Chapter 22: Rumor

Aresia was worried because Karina seemed different.

Karina was actually a very smart girl. Her intelligence was evident in her academic performance. She excelled in theoretical and cultural subjects, and she was quite familiar with the different materials used in alchemy. Even in potion-making, which required a good understanding of various ingredients and their stages, Karina had put in a lot of effort and practice. She had reached a level that could be considered above average. However, she found practical classes in basic magic to be troublesome.

Karina had already learned Fireball and Waterball spells. The upcoming exam would test these two spells. While Karina had practiced Fireball well, she struggled with Waterball. Despite Aresia’s guidance, Karina couldn’t seem to cast Waterball properly.

Aresia explained to Karina that Water magic might not be suitable for her. There was a way around it, though. Mages typically focused on a single type of magic until they reached a certain level of proficiency. Only then could they begin learning other types of magic based on their interests. There were only a few individuals who were naturally talented in multiple types of magic, and it had little to do with personal preferences.

The academy arranged for them to learn basic magic of different elements, not to find the perfect fit for each student, but more like an examination. The probability was that the students would choose a magic that they were more comfortable with to demonstrate.

Aresia advised Karina not to continue practicing Waterball if she couldn’t grasp it and to focus on Fireball instead.

Karina was initially concerned and asked, “But the senior students said that the practical exam relies on a lottery to determine which magic we’ll use.”

At this point, the senior who had experienced this situation responded, “That statement is not entirely false, but it’s not entirely true either.”

The lottery system for the practical exam was indeed used, but it only applied to students outside their main element. The so-called lottery was not about randomly selecting a magic that didn’t match their element. It was about choosing one magic of their preferred element that they were already proficient in.

For example, if someone excelled in Fire magic and had already learned three Fire spells, they would be required to demonstrate one of those three spells.

“In our case, we already have one,” Aresia assured them. “We don’t need to rely on the lottery.”

Karina was puzzled, “Then why did the Senior said that?”

“It’s probably just the twisted sense of humor of the senior students,” Aresia replied.

Having been deceived by senior students before, Aresia found it amusing to let the new students experience some of the hardships they had endured.

Determined to understand how the exams would be conducted, Karina decided to stop practicing Waterball, as it was not suitable for her. She continued to practice Fireball. In the presence of Aresia, Karina had originally hoped to find a potential husband, but now she realized that if she didn’t put in more effort, she might lose her chance to be by Aresia’s side.

There were several people eyeing Karina’s position as Aresia’s training partner.

During break time, Karina practiced on the field. As soon as she left, others eagerly found excuses to approach Aresia. Although Aresia was happy to help with their academic problems, she didn’t appreciate the fact that these individuals were using academic matters as an excuse when they had no real intention to study but because they have other hidden agenda. After a few instances, Aresia decided to go to Karina and practice on the field.

The training areas on the field were not only for the different levels of magic students but also for the warrior students.

The training of warrior students was more visually captivating compared to the magical side.

While accompanying Karina in her practice, Aresia didn’t want to feel left out. She set up a table and chairs under the shade of a tree, brewed tea, and flipped through books borrowed from the library. Occasionally, when she grew tired, she would look up and observe the warrior students practicing their combat skills from a distance.

The situation for practicing magic on the shooting range was different. The exams for the warrior students began with actual combat, facing off against each other or their teachers, using real weapons.

Moreover, the warrior students had the privilege of receiving specialized training when they enrolled. Those with better conditions could pay for professional instruction, while those in less fortunate circumstances relied on personal connections to find a mentor. Once chosen, they would undergo rigorous training.

In terms of combat effectiveness, the new magical students couldn’t compare to the warrior students at all.

The academy had a designated combat arena nearby, right next to the field. The field was actually a temporary accommodation for a part of the warriors. If necessary, the entire field could be transformed into a large arena capable of accommodating tens of thousands of people.

In general, when a fight broke out on the combat arena, unless the teachers intervened, the rules were quite flexible. Sometimes, they even signed agreements to determine the outcome. The academy not only allowed such fights but also punished those who tried to avoid them.

