In the blink of an eye, six months passed since William had first entered the Academy.

It had been a whirlwind of learning, challenges, and growth for him. William fully embraced the rigorous training and immersive environment that the Academy provided and flourished in his studies.

Although he was still a second-stage mage, his progress was impressive. With his current pace, he could reach the third stage by the end of his first year.

Since he had spent much time improving himself, he had become completely isolated from the other students in his class. The only two students he talked to were Regina and Russell, and that was only during class periods.

William didn't regret this decision, as he wanted to focus on improving himself. However, the demons could act at any time, so he had to make sure he was ready to take action when necessary.

As long as he reached the sixth stage or higher, he could contend against high-ranking demons. Paired with his Aura and aspect, he could contend with general-rank demons.

It was still early morning, and William had already woken up and taken a cold shower.

His mind was evidently preoccupied as he sat cross-legged, meditating on top of his bed. Every six months, the Academy went through a testing period that ranked students based on their performance in different fields. These fields ranged from magic studies and history to fighting ability and mana control.

The students had multiple tests to take, but William didn't care about them at the moment.

Recently, his mana brain had been behaving strangely, and he had issues with mana absorption. This was bad since, without being able to absorb mana, his strength couldn't increase, so he had to get to the bottom of it.

As William continued his meditation, he focused on unraveling the mystery of his erratic mana absorption. He delved deep into his consciousness, seeking the source of the issue. Images and sensations flashed through his mind as he explored the depths of his mana brain.

After what seemed like hours of intense concentration, William's mind latched onto a faint glimmer of understanding. He realized the imbalance in his mana absorption was due to an internal blockage within his channels, specifically the channel between his heart and spinal cord.

William immediately began to work on fixing the issue, recognizing that things would be dangerous if they continued like this.

William gradually manipulated the flow within his channels using his well-honed control over his mana. He gently nudged the stagnant energy, coaxing it to flow freely again. It was a delicate process, requiring precise adjustments and an acute sense of his mana.

William felt warmth and energy coursing through his body as he worked diligently. The blockage within his mana channels slowly dissolved, giving him a sense of relief. It was as if a dam had been removed, allowing the free flow of mana.

With a deep breath, William opened his eyes and ended his meditation. The issue with his mana absorption had been resolved, but only for now. He frowned, trying to figure out the reason behind this blockage.

Mana blockage usually occurs when one absorbs energy wrongly or has an underlying condition. William was confident that his absorption method was perfect—at least, it should have been perfect if his body was the same as his previous timeline.

He had specifically designed it with his body in mind, so things should have gone relatively smoothly, but after the blockage, he realized that there was an issue.

He reviewed his absorption method repeatedly, trying to understand where the problem lay, but he couldn't see anything wrong with it.

His frown deepened as he decided to inspect his body again, closing his eyes to meditate.

Searching through every nook and cranny of his mana channels, he found no distinct difference from the channels of his previous life.

Suddenly, he thought of something and activated his aspect, [Chronomancer]. In an instant, his whole body was covered in bright green runes. His thought speed accelerated, and he focused on finding the issue.

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It was then that he noticed that the runes didn't only appear outside but also inside his body. Everything, from blood vessels to mana channels, was covered with the green runes.

His brain, especially, was covered with the densest amount of runes, so it appeared just green if one didn't look too closely.

William realized that the problem with his mana absorption was not due to any external factor but rather a result of his aspect, [Chronomancer]. The green runes that covered his brain were affecting the flow of his mana, causing blockages and disruptions.

William knew that his aspect would impact his body, but he hadn't anticipated that it would interfere with his mana absorption like this. He had to find a way to change his mana brain method to adapt to his aspect, or else he would be handicapped in his pursuit of power.

He focused on his aspect, trying to understand how it affected his body. With his enhanced thinking speed, he could process the information more quickly and accurately. He realized that the green runes were what accelerated time around him. He didn't recognize the characters themselves or try to decode them.

However, he could clearly see a pattern emerge from them. If he inspected his body from a broader perspective, they resembled a natural construct. It was as if his aspect created a magical spell or formation inside his body.

This, in turn, affected his mana absorption method since his body was fundamentally changed after the awakening of his aspect.

He concentrated on his mana channels and tried to stimulate the runes. The green runes on his brain glowed brighter as he did so, and he felt the mana flowing more smoothly.

William deactivated his aspect, and his body returned to normal. He now understood the issue, so all he had to do now was calibrate his absorption method. This would take a while, but he wasn't worried. If what he had in mind worked, his absorption speed would skyrocket, and reaching the third stage would be a piece of cake.

Opening his eyes once more, he got up and stretched. He had spent quite a while examining himself, so he had to get up and prepare himself for today's tests.

The testing period lasted about a week, giving students free time after completing it. While other students would most likely spend this time studying for good results, William would continue going to the library, as he now had enough credits to access the third level.

William put on his clothes, which were in pristine condition, combed his long brown hair, and headed out while adjusting his collar.

Exiting the dorms, William made his way to the testing grounds, a massive building with a large dome at its top, giving it an awe-inspiring appearance.

Upon arrival, the testing grounds were abuzz with activity. Students from various classes and levels were preparing for their respective tests. William observed the scene, recognizing some familiar faces among the crowd. Regina and Russell were also present and engaged in conversation with a group of fellow students.

William didn't approach them and stood in a corner, waiting for the tests to begin. His thoughts were now occupied with ways to improve his mana brain absorption method. He would easily pass any of the tests anyway since he was already at the graduate level in knowledge and mana manipulation. He only lacked a high level, which he was already striving for.

As the time for the test approached, a senior instructor stepped forward and addressed the gathering of students. His voice carried through the air, commanding attention.

"Welcome, students, to the Academy's testing period. This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your progress and skills. You will be evaluated in various disciplines, and your performance will be graded accordingly. Remember, these tests are not only a measure of your abilities but also an opportunity for growth. Embrace the challenges and strive to surpass your previous limits."

William's thoughts stopped when he heard the voice and focused his gaze on the instructor.

The first test on the schedule was the written examination, which assessed the students' knowledge of magic theory and spellcasting principles.

The first year's class was moved to a different building to begin their exam, seating every student within specific measurements and then handing them out the exam.

William wasn't even fazed when he was given the exam paper, but many students were shocked by how hard the test was.

However, Marinus wasn't an academy that any standard mage could enter, so all of the students here had some sort of strong suit. They might not answer all the questions but would answer the majority.

William breezed through the exam, answering each question with ease. Other students around him glanced over, impressed by his speed, and doubted if he was that confident. William completed the written test well before schedule, but his gaze was bland.

There wasn't an interesting topic, nor was there a question that one could answer with one's own theories. The questions mainly consisted of already confirmed theories and mana manipulation methods. Of course, that was to be expected from a first-year test.

Spellcasting was also dependent on the mage. For example, William didn't require a wand, and using one wouldn't help him either. If he was going to use a magic tool for spellcasting, he preferred to use staffs since they were far more useful in both speed and power.

However, procuring a high-quality staff was extremely difficult. Even in the previous timeline, Leonardo was the only mage who still possessed his magical staff.

William handed the paper to the overseeing teacher and headed to the library.

Usually, these tests would take over three hours, but William took around half an hour to finish all the questions and hand in his paper. The only reason it took him that long was the rules. An exam must last at least thirty minutes for a paper to be handed over.