After the training ended for today, everyone left the room and went to test his abilities, which improved without excess, as the teacher recommended them to rest so that the mana could settle. They completed their daily training to absorb the mana out of the air and finished the day in the best condition.

---------------------------

On the morning of the fifth day, everyone showed up earlier than usual for training out of excitement, it was not something that could be suppressed after seeing yesterday's results. Even Maximus came early since he had anticipated something like this given what happened yesterday.

'You seem to be in perfect shape to complete the training. Do your best today too.'

'Yes, Master.'

The conversation did not linger as they followed the magician inside. Everyone was physically and mentally prepared for the training.

"We have to achieve the best possible results. We shouldn't disappoint the teacher in us."

'Just like yesterday, you will do the same but with collective guidance. You have to keep up with each other's pace.'

'Understood.'

After following the instructions and hours passed, everyone managed to do so but it did not go as smoothly as planned, many of them suffered some minor injuries due to the mana agitation and caused them some moderate burns. He was able to treat them himself in some ways he did not like to use, so Maximus teleported instantly to the Academy Hospital to bring an expert therapist with him in no time. The injuries were treated but the psychological damage did remain.

'There is always a price for power, even if its form is different. And this is one of its forms, so please remember this, little ones.'

'We'll remember that.'

'Here we finish today's training, tomorrow we will complete the rest of the training and the last day will be rest'

'Excuse me, Master. I have a question regarding something.'

Orion remembered that yesterday he has forgotten to tell the teacher out of excitement, that is where Dante stepped in and continued to speak in his place.

'I forgot that too yesterday. That idiot with Eric have brought a book from the library about mana applications, among which wireless connectivity technique has gotten their attention and they trained two days ago and caused an explosion. It wasn't particularly dangerous, though, but it was still against your orders.'

Maximus smiled and rubbed his chin after hearing this, their choice intrigued him.

'Exciting. Nevertheless, violating orders deserves punishment. I was planning to teach it to you tomorrow but you two boys anticipated it.'

'We won't repeat it, Master.'

Their faces were frightened, but Maximus quickly calmed them down:

'Ask me before you do something next time, and then do whatever you want. Don't repeat these acts in the future.'

'We promise we won't do it again.'

The boys' face was resolute, and after Maximus glimpsed it, he smiled subtly.

"What a curiosity!! Of all the written techniques in the book, their eyes fell on this particular one. What a ridiculous!!"

As an old saying said: "The first time is just a stroke of luck, the second time is inevitable, but the third time is fate."

'Wait all. Since today's training is complete, I'll give each of you a booklet to practice according to its contents, you have to complete that by tomorrow.'

From the outside, it seems that Maximus does not have many concerns, but he always writes the techniques he will train them in in manuals in advance, prepares the plan for the future and looks for alternative options and contingency plans in case of any situation.

'More fatigue... Huh'

After a sigh, each took a handbook from the teacher and started looking at its content in order to get to know it now.

"Some things are rather complicated but the explanation is easy and clear."

Even Orion and Eric were surprised by the simplicity of the existing techniques, one of which was the one they were trained on, but the method here is easier and clearer than you might imagine.

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"Is this a special skill of the teacher?? How can he simplify things to such a degree?"

A bad teacher makes it difficult for you to learn the technique, a good teacher makes it easy for you to learn it, a great teacher enables you to learn it by yourself, and this is what Maximus wanted the most. Each of them has to find his own path in the future and self-learning is the first step towards that goal.

'You can go to the academy reception and ask the staff member about the principal, I'll come find you if you have questions or need help.'

'We will try not to disturb your comfort, teacher. We can support each other so rest easy.'

'That's where today's training ends. Tomorrow at seven, don't come earlier or be late for the appointment.'

The students said goodbye to their teacher, who then went to the principal's office to have a conversation with his old friend.

----------------------

Knocks, knocks.

'Go ahead.'

After knocking on the door, the manager let him in. He did not initially pay attention to the identity of the visitor because he was busy processing some requests but knew the presence of the person.

'Do you ask permission before entering?'

'It is disrespectful to enter without permission.'

Maximus' acts changed compared to the last visit, as if he had become 'tactful or civilized'. He was not the same, which left the manager at a loss.

'You were the last person who might know the meaning of the word permission. Strange...'

'People are changing, Albus. No one is always the same. Even the rock in the middle of the river is changed by water.'

'This change is done over years, the last time I saw you was only months ago.'

‘You are not wrong; you are wise, headmaster of the Academy.'

'Still you don't want to explain the mystery in your speech?'

'Not yet, I've come for another reason now.'

'And what is your reason, my friend?'

'I came to talk about the midterm competition; I guarantee you haven't forgotten about it.'

'Keep talking, do you mean the regular competition of the academy or my students against your students?'

'Both. First, does the competition operate by global ranking or does each year have its own ranking of its students? It's been many years since I've been here and I don't know if its system has changed or not.'

'The competition works in the general classification in order to evaluate the most comprehensive talents and develop the spirit of competition among the top of each year for the first places in the general ranking. This is in combat disciplines, but it is not for research disciplines in which each department has its own assessment and they do not participate in combat competitions.'

'Good point of view... That's why your academy is one of the best ever, mate.'

'Follow up your queries, Maximus.'

'Second, will the two sides compete by randomly selecting competitors or will we determine this in advance?'

'Let's leave the choices to luck and just enjoy the games no matter what the outcome. If you want to choose, I don't mind though.'

'Speaking of results later, you should consider that they never trained before I brought them here.'

'Of course, of course..... The what? What? Do you know what you are saying right now?'

'Yes. I am the one who brought them after all.'

'Do you mean that the level of that black boy is the product of a week's training?'

'I didn't say anything like that. It looks like you met Dante then. He's the best of them right now.'

'Yes, it's him. But you haven't explained it yet.'

'I didn't mean they hadn't trained before. They didn't have a teacher beforehand so those are their special talents.'

'That explains the situation a bit.....'

Albus sighed after hearing Maximus' words, but the fascination still fell on his face. This little thing excited the old man as it would do to a child, eager for the matches that will take place after the mid-term competitions. He took the opportunity to make a bet with Maximus about who will win. The bet was about telling him the information he was hiding from him.

'What do you think of a betting contract? If I win, you'll tell me the information you're hiding from me.'

'You caught me in your trap. I was going to tell you that eventually so there is nothing wrong with betting around. I agree.'

The parties shook hands and Albus smiled an evil smile suggesting, "I won, you fell into my trap."

Maximus burst out laughing; Albus' face with these features was a rare comedic masterpiece.

'I changed my mind; I'll tell you what you want after the competition in both cases. That's how you lost the bet.'

The heavenly magician possessed a high level of villainy, his ability to disturb anyone is extremely high and one of his biggest victims is the headmaster of the academy, Albus, the sorcerer of dusk. Maximus has enjoyed his inconvenience over the years to a point that it has become a habit.

'You, you spoiled my brilliant scheme by abandoning it.'

No matter how much Albus tried to do something similar, failure was what he reaped. You cannot beat an expert in his field, and that is what Albus realized a long time ago, but he is still trying despite constant failure.

'It's easy to tease you as usual. You have not changed, Albus. Hahahahaha'

'Should I laugh then? I won both: jackpot and disappointment at the same time. What a luck!'

'I have to leave now. I have a backlog of work as you have and that is why I will not delay you any longer. Also, how about visiting our training room? Tomorrow afternoon. You'll definitely be surprised.'

'You're full of surprises and you know how much I love them. I'll see you tomorrow, goodbye.'

Each waved his hand and Maximus left to go home to rest...