The burgundy-haired boy, Sol, leaned back in his chair, a smug smirk playing on his lips. "Is that right, new kid?" he called out, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Can your kind even handle the serein? I've heard it's only the Fae who can do it right."

The room grew tense, and Si-Woo felt his cheeks flush. He didn't know how to respond to Sol's challenge.

"Now, now," Minho's voice cut through the tension, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Level six is for the young adults, the 17,18-year-olds," he said, addressing the class. "Those who have mastered the basic elements of serein and are ready to learn the complexities of governance and diplomacy, for whichever governing family they want to study in."

The room buzzed with excitement at the mention of the governing families. Si-Woo felt a knot in his stomach, unsure of what that meant for him. "You will find out more when you become a level five," Minho said.

"But what about level 7?" a voice piped up from the back of the room. It was a boy with spiky blonde hair and a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Minho's expression grew serious. "Ah, yes," he said, his eyes sweeping over the students. "The level 7 students are our most advanced. They are 19, 20-year-olds, those who have not only started to master serein and create their own arts but have learned to weave it into the very fabric of their being."

A hush fell over the room as the students leaned in, eager for more. "They are the ones who are considered the future guardians of our world, the ones who will stand at the forefront of our battles, and the voyagers of our technological evolution."

"But enough about that," Minho said, his voice a gentle reprimand. "Let's focus on the here and now. In each of these levels, there are 'greenies' and 'seniors'. The greenies are the newcomers of a level, who are just beginning their year. You'll spend at least two years in a level, learning the basics of serein and basic education of the world, and the seniors are the ones who've spent a year already in the level, but since it takes three years for a level one to move to level two, they have greenies juniors and seniors. "

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Minho's expression earnestly said "But don't be discouraged, young ones. We have a special test here called the pre-mid-term placement test. If you show exceptional progress and a strong sense of knowledge, you may be promoted early. It's quite the challenge, but I believe in you," he said, his eyes shining with a hint of mischief.

The classroom buzzed with excitement and whispers filled the air as the students contemplated the possibility of jumping levels. For Ha-Yoon, the thought of advancing quickly brought a glimmer of hope, while Si-Woo felt a knot of determination tighten in his stomach. He didn't want to be left behind.

"But don't get too carried away," Minho warned, his smile turning into a serious expression. "The pre-mid-term placement tests are no joke. They're designed to test not just your knowledge of serein and basic to advance general education, but also your character and your ability to critically think in pressurized situations."

The room grew quiet as Minho's words sunk in. Si-Woo felt the weight of the upcoming challenge settle on his shoulders, his mind racing with the implications. At six years old, he was already older than most students in his class. Could he really keep up with kids who had been born and raised in this world?

Mai looked at him, her eyes filled with encouragement. "Don't worry," she whispered. "We'll study together."

Minho explained, "This means that a 6-year-old could be placed at level two or three based on the results of the pre-mid-term placement test, which will occur two months from now. Be prepared, as this test also has the ability to move you down from level three to level one."

Si-Woo's eyes widened at the mention of the test. Two months didn't seem like a lot of time to learn and master something as complex as serein.

Mai noticed his anxiety and whispered, "Don't worry. The test is tailored to each level, so the test the level 7s will get is vastly different from the level 2s."

Minho cleared his throat, bringing the room back to attention. "Now, let's talk about the classes you'll be taking," he announced. "The core curriculum here at the Young Academy consists of Hoken Language and History, Beast Training, Spiritual Meditation, basic martial arts training, and of course, Serein arts."

Si-Woo's eyes lit up at the mention of beast training. He had always loved animals and the thought of bonding with creatures from another world was thrilling.

Minho picked up a small stone and held it in the palm of his hand. "Your first lesson will be in basic serein manipulation," he said, his gaze intense. "You will learn to connect with the serein within you and the world around you."