed senior sister grew a bit more interested.

"I thought you'd be like that guy just now—ready to have an academic exchange with your fists, hehe! Conflicts in the academy, as long as they don't violate the moral contract, are settled by scholars through their own academic prowess. Going up against a scholar two years your senior... heh..."

She grinned delightedly. "My name is Ailiya. Some scholars who know me also call me the Crystal Summoner. If you ever have academic questions, feel free to come find me."

Orn's eyes lit up. "My name is Orn!"

After Ailiya left, blending back into the crowd to hunt for her next target, Orn toyed with the Purple Plating ore in his hand before casually stowing it in his Space Box.

It was only the first day of the Official term, and he had already experienced such an amusing encounter. He was sure the next three years of his scholar's life would not be dull.

"Orn! Orn!"

Suddenly, his name was called from within the crowd.

Startled, Orn stood on his tiptoes, looking left and right, and finally spotted a relatively small figure in the crowd, waving at him and calling out.

It was Reilo, the one who had traveled with him all the way from the Magic Shadow Forest a few days ago.

"Reilo!"

Joyfully, Orn hurriedly pushed through the crowd toward Reilo.

At the opening ceremony, Shatuo, as an academy mentor, naturally had no time to teach Reilo individually.

During his free time, Reilo had purchased a simple, plain gray scholar's robe. After dressing neatly, he made his way to the academy square to find Orn, who had traveled with him all the way here.

"How have you been these past few days? Did the academy assign you a mentor?"

Orn looked Reilo up and down, taking in his gray scholar's robe, and praised, "This robe suits you well!"

Compared to Reilo's gaunt, pale face, Orn's complexion was ruddy and smooth. He glanced down at the glass specimen case in Reilo's hand, where several black tadpoles were swimming back and forth.

"Yes, the academy has already arranged a mentor for me. I've decided to pursue the academic direction of Evolution's Profound Meaning! I just passed by the lake on my way here and collected these tadpole specimens. For the next period of time, I'll be observing the process of tadpoles turning into frogs and learning to make frog specimens at different stages."

A look of excited satisfaction spread across Reilo's face.

Over the past few days of study, Reilo had marveled time and again at the wonder and grandeur of this world!

He had never imagined that this seemingly ordinary world—even the most mundane things he had once understood—would, in the eyes of scholars, be filled with all kinds of wondrous knowledge. Everything he had once known was merely the surface manifestation of the Law of Truth in this world. He himself was so insignificant and small.

"And you? I haven't seen you these past few days. Which class were you assigned to?"

Reilo asked.

"Class Four, First Year. If anything comes up, you can come straight to the classroom to find me!"

Orn could sense the change in Reilo over these past few days.

Back in the Magic Shadow Forest, Reilo's eyes had been filled with simplicity and confusion. But now, like Orn himself, he was awed by the mysteries of the world's laws of truth, and his thirst for knowledge had overwhelmed everything else!

Orn continued, "I bought a house in the Duo'er District. The learning atmosphere there is better, and it's closer to Scholar Street and the teaching buildings. Where are you staying?"

The two of them had already become like old friends, talking about everything without reservation.

Reilo shook his head and joked, "The rent for the academy's housing is way too expensive. I rented a place in the Southeast Old District. It's a bit far, but walking more every day is good exercise. When my father was alive, he always told me to exercise more. Now I'm fulfilling his last wish, heh heh."

Looking at the cheerful and optimistic Reilo beside him, Orn instead complained, "We're going to be classmates studying together for the next three years. If you're having trouble, why not come to me? Would you refuse if I had difficulties in the future?"

"Of course not!"

Reilo instead felt apologetic.

Just then, a group of mentors walked up onto the platform. The hundreds of new scholar students in the vast square fell silent one after another, looking up and gazing in that direction.

Asking for recommendation tickets and collections~~~O(∩_∩)O~~