After parting ways with Vivian on the academy path, Greg made his way alone to the Arena located in the east district of the academy.
It was mid-afternoon, and the sun was shining brightly, but the atmosphere inside the Arena was far warmer than the sunlight.
Built from massive, grayish-white stones, the circular arena was grand and sturdy. The tiered spectator stands were currently packed with first-year freshmen who had just finished their exams, as well as some second- and third-year students who had come to watch.
In the center of the field, the temporary barrier used for the exam had already been dismantled, leaving behind only faint traces of mana disturbance.
At this moment, the focus of the crowd was concentrated on several massive magic bulletin boards hanging high on one side of the Arena.
Shimmering screens of light densely displayed the rankings from this exam, along with the most critical piece of information—the name of the mentor assigned to each freshman.
Most of the freshmen squeezed in front of the bulletin boards, tilting their heads up as they anxiously and expectantly searched for their names on the list.
Once they found it, the sudden joy or poorly concealed disappointment on their faces was plain to see. Immediately after, they would hurriedly leave the crowd and head toward the area where the mentors were gathered to make their first official introductions.
As a second-year student, Greg didn't look out of place blending in with the excited freshmen.
He didn't linger in front of the bulletin boards, directing his gaze straight to the other side—the area where the mentors were stationed.
“Alice...”
Greg silently repeated the name in his mind while quickly recalling the limited information he had on this mentor.
Shoulder-length, light purple hair, a petite frame, and a habit of always wearing oversized professor robes...
His gaze swept past the mentors who were chatting warmly with their newly acquired disciples, finally locking onto his target in a corner at the edge of the crowd.
It was a petite figure, almost completely enveloped in loose, dark gray professor robes.
Her soft, light purple short hair fell smoothly against her pale cheeks and neck, the ends curling slightly inward, giving her a naturally harmless appearance.
She was slightly bowing her head, seemingly lost in thought while staring at the tips of her shoes. From Greg's angle, he could see faint dark circles under her eyes—telltale signs of chronic sleep deprivation from staying up late.
She stood there quietly, completely out of place amid the animated conversations of the surrounding teachers and students, like a mimosa plant accidentally left in the corner of a bustling flower garden.
“Found you, Alice... Hehehe.”
A playful smirk played on Greg's lips. He took a step forward, weaving through the crowd at a leisurely pace toward that quiet corner.
...
Alice suddenly felt a light shiver run through her.
The sensation came out of nowhere, like a small shard of ice sliding down her spine, making her shoulders instinctively hunch.
She slipped her hands slightly out of her oversized sleeves and rubbed her chilly arms.
Did I catch a bit of a cold from staying up all night in Laboratory Seven, recording data on how Starlight Grass affects the stability of low-tier magic?
She murmured to herself, unable to muster much interest in the noisy, lively surroundings.
To her, today's mentor selection exam for the first-year freshmen was essentially just a formality she was forced to go through.
This was because the freshman she was assigned to guide this year had already been decided beforehand, agreed upon by other professors who possessed more seniority and influence.
It was a child of commoner background whose combat abilities were somewhat impressive among the freshmen.
However, in the circle Alice belonged to, the word 'commoner' often implied a lot more:
A lack of systematic basic education in magic theory, insufficient funding to support even the smallest auxiliary experiments, and perhaps never even having touched or used many basic magic conduits...
While such a student might have some talent for simple spellcasting and combat instincts, they were inherently at a disadvantage on the path of magical research and comprehensive development, which required a deep theoretical foundation, massive resources, and broad horizons.
Yet, she had no right to choose; she could only accept.
Coming here was merely to follow protocol, meet the assigned child, and go through the motions.
She only hoped this freshman wouldn't be an absolute nightmare to deal with, unlike her first-ever disciple.
At the thought, she couldn't help but sigh softly again. Her eyes lost focus as she stared ahead, her gaze not landing on any specific person or object, but instead reflecting a trace of exhaustion and helplessness.
Her eyes unconsciously drifted toward the other mentors, who were happily conversing with their disciples.
Most of those mentors had faces glowing with joy, pride, and earnest expectations for their disciples' futures.
Their disciples were either top-tier geniuses from the exams or noble descendants backed by abundant resources. Each of them looked high-spirited, with boundless prospects.
“I'm so envious... Their disciples have the potential to be selected as representatives for the Hundred Academy Exchange, unlike mine...”
A faint but lingering envy welled up in Alice's heart.
This envy was not without reason.
The Hundred Academy Exchange was one of the most prestigious events in the entire continent's magic academy system.
When the time came, every major academy would send their most elite student representatives to interact and showcase their research achievements.
This was not only an excellent stage for students to make a name for themselves, but also a crucial opportunity for their mentors and academies to display their strength and vie for future resources and influence.
If a disciple was chosen as an academy representative for the exchange, their direct mentor would automatically secure a coveted spot to accompany them.
At the exchange, several topics would be announced for students and mentors of different year levels to discuss and research together.
Outstanding performance would lead to a surge of resources from the academy, and one's standing in the academic community would skyrocket.
For Alice, it meant she would no longer have to write tedious, lengthy reports just to apply for basic research materials, only to face the critical and stingy eyes of the resource management office bureaucrats, who frequently rejected her applications under the guise of “wasted resources” or “unclear research direction.”
She could more freely conduct experiments she was interested in, verifying the hypotheses that had been swirling in her mind for ages...
But this beautiful vision was nothing more than a pipe dream to her.
The commoner disciple assigned to her was already starting far behind the pack. The chances of them standing out in the comprehensive evaluation to select representatives for the exchange were incredibly slim.
As for her first-ever disciple...
At the thought of that person, Alice's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and a clear flash of dislike—mingled with a faint dread—passed through her ice-purple eyes.
Rate on N.U.
