Within the Hundred-Academy Exchange Meeting, the gap between the five prestigious academies and the other magic academies was reflected not only in the quality of their magic instruction and the talent they cultivated, but also in something far more practical-funding.
That much was evident from how they traveled to the Empire Capital.
Most of the other magic academies had to set out more than half a month in advance to participate in the Exchange Meeting.
They had no aerial transportation of their own, so they could only make the long journey using carriages and other means of ground transport.
They crossed mountains and plains, passing through several towns along the way, spending considerable time and energy on the dusty, exhausting journey.
The quality of their accommodations varied as well, and sometimes they even had to camp in the wilderness.
By the time they reached the capital, they were exhausted and nowhere near their best.
Of course, some academies could travel by airship.
But they rented public airships from merchant associations, with cramped cabins and rudimentary facilities.
Sharing a cabin with several people was the norm. Soundproofing was poor, the ride was bumpy, and the food was barely enough to fill their stomachs.
For ordinary magic academies on tight budgets, however, even this was a considerable luxury.
The five great magic academies were an entirely different story.
Each owned a dedicated luxury airship, every vessel a masterpiece combining magical technology with the ingenuity of skilled craftsmen.
The airships had spacious, elegantly furnished interiors, and every representative had a luxurious private cabin.
They came with separate bedrooms, comfortable beds, fully equipped desks and storage space, and even dedicated refreshment areas and bathing facilities.
More importantly, these airships were incredibly fast. Equipped with the most advanced Magic Power engines and wind acceleration arrays,