Rewards

"Have you read that new paper? The summary was so good. With this method, submitting papers will be so much easier from now on..."

"Yeah! I wonder which society president wrote it. It's incredible!"

"Could it have been someone from the Arcane Society? Or the president?"

"Probably not. I heard they're looking for the author too..."

News spread fast, especially after Borne's article was pinned to the top of the bulletin board. It immediately became the Academy's number-one trending topic, and they even posted the paper template separately. Nothing like this had ever happened before.

Anyone with half a brain could tell that the Academy's upper ranks were pushing this!

Quite a few people also noticed that not only had the format been standardized, but the entire library had been reorganized. The lending section was now divided by level, making it easier for students to find materials suitable for their stage of study!

Soon afterward, the article, "Three Steps to Writing an Excellent Paper: A Hands-On Guide," was added to the Academy's required reading list.

Before long, the article's author, "Doctor," became known throughout the Academy.

More and more people speculated that the author was a teacher, a high-ranking official, or even a vice dean.

Doctor—a learned person!

Who else in the Academy could use such an "arrogant" pen name and still get their work published?

It was obvious...

A few representatives of the great noble houses even came to visit the dean, only to be turned away.

One of the vice deans came out to explain that the dean hadn't written it.

The representatives of the great noble houses seemed to understand, and didn't press the matter.

As for Borne, the person at the center of it all, he paid no attention to the undercurrents. Once the article had been up for a day, his points started climbing at a breakneck pace.

With a huge stash of points in hand, Borne headed straight for the library. But after a few days, he noticed that his points had stopped increasing. Just as he was wondering why, he discovered that the article had been publicly added to the required reading list.

Soon afterward, Mr. Evans found Borne.

"This is an excellent article. The higher-ups have also decided to adopt the template in it as the standard format for all future papers at the Academy, and to make your article a free, publicly available model," Evans said warmly. "Of course, we'll compensate you. You can choose two items from this list."

Borne wasn't surprised. They'd just commandeered his work, after all. They ought to show some appreciation...

When he submitted it, Borne had already prepared himself. Nothing was faster than getting in good with someone powerful. His grandfather was a high-level Arcanist, and so was he. There was no need to play both sides or try to take advantage of everyone...

The article was called a paper, but it was more like a proposal. Naturally, it carried some risk. It was like an elementary school student proposing a plan for national education to the education department—and a very workable plan at that.

What was this supposed to be?

The Academy hadn't come up with any effective reforms in decades, yet a little kid who'd only just enrolled—one who'd been specially admitted, no less—had managed to do it.

Were all the higher-ups full of crap?

If Borne had been someone else, someone without connections, they'd probably have hauled him straight into a dark room. Any high-level mage or Arcanist could be brought in to investigate him from body to soul, right down to how many times he'd wet the bed.

But Borne's grandfather was one of the Academy's vice deans, and one of its high-level Arcanists. Borne had calculated that no one would suspect anything was wrong with him. They'd just say that geniuses always thought differently. Besides, he'd spent years cultivating his reputation as a "genius," and his history could all be checked.

Borne was also the youngest Arcanist alive. Perhaps someone younger would come along someday, but there hadn't been anyone like him in the past few decades.

Being young had its advantages. He was innocent, his imagination ran wild, and he was a "genius." It was only natural that he'd think differently from ordinary people.

Once someone was older, their past habits were bound to leave traces. There'd be no "fateful" upheaval. If someone had a chance encounter like in a novel, took a "smart drug," or gained an old master who lived inside an artifact, and suddenly became a different person—if someone timid and cowardly abruptly turned into a decisive, cunning, and fearless killer—wouldn't that practically scream that something was wrong with them?

Being burned at the stake would count as a relatively lenient punishment. Spellcasters like necromancers were especially interested in the souls of people from other worlds.

That was the benefit of having connections. Who could say whether this was the earl's "idea" or the product of Borne's genius? Did it really matter?

Borne took the scroll and quickly skimmed through it. The parchment listed a few simple options, each of them tempting:

One, 1,000 points as compensation.

