Chapter 18: Trip to the academy

Dialogue "sample"

Thoughts 'Sample'

Techniques [sample]

Author notes -sample-

Chapter 18

Trip to the academy

The day to leave for the Magus Academy has arrived. Albert is currently finishing preparing the carriage while Augustus collects his things.

Siegfried has called both of his maids into his room.

"Milord, do you require help to prepare your traveling gear?" Asked Teresa.

"No, that's not why I called you here." He pointed to the big table inside his room. On top of it were two big leather bags, and under the bags were pieces of paper.

"That is for you"

Both maids went to the table. Teresa moved the leather bag to read the paper.

She gasped after reading the contents.

"Milord!, this is…why?"

Mary yelped after seeing the contents of the bag.

"Milord!, this bag is filled with gold coins!."

"This paper is an official edict that removes us from the Lancaster house service. Milord, have we done some wrong?" Asked Teresa with misty eyes.

"Calm down, you two. This is not meant to be a punishment but instead a reward. Those official documents allow you to be free of any obligations towards this household. Inside those bags are one hundred gold coins, that's around ten years of salary for a commoner. You can take that and do whatever you want." Explained Siegfried.

Teresa gave him a look. "You are not planning on coming back…"

"I want you to keep this a secret. But after finishing with the academy, I'm going on a trip to explore the continent. I don't know if I will ever come back to this house."

"Why are you doing this, Milord? You could have a long and happy life here as the future Lord of the Lancaster house." Mary could not understand why would someone make that decision.

"Is my life. I chose how I want to live it. And now, you two can do the same. If you wish to remain as a maid of this household, all you have to do is destroy that document. My father will assign you a new role. Or you can go away and see what life can offer you. Is your choice to make. That's all I wanted to say, other than, thank you for your services." Siegfried finished.

Teresa gave a sad smile.

"I see…the young Lord is growing up…It was a pleasure to serve you Milord" She gave a curtsey.

"Yes, it was!...ohh I didn't mean it that way!" Mary tumbled over her words but quickly recovered and gave a curtsey.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"All ready, Milord." Said, Albert.

The traveling part will only consist of Albert, Augustus, Ser Douglas, and the carriage driver.

The trip to the Aglioso capital will take three days and the admission tests will start in six days, so they can travel with ease.

Once everyone had taken their seats, the driver ordered the horses to start.

Inside the carriage, were Siegfried, Albert, and Augustus. The vehicle was big enough for six people to sit comfortably during long trips so they had plenty of space.

"It will take us three days to get there, we will camp at night to let the horses rest and get something to eat. During this time, I will try to give you all the relevant information I still remember about the Magus academy. It's been a long time since I went there, so much of my information may be outdated, keep that in mind." Commented Augustus.

"That's fine, Mister Augustus. Any new knowledge is welcome."

Augustus laughed.

"Spoke like a true Magus right now. Let's see…"

The Magus adopted a thinking position.

"Your entrance fee has already been paid and your name has been registered. So the first thing you will need to do once we arrive at the academy grounds is complete the entrance test. It is an affinity test. You place your hand on a measuring artifact and this one calculates your affinity for all known elements before displaying them for the examiners to see. If any of your affinities is D or higher, you pass."

"How is affinity calculated?" Asked Siegfried.

"Affinity is basically how well your body handles one type of mana. There are four basic types of mana, you have already practice rank zero spells for all of them. Earth, fire, water, and wind. The measuring tool will inject a small amount of each of the types and analyze how well your body can circulate and absorb that particular mana." Explained Augustus.

'Other than changing the names of things, is not that different from what people already knew during his era. Mana=Natural energy, earth mana = earth energy, wind mana = heaven energy, fire mana = yang energy, and water mana = yin energy.'

Augustus saw Siegfried in deep thought and mistook it for worry.

"Don't think too much about the test. Your affinity was already tested years ago and you have a B-rank fire affinity. That is more than respectable. It may be enough to put you in the elite class in the future. Very few will reach an A-rank affinity. As for S rank… that's like once in a generation thing."

"Elite class?"

Augustus nodded. "Everyone has different talents and different learning abilities. Putting everyone in the same class could be detrimental to those who show the most promise. As far as I remember, there were three. Common class, High class, and elite class. The common class is where most commoners end up unless they show tremendous talent. High class is where most nobles end up, even if they don't show that much promise, a noble will never be put on the common class."

"That seems more like a way to separate people by their social rank rather than talent." Siegfried pointed out.

"You are not wrong… and lastly, you have the elite class. Usually, they only put the few recruits that have A rank affinity there, or those from the most influential families in the State. But, every year the academy allows students to perform a series of tests in order to enter the next class. Commoners can take this chance to try to enter the high class, while nobles will do the same for the elite class. With your talent, you may be able to enter the elite class next year."