"Are any of these students worth my attention?"
Annan's attention returned from the distant sea to the ground below as he gave off the aura of a promising Sorcerer.
"These are the people you should get to know. Randy Potter—his mother is an official in the Ministry of Publicity. Knowing him could make things easier for you within the empire. Melissa Syatt—her father has money but lacks influence. Ruby Lace is president of the fraternity in the neighboring school. That position lets him do all sorts of things, and he's also Count Marino's legitimate son. Sienna Waters is president of the sorority. Her background is a mystery. Some say she's a prince's daughter; others say she's the daughter of a Legendary."
Alice rattled off a string of names. Annan tried hard to remember them and wished he had a prodigious memory.
"There are other students you could meet or leave alone, like Su Ni Prye. Her father is an official in the Ministry of the Interior..."
Annan suddenly cut in. "I remember you saying I could apply to the Empire's Ministry of the Interior for a Fief?"
"Yes, but don't count on Su Ni influencing her father. Among his children, she's..." Alice paused, searching for a way to put it. "Not particularly favored."
Alice's idea of "not particularly favored" was different from Annan's.
Annan had assumed it meant she wouldn't even qualify to attend a magic academy. Instead, Alice told him Su Ni Prye had an older brother who attended the Siltovis Magic Academy.
This southern imperial city, only a little larger than Breeze City, actually had two academies!
And the two academies served different purposes. The Siltovis Magic Academy judged students solely by talent and achievement. Its students were either geniuses or had exceptional bloodlines; their honor came from