Yulan Calendar year 9995, September 1.
Ernst Institute welcomed a new school year.
Akes stood in front of the classroom building with his fifth-year schedule in hand, watching students come and go. Their sky-blue academy robes stood out in the sunlight, and five golden stripes embroidered on the cuffs marked them as level-five mages.
"Third Brother!"
Reynolds's voice came from behind him. Akes turned and saw four people walking toward him. Reynolds was out in front, his face lit up with a bright smile.
"How does it feel to be in fifth year?" Reynolds came over and asked.
"Not bad." Akes looked him over. "What about you? Third year?"
Reynolds's face fell. "Don't remind me. I have to spend another year in third year. You're all level four or five, and I'm the only one still stuck at level three."
"You only broke through to level three last summer. Making it to third year is good enough." George walked over, four stripes on his cuffs. "I'm in fourth year, and so is Yale."
Yale waved his cuff around, looking smug. "Level four. How about that?"
Akes nodded. "Not bad. Faster than I expected."
"Of course. I'm a genius." Yale made no attempt to be modest.
Linley was the last to arrive. His cuffs had five stripes too. He stood beside Akes without a word, simply nodding to the others.
"Fourth Brother, you're level five too?" Reynolds's eyes widened. "Did you two plan this?"
"Just a coincidence," Linley said.
Akes smiled. "Come on. We've got class."
The five split up in front of the classroom building. Akes and Linley headed for the fifth-year classroom, Yale and George went to fourth year, and Reynolds walked off alone toward third year.
"Same place this afternoon," Akes called over his shoulder.
"Got it!" Reynolds waved.
The fifth-year classroom was a little smaller than the lower-year ones, and there were fewer students. When Akes entered, more than a dozen people were already seated. He spotted Dixie at once. He sat in a corner, with two empty seats around him; no one dared go near.
Akes chose a seat by the window. Linley sat beside him.
The morning class covered Principles of Advanced Fire Magic. The teacher was a level-six mage who explained everything in great detail, but Akes found it easy to follow. The Fallen Heart Flame and the Fire Spirit Bead had given him a far deeper understanding of flames than others at his level.
After class, he and Linley went to the dining hall.
Fourth- and third-year classes ended a little later, so by the time they arrived, Yale and the others had already claimed a table.
"Over here!" Reynolds waved.
The five sat around the table, eating and chatting. Their topics ranged from classes to cultivation, then from cultivation to gossip. Reynolds mentioned that a girl in third year was pursuing him, and Yale promptly started teasing him.
"You? A little level-three kid?"
"What's wrong with level three? Level-three mages are still mages!"
"What element is she?"
"Water Element."
"Oh, then you two are a good match. Water and wind go well together."
Akes listened to them bicker, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
They had no classes in the afternoon, so the five went to the back hills as usual.
Akes picked the same clearing as before, not far from the waterfall. The surroundings were peaceful and secluded. The five found their own spots, and Akes sat cross-legged in the middle.
"Let's begin."
He closed his eyes and activated the Fallen Heart Flame.
Milky-white flames spilled from his body and slowly spread, enveloping an area five meters around him. The concentration of fire elements surged, and the air grew warm.
All five entered a state of meditation at the same time.
An hour later, Akes drew in the flames and opened his eyes.
The others gradually came around as well.
"That felt great." Reynolds stretched.
George nodded. "It really makes a difference. Wind element activity has increased by at least thirty percent."
Yale rubbed his chin. "I felt a twenty-percent increase in my Water Element too. Third Brother, your flame is a real treasure."
Linley said nothing, only nodding to Akes.
Akes smiled. "We'll do it again tomorrow."
The days passed like that.
They had classes every morning, cultivated together in the afternoons, and chatted in the courtyard at night. On weekends, they occasionally went to Fenlai City to shop and enjoy a good meal.
One day in late September, after finishing his usual cultivation in the back hills, Akes was about to head back when the system's voice sounded in his mind.
[Ding—this month's sign-in opportunity has refreshed.] [Would you like to sign in?]
Akes silently thought, Sign in.
[Sign-in successful.] [Reward obtained: Qi Gathering Pill ×1 (from a certain cultivation world). Taking it can greatly accelerate mana accumulation for one month. Note: Only effective below level seven.]
A pale-green pill, about the size of his thumb, appeared in Akes's palm out of nowhere. Faint patterns rippled across its surface, and it gave off a delicate medicinal fragrance.
"A pill..." Akes examined it closely.
Alchemy existed in this world too, but he had never seen anything like a pill. It had to be something from another world.
