Chapter Ten: The Silver Emblem

"I heard about your written test results today—not very impressive, were they? Once the practical magic classes start, you'd better prepare well. Make a good impression on the teachers. The Intermediate Academy of Magic is not a place for games." Yixin spoke with earnest gravity, taking on the tone of an older brother.

"I know, you're so naggy," Blackfeather replied, habitually turning his head aside, his eyelids drooping with impatience.

"What kind of attitude is that?" Yixin's remaining patience evaporated. "You don't have to call me brother, but you must listen to what I say. And another thing! Dark magic is strictly forbidden, wings are forbidden—this is the Academy of Magic! If something happens, no one will cover for you! Last time you used dark magic openly in the city, it was only because of special circumstances that Father didn't punish you. But do you know how much maneuvering he had to do with the Pantheon to smooth things over?"

"Shouldn't I have been awarded a Peacekeeper's Medal at least?"

"You're pushing your luck! Also, didn't you use dark magic in the vegetable field outside the city?"

"That was outside the city, not inside."

"Outside the city is no different! Are you aware how many spies the Pantheon has? Remember, dark magic is absolutely forbidden. Forbidden!"

"Yes, yes, my dear cousin..."

At the mention of "dear cousin," Yixin's teeth clenched audibly, a flash of anger in her eyes as a ball of fire rapidly formed in her palm and she hurled it with force.

"Hey!" Blackfeather leapt up, beating out the flames on his bed with whatever clothes lay nearby.

"Alright, that's enough! It's only the first day of school—must you two start fighting already?" Ling Xiaolei, who had just finished brushing her teeth, tried to make peace.

"I'm going to tell the Headmaster that the Chiyan family is abusing their power and bullying ordinary students!" Blackfeather shouted.

"Hmph, the autopsy report will simply state: 'A black-winged fly has perished,'" Yixin retorted, dispelling her flames. She refused to stoop to his level, but as she left, she tossed back, "Don't get expelled—don't embarrass me!"

After Yixin left, Ling Xiaolei snatched a bottle of shampoo on her way out and hurried after her.

The room fell suddenly quiet. Blackfeather walked silently to the door, stooped to pick up the exquisite silver badge lying on the floor, and rolled it between his fingers.

On the continent, the ranks of magicians are: Apprentice, Intermediate, Advanced, Magister, and Grand Magister. The silver badge marks the status of an Intermediate Magician. One rank higher, and one may wear the coveted gold badge—an honor all magicians dream of. As for Magisters and Grand Magisters, few on the continent ever attain such heights; according to their stage, they wear white, yellow, red, or purple crystals. Of those Blackfeather had ever seen, only the Lord of Chiyan City, Yisheng, was a Fire Grand Magister, while the Headmaster he met today, Yunlan, was a Grand Magister of Wind.

He removed the bronze badge from his chest and, with utmost care, replaced it with the new silver badge, his heart brimming with hope for the future.

After a night of deep sleep, the first official day of classes finally arrived.

In the early morning, Blackfeather strolled out of the dormitory building at a leisurely pace. He was still clad in his black magician's robe—tall and slender, his short, jet-black hair neat and clean, with a certain coldness etched between his brows.

In front of the main teaching building, a throng of new students crowded around the notice board. Blackfeather squeezed in, seeing four boards labeled Class A, B, C, and D, each bearing the names of their students.

At the very top of Class A’s list, a name stood out conspicuously: Yixin.

"First place... Yixin? Him again. And my results... dead last? This can’t be!" Blackfeather's finger traced names from top to bottom until he stopped at the very end.

A burst of hearty laughter erupted behind him; Yixin had arrived without his noticing.

Headmaster Yunlan still stood at the entrance, the hem of his robe fluttering as if an invisible wind supported him, making him seem otherworldly.

"My dear students, follow your teachers to your classrooms!" he called out.

"If you’re not well, don’t push yourself..." Teacher Heyin whispered beside him, smiling mischievously like a kindly old child, his eyes beneath bushy brows narrowing to slits.

Sweat beaded on Yunlan’s brow as he replied quietly, "Uh... Teacher Heyin, sometimes the show must go on in front of the students. Please don’t expose me, hmm..."

"This year’s intake is impressive—over a hundred students!" the brawny teacher remarked. "Seems more people are choosing magic as a profession these days."

He stepped forward, waving high above the crowd. "Class A will be under my personal instruction. I am your magic teacher—Shi Fangcheng, of the Earth element, Magister rank."

Blackfeather recognized this man as the one who supervised yesterday’s physical assessment.

"So, his name is Shi Fangcheng?" Blackfeather mused. "The Shi family is famed for their mastery of earth magic, with a long lineage. A century ago, it was the Shi clan who led their kin to build a ten-zhang-high wall on the eastern border, defending against demons. The wall stretches across the southern and northern ends of Eastland, serving as the base for the Chiyan family patrols."

"Wow, Teacher Shi himself is guiding Class A! He’s the strongest earth magician at the academy—we must be benefiting from Young Master Yixin’s presence," someone exclaimed joyfully.

The classrooms were on the fourth floor—spacious and bright, with the four classes lined up side by side, about thirty students each. At the corridor’s end was a mysterious S Class, but its doors remained tightly shut.

Blackfeather found a seat in the corner by the window—a spot he always preferred for its quietness and the view outside. The seat to his right was empty for now.

Ling Xiaolei sat near the front, wanting to be close to the blackboard. Yixin took the first seat in the front row.

Every student received a form listing their entrance results, elemental attribute, assigned instructor, class schedule, and so forth, along with two hefty new tomes: "Theory of Magic" and "A Brief History of Magic."

As the students chattered noisily, Blackfeather propped his chin in his hand, idly leafing through the form.

"Last in Class A... Even though my elemental assessment wasn’t great, and I left the magic theory test blank, I scored an S in the physical test! How am I still last?" he muttered inwardly.

Once all were seated, three teachers entered in succession. First was Headmaster Yunlan, followed by the burly Shi Fangcheng, whose size made one worry he'd get stuck in the doorway, and lastly Heyin, hunched and much shorter than the others, his long white beard trailing down his chest.