The East District Magus Academy was not just a school; it was a fortress of ivory and enchanted glass. Within its walls, the air hummed with the static of thousands of students practicing basic mana manipulation. For Sam, it was the perfect hiding spot.
A month had passed since the dinner at the Crystal Spire. Back at the Iron Isle, Eli was likely covered in mud and monster blood. Meanwhile, Sam had spent his first thirty days in the academy's massive library, earning a reputation as a "theory-obsessed recluse."
That was until the morning of the First Monthly Appraisal.
Sam stood in the massive assembly hall among five hundred freshmen. At the front, the Headmaster, a man named Barnaby Valerius—whose beard was so long it was tucked into his belt—stood before a massive crystal orb.
"One month has passed," Barnaby's voice boomed, magically amplified. "Some of you have found your spark. Others have found only smoke. Step forward for the Tier-Check."
One by one, students touched the orb.
"Level 2… Level 3… Level 2…"
Then, a tall youth with hair as blonde as spun gold and an expression of pure arrogance stepped up. This was Prince Julian von Astrum, the third prince of the kingdom and a self-proclaimed prodigy.
The orb flashed brilliantly.
[Level 7 – Peak Tier 1]
The hall gasped. To hit Level 7 in a month of school-sanctioned training was monstrous. Julian turned, his gaze sweeping the crowd until it landed on a girl standing a few rows behind Sam.
Her name was Sylvie, a commoner scholarship student with a rare 'Spirit Sight' talent. She was beautiful in a quiet, fragile way, and Julian had been relentlessly pursuing her since orientation—not out of love, but because her talent was a 'resource' his faction wanted to control.
"See that, Sylvie?" Julian smirked, loud enough for everyone to hear. "A Prince provides. Join my circle, and you'll have the resources to reach Level 10 by winter. Why waste time with these... commoners?"
Sylvie looked down, her knuckles white as she gripped her staff. She clearly wanted to be anywhere else.
"Samuel Light," the proctor called.
Sam stepped forward. He felt the invisible tether to Eli thrumming in his soul. Just this morning, the monthly cycle had ended.
[Exp Bind] Monthly Report:
Target Elizabeth Storm has gained: 12,500 Exp.
Transferring to User...
Level UP! Level 0 -> Level 8.
Sam touched the orb.
The crystal didn't just glow; it hummed. Deep, resonant vibrations shook the pedestal.
[Level 8 – Peak Tier 1]
The silence that followed was deafening. Sam, the "lazy" student who spent all his time napping in the library, had surpassed the Prince.
Julian's face turned a shade of purple that matched his royal robes. "Impossible. He hasn't attended a single combat session! Headmaster, the boy is cheating! He must be using forbidden artifacts!"
Headmaster Barnaby narrowed his eyes, peering at Sam through half-moon spectacles. He didn't see an artifact. He saw a boy whose mana was as calm as a deep lake. "The orb does not lie, Prince Julian. Though... it is curious. Samuel, how do you explain this?"
Sam bowed slightly. "I specialize in Mana Efficiency, Headmaster. While others focus on the output, I focus on the retention. With my [MP Recovery], I can meditate twenty-four hours a day without mental fatigue."
It was a half-truth, but Barnaby's eyes lit up. "A scholar's approach! Fascinating. To find such discipline in one so young... you remind me of an old friend."
The Trial of the Golem
Humiliated, Julian wasn't finished. "Level is just a number. If he's so 'efficient,' let him prove it in the Opening Rite. I challenge the 'Scholar' to the Golem Trial. If he wins, I'll cease my pursuit of the girl. If he loses... he leaves the academy."
The crowd murmured. The Golem Trial was a rite where a student had to withstand the attacks of a Mana Golem using only defensive magic.
"I accept," Sam said calmly. He looked at Sylvie, who was staring at him with wide, hopeful eyes. He then looked at Julian. "But let's raise the stakes. If I win, the Prince also pays for Sylvie's tuition and research materials for the entire year. A Prince... provides, right?"
Julian sneered. "Done."
The arena was cleared. A three-meter-tall stone golem was summoned, its fists the size of Sam's torso.
"Begin!" Barnaby shouted.
The Golem lunged. Most mages would use Blink or Mana Shields that would shatter after two hits. Sam didn't move. He raised a hand and cast a basic [Mana Ward], the weakest defensive spell in the book.
BOOM!
The Golem's fist struck the shimmering blue barrier. The barrier cracked. Julian laughed—until the cracks instantly vanished.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The Golem unleashed a flurry of blows. Each hit drained Sam's MP, but every ten seconds, his pool surged back to full. He wasn't just defending; he was out-regenerating the damage.
Five minutes passed. Ten. The Golem began to slow down—its internal mana core was running dry. Sam, however, looked like he was standing in a gentle breeze. He began to yawn.
"Is that it?" Sam asked.
With a final, pathetic spark, the Golem collapsed into a heap of inert stone. It had run out of fuel. Sam still had 100% of his mana.
The stadium erupted. Headmaster Barnaby stood up, clapping slowly. "Incredible. Pure attrition. He didn't defeat the Golem with power; he defeated it with existence."
The Aftermath
As the crowd dispersed, Sam found himself cornered by the Headmaster.
"Samuel," Barnaby said, his voice low. "That was a stunt. But a brilliant one. The Prince will be looking for revenge, but for now, you have my favor. Anyone who can make a Golem look like a toy is someone this academy needs. If you need rare books... my private study is open."
"Thank you, Headmaster," Sam bowed.
As he walked away, a small hand caught his sleeve. It was Sylvie.
"Why?" she whispered. "You didn't even know me. You risked your place here."
Sam looked at her, then up at the blue sky. He thought of Eli fighting in the mud, and Gaea pouting in her garden.
"Because," Sam said with a wink, "I have a lot of MP to spare, and I hate seeing people waste their breath on guys like Julian. Besides, I might need someone with 'Spirit Sight' to help me find some... interesting things later. Friends?"
Sylvie's face turned as rose-pink as Sam's had when he met Gaea. "F-friends."
[New Potential Target Detected: Sylvie (Spirit Sight)]
Current Bind: Elizabeth Storm (29 days remaining)
Sam smiled. The academy arc was off to a productive start. He had the Headmaster's backing, a new ally with a rare talent, and a Prince who was currently screaming at a wall.