Luck

Linfel began to circulate his Yellow Magic Energy as fast as he could, dragging it all out from his core. The density of the Magic Energy increased in a second, causing the surrounding air to tremble. The strong Yellow Color, a sign of a High-Grade Familiar, became even more apparent. 

'Alvin told me to not show his Red Magic Energy, but there was no problem if I used the absolute limit of what Yellow Magic Energy could do, right? Otherwise, I don't think I can take it down...' Linfel thought for a moment.

The worker opened his eyes wide, impressed with Linfel's display. 'So-So much Magic Energy... I wonder how much did it cost to make.' 

Alvin and Felia weren't feeling as impressed. They were helpless instead. 'That idiot!'

Finally, Linfel shot a blast of pure Yellow Magic Energy forward.

*BOOM!*

The Diagram Magic Wall immediately bent backwards, its many circuitry had been created to hold back the power of a High-Grade Familiar, but Linfel's Yellow Magic Definitely surpassed such a thing even if the color was the same. 

What no one expected was that Linfel's Magic Energy, even if it is just Yellow, was still the cleanest you could possibly find in this world. That alone increased the power of his attack far beyond Familiars at the same level. 

*Crack, crack, crack...*

*Bang!*

Finally, the target wall couldn't hold that power anymore. It broke into countless pecs of light as Linfel's blast of Magic Energy went forward, hitting the protection barrier. The room trembled as the energy dissipated. It was a good thing that barrier was always set to hold the power of at least a Level Three Attack. Otherwise, the back of the building would have been destroyed together with the wall target.

Linfel looked at that and sighed in relief. He then turned in Alvin's direction. "There you go, Alvin. I took it down, just like you asked."

"Your ass! Who the hell asked you to take it down?!" Alvin wanted to cry. "I wanted you to hold back, HOLD BACK!"

"Eh?" Linfel was puzzled. "Then why didn't you say so? Your communication skills are truly lacking, you know?"

Alvin's mouth twitched as a vein popped in his head. The wisp was telling him he lacked communication skills... THE WISP said that! "Fuck it! Since it's done, it is done; let's check the results and see what happens."

-Magic Power Score: 00-

"Z-Zero?" Everyone looked at that, not believing what they were saying. "How come it is zero?"

The worker knew the reason, though. It wasn't that Linfel's Magic Score was zero, nor was it a problem with the test. It's just that the equipment couldn't evaluate Linfel's Magic Power at the Yellow Level. 'Sure enough, just like those three...' His mind then went to the past few years. Linfel wasn't the first one to take the Diagram Magic Wall down. There were others before him, and their result turned out to be zero as well.

Naturally, the equipment displayed the overall score after it was done.

-Average Magic Score: 57-

Linfel and the others looked at the guy applying the test, confused. "This is wrong, right?"

The worker nodded. "It is, but there is no need to retake the test. This is just to test whether the Familiar has the capability to become independent, and for that, you only need a score of 50 or higher. We can retake the test if you want, but it will cost you Academy Credits."

Alvin and Felia were ecstatic! "No, no, no! This is perfect! There is absolutely, absoluuuuuuuuuutely no need to take it again!" That result would be made public on Linfel's ID, so 57 was definitely a great number.

Linfel didn't really mind, either. "I got what I came for, so I guess this is fine too."

Still, Romario felt things weren't right. "S-Sir... Is it really fine? I mean, that kind of power..."

Julia agreed with him, and so did her Familiar. "Yes, that was just amazing! You should take it again and show Linfel's real power."

However, Alvin and Felia quickly stopped them. "No, no, no! We truly don't wish to take the test again. Believe us, this is perfect!"

"But..." Romario didn't understand. "If you showed his real score, he would have many more opportunities in the future. Are you sure this is enough?"

"Yes!" Alvin and Felia nodded. "If necessary, we can take the test again another time. For now, it is good this way. Let's just say it would be better for Linfel to keep a low profile."

Julia and Romario, as well as their Familiars, looked at Linfel. "Are you sure this guy can keep a low profile?"

Linfel patted his chest. "Obviously! Why wouldn't I? I'm as inconspicuous as a Familiar can be." He truly believed that.

Alvin and Felia really couldn't tell where Linfel's confidence came from.

Satisfied with the score, Alvin and Linfel turned to the guy responsible for the test behind the monitors. "Sir, is this all? We can truly keep this 57 score, right?"

"Yes." The man quickly confirmed. "Now, you can leave. The Familiar Testing Area will close for the day."

Alvin and the others didn't delay and left the room. Of course, Linfel and Danil went to another counter where their results had already been computed. Another attendant was there, showing two IDs on a screen in front of Linfel and Danil. "You two can inject your Magic Energy into the Receptor. It will conclude the independence test."

It was the same as the previous equipment Linfel saw Alvin using. There was a small transparent sphere by the monitor with many diagrams inside. Linfel and Danil injected their Magic Energy inside, and the equipment saved their Magic Energy Signatures. Soon, a new section was added to their IDs saying 'Independent.'

