Chapter 109: The Academy’s New Arrangements
"They are finally leaving."
Luther commented from the side as he stood a step behind Asher and Ol' Fang, watching the convoy of soldiers and supplies departing the estate. Alongside the trio were Aaron and Isabella, who stood in similar positions as Luther.
"We can have some peaceful days now." Aaron stretched lazy.
"But, is everything alright? Despite acting so determined and intent on whatever it was he was planning, the envoy simply gave up." Luther couldn't help but ask.
Josef had only stayed for a day and two nights so far, and on the third day since his arrival, he had left in a hurry. Although none of them were aware of Josef's schemes, they believed that he wasn't just here for envoy matters alone.
"Don't worry about it. We won't be facing any trouble so go focus on your training. You no longer have a reason to slack off." Asher replied before turning around to leave.
Just then, a small falcon dived from the sky and landed beside Isabella.
Isabella raised an eyebrow but then spotted a small rolled-up paper tied to the leg of the falcon and a seal on the other leg. It was a messenger falcon called Black Merlin, and by the seal on the falcon's leg, it was one from the Arnhaunt messenger division.
As a family that fought in several wars and guarded the border, it was natural for them to have a means of communicating over long distances. The Black Merlin was a special breed of the Merlin falcon raised by the Arnhaunts. Similar to their White-blood horses, the Black Merlins were trained in a special manner and could even deliver messages in the middle of a war, spotting their target among an army of thousands.
'The family's training method for animals is indeed a luxury envied by many.' Asher couldn't help but think as he continued on his way after a momentary pause.
Apart from the fact that they owned one of the most valuable magic crystal mines in the kingdom, the Arnhaunts' training system both for mages and animals, as well as their special breed creatures, were some other factors that drew envy to them from the other noble families.
"Young master," Isabella called out.
"Hmm? What's up?" Asher asked.
"It's for you." Isabella walked over and handed him a sealed envelope.
With Asher staying in the academy, Isabella was the one who handled most of his mails, so it was understandable as to why the case was so at the moment.
Asher turned back and collected the envelope before checking it out. It turned out to be one from the academy.
'I wonder what it says.'
A few seconds after going through it, Asher smirked.
'So, the academy intends on performing a joint exercise with the Second Dawn academy.'
The promotional exam for the third years of the First Dawn Academy originally comprised two parts, the theoretical and the practical, following which the practical was further divided into two; the test that took place at the Manchurian forest and a tournament that was supposed to be among the top 260 students with the most points from both the theoretical test and the practical test at the Manchurian forest.
However, the mysterious organization had attacked and thwarted the test with over twenty-four hours left. Therefore, it was impossible for the second phase of the practical test, or the third part of the promotional exams, to continue. Over twenty-four hours meant that it was possible for someone at the bottom of the rankings prior to collect enough tokens and make it to the top 260.
Even so, the academy followed a strict rule of dropping off the weaker students to focus their resources intently on the stronger ones. For that reason, there was no way they would simply let the entire three hundred and forty-two (342) students move into the fourth year. Hence, the academy came up with a solution.
Usually, an inter-academy tournament occurred in the fourth year, but this time around, they decided to include the third years too. But unlike the fourth year's battle, theirs had a catch.
If a third-year student of the First Dawn Academy ended with a position worse than a student of the Second Dawn Academy, below the top 342 to be precise, they would both swap academies. In other words, the First Dawn Academy student would be demoted to the Second Dawn Academy, while the student from the latter would get promoted to the former.
To explain better, supposing a First Dawn student doesn't make it to the top 342 rankings, they would lose their original spot in the academy to the Second Dawn student who managed to climb up to the top 342. From the 342 rankers, the top 260 would receive the originally planned special treatment for the rest of the semester while the remaining eighty students would have to fight for their spots.
The whole purpose was to have the students from both academies put their all by raising the stakes to such heights. One can imagine the level of disappointment and scolding a student from the First Dawn Academy would receive if they got downgraded from the academy.
This tournament would no doubt affect the future of the students both in their lives and families. The children of the duke and marquis families in the First Dawn Academy can be said to be safe alongside a few count family descendants, but the same couldn't be said for the other count family descendants and those from viscount or even baron families.
Just like the First Dawn Academy, the Second Dawn offered quality education, the only difference being that they were far more strict and intense with their training. Some graduates made a comparison between the two schools and stated that the First Dawn Academy was more of an academy whereas the Second Dawn Academy was a military camp. So when one considers students from such a place and pit them against those from a safer environment, it was obvious who would do better in a do-or-die affair.
Of course, this didn't mean that Second Dawn Academy students were undoubtedly stronger, but if they had the same resources from the start, then it would be debatable. However, not only were First Dawn Academy students 'pampered' by their families, but they also got better resources and education from the academy than their counterparts. Finally, they had better constitutions and physiques on average. Basically, most Second Dawn Academy students were on par with or slightly stronger than the lower half of students in the First Dawn Academy.
'This test isn't a problem for me, but I have to make sure that Noah and James do well. Unlike me, they don't have a Celestial emperor's lifetime's worth of knowledge or an impressive family supporting them.' Asher thought,
As was previously mentioned, the Second Dawn Academy was more like a military camp than an academy. While First Dawn Academy students only began fighting monsters in their third year, Second Dawn Academy students had already begun doing so since their second year. In terms of practical experience, they were already ahead. But when it came to resources, potential, and knowledge in magic, they were behind the First Dawn Academy students.
'I need to focus on my advancements first. Those two already have a training regiment so all they need to do I stick to it and they would be alright.'
Asher thought as he walked back into the house.
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