Astra walked into Dorm Conquest and saw an enormous wooden board that contained the room number for each person. Astra scanned the board.

Room 214. It should be on the second floor.

Even though the dorm was huge, the new influx of students trying to find their room number crowded the entire lobby.

Astra pushed his way through the crowd of people and arrived at his room. He opened it and was surprised to see three other people.

“Huh? It’s you again! What a coincidence!” Watson laughed cheerfully.

“H-Hello…” a timid boy called out.

A silhouette in the corner glanced at Astra and said nothing.

Astra walked over to an empty bed and sat down.

“Let me introduce you guys to Astra. I fought against him in the entrance exam, and I was also next to him in the mana test.” Watson seemed to be bragging to the others.

Watson turned to Astra. “This is Diddle Swailes, and the guy in the corner is Jayce Verner.”

“Are you…Are you Astra Gale?” Diddle asked.

Astra nodded.

“Wow…I don’t belong here…I was only ranked forty-three on the mana test…I can’t believe I’m rooming with three of the top ten…” Diddle whimpered.

Astra glanced at Jayce. He wondered what his rank was.

Watson seemed to have read his thoughts. “Jayce was ranked third in the mana test.”

Astra nodded and asked, “What are we supposed to do now?”

“Everyone’s getting settled in right now, so it’s free time for the most part. Dinner is in a couple of hours at the cafeteria. Then free time again until sleeping hours.” Watson said.

“Can I redeem my merit points?” Astra wanted to reap his rewards from the mana test.

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“That's an excellent idea. Let’s go together. You guys coming?” Watson asked Diddle and Jayce.

“N-No thanks. I want to get settled in.” Diddle stuttered.

“…” Jayce continued looking out the window.

“Alright, let’s go.” Watson led the way with Astra following behind.

“Watson, how do you know your way around here so well?” Astra asked. He didn’t know how Watson, a first-year like he was, was able to navigate around the Academy so efficiently without a map.

“I was apprenticed to a mage here, so naturally I was living here for a while.”

Astra was surprised. That meant that Watson had way more experience with the academy than just regular first-years.

“A lot of the first-years here are apprenticed to a mage at this school. The teachers here usually go out into the city in search of rare talents to boost their reputation.”

“There are several factions around here that you should be wary of. I don’t mean to judge, but you don’t seem like you’re from the city.”

Astra nodded, “How did you know?”

“The fact that I haven’t heard of your name despite being such a talented mage and your lack of noble clothing.”

“I see. What factions do I need to be wary of?’

Watson lowered his voice, “The noble faction despise commoners. The commoners here are suppressed despite the merit system since the system only affects inside the academy and not the outside of the academy. The nobles blackmail and extort the commoners by threatening their families outside of the academy.”

Astra detested these nobles. It reminded him of the mage from the village sent by the nobles. Astra did not like the way how the rich had to abuse their power and disregarded the lives of the commoners.

“But there’s even a group stronger than the nobles. They call themselves the Elite Assembly. Comprised of the richest and most powerful of the nobles. Even the teachers have to turn a blind eye to any minor rules that they break.”

Astra crossed his arms. “Aren’t you a noble, Watson?”

“Uh…Yes. BUT I’m not with either faction. I abhor the fact that they are corrupting the integrity of the academy. They intentionally bring down those who threaten their power and suppress those who possess potential.”

Watson made a good point and reflected Astra’s thoughts. Astra smiled inwardly; he felt that Watson would make a great friend.

“Oh, we’re here already.”

They went inside the merit shop and spoke to the clerk.

“Hi. We would like to redeem our merit points.” Watson said.

“Name and year?” The clerk asked.

“First year. Watson Whitley.”

“First year. Astra Gale.”

The clerk fumbled through the desk. “One moment please.” She went to the back room.

The clerk gave each of them a medallion. “This medallion also serves as a form of identification. Inject your mana inside it to bind it.”

Astra and Watson both bound their medallions and scoured it.

“How many points did you get?” Watson asked.

“2600,” Astra replied.

“The heck! That’s double my points! Ugh, I should’ve tried a little bit harder.” Watson was dejected at how much more Astra received.

The clerk spoke up, “If you wish to use the points, please come back later. We are still settling in right now.”

Watson and Astra nodded and left the shop.