Although the warrior students had a hot-headed temperament, the extent of their fights was usually limited. If there were any issues, they settled them through fights, determining the winner and loser, and then moved on.

It was quite a spectacle to witness the warrior students frequently engaging in fights on the field, attracting attention from afar.

Since the magical and warrior training areas for the first-year students were adjacent, Aresia often noticed Jorgus figure among the crowd. It seemed that every time she saw him, he was either about to fight someone or was already engaged in combat.

It seemed that Jorgus was being watched like a spectacle.

“Isn’t that Jorgus from the warrior class?”

Karina, after finishing her practice, walked over to Aresia to drink some water. Her gaze casually shifted and landed on Jorgus.

Aresia redirected her gaze. “Do you know him?”

Karina shrugged indifferently. “I don’t really know him, but I’ve heard that he’s a famous warrior. It seems like he’s always getting challenged to fights, not just by first-year students, but even by second and third-year students.”

Aresia raised an eyebrow. “What did he do to attract attention from other grades?”

Karina wasn’t quite sure about that, but she shared a rumor she had heard. “It seems like because he’s a commoner but has exceptional talent, some noble young masters didn’t appreciate it. So, they challenged him, but he defeated them. Not willing to accept defeat, they sought others to confront him. That’s what I’ve heard, and apparently, he recently fought in a competition and win, and now some people in the warrior class are calling him the leader.”

In the warrior class, strength was respected. Whoever had the stronger fist was considered superior. Jorgus proved himself, and the others had to acknowledge his strength.

Aresia sighed inwardly. If not for her status as a Duke’s daughter, it was possible that there will also be some people who might come and provoke her like Jorgus.

“Don’t underestimate him. This Jorgus doesn’t seem like one of us. He’s truly powerful and imposing.”

The boys of our age are usually tall and thin, and it’s hard to avoid looking frail. But that’s not the case with Jorgus. He has a robust physique, towering over others and even taller than average. Moreover, his facial features don’t make him look old. At first glance, you would think he’s just a young boy, a very handsome one. It’s quite contradictory but also quite captivating.

“It seems that many people in the academy find him intriguing, including those in the magical class. It’s a pity that he’s a commoner; otherwise, he would be even more popular.”

Aresia didn’t like the phrase “it’s a pity he’s a commoner.” After all, she herself was once a commoner.

She took a sip of her tea and said lightly, “Being a commoner is not necessarily a bad thing. With his talent, he’ll eventually rise above others.”

In this world, social classes were strict, and status was highly valued. It was difficult to transcend one’s class unless their own strength was strong enough. Even slaves, if they had exceptional talent, could surpass nobles. However, this was incredibly challenging and not something that happened frequently.

Although Jorgus was a commoner, he had received the necessary cultivation and showed outstanding talent. He didn’t lack financial means, and his strength was exceptional. Overcoming death itself, he was destined to rise to the top.

Karina was astonished by Aresia’s words. When it came to commoners, this Duke’s daughter had a disdainful expression before. Such words didn’t seem to fit her usual style.

Approaching Aresia, Karina noticed that she was deliberately avoiding eye contact and seemed to be hesitating. It seemed that what she had just said might not be her true feelings.

As Aresia sat on the field, drinking tea and reading, she initially didn’t attract much attention. However, people around couldn’t help but eavesdrop on their conversation. Some who were close enough even caught snippets of their discussion and couldn’t resist sharing it with others.

Rumors tend to spread and change in their own way.

The circulating rumor within the academy was that “the esteemed Duke’s daughter in the magic class highly appreciates the commoner chief knight of the warrior class.” However, in reality, the rumors were even more ambiguous. What reached Aresia’s ears was that she admired Jorgus to the extent of considering recommending him to her duke father.

As some classmates couldn’t help but inquire further, Aresia reluctantly acknowledged the truth because she genuinely admired Jorgus. There was nothing wrong with her words.

However, Aresia seemed to forget that in the people’s eyes she wasn’t the two-hundred-year-old Mage Goddess Aresia, but a fifteen-year-old girl. In their eyes, one young person admiring another was a subject of gossip.

The rumors became more and more exaggerated.