"We formally welcome our newly appointed committee member, His Excellency Roland!"
The host's voice resounded through the hall. Everyone at the enormous gala heard it clearly, and shock spread across their faces.
A moment later, however, thunderous applause erupted.
Wave after wave of applause surged like a raging sea.
It was simply unbelievable!
How old was he?
Only twenty-two!
Strictly speaking, he had not even reached his twenty-second birthday yet!
Atrelin People's education required around two years at the General Studies Academy, followed by ten years of apprenticeship.
Throughout that period, they were continually sorted according to their grades. Only the outstanding few selected at the end qualified to enter a Mage Tower and become Apprentice Mages.
Even inside a Mage Tower, they generally needed another four years to graduate, becoming Resident Tower Mages or entering local guilds and various professions.
There was no shortage of talented people who could complete their apprentice coursework in just two or three years, earn their certificates, and graduate early.
But even they were a little over twenty-one when they entered society.
At that stage, most people were only First-Rank Mages, seeking projects and waiting desperately for funding so they could advance to Intermediate Teaching Assistant.
Roland was different. He had already achieved fame and success during his apprenticeship, and after graduating, he had soared straight to the Seventh Rank.
"This must be an additional reward for his Arcane Star nomination. We heard some time ago that the Arcane Committee intended to promote him, and his advancement to Higher Tier was only a matter of time. But who could have imagined it would happen this quickly?"
"An Associate Professor and Alternate Committee Member at barely twenty-two..."
"No wonder he could serve as a dean and hold a Council position at the Mage Tower here