CH295 A Student's Tale
***
Merlin let Senu return to Alex, the Nightmare Eagle landing lightly on his shoulder again.
"It just sort of happened," Alex said with a faint smile.
"Mid-stage Intermediate rank," Merlin assessed calmly. "Not bad. Looks like you haven't been slacking."
"I think it's actually slow." Alex sighed. "Everyone around me is already at the peak—or about to reach Elite rank. Zora's on the verge of becoming a Great Mage."
"Don't be hasty, Alex." Merlin smiled knowingly. "Your progress is more than fast enough. With the exception of Zora, you're not really that much weaker than those you compare yourself to, are you?"
"No… I'm not," Alex admitted with a nod. "I can hold my own against at least a mid-stage Elite rank."
"Exactly." Merlin's eyes glinted. "Between your fused bloodline, your Affinity and Mana Capacity talents, and your unique Rune-Tech platform, you cannot be measured by the same yardstick as ordinary mages. It's unfair to yourself—and to them."
