Brainheart Academy (1)

The journey was tiring, and Kai was overjoyed when they finally arrived in Lunengard. And wow, the city was simply incredible.

It was rare for Kai to be impressed by a city, but this one did it for him. The houses were well built, the streets clean and organized, and the most impressive feature was the magical barrier of light blue surrounding the city. It was a very light blue, almost imperceptible to the naked eye.

"Do you see the barrier?" Jane said, pointing to the sky. "Only those who can use mana can see it. This barrier protects the city from attacks by beasts or enemies, although nothing has happened for about 50 years."

"Incredible," Kai said, unable to find the right words to describe what was before his eyes.

The city streets were patrolled by guards, and the people seemed happy and safe there. Various food stalls and restaurants were scattered throughout the city—catering to both those with more and less money.

However, like any city, there were some poorer neighborhoods and areas known for a slightly higher level of crime. The world could be quite cruel to some people, especially those who didn't have access to magic.

Not only that, but many Arcanists who failed to graduate or get a good job turned to a life of crime, using their spells to steal or even do worse things.

Classes wouldn't start for Kai and Jane for a few months. For Nila, however, they would begin in two days, so they accompanied her to the magic academy she would be attending, taking her to the gate. Jane helped as much as she could to ensure everything was in order for Nila.

The guard at the gate, after reading Nila's letter, said, "Everything is in order with your admission letter. You can follow that guard over there, and he will show you to your dormitory. Classes will start in two days, so you can familiarize yourself with the place and rest if you've come from afar."

Both guards seemed friendly and were powerful Arcanists. To become a guard, you needed to be skilled in combat magic, as they were there to defend the academy from any ill-intentioned individuals.

Kai and Jane said goodbye to Nila and then left, walking through the streets of Lunengard. Jane looked at him and said, "We can try something. I think, as a teacher, I can stay at the academy all the time, since the teachers sleep there. I can try to get both of us into the academy even though classes haven't started yet. What do you think?"

"Do you think it's possible?" Kai asked.

He could envision a scenario where Jane would be accepted there. She was a teacher now, and also a respected mage. But how would they accept a teenager like him? The new class wouldn't start for another two months!

"It doesn't hurt to try," Jane said, a determined glint in her eyes.

The Brainheart Magic Academy was the largest and most renowned in the entire kingdom. People would do anything for a chance to study there.

Kai and Jane made their way to the city gate, which caused some confusion for Kai.

"Isn't the academy inside the city?" he asked.

All the other academies were located within the city, as it was the most well-protected area with numerous guards and the barrier shielding the city.

Jane smiled, "No. Brainheart is on a mountain nearby. It's common for some magic academies to be located outside of cities as it gives them more privacy to conduct their studies and experiments. However, the cost of maintaining a location outside the city increases."

Kai quickly understood, "They need to hire more guards since they don't have the city's guards to help with defense, and a high-quality magical barrier is also necessary to protect the school."

"Exactly," Jane agreed. "And despite the additional costs, Brainheart makes a huge profit every year and is the most prestigious in the entire kingdom. Do you know why?"

It seemed Jane wanted to explain a few things to him on the way, and Kai thought carefully before answering, "Money from noble families, perhaps?"

"Correct again. You would have understood once we got there, but nobles have privileges that you might not have. Even though the school always claims that everyone is treated equally."

That was quite obvious. The school preached equal treatment for all, but the only way for a non-noble to receive similar treatment to a noble was through power, and in the case of Brainheart, through talent. A talented and powerful Arcanist—in any field—had an identity that could surpass that of a noble.

Of course, a powerful Arcanist who was also a noble had a superior identity, but through talent and hard work, it was indeed possible to become a powerhouse even if you came from a poorer family, like Kai and Nila, who were considered farmers.

"The privileges of the students must be even greater if their parents invest a lot of money in the school," Kai said.

"Yes, but don't worry, nothing too serious will happen. When I say privileges, I mean that nobles have higher quality materials, private tutors, some get the answers to tests before they happen, and they get away with certain actions. But the school still prohibits many things, even for nobles," Jane explained.

They continued talking until they reached the mountain they had to climb. It was a bit tiring, and upon reaching the top where Brainheart was located, Jane and Kai's legs were aching.

"I'm too old for this," Jane complained.

As soon as they arrived, they could see a massive wall made of black stone and the tall towers of the school, one of them containing a huge clock.

"Wow," Kai said, "This place is extraordinary."

The superior quality of the stones used to build the school was evident, and even the barrier had a different aura.

"This barrier is stronger than the city's," Jane said. "Security here is not an issue."

As soon as they stopped in front of the gate, a guard approached them. He had an air of superiority as he looked at them both and said, "What brings you two here?"

Jane took the lead, "I am a new teacher for the upcoming school year, and this is, um, my adopted grandson. I know classes start in two months, but is there any way we could stay in the school dormitories?"

Kai felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing what Jane said. The guard, on the other hand, was surprised, and his air of superiority instantly vanished when he saw that Jane was a teacher.

"Well, I can't guarantee that your grandson can stay here. That's something the headmaster will decide. Please, follow me."