At both the Magic Academy and the Warrior School, tuition is only charged for three years. At the Magic Academy, if one fails to advance to a second-level mage within three years, they are expelled and sent home—an embarrassing outcome that forfeits any opportunity to study intermediate magical techniques. While noble families may have access to basic magical techniques, only the Magic Academy in the capital offers instruction in advanced spells and techniques.
Those admitted to the Magic Academy are generally students with commendable magical aptitude, and many manage to meet the standards within three years.
Those lacking such aptitude, like the baron, who has been practicing magic within his family for decades, remain at the second level even at sixty.
Typically, it takes about six months to a year for a student to advance to a first-level mage. Progression to the second level is much slower, often requiring the entire third year. Achieving the third level of magical prowess is even more arduous, with advancement over a decade being considered a notable achievement.
The same applies to a warrior’s qi training. However, Dick is practicing advanced qi techniques. Moreover, with his mother’s message stressing that he must reach the fourth-level warrior before turning twenty to continue his training, Dick feels an intense urgency.
Dick continued his rigorous training, and after numerous trials, he confirmed that the jade pendant indeed enhanced mental strength and accelerated magical training. Although this acceleration came with excruciating pain, Dick had no choice but to endure.
For Dick, the annual vacation held no significance. Especially with the need to advance to a mid-level warrior before twenty, alternating between magic and qi training was both exhausting and harmonious, with no conflict between the two.
He heaved and sweat in the training grounds, lifting a thousand-pound barbell. His physique was impressively muscular—essential for anyone training in warrior qi.
The large sword gifted by Uncle Taita was currently only used by Dick for basic hacking drills, devoid of any finesse. As a first-level warrior, Dick had yet to master any secret combat techniques; his training was purely focused on physical strength and technique accumulation.
These basic hacking drills laid the foundation for learning advanced combat techniques.
After a grueling session of qi training, Dick felt mentally rejuvenated and found his magical training more effective. In theory, Dick’s robust physique from qi training allowed him to endure longer sessions of magical practice compared to typical mages with weaker constitutions. This, in a sense, was an advantage in his magical training.
Theoretically, a strong-bodied Dick had at least two or three more opportunities each day to practice magic compared to an average mage. Dick was unsure if this advantage stemmed from his warrior training or the jade pendant’s enhancement of magical practice. Regardless, the extra training time was undoubtedly beneficial.
Regardless of the cause, this additional practice effectively concealed the secret of the pendant’s enhancement of magical training. Furthermore, the occasional magical crystals from Uncle Taita greatly masked any visible shortcomings in Dick’s magical resources.
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As Dick immersed himself in his rigorous training, the new admissions for the Magic Academy’s upcoming year commenced.
“Dick, Dick!” A newcomer eagerly approached Dick.
“Second Young Master!” Despite their few encounters, Dick recognized Thomas Sharp, the second son of the York Baron.
“Don’t, Dick. This is the Magic Academy of the capital; we’re all classmates here, so no need for such formalities. Besides, you’re a senior…” Thomas, being a baron’s offspring, maintained a certain level of pretentiousness. Did he truly believe that such behavior would endear him to others? Hilarious!
Fine then, if you say so, I’ll just call you Thomas.
Dick never held much regard for the baron’s young master and, after exchanging a few polite words, decided to address Thomas directly. It felt more genuine.
Seeing a fellow countryman, Thomas was very enthusiastic.
Little brat, trying to be clever with me. At the Magic Academy, Dick’s dual practice of qi is no secret. So what? Where did my qi training techniques come from? They were personally taught by Larson, a sixth-level warrior. Dick had already prepared an excuse. Leaving the baron’s family didn’t mean he could no longer access qi training techniques.
Who is Larson? Currently, he is the vice-principal of the Warrior School in the capital and practices advanced qi techniques reserved for those with special physiques. Dick said so, and as long as Larson’s side doesn’t clarify, who can tell the truth from fiction?
As for the source of Larson’s special qi training techniques, Dick had no idea (probably royal techniques). Even a pinnacle sixth-level warrior would receive special treatment from the royal family—who would really scrutinize such details?
“Dick, your elder brother has also arrived.”
“Is that so? I’ll meet him someday.” Damn it, the baron’s son travels with attendants. Back then, Dick’s father Sinclair had sent his elder brother to the baron’s house, where he was given the position of a ‘servant.’
Dick found the knightly notion of loyalty and devotion quite repulsive. His feelings for his older and younger brothers were rather indifferent. It seemed that the bond among the three brothers had always been lukewarm. Thomas, thinking he could leverage his elder brother to threaten Dick, was deluding himself.
Dick was not raised by his elder or younger brothers; he owed them nothing.
“Thomas, how is my father?” With his experience of two lives, Dick found it difficult to invest emotionally. However, he was grateful to his father Sinclair for raising him, enduring hardships, and supporting his studies in the capital.
A servant knight from a remote village who managed to scrape together ten thousand gold coins for him had made significant sacrifices. Dick, with his sense of conscience, was appreciative.
To be honest, if Sinclair had sent Dick to the baron’s house as a ‘servant,’ Dick would have had no positive feelings for his father.
“Your father has passed away. He reportedly left due to severe injuries, intending to return your mother’s ashes to her homeland before he died. It has been two months, and there is no news.”
Passed away? Dick knew well that his father had harbored deep resentment towards the baron’s family. His passing was perhaps a relief; Dick was uneasy about his father remaining in Sunning Town, fearing the scheming baron might find a way to target him.
As for his mother’s homeland, Dick had no knowledge, as his father had never mentioned it.
After learning all he needed, Dick courteously bid farewell to Young Master Thomas.
It was surprising to find that the baron’s second son had considerable magical talent. Well, let him come. Little brat, does he think he can scheme against me? With his father gone, Dick had even fewer concerns.
“Dick, Dick, come see this! This is my new junior, with average mental strength and elemental affinity—quite the little genius.” Harvey, the chubby fellow, arrived excitedly with a skinny child who appeared even less well-dressed than Dick, clearly a commoner’s child, showing deference to the wealthy merchant family’s Harvey.
“Congratulations! Congratulations, chubby. To celebrate your new, promising junior, you must treat us to a magical feast!”
“Dick, I knew you’d seize the opportunity to exploit me. No worries, I have money. Let’s go, magical feast!” Harvey was even more generous in front of his junior.