Nasty

Xalafel, Litivia, Dilwe, and Fenlin, two Level Five and two Level Four Maguses, used their Magic Energy to sense Alvin's connection. It didn't matter how they looked. Linfel and Felia were perfectly connected to Alvin, and their Magic Energies were merged without any issues. "Truly unbelievable..." Xalafel murmured for a moment.

He quickly recovered, though. "Alvin, I saw you defeating the Rock Breaker and defending against one of the attacks of the Serpent. I believe it is safe to say your strength while using a Double Connection is within the realm of a Level Two Magus, almost a Level Three."

Alvin agreed with that. "Yes, although I wasn't aware of how strong I was until I finally met the Rock breaker."

Xalafel felt the connection go for a few more moments before finishing. "Alright, you can stop it now."

Linfel and Felia separated from Alvin, and their power went back to normal.

Xalafel continued from there. "You did an impressive job finding that you were capable of it. So much that I wish I could send you straight into a Rank A Class. However, we truly can't reveal your abilities... at least not yet."

"Well, we also don't want to become targets. Hahaha!" Linfel commented on the side while laughing.

Xalafel's voice took on a somber note. "That is true. You are still Level One Magus and Familiars, so you might not know this. The situation of the country isn't exactly as safe as it looks on the outside. It's a dangerous place, filled with hidden threats."

"We know," Connor quickly spoke. "The guys from the Floating Blades Faction told us what was really happening. About the saturation and how soon there won't be enough resources for everyone."

"Is that so?" Xalafeal narrowed his eyes but quickly returned to normal. "They should have waited to do that, but in this case, it is good that you already know about it. Simply put, the nearby countries would like nothing more than to get rid of potential threats to a war that will sooner or later happen. In the background, things are already remarkably ugly. And, to be honest, we are already out of enough resources. It's just that the governments are pretty good at hiding it from the general populace."

"I understand," Alvin spoke, already expecting that. "I will keep it a secret, definitely not showing it again until I reach Level Five."

"No," surprisingly, Xalafel denied that notion. "I want you to show off your ability to use Double Connection as soon as you and your Familiars reach Level Three. Of course, until then, you will have to rise in the ranks normally."

"What?!" Everyone in the room was taken aback. 

"But wouldn't that put a target on my back, just like you said?" Alvin couldn't help but ask, scared of the idea.

Xalafel got up and walked to the window with a worried expression. "Yes, that would put you in danger."

Litivia didn't like it at all. "Xalafel, I trust you and your judgment. You know it. However, even I fail to see how it would be a good thing for us. If you say such a thing, that will put our academy and the entire world against us. Maybe the entire Universe since humans are the only ones who use the Master Familiar Connection."

Linfel was surprised to hear that. "Only humans use it? For real?"

Yet, Litivia looked at him, puzzled. "You should have received this information when you were created. Why so surprised?"

Alvin quickly intervened. "I created Linfel without most of the normal knowledge a Familiar would usually have. So... he doesn't know a lot of things."

"Why would you do that?" Livitia asked back.

"The knowledge curse..." Alvin spoke.

"Oh!" Litivia had to admit it was a good reason. Linfel heard from Alvin about it. Familiars find it hard to evolve because they already know everything. So they don't question their knowledge and thus find it hard to improve and find new paths. Still, it is quite an annoying thing to deal with, so those who create Familiars like Linfel are pretty much nonexistent. "Maybe this is one of the reasons why you can use Double Connection already. I will keep that in mind."

She looked at Linfel right after to answer his question. "Indeed, humans are pretty much the only race that uses Familiars. The reason for that... is that humans are generally weak. Our Master Familiar Connections are what give us a little chance to stand on the same level as the much more powerful races. You can read about it outside in the history of the human race once we finish here if you are interested."

Linfel quickly made a mental note to do so. "Alright. Thanks for the answer." Of course, he still wanted to know about Xalafel's plans for them. "Senior Xalafel, would you please explain why you want Alvin, Felia, and I to show our Double Connection at Level Three? I can only see the danger here..."

It was then that Milia's voice echoed. "Level Three... Does it have anything to do with the Continental Academy Competition?"

"What is that?" Linfel obviously knew nothing about it.

Xalafel, on the other hand, smiled, feeling satisfied. "Little lady Milia is indeed insightful. Your father must be very proud of you."

Milia's expression turned a little solemn. 'That man probably doesn't even remember I exist,' she murmured in a low voice that only she could hear.

Xalafel didn't notice it and simply continued. "Milia is right. I want you to show your strength at the Continental Academy Competition. As the name says, it is a competition where the Maguses and Familiars of the Academy of the entire continent gather. Obviously they compete to see which Academy is the best one."

Alvin was still confused. "That would still only put a target on our backs, a bigger one actually."

"On the contrary," Xalafel coldly smiled. "That will help our country immensely."

Suddenly, Linfel's eyes lit up. "Old man... you are truly a nasty person."