Magnus didn’t want to pledge allegiance to the Batis Kingdom; after all, this place wasn't his home. The more time he spent in this world, the more familiar it became, yet it also felt increasingly foreign and alien; it was a hard feeling to describe.

Still, even if that's how he felt, it didn't mean he would feel any more comfortable rubbing shoulders with the nobles. When it came to nobility, they were clearly the result of a corrupt monarchistic system. That fact got drilled into Magnus's brain when he saw that they even had slaves and how ordinary people absolutely feared them.

Though he was largely powerless to change it as he was now, Magnus couldn’t shake off his unease about being associated with such people. Yet, if he wanted to move forward in this world, he also knew he might have to set some of his morals aside. That's another reason why he decided to work with Luden. Their relationship was just too beneficial for him, especially being in an entirely foreign world.

On top of that, Luden did come across as different from the other nobles Magnus had encountered at Takerth Academy. Even if it was mostly a facade, he seemed like someone you could count on, as long as you brought something valuable to his table. It might sound shallow, but in a way, it provided Magnus with a sense of security that Ludne was so logical with how he valued people.

After all, he possessed the Command Console, arguably the most valuable asset around. On the other hand, Magnus was still unsure about the Ten Great Magic Academies. He didn't particularly like them, but he didn't despise them either.

Yes, they kept magic tightly controlled, but without more knowledge of their intentions and the workings of this world, he couldn’t decide if that was a good or bad thing. Not only that, but they seemed quite independent of the Batis Kingdom and were definitely using the nobility more than they were being used by them. Though his views might be a bit biased considering he was living in their dorm building.

And so, his thoughts shifted to the Batis Kingdom military. Strangely enough, whether it was Mia, Gerald, Marcos, the Major General, the two knights who had been keeping an eye on him, or the various guards he had talked to, they all left a mostly positive impression of the military in his mind.

Yet he couldn’t judge the whole military by a few individuals. Ultimately, they all served the Batis Kingdom, linking back to his distaste for the nobility. Even Gerald, a staunch military man, seemed to share his disdain for the nobles.

In the end, none of my choices are ideal, but each of them has its merits and benefits. So, my best bet would be to extract as much value as I can from all of them without giving away too much in return.

Having reached a conclusion in his mind, Magnus's attention returned to reality. After Arbarath finished explaining the situation between the military and their desperate need for more mages, the Major General remained silent, allowing Magnus to ponder his words.

"So, in essence, you're offering me a position in the military? That's why you called me here?" Magnus asked. Arbarath responded with a firm nod, his intentions an open book as he elaborated.

"Yes. As you may know, training knights is a much easier task than training mages. Although both require more resources than training regular soldiers, when you compare them, it's somewhat like the difference between sharpening a blade and forging one. A talented knight might reach Adept level in just a few months, while an average one could take up to six months. On the other hand, a mage without prior training usually needs at least a year to achieve the same level, sometimes even longer, to be truly effective in the field. That’s why I was surprised when I heard about you," Arbarath explained, chuckling as he glanced at Magnus.

"Picture my surprise when Kolten and Alwen reported to me that your skills have already reached the requirements for an Adept-level mage, perhaps even more. Have you always had such a knack for magic?" Magnus picked up on the subtle change in Arbarath’s tone—the hint of suspicion creeping in.

"Sort of, I guess? Back when I was with... them, they did some experiments on what they called my 'gift'. It was hard because I couldn't control it; I couldn't even summon it at will. But whenever it did manifest, they were always taken aback by the results. Now that I've got some control, learning magic isn't as hard as I thought," Magnus shared, his casual demeanor smoothing over the details of his so-called past.

"Hmm, I see. Mia did mention you were escaping from some group when she and the others initially found you. Since I have the chance to ask, do you have any idea who they were?"

Shaking his head, a shadow of sadness passing over his face, Magnus replied, "No, not really. I can hardly remember anything about my past, and even in my earliest memories, they were already running tests on me. They always kept their faces hidden as well, and I can hardly remember where they kept me captured after I accidentally escaped with my abilities."

"That’s a shame, but I suppose searching for your captors will have to wait. In any case, whatever your talent or gift is, it only makes you more valuable. If you agree to join the Batis Kingdom’s military once you graduate, I’m willing to offer you better benefits than you are getting now from anyone.” And just like that, Arbarath's offer was on the table, and the way he worded it confirmed what Magnus already knew.

As I thought, he thinks my meeting with Ludne was because I joined the side of the nobility or was at least given a tempting offer.

"That’s an enticing offer, but it seems there’s been a misunderstanding," Magnus said, noticing a shift in Arbarath’s expression.

