12 Chapter 2 (4/7)

The Mages' Academy of Nosh slowly changed from hating Kain to liking him as they learned about his background and intentions. More importantly, Kain started to refer to professors by their titles and showed more respect toward them. However, there was one person who hated Kain very much. The person who lost to him in a duel had to be saved by a professor, Arthur Castillon. Arthur was a student full of confidence until Kain crushed him like a little ant. Even though Professor Biersack didn't pay less attention to him compared to Kain, or focused more on training Kain and ignored him, Arthur still felt like he wasn't being treated fairly. Arthur was supposed to be the rising star, the future of this Mages' Academy. But because of Kain, he became a forgotten past.

“Kain Almos, all because of you!” Arthur screamed in madness as he attempted to force himself to advance into the intermediate tier. After countless failed attempts of trying to advance to level 11 in one day, he still didn't give up.

"Tomorrow is my birthday and I will be fourteen years old. Yet, I still can not advance into the intermediate tier. I will forever be in your shadow. Kain Almos, I swear to Watcher Zorim of Toria Continents, that I will one day defeat you and take back everything that is mine." Said Arthur, as he continued screaming in madness.

The next day, Arthur Castillon advanced into the intermediate tier at the age of fourteen. It was big news for everybody, but not for Arthur. If not for Kain, Arthur would be listed in the history of the Commonwealth of Krorg as the youngest Intermediate Mage for this calendar.

Let's skip all the boring drama bullshit that happened in Mages' Academy of Nosh and focus on the important events. So far, four important characters are worth remembering: Kain Bersk, Arthur Castillon, Jaane Almos, and... someone else.

Five years later. It was time for a tournament between Mages' Academies again. The tournament was hosted once every ten years for magic casters in training to have the opportunity to fight and learn from each other. The student magic casters will fight in groups. Each group will have six mages. Each Mages' Academies will choose eight Novice teams, two Intermediate teams, and one Master team of Student Mages to represent their Mages' Academies in the tournament.

The requirements for this tournament are: Student Novice Mages can not be more than sixteen years old. Student Intermediate Mages can't be more than twenty-two years old. Student Master Mages can't be more than thirty years old.

Jaane and her roommates formed a team and were chosen to be one of the eight Novice teams to represent the Mages' Academy of Nosh. Together with other teams, it took them twenty-six days to travel from Nosh to Flumen, the capital city belonging to Bifjorkian Theocracy, using the seaway.

At Flumen, they were instructed to rest for the tournament which was only eight days away. After three days of rest, the students begged their professors to let them tour the city of Flumen as it is the biggest city in Toria Continents. The professors agreed to let them tour the city but under one condition. That was the professors would have to come along as well to prevent the Student Mages from causing trouble. While sixty-six students and two professors of Nosh were touring Flumen, they met with other students and professors of Sinerin, the capital city of the Republic of Yfari.

Spoiler Alert: An overused story trope of 'your school is trash' coming up.

A male student of Sinerin asked out loud, "Oh hey, look at the crests on their uniforms. Is that mean that those mages are from the Commonwealth of Krorg?"

Another male student answered out loud as well, "Yes, they are the losers."

"I heard they have never won any tournaments in this calendar."

"That is true. They did not win any, not even once."

"Such a bunch of losers."

"I can't believe they dare to participate in this tournament. They should have just surrendered before the tournament even started."

"No, they shouldn't be doing that. If all the losers refused to participate, how can we, the winners, show off?"

"Right, I strongly agree."

The students of Nosh got upset hearing the students of Sinerin calling them losers. They were told not to cause any trouble by their professors or the tour would be stopped and they would have to be locked inside their rooms until the tournament started.

They kept on walking while the students of Sinerin laughed thinking they were afraid of them. Anrod Peckgray, Legend Ice Mage, one of the professors in Mages' Academy of Sinerin said in a mocking tone, "Please pardon my students, they are very honest."

Vincenzo Biersack heard what Anrod Peckgray said, but he chose to ignore it and instructed the students of Nosh to keep on walking away. The Republic of Yfari is a very large nation. Their military power is on par with the Bifjorkian Theocracy and the Dryardian Empire. There have been many talented magic casters who came from the Republic of Yfari and formed their infamous Mages Guilds in that country. Picking a fight with them would not benefit the Commonwealth of Krorg in any way.

As they were walking away, a female student of Sinerin said, "I hope they can last longer in this tournament. Last time they could not make it into the third round." Then all the students of Sinerin started laughing again.

Anrod yelled at his students, "Hey! I told you guys already about not being too honest. Losers deserve to have some face too. Enough of this! Let's move on."

This was it. Vincenzo could not take it anymore. He turned around, stared into Anrod's eyes, and said, "Professor Peckgray, how about a friendly duel between two students of Nosh and Sinerin? I wanted my students to understand why the Mages' Academy of Sinerin deserved to be named one of the top three Mages' Academies in Toria Continents."

Mages' Academies top three rankings:

#1 is Mages' Academy of Flumen, Bifjorkian Theocracy, located to the South of Toria Continents.

#2 is Mages' Academy of Sinerin, Republic of Yfari, located to the North of Toria Continents.

#3 is Mages' Academy of Smot, Kingdom of Ronia, located to the Southeast of Toria Continents.

Faziel lightly touched Vincenzo's right shoulder and whispered, "Professor Biersack, let's move on. I don't think a duel before the tournament is a good idea."

"Professor Blonigan, I was just asking for a friendly duel so our students can learn more. Oh, I understand now. You don't want Mages' Academy of Sinerin to be ashamed if they lose to us. That would really lower their morale before the tournament."

"Professor Biersack, I did not-"

Anrod laughed out loud and said, "Professor Biersack wanted our students to have a chance to learn from each other before the tournament. How can I refuse that? Very well, who would you like to send to represent your Mages' Academy?"

Vincenzo pointed at Arthur Castillon and said, "That would be this young man. Arthur, come and introduce yourself."

Arthur nodded, bowed at Anrod, and respectfully said, "Professor Peckgray, my name is Arthur Castillon. I am nineteen years old, level 20 Intermediate Conjurer Mage."

Anrod opened his eyes widely because he could not believe a young man like Arthur was a level 20 Intermediate Conjurer Mage.

Several seconds later, Anrod smiled, nodded back at Arthur, then turned toward Vincenzo and said, "Now I see. This young man has mastered the intermediate tier of Conjuration Magic. Mages’ Academy of Nosh finally had a great student huh? No wonder Professor Biersack is full of confidence and dared to challenge us for a friendly duel. Carmen, come and introduce yourself."