Back in the room where Linfel took his test, the worker entered the area of the test and checked the condition of the diagrams on the ground. Only then did he see that several of the Diagram Runes were overflowing with magic energy, having difficulty to dissipate it even now. 'Our academy has truly been quite luck with Familiars in recent years,' he thought with a smile. Right after, he took out his MCOM and sent a message to an unknown number before putting it away.

---

Outside, Julia, Romario, and Alvin exchanged numbers after finishing their Familiars' test. 

"Well then, there is still an hour before the first classes. Do you guys want to go and eat something?" Romario asked.

Alvin and Julia quickly accepted. "Seems like a great idea!"

However, as soon as they stepped out of the building, several people approached them... Or, to be more specific, Alvin and Linfel. "This..."

Alvin looked at their uniforms. Although they were all in the same academy uniform, they had an extra emblem different from the mandatory academy's one. One of these people was Milia and Nori, who said they would wait for Alvin to come out with Linfel from the Familiars' Test. As for the rest... Alvin recognized a few of the emblems. They were Faction Emblems in the academy.

Milia quickly took the initiative. "So, Alvin, Linfel, have you thought about it. Would you like to join the Floating Blades Faction?"

Only then did Alvin remember he truly said he would take the time of Linfel's Test to think about it. Too bad, though. With Linfel's 'low profile' display, that memory vanished from his head.

"Hey, not so fast!" A young man in his early twenties approached as well. "Why would he join your Floating Blades Faction? You guys have barely established yourselves in the academy, so there is no prospect for Alvin and Linfel." 

Milia's expression turned dark as she looked at him. However, the guy completely ignored Milia and introduced himself to Linfel and Alvin. "Hi there. My name is-"

"Max Turfel!" Alvin quickly completed it. "You are the top Magus of your 21st academy section. I doubt there are many who don't know someone like you." 

Alvin was right. Max was just as famous as Milia and the other top students. 

Max smiled, satisfied. "It makes me happy you know me. So, the reason I came here is to extend you an invitation to join the Heaven Breaking Faction. We have a lot of history within the academy, and our training resources are the best ones. You won't regret."

"Hmph!" Someone else snorted. It was a woman not far from her twenties called Amanda Sosei. "Best your ass! How could it compare to our Star Explorers Faction? Linfel, Alvin, we also have an agreement with the Space Station Company that gives us quite the deal for exploring other nearby worlds. You two would definitely fit well since we rely strongly on our Familiars as well. We take the Master Familiar Connection very seriously."

Yet, it didn't stop there. "What's the point of having a deal with the Space Station if one can't pay for it anyway?" Asked a young man, seeming younger than Alvin and Milia. "Alvin, Linfel, Amanda's Star Explorers Faction is a sinkhole of Academy Credits with no real benefit. Instead, you should join our Earthlings Faction. As the name implies, we are very down to earth, using every single Academy Credit available to us in the best way possible. Nothing is wasted when you receive access to our computer's specialized training program."

One by one, other factions came forward to introduce themselves, making Alvin and Linfel feel somewhat lost at what to do. Of course, even though it became a gathering of big figures, none of them were the leaders of their Factions. Only one or another had any real important position inside their Faction.

The reason was simple, Linfel and Alvin's Master Familiar Connection was indeed impressive, but Alvin himself wasn't. Linfel's Familiar test that he just took was immediately added to the Academy's Website, so they saw he only had a 57 Magic Score. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't that good either. In the end, the Factions didn't really put all that importance on them. If they joined their faction, that's good. If they didn't, it wasn't like they lost much anyway.

In fact, the academy had more Factions, but the others didn't even bother to send a representative to ask Linfel and Alvin to join them. Let's not forget the academy had more than a hundred thousand students. It was normal for it to have many Factions.

Milia continued to stay there, still angry with that crowd. She just wanted to leave already. "So, everyone expressed their wishes for you to join them. Just make a decision already." She didn't hold much hope. Max Turfel was right. Her Floating Blades Faction was quite new and still lacked the same advantages as more established Factions. Besides, after the mess in the Master Familiar Connection test, it would be weird if Alvin truly selected the Floating Blades with Milia there.

Alvin didn't give an answer straight away. Instead, he pulled Felia closer to him and asked everyone. "Felia is also my Familiar. Would it be an issue if she joined with me?"

"This..." Suddenly, everyone grew quiet. Spending resources on a Familiar with just a slightly above-average MFC just to get Alvin to join them didn't seem worth it.

"We don't mind," Milia was the first one to answer, though. For a new Faction like hers, they truly couldn't look too much at such issues. Factions in that position needed to get a foothold first, so they would usually overlook some disadvantages.

"Then it is decided," Alvin immediately made his decision. In fact, some other factions were still considering if they should accept that term, but Alvin didn't give them time to do it.

Felia then got closer to Alvin's ears and whispered. 'I'm happy that you did it for me, master. However, let's be honest, you would have chosen her regardless, wouldn't you?' Of course, she made sure that even Milia couldn't hear her by using her Magic Energy to talk to Alvin and Linfel only.

Alvin looked away, pretending he didn't know what Felia was talking about. 'You misunderstand me.'

Linfel heard that and was all puzzled. However, he looked at Milia and understood. 'Procreation. In the end, it is all about procreation.' For once... the wisp wasn't entirely wrong.