"What do you mean?" Arbarath asked, his eyebrow raised in inquiry.

"Your letter made it pretty obvious that me being stronger than you initially thought isn’t what really made you reach out—part of it, sure, but not the full reason. If I had to guess, Kolten and Alwen probably saw me meeting with Luden Rilhawk, which made you think I had joined him," Magnus clarified.

"Are you saying I was mistaken?" Arbarath challenged.

"Yes, I haven’t aligned with anyone within Takerth Academy or outside of it. Luden did try to invite me to join him, yes, but I ended up turning him down for a more mutual agreement. He helps me, and I help him, but I’m free to cut things off whenever I want. Honestly, if it wasn’t for his family's access to the resources I need, I wouldn’t have even bothered getting involved. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?" Magnus paused, choosing his next few words carefully.

"I value my freedom and my ability to make my own choices. Luden respects that, which is why we cooperate. But as a mage, it seems I only have three paths after graduation: join or create my own mage family, stay at the academy, or enlist in the military. Now, I'm not fond of any of those choices, but there’s no fourth option for me as things are."

Magnus's words were straightforward, which was a relief for someone like Arbarath, who couldn't help but sigh lightly. As the Major General of the region, Arbarath dealt with a lot of different people. He had dealt with insubordinate soldiers and commanders, nobles who believed their status allowed them to do as they pleased, and even superiors who seemed to enjoy making his job harder.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

That's why the intent behind Magnus's words was clear: he was giving Arbarath a chance to make a new pitch—one that might persuade Magnus to choose to assist the Batis Kingdom's military over his other options in the future, an offer that promised the freedom he sought.

Recognizing this, Arbarath couldn't help but crack a smile as he spoke, "Well, I have to admit this meeting has taken an unexpected turn. I suppose that's what happens when I try to understand someone solely through reports. Still, it's not necessarily a bad thing."

He reached for his glass and took another sip, finishing the remaining alcohol before setting it down and turning his attention back to Magnus.

"I’ll need a bit of time to draft a new proposal—something concrete, not just words and promises. Would you mind holding off on any decisions for a bit?" Arbarath's tone was lighter now; the tension that had colored their earlier conversation was gone.

Magnus smiled in return and answered, "Of course, I’m not in any hurry."

With that understanding, Arbarath planned to invite Magnus back later, with a formal agreement in hand. But before Magnus left, Arbarath asked something that instantly caught his interest.

"Before you go, do you plan on taking on assignments after the Live Examination?"

Magnus, puzzled, asked, "What do you mean by assignments?"

Arbarath realized the oversight and explained, "Oh, you don't know yet? Ah right, I forgot that the academy tends to delay releasing information about this kind of stuff. The Live Examination helps the academy assess each student's capabilities and determine their educational path. But it's also an opportunity for talented students to advance to higher levels or even skip ahead in the curriculum. From what I’ve heard about your skills, you might bypass the Apprentice level entirely and jump to being an Adept-level mage. Once a student reaches Adept level at Takerth Academy, they can accept official missions sanctioned by the academy, usually commissioned by nobles or local governments."

Magnus thought about what he heard for a second before responding, "So basically, the academy uses us as mercenaries?"

"In a way, yes. The requests normally do come with rewards, but honestly, neither the academy nor the students bother with them. Most of the students in the academy could buy a village if they really wanted to, after all. In truth, the requests are just a part of the academy's lessons. They match the right request to the right students to maximize their growth, helping them improve in aspects they’re lacking in or just giving them real combat experience. It's all simply a mutually beneficial arrangement between the Ten Great Magic Academies and the Royal Court that has the bonus of showing the public their 'partnership'."

Magnus tapped his chin thoughtfully and said, "That's good to know; thanks for the heads-up."

“Well, I need to keep my future comrade in the know, now don’t I?" Arbarath replied with a smile. Magnus chuckled, stood up, and bid farewell to Kolten and Alwen as he left the Major General’s office.

“Well, it looks like the talk between him and the Major General went well,” Kolten said, watching as Magnus made his way down the hall and vanished out of sight.

“Perhaps...” Alwen murmured, his face unreadable, as he knocked on the Major General's office door.

He barely waited a moment before a voice from inside called, "Come in."

Opening the door, Alwen walked inside the office and greeted Arbarath with a salute before speaking.

"Sorry to interrupt, sir, but I was—" Arbarath cut him off with a knowing smile.

"You're curious about my discussion with the boy," he observed, turning to face Alwen, who nodded in confirmation.

“Yes, sir. I don’t believe he’s a threat, but I wanted to make sure we’re to continue following him as normal, or if we should be more cautious.” Arbarath moved from the window and took his seat at his desk, thinking about Alwen’s question and his interaction with Magnus, going over all the details in his mind before answering.

