“First University has four academies, several research institutes, and many other related organizations.”
“The four academies are Nine Provinces College, Alpha Academy, Atlas Academy, and Starry Sky Academy. I’ve heard that the University has been planning to open another academy in recent years to accommodate the increasing number of new students, but as far as I know, there hasn't been any progress yet.”
“The Nine Provinces College you are enrolling in is the oldest academy in the world. A long time ago, there were two or three others that were comparable to Nine Provinces College, but they all vanished into history. Perhaps you can still find some traces of them in the academy cultures of Alpha or Atlas.”
“Each year, the four academies independently set their own questions and recruit outstanding students who fit their respective academies. However, their focuses differ—this is the most fundamental distinction among the four academies—in short, Nine Provinces College selects students through examinations, Alpha values students’ innate talents, Atlas only recruits students with firm beliefs, and as for Starry Sky Academy…” Thomas’s face showed a nostalgic smile, “As long as you can fight, you can stay safely in Starry Sky Academy.”
“What does ‘can fight’ mean?” Zheng Qing remembered the four doors in that hall and couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.
“It means exactly what it says.” Thomas reined in his smile, “Starry Sky Academy is the only University that measures a student’s qualification by their combat ability.”
Concise and profound.
Zheng Qing swallowed his saliva, as if he saw a hot-blooded high school for Wizards.
Names like Genji and Serizawa flashed through his mind, and he imagined which character the serious Thomas would resemble more.
“The original intention behind the establishment of First University was to eliminate conflicts and contradictions between the world’s major powers. As things stand now, although seemingly unified on the surface, there has always been, well, some healthy competition between the various academies. You’ll need to get used to this once you enter the University.”
“Healthy competition?” Zheng Qing crushed another peanut, chewing on the word with the peanut.
“Let’s put it this way.” Thomas scratched his smooth chin and added, “In the eyes of a Starry Sky Academy student, Nine Provinces College students are all bookworms, Alpha students are all hypocrites, and Atlas students are all religious fanatics. Of course, in the eyes of other academies, Starry Sky Academy students are all battle maniacs. The distinctions are so clear, like a well-mixed cocktail, a unified whole, yet with distinct colors within.”
“I still don’t quite understand.” Zheng Qing pried open a fig with his fingernail, popped it into his mouth, looking somewhat worried.
“What don’t you understand?” Thomas seemed very patient.
“I just followed a gentleman,” Zheng Qing said, then felt it was inappropriate and quickly corrected himself, “I mean, I just followed a Taoist priest and learned a few small tricks. I can’t even subdue a fierce ghost, and I can only draw some simple talismans. Moreover, why have I never heard of any of these things?”
“Do you expect the daily news broadcast to also introduce the latest laws passed by the Wizarding World? Don’t be ridiculous… Just like the Bloodline’s Seclusion Treaty, the Wizarding World also has its own rules of hidden existence.” Thomas mocked him unceremoniously.
“Rules.”
“Yes, the Wizarding World has its own rules. Just like the phrase ‘small tricks’ you just mentioned, it violates the rules of Wizards.” Thomas warned very seriously, “Never say those words to a proper Wizard. It is the greatest insult to a Wizard. The duels caused by those words each year are countless. Even the Wizard Alliance is helpless about it.”
“I just saw the Wizard Alliance mentioned in your newspaper,” Zheng Qing couldn’t help but add.
“The Wizard Alliance is the organization that manages all Wizards in the world. You can understand it as the government of Wizards. The Wizard Alliance has three major institutions under it: the Wizard Council, the Moonlight Council, and First University.”
“Is First University a government agency?”
“You can understand it that way. To be precise, First University is a University, and even more so, the core power of the Wizarding World.”
“Then why did they admit me? Isn’t it a bit hasty? What if I can’t keep up with the studies, will I be sent back?” Zheng Qing was a little uneasy, “If I’m sent home, will I have to retake a year to get into another University?”
“As I just mentioned, Nine Provinces College’s selection method is an examination. For students of this academy, grades represent almost everything. Since you achieved a high score in the Global Wizard Unified College Entrance Examination, then undoubtedly, you are a qualified freshman for this academy.”
“As for not keeping up with the studies…” Thomas put down his cup and stared at Zheng Qing with equal curiosity, his emerald green eyes sparkling, “Every year, the University’s roster adds hundreds of new names and their information. These are the freshmen for that year. I can tell you very clearly that some of them, like you, have not had formal education before this, and this does not prevent them from becoming outstanding students of First University.”
“Time’s almost up.” Without waiting for Zheng Qing to ask further questions, Thomas stood up and motioned for Zheng Qing to come along, “It’s time to prepare things for you. Tonight, I still have to travel thousands of miles to report on the situation and fill out reports. Being an interviewer is a tough job.”
“Still need an interview?” Zheng Qing had just realized Thomas’s identity and asked nervously, “Do I need to prepare anything? Are there any interview materials or anything?”
“From the moment we met, the interview had already begun. For Nine Provinces College freshmen, this interview is just a procedural task. Your exam results have already confirmed that you can safely enroll in First University.”
“But,” Zheng Qing felt he had too many questions, but still asked awkwardly, “Do my parents know about these things? How should I explain it to them? My gentleman at home doesn’t allow me to talk nonsense.”
“No, they don’t know.” Thomas’s tone was gentle. He pushed open the glass door, leading Zheng Qing out of the tea house, and said as they walked, “They don’t even know the nature of the University you’re going to. In fact, they only know that First University is a good University guaranteed by the Education Bureau, and that you were lucky enough to receive a full scholarship. Your major, in their eyes, is a very normal Astronomy major. Of course, we promise you’ll have a combined bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral program, it’s just that the University’s address is abroad.”
Zheng Qing nodded contentedly, his cowlick bobbing along.
“Let me see, what do you need?” After stepping out of the tea house, Thomas picked up Zheng Qing’s acceptance letter, squinting as he read it, “You know, while there are supermarkets inside the University, the University isn’t a good supermarket… Many things are more cost-effective to buy in the market. Your scholarship is very limited.”
“This paper,” after taking out the greenish A4-sized paper, Thomas’s finger simply brushed over it before handing it to Zheng Qing, saying, “If you’ve received intermediate education, well, actually, even basic education would suffice, you’ll know what to do.”
“Don’t worry, these things are actually very simple,” seeming to sense Zheng Qing’s unease, Thomas comforted him, “Although some basics are involved, what you learn in the University doesn’t have much to do with your previous foundation. Of course, except for some special subjects… Seeing that you seem to have some foundation, you should easily integrate into this world.”
Zheng Qing sighed heavily, taking the greenish paper, which was now covered in densely written regular Chinese characters.
He became even more certain that he would definitely be the tail-ender in his class.