"Accelerates mana accumulation." He murmured to himself. "Just what I need."
Back in his dormitory, he didn't take it right away. Instead, he examined it first. Only after confirming it had no side effects did he swallow it that night.
The pill melted as soon as it entered his mouth. A warm medicinal energy flowed down his throat, then quickly spread through his limbs and body. He could clearly feel the mana in his middle dantian growing much faster than usual.
"It works."
He closed his eyes and began to meditate.
Over the following month, Akes's cultivation speed increased noticeably. With the Qi Gathering Pill's help, he accumulated nearly half the mana he would normally need six months to gain in just one month.
At the end of October, he successfully reached the middle stage of level five.
At dinner that night, Yale noticed too. "Third Brother, your aura seems stronger."
"I'm at the middle stage of level five now," Akes said.
Reynolds spat out a mouthful of food. "Already? You only reached level five last month!"
"One month," George said in surprise. "That speed of yours... it's ridiculous."
Akes spread his hands. "I'm talented. Can't help it."
Yale rolled his eyes. "Sure, keep bragging."
The five of them burst out laughing.
One day in November, after they finished cultivating in the back hills, Reynolds sidled over with a mysterious look.
"Third Brother, I want to ask you something."
"Go ahead."
"Your flame... could you let me use it by myself for a little longer?" Reynolds blinked. "I feel like I've been making good progress lately. If I could practice a bit more, maybe I'd reach level four by the end of the year."
Akes looked at him. "That's all?"
"That's all."
"Sure," Akes said. "From now on, I'll give you an extra half-hour on your own after we're done each day."
Reynolds was overjoyed. "Really?"
"Really."
"Third Brother, you're the best!" Reynolds nearly pounced on him.
Akes dodged to the side. "Enough talk. Starting tomorrow."
Yale had seen them and came over. "What are you two whispering about?"
Reynolds looked smug. "Third Brother's giving me extra lessons."
"Why him?" Yale stared. "I want some too!"
George joined in. "Count me in."
Akes looked at Linley. Linley shook his head. "I don't need it."
"Then it's settled," Akes said. "One hour a day, all of us together. Afterward, Reynolds gets an extra half-hour."
Yale protested. "Why does he get special treatment?"
"Because he's the weakest."
Reynolds: "..."
Yale burst out laughing.
The days went on.
At the end of December, Ernst Institute held its year-end examinations.
Akes passed the fifth-year assessment with ease and received an excellent rating. Linley did just as well. Yale and George passed their fourth-year assessments without trouble. Reynolds barely passed third year, and was so happy that he treated the whole dormitory to a meal.
"It wasn't easy, but I finally avoided repeating the year." Reynolds raised his glass.
"You've got some nerve saying that," Yale teased. "You almost had to repeat."
"But I didn't! Passing by a hair still counts!"
They laughed and clinked their glasses.
Back in the dormitory that night, Akes lay on his bed, thinking over the past few months.
He was at the middle stage of level five, and the Qi Gathering Pill was still working. He estimated that he would reach the late stage of level five by March. Linley was close to the peak of level five too. Yale and George were making steady progress, and Reynolds, though slower, was improving as well.
Life was uneventful, but fulfilling.
[Ding—the host's sign-in opportunity for this month has refreshed.] [Would you like to sign in?]
Akes silently thought, Sign in.
[Sign-in successful.] [Reward obtained: Azeroth Arcane Intellect (permanent)—increases spiritual perception and improves meditation efficiency by ten percent.]
A cool sensation flowed into his mind and instantly spread throughout it.
Akes closed his eyes and took in the subtle change. He could sense the surrounding elemental fluctuations more clearly and even faintly pick up the auras of a few brothers in the neighboring rooms.
Yulan Calendar year 9995, December 31.
New Year's Eve.
The five didn't go to Fenlai City. Instead, they bought food and wine and set up a table in the dormitory courtyard.
"Next year will be 9996," Yale said, raising his glass. "Come on, let's drink!"
"Cheers!"
The five clinked glasses and drained them.
Reynolds was flushed from drinking. With an arm around George's neck, he said, "Big Brother, do you think we'll still be able to get together like this after we graduate?"
George thought for a moment. "I think so."
"Of course we will," Yale said. "My family's trading company has branches everywhere. You can come find me anytime."
Linley said nothing, just gazed at the night sky in the distance.
Akes patted him on the shoulder. "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing." Linley turned his gaze back. "Just thinking about the future."
"We'll think about the future when it comes." Akes poured him some wine. "For now, let's drink."
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