“I think you’re right. As it stands now, he’s not a threat. However, that boy is quite a good liar.” Alwen's expression grew concerned upon hearing that.

"What do you mean, sir? Did he lie during your meeting?"

"He did, though there were bits of truth mixed in. I can't completely discern which parts were fabricated. Regardless, it doesn't alter our stance towards him—only the facts about his background. Monitor him as you normally would, and don't overstep in seeking information."

Alwen nodded, taking in the orders. "Understood, sir."

•

Well, I had to bullshit a little in that middle part, which made me pretty nervous, but all in all, I think that meeting went pretty smoothly. What do you think, Basker?

[I agree. Given the various ways we speculated the meeting could have gone wrong, it actually turned out exceptionally well. You might even have paved the way for a future role in the Batis Kingdom's military with minimal restrictions.]

The whole journey of meeting the Major General hadn't taken Magnus nearly as long as he imagined it would. He had talked to the Major General for about twenty minutes, and adding the carriage ride to the garrison and back on top of that meant he was only gone for an hour and twenty minutes at most. In fact, when he came back, the guards at the gate said Celia hadn't even come by yet. So, seeing as he had so much time left in the day, Magnus decided not to head to his room. Instead, he was making his way to the library, or more specifically, to the Mage’s Apprentice Compendium.

Between all the studying he had to do in order to reconstruct his body's skeletal structure and him discovering the Knockout Brick, he hadn’t gotten a chance to visit like he had originally planned. Still, with the brief time he did have to look around when he went there with Lazitha, he realized the Mage’s Apprentice Compendium was a bit more than just some magical section of the library.

While he was there, he had opened up a spellbook that covered a variety of uncategorized mana-based spells. In that book, he had noticed that between some of the older-looking pages that were clearly a part of the book, there were also a few additional pages that looked newer, covered with a variety of notes and explanations left by what Magnus could only assume were various teachers and Master-level mages.

Most of it was breaking down concepts and expanding on things that might be a bit hard to grasp just by reading a few pages. Still, it was really useful, especially since Professor Eredim wasn't around to answer any of my questions.

It was true that Lazitha had technically been there as well, and she wasn't a bad teacher by any means. In fact, when it came to hands-on magic training, she was one of the best. However, after asking her for help one time, Magnus quickly learned that explaining concepts directly from books wasn't her strong suit.

In any case, if all the books in the Mage's Apprentice Compendium have notes like that, getting a grasp on things will go by a lot faster. Then I can start running tests to really see if having enough knowledge is sufficient to bridge the gap between my raw imagination and reality.

As things stood, he could replicate any kind of magic that, from his perspective, seemed to emerge from nothing and accurately represented what something appearing from nothing would look like. Still, as much of a cheat as that was, it also had its limitations.

For instance, he could adjust the size of the Mana Sphere Spell he was replicating simply by changing its scale in his mind. When he did this, the Command Console's default settings would automatically adjust all the attributes of his mana spheres—except for the damage—to match the average attributes of other mana spheres of the same size that existed or had existed. It was an unexpected luxury of choice, but it still meant he was essentially using presets. Despite having memorized over a hundred different mana spheres with their specific attributes, he couldn't help but crave more control over their customization.

So, since the manual configuration option in the Command Console doesn't seem to work, or at the very least I can't get it to work, I'll have to try a different approach.

His idea was simple. He wanted to see if he could amass enough magical knowledge to precisely tweak the spells in his imagination without needing to have seen those tweaks in reality first. If he could, then that would mean that personal experience would become irrelevant in comparison to enough accumulated knowledge, and his imagination alone would suffice for the Command Console to execute a visualization.

It would be akin to turning his mind into a simulation of reality; he'd attempt to use knowledge alone to edit phenomena, simulating and predicting what would occur in reality in his mind to a degree precise enough for the Command Console to accept it. Success would mean that the more knowledge he amassed, the more powerful he would become and if he somehow managed to learn everything in the world one day, he would technically attain a form of pseudo-omnipotence.

Of course, fully mastering reality was pretty much a pipe dream, but he still wanted to give it a shot on a smaller scale.

And as they say, 'If at first you don't succeed, try, try again’.

With that thought in mind, Magnus found himself at the academy library, standing before one of the spatial doors. He looked down at the handle, took a deep breath, gripped it tightly, and closed his eyes.

Just focus on controlling your thoughts, like Lazitha said, and you'll be fine. Please, just don't send me back to that eerie ass library.

With that, Magnus turned the handle, pushed the door open, and stepped through.