Chapter Eleven: The Three Teachers

Dean Yun Lan was the first to speak:

“Welcome, new students. For the next three years, your teachers will accompany you through learning and growth. I hope you will achieve success here and fulfill your dream of becoming a mage. Generally, mornings are dedicated to magic theory classes, while afternoons are reserved for practical magic training.”

At the mention of “practical training,” the students’ eyes sparkled, and excited chatter broke out. “Practical training” meant venturing outdoors, freely exploring, and hunting magical beasts.

“Ahem…” Yun Lan glanced at their innocent, youthful faces with a touch of pity, but his expression grew stern and his tone severe:

“Do not think that studying magic is an easy task. Look at the silver badges on your chests. Remember, if you fail to pass the exams and graduate from the Intermediate Magic Academy within three years, your silver badge will be taken away. Cherish these three years of cultivation.”

Feeling the pressure, the students lowered their heads to gaze at their badges in silence.

“This is Teacher Shi Fangcheng, the highest-ranked instructor in our academy, masterful in both magic and physical prowess. He will aid your future training. This is Teacher He Yin, who teaches magic theory.”

“In addition, since each of you possesses different magical attributes, fire-element students have specialized fire teachers, water-element students have water teachers, and so on. Attribute-specific training takes place once a week, and the names of your respective teachers are listed on the forms you hold.”

After introducing the teachers, Yun Lan suddenly looked at Black Feather:

“By the way, Black Feather, you are a non-attributed mage. I will personally guide you.”

Black Feather was startled from his gaze out the window, only vaguely hearing his name called. He noticed all his classmates were staring at him.

“Huh?” He was clearly confused, unsure of the situation.

He heard his classmates murmuring:

“No way, Dean Yun Lan himself is his tutor? That’s incredible luck!”

“He doesn’t even have an attribute. What’s there to train…”

Yi Xin placed a hand on his forehead, looking helpless, as if to say, “You spaced out again, didn’t you…”

Black Feather finally realized, glanced down at his form, and saw that Yun Lan’s name was indeed listed as his attribute teacher.

A dedicated tutor was akin to half a mentor-apprentice relationship—an immense honor. That the dean himself would guide him was the envy of all.

“Dean Yun Lan,” a tall, thin boy raised his hand, “I object. Black Feather has no attribute, and his written exam score was zero! Why is he in Class A?”

Classes A, B, C, and D were indeed divided by scores. Entering Class A meant being among the elite—any low score would normally bar entry.

Yun Lan explained calmly:

“At the Magic Academy, there is a rule each year. If a student achieves an S rating in any single test, they may be admitted to Class A regardless of other scores.”

He paused, then continued:

“And among the entire grade, only Black Feather and Ling Xiao Tears met that criterion.”

This statement dispelled all doubts, replacing them with astonishment.

“So it’s that hard to get an S rating…”

Ling Xiao Tears blushed and lowered her head shyly. On her score sheet, her magic theory evaluation read S.

Yun Lan added:

“Even within this class, only three students have received an S rating. Besides Black Feather and Ling Xiao Tears, the other is Yi Xin. Yi Xin’s entry scores were: three S ratings.”

“Three S ratings?!”

Everyone was stunned. They glanced at their own score sheets—at best, they had three A ratings.

“Any other objections?”

Yun Lan scanned the room, and anyone who met his gaze quickly looked away.

“I’ll say no more. Do any of the other teachers wish to speak?”

He Yin bowed slightly to Yun Lan and stepped forward. His gaze landed on Ling Xiao Tears, who had just lifted her head. She blinked her large eyes in confusion as she sensed his attention.

His old, resonant voice rang out:

“This dark elf student… Our academy has no teachers of the dark elf race, so I… humbly wish to serve as your tutor. Do you accept?”

Ling Xiao Tears stood up. Her innate dark elf sensitivity had already activated unconsciously; a purple glimmer flashed in her eyes as she scanned the magical fluctuations in He Yin’s body. The result: the elder possessed no powerful magic within.

Her instincts made her wary, but out of respect for her elder, she replied:

“Yes… I accept…”

After all, it was kindness that someone offered to mentor her, and she couldn’t refuse.

He Yin, aware of her use of the Insight Spell, smiled warmly and said:

“You must be thinking that I am merely a scholar, with little magic power, so how could I be your magic tutor—is that right?”

Ling Xiao Tears flushed, about to protest, but He Yin waved his hand:

“I am willing to prove myself. Please use your most proficient spell.”

His tone was gentle, and Ling Xiao Tears felt more at ease.

“Here?”

She glanced around. The students watched her, shifting aside to make room and eagerly awaiting the magic demonstration.

“Come to the front. Use your strongest spell to attack me.”

The elder gestured forward. Ling Xiao Tears conjured a wooden staff and stepped onto the open space before the platform, facing him from afar. She wore a tight-waisted black mage’s robe, and her staff was a cheap practice staff purchased at any magical goods shop.

“He said to attack him, so I’ll give it my all. He’s a teacher, after all—he surely won’t be caught off guard.”

With that thought, Ling Xiao Tears calmed herself, closed her eyes to focus, then reopened them with steely resolve. She swiftly waved her hand, casting a purple chain that shot towards He Yin. To the students, it appeared as a streak of violet light piercing the air straight at him.

“Wow…”

The students, witnessing dark elf magic for the first time, were amazed.

He Yin stood unmoving, calmly extending two fingers. With a gentle flick, the chain veered off course, swept past his side, and dissipated into nothingness.

Ling Xiao Tears stepped back. She knew that the chain she had shot with all her strength was as feeble as a strand of silk before He Yin’s hand.