2020-08-20 20:57:00†††
When I arrived at the same room as I was escorted previously, I saw an old man standing next to the new lord. I think he's older than the new lord but his face is so bright. He's wearing a radiant fine-drawn smile that goes well with his expensive emerald robe and golden-coloured hemline that suggests that he is one of the noble guests that the new lord invited to the feast. I hurriedly knelt in front of them and waited for the new lord to call out to me.
"So, what do you think about him, Strauss?" asked the new lord.
"It's hard to believe that this is the young man that saved us from that attack. Are you certain, Bradrick?" answered the old man while a slight thud can be heard from his footsteps, then I felt a soft touch from my face and he added, "Can you show me the element that you can conjure, child?"
"Stand up, child. Show him what you can do."
"Yes."
I gathered the mana of the air that surrounds the room on my hand as I shaped it into small twisting spheres that caused our hair to wobble. The small amount of mana that I am using is enough to disrupt the meagre mana inside the room. I looked at the old man's pretty face while I kept going with the air magic on my hand. He touched his temple and glanced at the new lord as he said something to him. The new lord gestured to me to stop and I slowly dispersed the mana out from my hand.
"I must have forgotten my manners, young warlock. I am Ulric Strauss. I am a Professor of the Academy and one of the masters of defence in the council of wizards supervised by the Kingdom's Royal Archmage. You can also call him the Headmaster once your admission is guaranteed," he handed me a piece of white cloth and added, "I have not seen how you fight the invader as I was unfortunately knocked out but I can say that you are not showing your full strength. Also, I think that the manipulation of the wind is indeed one of the hardest elements to master, yet you are capable of bending it at your own will. Tell me. Is it true that you received your magic power, the old and traditional way?"
"Yes." I nodded and kept my composed demeanour.
"Very well, then. You will come with me today and I will ensure your admission to the academy. Keep the white cloth, young warlock."
I guess that concludes the assessment today and we're off to the academy. After he introduced himself as one of the newcomer's teachers, he also mentioned that I will still need to perform some small assessments which will help me be assigned to a group and I can also expect that Knights-to-be and Mage apprentices are put together in a class.
Later that morning, Knights and guardsmen were lined up in front of the manor. Knights like Sir Lyol and the others were standing near the new lord to bid his guest goodbye. Three shiny wooden carriages are waiting for Professor Strauss to ride. The new lord told me that I will be riding the third wooden carriage to transport us to the academy that will take a day. Now that I think about it, the wizard told me that it will also take a day from the academy. I think its border is close enough to the academy to take the journey only in a day.
"You can join me on my carriage, young warlock."
I am waiting for the Professor and the new Lord's signal that I can board the carriage since I don't want to look rude in front of this town's guest. Yet, I was invited to board the same carriage as the professor for some reason. I want to think that I will not be interrogated along the way. I let out a light sigh while thinking that it may turn good while travelling with him. Sprigg said that she will just keep on observing the humans knowledge and magical capacity. Although she mentioned she'll be offline, she said that she'll be sending reports regularly through our telepathic link.
"I guess, I'll be on my own temporarily then, huh."
I thought I heard her giggling but I know that she'll do an excellent job when she's done. We were able to say our farewells to the new lord and the Knights I got acquainted with and as what Professor Strauss demanded, I was placed on his carriage. At first, he was so quiet and kept his calm and noble-like demeanour but as soon as the town was not visible, he started to be as chatty as I never expected him to be.
"No need to be wary and alert. You've already impressed me. I have no interest in ethics or whatnot when I meet a prodigy. Again, I am Ulric Val Strauss and you can just call me Ulric if we're alone. Understood?"
"...Uh, y-yes! Sir Ulric, Sir!"
Of course, I would be flustered when talking to someone I just met today. Prodigy huh. Sprigg calls me that sometimes, but I rarely hear it from her ever since we got out from the Fae's domain. Well, she didn't give me any instructions anymore. I think that's one of the reasons.
"ooh! ...Drop the sir, will you? If you are not comfortable addressing me with my first name, Professor will honestly do it."
He showed a very troubled face. At the very least he's giving me an option to call him with an acceptable way to address someone higher in status than me.
"Now, I heard that you used an advanced form of the wind magic, uh-oh... Lemure, right? Or do you prefer the name the people call you?"
"Lemure is fine, Pf... Professor."
I don't know. It feels awkward to me. This barrage of questions is unprecedented. I am not used to this when speaking to a stranger. Thanks to Sprigg, these questions are not quite unfamiliar to me.
"Yes. So?"
"...uh. uh, yes! I can conjure wind magic to become a barrier."
"Interesting! You truly are a prodigy!" he smiled happily.
Compared to his bright smile previously, he became more vibrant like a young person who's getting a present from his parents. I scratched my head and felt like I am getting more praise today compared to when I didn't know magic. He shows a more cheerful character and then leans on the soft couch.
"Say, would you like to be my apprentice and work as a master of defence in the council of wizards soon? Your wind barrier fits the description, young warlock. No rush, of course! You still need to graduate. You see, I am also a wind master but the barrier that I can only shape is a sphere that can fit two people. Compressing the wind that looked like armour or a body enhancement is a tremendous feat. I have heard rumours about gifts of some talented wizards and I am sure this is one of them."
"Gifts?"
"Yes, child! Now listen. If my memory serves me right, it is a special trait passed down from your ancestors to you. It may have not manifested in your parents but it doesn't mean that you are not capable of acquiring it. Also, It sometimes skips a generation. So it's natural that it is unfamiliar to you and..." he sighed and added, "I am one of the unfortunate ones to not have acquired that."
"I apologize."
“Don’t be, child...”
The wizard that attacked the new lord mentioned that he also has a special trait that lets him check the mana pool of a magic caster. Now, that's a very convenient usage of magical power. I wonder how he does that. I mean, Sprigg and I haven't felt any disturbances of mana when we're battling with that wizard. If Sprigg doesn't give a flying shit about how he does it, then I shouldn't think it's my problem, either.
"Right. Forgive me but can I also ask you something?"
"Go ahead, child! I simply want this moment to get to know you. So, ask away!"
"You mention that there will be an assessment when I arrive in the academy. Do you happen to know how you test a newcomer's magical power?"
"I surely do! It will be a mock battle, of course!"
"Mock... battle?"
"Yes. Mock battle! Newcomers, may it be a knight-to-be or a mage apprentice, you will need to garner specific points to be designated to a comfortable environment. Mind you, young warlock! I am still a professor and I supervise one of the newcomers' classes!"
"Understood."
"You don't have to worry. Although, no one will get special treatment. I am certain that it will be easy for you. Everything will be discussed as soon as you arrive in the academy."
Even if you will not tell me. I am keeping a mental note that you are a teacher at the academy that I will be attending, you know. Not only that but I am also tasked to protect the new lord's daughter. That would only mean that I need to be in the same class the new lord's daughter will be. I have high hopes for my first step in realizing my goal of reuniting with my family there. So, this will mark my new adventure in this Knight-Mage Academy!
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