An Afternoon Tea With Lariz

Outside the mansion, two men are having tea in the garden, enjoying the view as they speak to one another.

 "So, you are prepared for the tournament, Lariz," Ryker said, the other party nodded with a smug smile.

 "Why of course? The only way to ensure my ascension to Kinghood would be for me to have an overwhelming advantage over my competitors," the Crown Prince replied.

 "So, you trained your main from early on, so that when needed, they would be able to crush your brothers' subordinates, with the exception of maybe the powerful Noble House," Ryker guessed, Lariz nods being enough of an answer for now.

 "They will get desperate. After all, they should have an advantage in numbers but instead in the passive," he continued.

 "True," Lariz admitted such thing, "but it will happen anyhow so I want to make sure if that happens, it will be in my term,"

 Ryker make an understanding hum as he took a sip out of his tea. "So, what will I need to do now?" he asked. There should be nothing else and he did not want to get more involve with the fighting, well, not more than he currently is.

 "Nothing, you have done your part," it is something Ryker wanted to here. "Besides from getting your prize. After all, there is no tournament without prizes for the winner, are there?"

 Ryker nodded. In a way, it make sense. After all, he had never seen a tournament that did not offer a prize. A sparring session with no prize, yes, but never a tournament.

 "All of the participants will get two prizes, one from my father, and another one for me," he wondered why Lariz gave his own prize when he thought of something.

 "So, from the King would be because we win. While from you is because of gratitude, 'a thank you for winning the tournament for me' kind of prize," Ryker said, earning a nod from the Crown Prince.

 "Yes, and while the rewards from me is easy enough, the prize from the King would need to be collected from the palace. All of the winners would be given a chance to grab anything from the royal vault," Ryker nodded, though his eyes clearly excited. After all, the prospect of getting something from a vault belonging to a large kingdom like the Birak Kingdom is exciting. 

 Who knew what kind of treasures can be find inside such vault. Sure, it would not be much, as the more priceless treasures would no doubt keep elsewhere, there would be something useful for him and for his group. He could not wait for such thing.

 As he was busy daydreaming, Lariz woke him up from it, "Ryker, how long it will take for your injuries to heal?" he asked.

 "Maybe around another weak or so. Though, I think after I finish healing, I can raise my cultivation by another stage," he said, nearly killing Lariz through food choking.

 "That's is fast," he manage to say after removing the food stuck in his throat. "Then again, the match should be the main reason for it," Lariz continued, acting like she had not just choke to a pastry.

 "True, I just need to heal up then I should become a 4th Stage Genesis Sea," Ryker said before taking another sip.

 "Hhmm, oh, by the way, the Sovereign of Adventure Guild, Craftsman Alliance and Academy Union said something about your admission to the Boluron Central University," this cause him to pay much attention to the Crown Prince.

 "Really now, what did they say?" he asked.

 "They say while this year session already began, and there is no admission test at the moment, they make an exception, and you will be accepted to the University entrance examination," his words confused his for a bit.

 "But they said I don't need to take an admission test. So why do I need to take an entrance examination," Lariz shook his head at his friend's cluelessness.

 "Admission test and entrance exam are two different things. The former is to see if you are good enough for the University. Every single academy of the Academy Union has it, even the one in the Kingdom. 

 While the entrance exam is usually to get rid of those that manage to squeeze in through luck, and as a way to determine where you are in term of strength and hierarchy,"

 "What do you mean by that?" Ryker asked again.

 "The entrance exam is use to determine your spot. There are three different type of classes, which are Gold, Silver, and Bronze, with the last being the lowest and first being the best. Of course, the higher-ranked class would receive more resources so that should be your target.

 Aside from the class, there is also the class ranking and the year ranking. For the class ranking, it is for the class you are in. You need to get into one of the top spot to be a part of the class ranking. The same thing is true for the year ranking.

 As long as you are in the ranking, you will receive additional resources so you better do your best on that as well," Lariz explained, an amused smile on his face seeing how Ryker's eyes seem to brighten up at the mention of additional resource.

 "Of course. I would also like to see how the one that able to enter the University compared to myself," a bloodthirsty smile formed on his face.

 "Oh, by the way, there are also the school ranking," Lariz said, remembering the tidbit.

 "School ranking?" Ryker's eyes widen as he thought of it, "Is it how the ranking in the school, and that it include every student, no matter which year the enter?" he asked.

 "Yes, that is true. As long as you are a student and not a staff or tutors, then you can be part of the school ranking," the Crown Prince nodded.

 "Won't all the school ranking be filled by the oldest students?" Ryker questioned.

 "Yes, but it would be a good way to gauge where you are. After all, if you are given enough time, there is no doubt you will beat the older student up," Lariz replied, earning a snort from Ryker.

 "Easy for you to say. You will not be the one to compete against them," he pointed out, causing the Crown Prince to laugh.

 "True, besides, I am old enough to be a part of the staff. After all, you can only enter as a student when your age is below 30 for junior student, and 50 for senior student," Ryker wanted to ask about junior and senior student classification but before he could, the man receive a message.

 "Looks like I need to handle something first. See you soon, Ryker," the Crown Prince said his farewell for the day.

 "See you soon too, Lariz," Ryker watched as Lariz walked away, wondering what the message is all about.