First Entering the Dormitory

Arnold and Linley were not stupid; after thinking it over briefly, they understood.

"Linley, my young master has the same dormitory key as you. You two should be in the same dormitory. I hope you'll help each other from now on," the old man said kindly.

As for Arnold, since he was not in the same dormitory as Renault, the old man did not say much to him. Of course, Arnold himself did not mind much.

Renault said impatiently, "All right, Grandpa Loom, you can go back now. I've already arrived at Ernst Academy anyway."

"Uncle Hillman, you should go back too. I'll take good care of myself," Linley said to Hillman with a smile. Hillman nodded reassuringly. "Linley, I'll be going, then. Work hard." Hillman encouraged him.

Both Renault and Linley had people accompany them here, while Arnold had come alone. He greatly envied the two of them.

After Loom and Hillman left, Linley asked curiously, "Arnold, why didn't anyone come with you?"

Renault had the same question, so he listened from the side.

Arnold suddenly grew sad. "I have no family left, so I came alone."

"Sorry, I didn't know about your situation," Linley hurriedly apologized upon hearing Arnold's words.

Thinking of his circumstances, Arnold felt sad for a moment. But since he had managed to enter Ernst Academy, he was no longer so upset.

Soon, Arnold told the two of them a little about his situation.

It turned out Arnold came from a commoner family. His only relative, his father, had been killed by a magical beast while hunting in the mountains. Gathering his courage, Arnold took the family's last savings—fifteen gold coins—and walked all the way from the countryside to the magical aptitude testing and admissions site in Fenlai City. He spent ten gold coins on a magical aptitude test, and Arnold's magical aptitude turned out to be high. Naturally, nobles had approached him at once, willing to sponsor his education.

An eight-year-old boy had gathered his courage after the death of the family's pillar, taking the family's last bit of savings to undergo a magical aptitude test.

Renault and Linley immediately began to see Arnold in a new light.

"So that's how it was. You had such courage. I truly admire your determination," Renault said solemnly.

Linley was somewhat puzzled. "Arnold, I was there from the start of the testing too. How come I didn't see you?"

At that moment, Linley heard Delin's speechless voice from within the Coiling Dragon Ring. "A single magical test lasts quite a long time. You weren't standing there the entire time."

"That's true." Linley could not help feeling embarrassed by his foolish thought just now.

Sure enough, Arnold's answer was the same. "I didn't arrive when the magical testing first began."

"All right, enough about that. Let's take a look around inside Ernst Academy!" Renault said excitedly.

Afterward, the three entered Ernst Academy. Shady green trees, lakes, stone bridges, ancient academy buildings, gigantic statues of legendary figures, towering trees dozens of meters high... Everything fascinated countless people.

"This is Ernst Academy. It doesn't flaunt itself like those newly built magic academies. This is true heritage!" Renault said drunkenly as he looked around.

Throughout Ernst Academy, there were all kinds of signposts, such as paths leading to the dormitories and the location of the dining hall. Clearly, they were all meant to serve new students.

Arnold, Linley, and Renault had completed their enrollment procedures one after another. Linley and Renault were assigned to dormitory number 1987, while Arnold was assigned to the neighboring 1988. Linley and Renault expressed regret over this, but Arnold did not mind.

So Linley and Renault hurried to their dormitory together, while Arnold did the same.

The three arrived at the dormitory area and could not help marveling. There were thousands of individual courtyard residences as far as the eye could see.

The dormitory area's numbering was highly systematic. Starting from 1, each row consisted of individual courtyard residences. The three ran together to a row, then ran eastward. Arnold and Renault were both panting from exhaustion, while Linley, who had begun warrior training long ago, was not tired at all.

The three arrived before the courtyard residence numbered 1987. Arnold bid the two farewell and headed for his own dormitory area.

Carrying his small bundle of belongings, Arnold stepped into dormitory 1988.

Yet as he walked from the courtyard into the dormitory rooms, he did not see a single person. Only then did Arnold realize that he was the first to arrive at dormitory 1988.

Arnold did not think much of it. He selected an innermost room, carried his small bundle inside, and left it there.

Thinking that he had not yet looked around, Arnold directly left his dormitory. Outside, he happened to see the four people from Linley's dormitory heading out. Linley and Renault naturally saw Arnold as well, and Renault immediately shouted, "Arnold, come with us!"

Hearing Renault call out, Arnold did not hesitate and walked over to the four of them.

Renault immediately introduced Arnold to the other two people he did not know. "George, Yale, this is Arnold." Pointing at Arnold, Renault then pointed at Yale and George and said to Arnold, "Arnold, these are George and Yale. They're Linley's and my roommates."

"Hello." Arnold extended his hand, and George and Yale each shook it.

The five of them then wandered around Ernst Academy together.

Ernst Academy was filled with ancient buildings that had stood for thousands of years.

Some Saint Domain expert had once studied here. Over the course of several thousand years, Ernst Academy had produced quite a few Saint Domain experts; as for ninth-rank experts, there had been even more.

Along the way, Arnold left Yale, George, and the others greatly astonished.

For instance, at those ancient buildings that had stood for thousands of years, their ancient atmosphere left even the normally steady George deeply entranced. Yet Arnold's expression did not change at all, as though he were merely looking at ordinary buildings.

Then there were the towering statues of Saint Domain experts. The others were filled with excitement at the sight, but Arnold remained the same. His expression was extremely calm, as though he had seen them before.

After wandering around for a while, Arnold gained George and Yale's approval. As for Linley and Renault, they had already been considered friends before this, had they not?

That evening, the five of them ate and drank to their hearts' content at a luxurious hotel inside the academy not far from the dormitory area. Of course, the five underage boys drank only fruit juice.

Naturally, the others learned of Arnold's circumstances as well. Naturally, all they felt toward Arnold was admiration.

When Arnold returned that evening, his dormitory roommates had arrived too. However, what depressed Arnold was that the other three were all taciturn. After the four briefly introduced themselves, they all returned to their rooms.