After the combat test, William and Russell moved on to the final part of the examination process: the interview. They were led to a small room where a panel of three examiners sat behind a desk, waiting to question them.

The panel consisted of two mages and one non-mage who represented the administration of the Academy. The non-mage was responsible for evaluating the candidates' non-magical skills, such as leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork.

William entered the room with confidence, his aura emitting a sense of determination. He took a seat in front of the panel, his eyes meeting theirs. The head examiner, a middle-aged mage with a long white beard, spoke first.

"Welcome, William Virtu. We have reviewed your test results, and we must say, you've shown remarkable talent and control in both your magic and combat skills. However, we would like to know more about you as an individual. Tell us about your motivations for joining Marinus Mage Academy."

William took a moment to collect his thoughts before responding. He was already adept at situations like this. This was exactly like a job interview, so he wasn't anxious at all. After all, how could a person with the soul of an old man worry about such mundane things?

"Thank you for the compliments. My motivation for joining the Academy is twofold. Firstly, I believe that Marinus offers the best environment for me to continue developing my magical abilities. I have a wide range of magical attributes, and I want to further explore and master them under the guidance of experienced teachers. Secondly, I have a strong desire to protect this world from the looming threat of demons. I believe that by becoming a powerful mage, I can contribute to the defense of our world when the time comes."

The panel members nodded, clearly impressed by William's answer. The second examiner, a stern-looking woman with fiery red hair, asked.

"You mentioned having a wide range of magical attributes. How do you plan to balance your studies and training in different elements?"

William smiled confidently and answered with no hesitation.

"I believe that my affinity for the sound element will be my primary focus, as it is where my talent shines the brightest. However, I also intend to dedicate time and effort to developing my abilities in other elements. I see them as tools in my arsenal, each with its own unique strengths and applications. By becoming proficient in multiple elements, I can adapt to different situations and become a versatile mage. Also, my aspect is time attribute-related, so I would like to invest some time into learning time attribute spells."

The non-mage member of the panel, a middle-aged man with a stern expression, asked the following question.

"Beyond your magical abilities, what other qualities do you possess that would make you a valuable addition to Marinus Mage Academy?"

William maintained his composure as he responded, his voice and tone not changing in the slightest.

"Aside from my magical abilities and my status as an Aura user, I believe I have strong leadership qualities. I have had experience leading a small group of individuals in the past, and I understand the importance of teamwork and coordination. I also have a thirst for knowledge and a relentless drive to improve myself. I am willing to put in the hard work and dedication required to excel at Marinus."

Of course, William didn't just have a single experience leading groups; he had to make his achievements smaller.

The panel members exchanged glances, seemingly satisfied with William's answers. The head examiner leaned forward and spoke, his voice carrying a note of approval.

"Very well, William. Your test results and interview have impressed us. We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Marinus Mage Academy. You may go ahead and head towards the student campus."

William nodded at his words, already expecting such an outcome. If he couldn't pass such an exam, what would have been the point of his preparation these past two years?

He thanked the panel members, expressing his gratitude for the opportunity. He left the room, a broad smile on his face and a sense of anticipation for the resources of the Academy.

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Little did he know that his journey at Marinus Mage Academy would not only shape his own destiny but also play a pivotal role in the fate of the world. As he walked out of the room, he glanced back at the girl he had bumped into earlier, who had also just completed her interview.

William scrutinized her face, trying to remember where he had seen her, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't find it. This was strange since he had a great memory, and not recognizing someone was not something that had ever happened to him.

Deciding to solve this problem, he walked over towards the girl, who stared at him, flustered.

William stretched out his hand towards her with an apologetic look on his face. He knew that last time he just bumped into her and apologized, not letting her respond. So, to break the ice, he spoke first.

"Hello, sorry for earlier. I was in a hurry to take the exam and didn't notice you in front of me. My name is William Virtu, by the way."

The girl flushed red at his gesture but still shook his hand and responded.

"It's nothing; I was staring absentmindedly anyway, so it's not really your fault. My name is Regina Dragonlance; you might have heard of my family."

William's eyes shone with understanding. It wasn't that he couldn't recognize her; she just looked a lot like her younger brother, Alvin, though she was much prettier and more elegant.

He and Alvin knew each other quite well in the previous timeline, so it wasn't strange for William to find Regina familiar.

"Of course I have heard of the illustrious Dragonlancer family, but I didn't expect a member of a family of demon hunters to enter the Marinus Mage Academy. You must truly be a talent for your family to let you join."

His words were slightly harsh, but they were the truth.

Regina instantly understood that the boy in front of her wasn't simple at all. Not only did he know his family, but he even knew details like their expertise. This meant that he knew way more than he was showing.

Although Regina was flustered by his handsome appearance at the beginning, her countenance slowly changed into the refined young lady that she was.

Regina composed herself and looked at William with a more severe expression. She could tell that he was no ordinary student. There was an air of wisdom and experience about him that intrigued her.

"You seem to know a lot about my family, William Virtu, but what about you? I can sense that there's more to you than meets the eye. You mentioned being in a hurry to take the exam earlier. Is there a reason behind it?""

Regina asked, her voice steady and confident.

William smiled knowingly. It seemed that Regina was perceptive and sharp, qualities he admired in a person. He decided to be honest with her, to a certain extent.

"I do have my reasons for being in a hurry, but they are personal. Let's just say that I have a mission I need to fulfill, and joining Marinus Mage Academy is a crucial step towards achieving that mission. I believe that this Academy holds the resources and knowledge I need to prepare myself for what's to come."

William replied, his voice serious. He couldn't care less about what Regina thought since he was indeed telling the truth.

Regina studied him intently, her blue eyes trying to pierce through his facade. She could sense the determination and resolve in his words.

"Well, it was a pleasure meeting you. Since I have passed the exam, I will go to the male student quarters to claim my room. See you later."

Said William, leaving Regina to stare at him in a daze once again. She stomped her foot in anger after realizing he had already left and grumbled to herself, heading towards the female student's quarters.

The Academy was divided into three quarters, regardless of the sexual orientation of the individual. This was an academy to learn, not to experience love. Everyone here was devoted to the study of magic, and only students with that mindset were accepted.

The three quarters were the male quarters, the female quarters, and the neutral quarters, where races that didn't have a specific sexual characteristic were located.

Not all races were like humans, who had two distinct reproductive organs. Some races were hermaphrodites, while others didn't have any reproduction system whatsoever. Draconians, for example, could choose which sex they were when they reached the age of two, basing their personalities and characteristics on the traits they wanted.

Other races, like some Beast-kin, had unique reproductive systems resembling those of amphibians, fish, and many other animals.

As William made his way toward the male student quarters, he couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and anticipation. The Academy was teeming with talented individuals, and he was eager to learn from them and push himself to new heights.

Upon entering the male student quarters, William was assigned a room and given his schedule for the upcoming classes. He settled into his new living space, which was modest but comfortable, and took a moment to enjoy the environment.

Although the room was a lot smaller than his room back home, it was cozy. It had everything he needed, from a small kitchen to a private bathroom and even a sizeable empty bookshelf. Just looking at the room, he realized how much unnecessary space his room back home had; this room was much better for his mental state. It reminded him of his office.

Sighing, William shook his head, took off his clothes, and went to take a shower. After cleaning himself, he sat on his bed, staring at his amulet.

As time passed, he realized how precious the time crystal was to him, so for the past two years, he began hiding it underneath his clothes and not letting it hang loosely on his neck.

In the Academy, it was impossible to communicate with the outside world unless it was a break period, so he had already done quite a lot of preparation before entering.

Now, all he needed to do was focus on improving himself.