Weird Familiar

Milia was the only one in that batch that didn't surprise anyone. However, Alvin, Connor, and Linfel definitely did. Once again, because Linfel and Nori were independent, they were not considered to be one unit with their masters.

All eyes turned to Alvin and Connor in the building, making both of them feel awkward. 

It was then that someone spoke. His name was Sanvike, and he was the Eleventh Magus to have reached the last flag. "This is wrong! The rules clearly stated that anyone who followed stronger Maguses and Familiars but did nothing would have their results nullified! How can there be two Rank F maguses and a Rank F Familiar in the top ten? They obviously used Milia, Donfin, and Miranda's strength to get there!"

The other Maguses and Familiar began to complain as well, quickly reaching the administration of the exam in the building.

However, before things escalated, Donfin stepped forward. "They did nothing? Hahaha! What a bunch of idiots. I was with them! They were not as strong as us, that's true. However, they did not just stick around and wait for me, Miranda, and Milia to do the hard job."

Miranda was the next one to speak. "They killed their fair number of Magic Beasts and even managed to kill a Level Two Rock Breaker on their own. Could any of you do that when you were still Level One maguses and Familiars? Perhaps you could, perhaps you couldn't. Nonetheless, they did not lag behind. Not only that, it was thanks to that Rank F Familiar that we were able to get to the Purple Flag faster than anyone else."

Donfin and Miranda knew that the whole exam was recorded. There was no point in them denying Alvin, Linfel, Felia, Connor, and Tratil's achievements. Well, Connor did not kill the Level Two Rock Breaker, but he did do his part even though he was scared. Linfel made sure he fought his way through.

"Ha!" Sanvike didn't believe it for even a second. "Then why don't you allow us to check the exam's recordings? I'm especially interested in how they defeated a Level Two Rock Breaker."

Alvin got nervous. At that time, he connected with both Linfel and Felia. If that moment was shown to everyone else, wouldn't things get even more complicated? He was still worried about Principal Xalafel, who definitely saw that happening already. There was also Milia in this.

"Preposterous!" Yet, it was at this moment that a young woman entered the room, wearing one of the Academy Board's Uniforms. Her name was Litivia Sumre, also known as the Vice-Principal of the Academy.

Any student that was wroth their reputation definitely knew her, which included Sanvike. "S-Senior Litivia..."

Litivia approached Sanvike with a dark expression. "Since when has my Academy ever given out unfair results? We have fended off all the families' and organizations' influence in the Academy's affairs for hundreds of years. Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep this place neutral in the midst of all the power struggles of the country?"

She then grabbed Sanvike's head and pulled it high. "And yet, you are saying that we would throw all these years of effort away to help a small bunch of Rank F Students and a Familiar? You must truly be looking to die. Give me one reason not to expel you from the Academy right here and now."

Litivia cast her cold eyes around while still holding Sanvike high. That obviously made every single voice of doubt disappear from everyone's mouths. Litivia was known for being brutal and protecting the Academy's affair with everything she had.

Besides, now that she appeared and talked, they had to admit her words made sense. The academy never took sides, even when it came to proud children of the several powers in the country. Why would it tarnish its name for some unknown Rank F Maguses and Familiar? It is true that Alvin made some waves recently, but he wasn't anyone near as important as some of the other students around, like Milia, for example. 

"I-I'm.. Sorry, senior!" Sanvike struggled to speak. "Please, forgive me!" Not only was he scared of Litivia, who was also a Level Five Magus, but the notion of being expelled from the academy made his blood freeze. That was absolutely the worst outcome for a young magus trying to make their name.

"Hmph!" Livita then threw Sanvike away like a bag of trash, falling in the middle of a few other students who were complaining later. "Connor, Linfel, and Alvin. I've watched their recordings during the exam, and they pulled their own weight. Also, Miranda wasn't lying. It was thanks to THEM that they even managed to get to the last flag first, not the other way around."

She looked around and crossed her arms. "Does anyone here doubt my words?"

"No!" Everyone answered at the same time. Are you kidding? They have no intention of being expelled or treated like Sanvike was a moment ago.

"I thought so," said Litivia before turning her head to Linfel's group. "Nonetheless, you did indeed do a great job during this Field Exam, especially since this was your first time taking one. Some of the circumstances played in your favor as well, so you could consider luck. But luck is also a type of strength. Later, come to see me. I have a few things to ask."

Linfel and the others quickly nodded. "Yes, senior Litivia." They obviously knew what she wanted to talk about.

"Milia Frondor!" Litivia looked at Milia in the distance, who seemed to be hiding from something. "You too! Come to see me later with Alvin, Connor, and Linfel."

Milia bitterly smiled and nodded. "Yes, Vice-Principal." Seems like she wouldn't be able to run away from Alvin for much longer.

Litivia nodded and made her way out of the building, but not before casting a glance at Linfel. 'What a weird Familiar...' She was a trusted subordinate from Xalafel, so she was already aware of what really happened. It's just that she was more interested in Linfel than Alvin after watching everything.

After Litivia left, Linfel ignored everything and went straight to one of the terminals in the building. He quickly accessed his Academy Account, checking his balance of Academy Credits. Sure enough, it was already updated with the rewards of the Field Exam.

