From what Emery remembered, there should be a hundred acolytes in class 77, however, after counting, he found there were only eighty acolytes gathered in this courtyard, including himself and his four friends.
The woman magus called everyone's attention and led the newly arrived senior acolytes toward the edge of a cliff, which had a stone platform that stretched toward an open edge, facing another similar-looking magical mountain with more waterfalls and flying flocks of birds in the distance. The open air stone platform had a stone roof, providing shade to the acolytes who sat cross-legged while Minerva stayed on her feet.
Minerva had her hands in the back, she was silent for a while, most likely enjoying the view as well before turning around to address the sitting senior acolytes. She said, "It seems there are still eighty of you under my care, 'where are the others?' you may be wondering. The answer is simple. The seven days we gave was to make everyone at least understand the basics of the spirit elements. The year after in your homeworlds was a way to see how you'd deal with the power given to you. Some have become lazy, while others may be in some event, which prevented the recall. However, don't mind them and focus on what's in front of you. Agreed?"
Minerva, who was also their previous guide last time they were here, explained in such a straightforward manner as if she didn't care even a little about the acolytes who hadn't shown up. She masked the explanation with a charming smile, slightly hinting not to ask any unnecessary questions. Almost everyone nodded.
Emery was one of those who didn't nod. The magus' summarization of 'some had become lazy' was something he couldn't accept regarding Silva. However, the other explanation of something must have happened to her, was the reasoning he could swallow. Nevertheless, he stretched his neck again to look for her among the remaining acolytes.
After failing to find the long-haired, snake-girl, for the second time, a soft hand patted him on the shoulder, startling him. He turned around to see Klea who said, "Ehem. You're looking for your snake girl, aren't you, Emery?"
"I — no — yes…" confusedly said Emery, not sure how to answer at first.
"Hmm… My spirit sense is telling me you'll have a lot of trouble regarding women in the future, Emery," said Klea, trying to look mysterious.
A shiver ran on Emery's spine. "You can't really do that, can you?" he asked.
Now that he had thought about it… in fact, he had been having some trouble regarding women. Gwen, Granny, Morgana, and at a certain point the other four Feywolf sisters… Emery looked at her with disbelieving eyes as she said with a haughty look, "You'll see… My prediction is always right! Hehe…"
He couldn't tell if she actually knew something or not behind her mysterious exotic beautiful face, which seemed to be doing a smile and a frown at the same time. Sometimes, he really couldn't understand this woman, Emery thought.
Placing his attention back to the magus dressed in green in front, he heard her say, "Being accepted in this prestigious academy is a huge fortune in which some would give even years of their lives for just one day here. It's truly a shame if some people aren't taking it seriously. Now, let's put our minds back to the matter at hand and let me see your progress the last one year."
Minerva summoned a cube from her storage ring and let it sit on her hand. She pulled it closer to her and read the shining text, which reflected on her eyes, and muttered, "Impressive… a few of you have reached rank 6 while most of you are still rank 5. Some interesting data here and there...." she stored the cube once more and addressed them, "being chosen in our Magus Academy means you all are special, I'm sure all of you have your own secrets but this time it is wise not to show it like last time."
A bunch of people slumped their shoulders, after Minerva gave her statement. Some even made their feelings known to the others by grumbling to their seatmates how they had wished to showcase their incomparable progress, the ones who grumbled by the way were those entitled young men and women from Kalios.
Emery felt a sense of resentment after hearing there were people who had reached rank 6 and most already on rank 5, including him. In his heart, he was hoping he could be in the lead this time, but apparently, even after being helped by Killgragah, cultivating straight for half a year inside the spatial space with the black dragon, going through a grueling experience of turning his normal spirit core into a spirit core of darkness, as well as a bunch of other stuff, it felt unfair for him. He sighed, pushing down the rising tension of indignation inside him. There was just a huge gap in talent between those who had spirit aptitude S, A, and B.
When Minerva opened her mouth, everyone fell silent immediately. She said in a serious tone, "The requirement to pass the academy this time is easy. You only need to reach rank 6 acolyte. However, I am telling you all now the truth. The second year is the most important year of all. Why? Because this is the time where you'll have to exhibit your talent and progress. The magus games will be held and if you can show your worth, you'll receive fame and most importantly sponsorship, which will soar up your advancement."
The senior acolytes became rowdy in hearing all this. Thrax again puffed up his chest, showing a wide-grin while looking at Julian, while those from Kalios also beamed.
Minerva continued, "The first magus game will be held in ten days. It'll be a team game. You'll be required to form a team with a maximum of eight people. So, don't waste your time and prepare to the best you can.
"Of course, you're all free to seek any of the institutes for ways of advancement. I firstly suggest that you get yourselves good equipment and spells. Lastly, other information will be available in your personal room attendant. So although I'll be staying here with you for the next three months please don't bother me with unnecessary questions. Agree?"
Once again, almost all acolytes nodded in glee. Emery could already see some people leaning to each other and whispering.
"Any questions?" Minerva asked.
"Magus Minerva, what about the reward for the game?" asked a bald male senior acolyte after raising his hand.
Minerva seemed to frown for a moment, this was probably one of the unnecessary questions she had just told them not to ask. Regardless though, the crevice on her brow slightly loosened as she answered, "All rules and rewards can be answered by your personal room attendant. But I guess you'd want to hear this from me anyway to make you feel excited…" she raised her voice and added, "The reward will, of course, be a huge amount of contribution points. But the main reward will be to be accepted to be a personal disciple of a grand magus!"
Emery's fellow senior acolytes issued a great chorus of 'woah' after Magus Minerva revealed the reward.
"Being accepted as a personal disciple of a grand magus is a fortune for anyone, even a magus would compete to the death for a chance to be guided by a higher ranked magus. Anything else aside from this question?" she asked but didn't wait for a second longer as quickly she said, "That is all then. If you have any follow-up questions or need anything else, state your questions again to your personal cube attendant in your residences. Dismissed."
Contribution points, guidance of a grand magus, and sponsorship regarding things he would need to help him to become stronger and advance faster, Emery couldn't help but feel one with the excited atmosphere. If he had those things, Gran—Meave, the Lady of the Lake's sister would be someone he would be able to contend to, there were also those golden knights who appeared to have mysterious powers that could increase their strength.
For all he knew, there could be hundreds of golden knights within the seven kingdoms and Emery had a feeling he would face more of them once he returned in search of Morgana.
Emery's brain began to draw plans how he could advance himself in these ten days. He had the four elements institutes and the apothecary institute, which he would definitely be visiting some time later. But he paused those thoughts for now since there was something more urgent. He needed a team first.
All senior acolytes stood from their seats and began to form groups. Julian, Thrax, Klea and Chumo all walked up to Emery and Julian took the lead by saying, "It looks like everyone already agrees that we're to be in one team?"
The three young men and woman nodded in unison. What they needed to do now was to recruit three people to fill the remaining space.
