Turning around to inspect where he had tripped, Yark found nothing—no dips, no rocks, just a flat, smooth surface.
“Yark, falling on flat ground? Watch your step next time!” one of his classmates teased, as the rest laughed.
After all, they were all fine, and he was the only one who tripped.
Who else would they laugh at?
Even if Yark wanted to be angry, he couldn’t; he’d genuinely fallen on flat ground, and it was his classmate who cast the healing spell for him.
Resigned, he chuckled along with them, and they continued on their way.
Murray, however, glanced back at Crossbridge Academy thoughtfully.
He suspected that Yark’s stumble had something to do with his lack of restraint earlier, though he had no evidence.
As for Daniel’s actual strength, Murray had no idea.
He couldn’t sense any mana from him at all, as if Daniel were a normal person.
But as Crossbridge Academy’s headmaster and the one responsible for wiping out two powerful families, how could he possibly be ordinary?
It was impossible to think that Daniel hid behind others while his subordinates did all the fighting.
If that were the case, the real decision-maker would have met them instead of Daniel.
There was only one other possibility: Daniel’s strength was so profound that it was beyond Murray’s perception, like a fish unable to comprehend the vastness of the ocean.
To Murray, both Crossbridge Academy and its headmaster were far from simple.
In Riverside City, he’d heard two distinct views on Daniel: some saw him as a talentless figure who only survived by relying on his father, while others thought he was a hidden genius, only revealing his potential after the former headmaster’s death.
After meeting Daniel in person, Murray was inclined to believe the latter.
Daniel’s calm demeanor seemed unaffected by external events, not even reacting to the mention of Karea Academy, as though it were unimportant to him.
For anyone who had heard of Karea Academy, joining would be a dream come true.
So the only explanation was that Daniel found the idea of joining the academy inconsequential.
What kind of person would think like that?
Either someone clueless or someone powerful enough to consider Karea Academy merely ordinary. Was Daniel the latter?
Murray didn’t know but would await the final answer.
Meanwhile, Daniel, having administered a minor punishment to the insolent young man, turned his attention back to more pressing matters.
Though he considered himself broad-minded, he wasn’t a pushover; disrespect warranted a small consequence.
Of the group, the only one who left a favorable impression was Murray.
Karea Academy… not a bad institution.
Shortly after, Daniel summoned five students.
Over the past few days, their abilities had advanced significantly.
Nora, in particular, had broken through from tier-silver peak to tier-gold. freewebnvel.coɱ
After checking her foundation and ensuring it was solid, Daniel felt reassured; she had evidently fully digested her experiences in the semi-divine realm.
“Good. It looks like you haven’t wasted your time these past days. Riverside City and the secret realm matters are resolved, so what do you plan to do next?” Daniel’s question took the students by surprise, but they quickly realized he was asking about their futures.
After all, they couldn’t stay in Crossbridge Academy forever.
Daniel had already provided them with so much during their training.
For mages, growth required not just mana but personal experience.
Riverside City could no longer meet their needs.
Those Karea Academy students had a point; compared to other regions, Riverside City was indeed a backwater.
Seeing them silent, Daniel continued, “Karea Academy representatives visited recently. They’d like you to join them. Karea Academy is one of the Free Federation’s largest academies. It’s located in the southern federation, where you would encounter more talented peers and have more opportunities for growth.”
The students understood Daniel’s meaning.
“Father, what about you? Would you come with us?” Rose asked.
“Me? Why would I go there? It’s a place for young people like you,” Daniel replied, looking at Rose.
“If Father’s not going, then I won’t go either!” Rose declared.
“Rose, you can’t stay under my protection forever. Now that you’ve gained strength, you need to venture out…” Daniel said sternly.
“No, Father, that’s not what I meant,” Rose interrupted. “If you were going, I’d consider it. But since you’re not, I want to pursue my own goals.”
“Oh?” Daniel asked, intrigued. “What do you plan to do?”
“I want to lead my followers and make Crossbridge Academy known throughout the Free Federation,” Rose replied, her gaze unwavering.
Daniel looked at his daughter in admiration.
When he first arrived at Crossbridge Academy, Rose had been timid and insecure, barely able to speak up.
Now, she was brimming with confidence. Her transformation filled him with pride.
“Headmaster, I feel the same as Rose. But I want to make it on my own,” said Reed.
“Great! In that case, why don’t we split up? I’ll head east to De’an City—House Goldstone’s girl mentioned it’s a hub for talented individuals,” Rose suggested.
“Perfect, and the western cities are known for constant battles,” Reed replied.
The western region of the Free Federation was notorious for its lawlessness, where strength ruled. Reed’s plan was simple: to fight, keep fighting, and become the strongest.
Daniel was pleased with their ambitions and turned to Nora, curious about her choice.
“Headmaster, I want to try Karea Academy,” Nora said, surprising Daniel.
“I’m not forcing anyone to go there. You can make your own choice,” he assured her.
“No, Headmaster. I truly want to go to Karea Academy,” Nora replied seriously. “Perhaps only there can I fully develop my magic.”
“Karea Academy, as the largest magical academy in the Free Federation, must have a wealth of resources. That’s why I want to go there,” Nora explained.
Hearing her reasoning, Daniel realized that Nora had made this decision independently rather than waiting for someone else to guide her.
Satisfied, he had no further questions.
He then turned his gaze to Green, curious about his nephew’s choice.