-AC: 4120-

Linfel's eyes lit up. 'Donfin wasn't kidding! Not only were there bonuses for being within the top ten, but there were also bonuses for performance. I got 3420 Academy Credits, 1420 more than the flag's points themselves!' Linfel already knew exactly what he was going to buy with it.

Alvin and Connor also checked their accounts. It's just that they were feeling the pressure of being watched by everyone else. They couldn't truly enjoy the rewards as Linfel was doing... At least now right now.

"Let's go!" Linfel wanted to get over with whatever Litivia wanted to talk about. "I want to buy a few things, so let's go to Litivia already."

Connor and Alvin nodded while their Familiars followed them. On their way out, Milia also approached, although she seemed to be fairly uncomfortable to be joining them. She kept looking away, ignoring Alvin altogether.

Connor and Alvin looked at each other, a little lost at what to do. The mood seemed terrible somehow. It was then that Linfel spoke, not really seeing anything wrong. "Hey, Milia. Where is Nori?" For good or for bad, the wisp didn't know how to read the atmosphere. 

Milia trembled a little and looked back at Linfel. "His... His core was damaged. I had to send him back to the Floating Blades Faction straight away so it could be repaired. His soul is fine, though. He should get back to normal by tomorrow."

Linfel's relief was palpable. "Phew... Familiars are truly a resilient bunch. They can even get their Core Fixed. If it was m-"

*mmmmhmhmmm...*

Alvin and Felia instantly stopped the wisp from saying anything else. 

"If it was you, you would probably be much cheaper to fix than Nori. After all, you were made with much cheaper materials as well. Hahahaha!" said Alvin, laughing nervously.

Milia found their interaction as funny as ever, making her forget the reason she was flustered for a moment. "You guys truly have no salvation.," she said with a faint smile. However, she quickly remembered everything and looked away once again.

Their group took the Academy's Public Transportation and went to the Main Management Building at the center of the Academy. That's where you can find the most important members of the board as well as the Vice Principal and the Principal's Office. Once inside, one of the attendants seemed to have been waiting for them, quickly coming to talk. "Hello. Are you perhaps Alvin and his friends?"

Alvin nodded. "That would be us."

"Very well," The attendant quickly spoke. "Please follow me."

Their group passed through security checking points, arriving at an office a few minutes later. However, the office in front of them wasn't the Vice-Principal's Litivia. Instead, it was the man himself, Xalafel's. Only Connor was surprised, though. Milia and Linfel had seen Xalafel when the Level Four Magic Beast was defeated.

The attendant knocked on the door. "Principal, they are here."

"Enter," said a voice from inside.

The attendant opened the door and guided the group inside. After that, he bowed to Xalafel and left, closing the door.

Xalafel wasn't alone in there. There were also three other people and their Familiars there. Litivia was one of them, and so were those two subordinates from the airship. One of them was Dilwe, while the other was called Fenlin. At the moment, they were the only ones who knew Alvin could do a Double Master Familiar Connection... other than Milia, Connor, and their Familiars, of course.

Alvin and the others quickly bowed to Xalafel, showing their respect for this legend of the country. Yet, before they could say anything...

"See? I told you. It is the same man from the statue," Linfel spoke while pointing out. "He just looks a lot older."

The room went completely silent. Was there anyone out there who dared to treat Xalafel in such a disrespectful manner?

"Linfel! Can you show a little more respect to senior Xalafel, please?" Alvin begged with teary eyes.

Linfel didn't understand the reason. "Did I say something wrong?"

Alvin wanted to explain, but Xalafel intervened. "Don't worry about it. I am old. That is obvious for all to see. Let's leave that aside and speak about the real reason I called you all here."

"The Double Master Familiar Connection, right?" Linfel asked straight away.

Milia narrowed her eyes. Her feelings were a little out of place because of Alvin's actions in the Field Exam. However, it wasn't like she had forgotten that view. She saw Linfel, Felia, and Alvin connected together.

Xalafel nodded, but he looked at Alvin instead. "Alvin, as a Magus, you should know that this is unprecedented. No Magus had ever succeeded in a Double Master Familiar Connection before reaching Level Five."

"Level Five?" Alvin got puzzled. "I thought Level Six was the minimal level possible."

Felia, Connor, and Tratil also nodded. That's the information they had.

However, Milia shook her head. "That's because those at Level Five who can do it aren't exactly publicly displayed. However, there are a few out there, and they are all big figures."

"As expect of the daughter of the Frondor Family," said Litivia. "You do have access to quite some privileged information."

Xalafen didn't care about it. "In any case, Level Five was the limit. No other Magus, as far as we know, has ever done a Double Master Familiar Connection before Level Five. Alvin... how did you do it?"

"Eh?" Alvin didn't even know how to answer that. After all, it wasn't he who made it possible. It was Linfel instead. "I... don't know?"

Linfel quickly jumped in. "Alvin, it is not that hard, is it? Felia and I just had to connect with you at the same time. What else is there to be said?" That was a lie, of course. Linfel's connection was completely different from Felia's. It's just he couldn't tell others about it, so he went with the most obvious answer, and no one would be able to prove otherwise.