The graduation requirement at Ernst Magic Institute was to become a Sixth-rank Mage.
So, although the institute accepted only a hundred students each year, it still had a large student body.
Some students were already in their fifties, yet remained at the institute.
It wasn't because they lacked the ability to advance. Ernst Magic Institute simply had better resources, and staying another year meant another year of access to them.
As a result, the institute had plenty of dormitories.
A series of small, detached courtyards stood neatly in rows. Linley and Reynolds searched for their dormitory.
"Take it easy, take it easy! Put all those things in the room."
As Linley and Reynolds reached the dormitory entrance, they heard someone speaking inside the courtyard.
Although Linley had spent only one day with Yale, he recognized his voice.
"Yale!" Linley pushed the door open. Yale was directing servants as they carried things inside. "You got here before me."
"Linley!" Yale greeted him excitedly. "I got here first thing this morning. And who's this?"
"Hello, I'm Reynolds. I'm eight years old and from the O'Brien Empire." Reynolds greeted Yale. "You know Linley?"
"We met during the Magic Test six months ago." Yale smiled. "Linley's nine, you're eight, and I'm the oldest. I'm already ten."
Yale seemed a little proud of himself. Reynolds eyed the two of them, feeling a little indignant.
They weren't just older than him; they were both much taller, too.
Linley was the tallest, nearly 1.8 meters. Yale was only a head shorter, around 1.6 meters.
Reynolds, on the other hand, was only 1.5 meters tall.
Still, that was more fitting for his age. Linley and Yale were both unusually tall for their years.
"Looks like I'm the last one here." As the three chatted, a clear voice came from outside the dormitory. "I'm George, ten years old, from the Yulan Empire. Nice to meet you."
A boy about Reynolds's height walked in and greeted the three of them.
"The Yulan Empire?" Yale looked at George curiously. "The magic institutes there aren't much worse than Ernst Magic Institute. Why travel all the way across the continent to come here?"
"Ernst is still the best magic institute." George smiled, carrying himself like a little adult. "Have you heard about this year's new students? I thought Dixie, from our empire, was the greatest genius around. I didn't expect there'd be someone even more incredible."
At George's words, Yale and Reynolds both looked at Linley with amusement.
George soon noticed the strange atmosphere in the courtyard.
"What's wrong?" George asked, puzzled. "Did I say something strange?"
"Hahahaha!" Reynolds burst out laughing. "George, allow me to introduce the number one genius at Ernst Magic Institute: Linley, with exceptional dual-element affinity for Earth and Wind, and spiritual force sixty-nine times that of an ordinary person."
Reynolds's introduction left George frozen in place.
"Come on, George. Don't listen to Reynolds calling me the number one genius." Linley waved a hand. "I'm just a little more talented. Cultivation isn't all about talent."
Now that his strength had improved, Linley had no interest in competing for the title of top genius at Ernst Magic Institute.
"You're the genius who was supposedly taken on as a disciple by a Ninth-rank Mage?" George recovered, staring at Linley in astonishment. "What rank are you now?"
Before Linley could answer, Reynolds reacted first.
"You were taken on as a disciple by a Ninth-rank Mage?" Reynolds stared at Linley in disbelief. "A Ninth-rank Mage! That's just one step away from the Saint-level!"
"You're all behind on the news." Yale lifted his chin slightly, smiling. "Linley's teacher is already preparing to break through to the Saint-level. In a few years, Linley might have a Saint-level teacher."
"All right, all right." Linley hurriedly interrupted them. "Stop talking me up. My teacher is still in seclusion, which is why he sent me to the institute."
Reynolds was still curious. "Then what rank are you now, Linley?"
George and Yale looked at Linley expectantly, too.
"Fifth-rank Mage. But my teacher is an Earth Element mage, so I only know Earth Element magic."
"Fifth-rank?"
Yale, Reynolds, and George all cried out in surprise.
"My god!" Reynolds looked up at the sky. "The graduation requirement at Ernst Magic Institute is only Sixth-rank Mage. Does that mean you'll be able to graduate in a few years, Linley?"
"It's not that simple." George was a little more level-headed. "The higher a mage's rank, the harder it gets to break through. For most people, going from Fifth-rank Mage to Sixth-rank Mage takes more than ten years. Even someone as talented as Linley might need seven or eight years, right?"
As he spoke, George looked at Linley. Linley nodded in agreement. "Yeah. I definitely won't be graduating anytime soon."
"That's true." Yale chimed in. "Linley's teacher could break through to the Saint-level in as little as three to five years, or it could take twenty or thirty. We'll still have plenty of time together."
Yale sent his servants away, then turned to the three of them. "This is the first time the four of us have met. How about we go out and celebrate?"
"No problem. It's on me," Linley said, nodding. "Order whatever you like."
Reynolds and George were about to say something, but Yale cut them off. "You two, don't worry. This guy's loaded. He's got plenty of Rank 8 Magical Beast cores. He won't go broke feeding us."
At that, George and Reynolds clicked their tongues in amazement.
Rank 8 Magical Beast cores.
Only a disciple of a Ninth-rank Mage could afford to hand those out so casually, right?
The four got along well, even though they hadn't known one another for long.
By the time they reached the restaurant, they were already calling one another brothers.
Yale was the oldest, followed by George, then Linley, with Reynolds the youngest.
Bebe became the one Yale and the others all competed to spoil.
Of the three, only Reynolds had been allowed by Bebe to pet his head so far.
Yale and George were still trying.
Watching Bebe use his cute appearance to beg for food, Linley didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Still, he didn't expose him.
After the meal, the four of them familiarized themselves with the institute's grounds.
It wasn't until dusk that they returned to the dormitory.
Apart from Linley, Yale, George, and Reynolds all came from prominent families. They had begun meditating and studying magic even before enrolling.
Linley, of course, needed no introduction.
So, when they returned to the dormitory, the four of them went to their rooms and began meditating.
The accommodations at Ernst Magic Institute were excellent.
Each student had a detached courtyard and a private room.
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, after attending the entrance ceremony, the four of them received their class schedules.
Linley's Fire Element affinity was only average, so Fire Element was the least important to him for now.
As for Earth Element magic, Doehring was already teaching him, so he didn't need to attend class often.
Only Wind Element classes required Linley to attend every day.
At four in the afternoon, Linley arrived at the Wind Element classroom on time and took an empty seat near the front.
"Hello, classmate." A soft voice sounded beside Linley. "May I sit here?"
She had a bright smile, golden hair, and delicate features. Linley was momentarily stunned when he saw her, but quickly composed himself.
"No one's sitting here." Linley shook his head slightly. "Go ahead."
"Thank you." The girl smiled sweetly and sat beside Linley. "I'm Delia. What's your name?"
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