“Go away! As a crude warrior, what right do you have to criticize a great mage?” The little girl snapped, completely disregarding the dignity of the burly Titan and speaking directly.

“Hmph!” Titan merely grunted in protest before stepping back a few paces, tactfully retreating.

It seemed that warriors in this world naturally harbored a certain reverence for mages, even someone like Uncle Titan, a mid-level warrior.

“What is your name?”

“Dick. And you?”

“Alina! Are you also going to the capital to study? Warrior or mage?”

“I aspire to become a mage, but I’m not sure if I have the talent for it.”

“That’s true; mage aptitude is extremely rare. When I was five, it was already determined that I had an affinity for wind magic, with my mental strength and magical affinity being of moderate talent…”

It seemed this young girl must hail from a prestigious noble family. Otherwise, how could she have her magical aptitude tested?

Dick wondered why this girl was so talkative with him, especially since she looked down on warriors. Moreover, given Dick's current appearance, rather plain and unrefined, shouldn’t she, as a noble, disdain someone of his background?

“Alina, if your family can afford magic training, why go to the capital?”

“Simpleton, don’t you understand? Magic techniques and spells above level four are only available in the capital. I’m a prodigy and will definitely become a mid-level mage.”

Ah, it seems the monopoly on magic is even more stringent. Local nobles can offer mid-level knight training techniques for their direct-line warriors, but anything beyond that for mages is out of reach. It makes sense; otherwise, the royal family would lose its edge.

“Isn’t it supposed to be free? Why is the tuition so high?” Dick was frustrated. The tuition at the capital’s magic academy was ten thousand gold coins per year. In Xin Ning Town, a year’s income might leave only a few dozen gold coins.

“Fool, the techniques and spells up to level three are taught for free, but tuition must be paid beyond that. After all, how do you expect magic tutors to make a living?”

Indeed! Those who can become magic tutors are highly valuable; it’s impossible for them to work for free.

Well, even the supposedly free warrior academy in the capital still charges tuition. Although it’s not as expensive as the magic academy, three thousand gold coins per year is still required.

“Doesn’t that mean that commoners can’t afford to study magic or warrior techniques in the capital?” Dick asked reluctantly, considering that while nobles have money, they are still in the minority.

“There are quite a few commoners at the capital’s magic academy. No money? Simple! Just sign a loan contract with the royal family.”

Ah, Dick understood. Commoners wishing to enter the academy to learn magic and warrior techniques would inevitably face some form of debt, likely involving loyalty or indenture.

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Dick looked helplessly at Titan a few meters away. Surprisingly, Titan gave Dick a reassuring look. Oh? Could this Uncle Titan actually be wealthy? Well, as a mid-level warrior, he probably has some savings.

“Simpleton, I knew you had no money. How about this: I’ll sponsor your tuition?”

“What for? Alina, do you expect me to pledge my loyalty to you in the future?”

“Why not? I find you somewhat agreeable. In the future, if you become my knight attendant, wouldn’t that be an honor?”

What a presumptuous woman, clearly doubting his potential as a mage. In this world, warriors and knights often end up as servants to nobles or mages. Alternatively… become bandits? For instance, the bandit leader was a level four warrior.

At the capital’s warrior academy, even if you are a noble or wealthy, once you reach level four warrior, you face new choices. You must either pledge loyalty to the royal family or align with a particular noble (rejoining your family). Otherwise, advanced royal warrior techniques are unobtainable. It is said that the royal warriors have superior training techniques and better chances for higher advancement.

Why are there no level five warriors among the five level four warriors of York Territory (Dick’s mother wasn’t a warrior of the baron’s house)? It is probably because the baron’s family’s training techniques are subpar.

Indeed, most students at the capital’s warrior academy choose to serve the royal family. After all, the conditions offered by local nobles cannot compare to those of the royal family. Talented students with great potential might even be granted titles by the royal family; local nobles can only offer positions like knightly territories, much like Sinclair’s.

“Can’t I become a high-level warrior?” Dick said, frustrated.

“Haha…” Alina laughed until her stomach hurt.

“Hmph!” Dick was exasperated. In the Great Yan Kingdom, with its several hundred million people, there’s only one high-level warrior, making it an incredibly difficult feat, “I want to be a mage!”

“The capital’s magic academy doesn’t accept just anyone. You must have at least moderate mental strength or elemental affinity. Otherwise, you can only practice on your own at home, haha!”

There’s this requirement too? Well, the Baron of Blackstone Castle was a level two mage and practiced in his own territory. It’s said that this Baron, now over sixty, has little magical potential left and will never advance to a mid-level mage.

Whether training in magic or warrior techniques, striving for social status is one reason; the more important reason is to extend one’s lifespan. Mages who don’t reach mid-level can’t extend their lifespan by a hundred years. No matter how good their mental state or body, they only live about ten years longer than ordinary people.

Everything relies on training aptitude, and the same goes for warrior techniques. If one doesn’t become a high-level warrior before fifty, all potential is exhausted, and there’s no hope left. Even with strong combat skills and excellent physical condition, a warrior might only live ten years longer than an ordinary person.

How long can an ordinary person live? The impoverished people of Xin Ning Town are considered exceptional if they live to sixty, while the well-nourished wealthy can live up to eighty at most.

Talented practitioners are scarce; even among level four mages, there are fewer than twenty in the entire Great Yan Kingdom.

In theory, Alina’s mental strength and elemental affinity reaching the intermediate level indeed indicate exceptional talent, a promising future for becoming a mid-level mage.

“Young man, your warrior training talent is quite impressive too!”

Hmm? There’s someone else in the carriage?

“Grandpa Larson, how did you know?” Alina asked curiously.

“Because the fighting qi you’re practicing is the same fire affinity as mine.” As he spoke, the door of the carriage opened, revealing an old man with a white beard.

“Have I been practicing fighting qi?” Dick was puzzled, wondering how he hadn’t known.

“Your fighting qi is very pure. The techniques must be advanced; otherwise, it would be impossible to train in warrior techniques before the age of ten,” Larson said with a smile.

“Senior!” Titan, riding a mule assigned by the caravan, looked nervous from a few meters back.

“Don’t worry. Advanced fighting qi techniques almost always require a special bloodline or constitution. Besides, I’m an old man; are you worried about me stealing this child’s techniques? Haha!” Larson said with a laugh.

“Uncle Titan, have I been practicing warrior techniques?” Dick asked out of curiosity.

“Uh… probably,” Titan said, unsure of how to respond.

“Are these the baron’s family techniques?” Dick asked curiously, wondering if knights aren’t allowed to teach techniques privately without their ‘master’s’ permission.

“Pfft!” Titan sneered dismissively.