Two, three low-level spells.

Three, one magic item.

Four, the chance to ask the dean or another vice dean one question.

Five, one hour of access to the Scrolls of Netheril.

Every option held a great deal of appeal for him.

Most Arcanists were a bunch of "top students." Unless someone was a more exceptional scholar or an Arcanist of equal rank, they looked down on everyone else. They wouldn't even show courtesy to low-level Arcanists. To see one patiently speaking with a student and waiting for him like this was simply unbelievable to the other students.

In Evans's view, Borne owed most of his reward to the earl. It might even have been the earl's idea. But Borne was part of the Academy faction, so he was one of their own. There would surely be plenty of chances to "interact" in the future.

Besides, the kid had become an Arcanist before he was seven and had powerful connections. Anyone stubborn enough to pick a fight with him would still show him goodwill.

Borne didn't take long to decide. "I'll choose the first and fifth options."

Evans wasn't surprised. As soon as he'd noticed the access to the Nether Scroll, he'd known it had been prepared for Borne. Even Evans hadn't been allowed reading time until he'd advanced to mid-level Arcanist and become a teacher. Then he'd only received a little time each month.

"Since you're still young, you'll only be allowed to read one of the Nether Scrolls," Evans explained patiently.

"Thank you, Teacher Evans. I understand." Borne bowed.

Evans smiled. "Give me your points token. I'll grant you permission."

Borne quickly took out his wooden token and handed it over.

Evans took out another token and pressed the two together, murmuring a few words. Both tokens glowed blue.

"Here you go. All done."

He returned the wooden token to Borne. "All right, I'll be off."

Borne bowed again. A gust of wind swept by as Evans cast Fly and took off.

"Goodbye. I look forward to your next 'work'!"

"'Work'?"

Borne's eyes flickered. Looks like I'll have to keep a lower profile from now on. Still, this was an unexpected bonus. The Nether Scroll! I didn't think I'd get my hands on it so soon.

The Nether Scroll had a wondrous power. After reading one, each person gained an Arcanum unique to them. Each scroll only had a chance of granting an Arcanum on the first reading, and even then, the Arcanum would only be at a low level.

Many apprentices at the Academy saved up points so they could borrow one when they were close to advancing to the next rank. Of course, this shortcut couldn't compare to having the "world's daddy" on your side.

Borne had become an Arcanist before learning magic. Most people learned magic and became mages first, then studied the Arcane and eventually changed their profession to Arcanist. The difference between the two paths was enormous!

Although Borne's disguise made him look a little older now, he was actually only seven. Even children from his previous life had only just started elementary school at that age.

Most people were overjoyed if they became Arcanists by the time they graduated. Mid-level Arcanists were rare, too. As for Borne, even if he did nothing but laze around every day, meditating only sporadically—three days on, two days off—his magical power would still grow with age. It wouldn't be a problem for it to reach the mid-level.

That made plenty of people green with envy!

At a villa in the lakeside gardens of the Academy,

a group of young nobles were having afternoon tea.

"Who do you think this 'Doctor' who suddenly appeared is?" asked a tall, strikingly beautiful woman.

"Who knows? But one thing's certain: it shouldn't be Your Excellency!" a young noble replied.

"A student? I've never seen this person's handwriting or style before. Could it really be a new student?"

McCarthy gritted his teeth.

"Gerald, how's the investigation going?"

Anderson turned to ask.

"Minister, I've compared the copies of all papers that have passed review over the last three years, including those submitted by several senior students currently doing internships. There's no information on this person, and nobody has seen the handwriting either."

Gerald spoke.

"The paper is written in Netherese, but the style is certainly the sort only a pure-blooded noble would use," Anderson said quietly. "Could the author really be a new student?"

"Minister, do you think it could be him?"

Gerald lowered his head slightly.

"Who?"

Anderson asked in a low voice.

The others turned to look as well.

"Ioulaum! Borne Ioulaum!"

Gerald pushed up his glasses. "The Netherese genius Arcanist!"

"Hm? Hm!"

Anderson's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.