As they followed the lead instructor, Charles leaned toward Saya and whispered, "Those flowers just now were really beautiful."
Saya nodded in agreement. "They really were. It's the first time I've seen such stunning blossoms. They had this… captivating charm. Just one glance, and I couldn't look away. I really wanted to pick a couple…"
Though he still remembered the instructor's warning, that didn't stop him from fantasizing a little.
Conversations like this were common among the new students. Humans, being visual creatures by nature, were easily mesmerized by the breathtaking, seemingly endless field of flowers.
The instructor at the front simply curled his lip in disdain and said nothing.
'If you weren't part of the Academy, you'd have died the moment you got close to that place…'
He had lived in the Academy for decades. While he didn't know much about the guardian of that area—not even their true form—he did know one thing: the guardian was likely on par with the Headmaster.
Aside from that, the guardian remained a mystery.
What he did understand, however, was just how eerie and dangerous that flower field truly was. For ordinary people, even a single breath of its air could be fatal.
The Headmaster himself, a peak Fifth-Tier wizard, had once personally warned that anyone below the Third Tier shouldn't wander near it.
Inhaling too much of the gas those flowers emitted could cause even powerful wizards to develop rare and potentially crippling conditions. One misstep, and the consequences could be lifelong.
From that moment on, he had regarded that flower field as one of the Academy's most lethal zones.
If he didn't have to go near it, he wouldn't even pass by—afraid that taking a few extra breaths could leave him with a chronic illness.
That said, as far as he knew, as long as someone was affiliated with the Academy, even if they accidentally stepped into the field, the flowers usually wouldn't cause them serious harm—unless, of course, they barged in recklessly or out of ignorance.
Still, a wizard's instinct for caution made him avoid the area completely.
In his eyes, these clueless and naive first-years were far too green. Only after their instructors gave them a proper taste of reality would they start to understand that the world wasn't as kind as they thought.
Exploitation—that was the default relationship between wizards and their apprentices.
In the world of wizardry, knowledge was the most valuable commodity.
To make matters worse, many wizards—thanks to years of magical experimentation—had developed varying degrees of mental instability. Their minds no longer worked like those of ordinary people. The average wizard was, frankly, a bit unhinged.
Under such circumstances, learning anything useful from them wasn't easy.
Even though the Academy provided support to cover most of the cost, what remained was still enough to make apprentices feel deeply exploited.
The mentors were the steady river, while the apprentices were the ones being slowly drained.
Endure. Endure until it nearly kills you.
That was how he had survived his own apprenticeship, back in the day…
---
As they walked down a road steeped in history, Saya silently observed his surroundings.
To him, this place was going to be home for a very long time.
According to the information he'd gathered, it could take ten years—maybe even a hundred—for an apprentice to become a full-fledged wizard. Most of that time would be spent right here, within the Academy.
And now, after surveying the area, he felt a sense of satisfaction.
In his eyes, not even the most majestic capital of the strongest mortal kingdom could compare to this place. The ornate carvings on the walls alone looked like they had a history of over a thousand years.
This really is the home of wizards!
What surprised him even more was how lively the place was. He had expected a cold, quiet atmosphere, but instead, there were plenty of people going about—maybe not bustling, but certainly not empty.
Some wore the robes of students or instructors, while others were clearly dressed as servants. It looked like he'd be able to hire people to take care of his daily needs here.
Noticing the curious glances that passersby were casting in their direction, Saya—though still very young—straightened his back and held his head high, radiating confidence.
Charles hesitated for a moment, then followed his example. Though he didn't quite have the build or presence to pull it off, making him look a bit comical—like a monkey wearing a crown—it was still his first step toward becoming someone like Saya.
Admiration.
To Charles, Saya—with his handsome face, refined bearing, and ever-present self-assurance—was the very image of the person he wanted to become.
Even if that ideal felt far out of reach, Charles was determined to get closer.
He no longer wanted to drift through life aimlessly.
---
When they arrived at a towering building, the lead instructor finally stopped. He turned to face the group and said, "This is where new students are sorted. But this isn't just about you choosing a mentor—mentors will be choosing you too. If a mentor takes interest in you, you'll be selected early. If not, you'll be assigned based on your talent and aptitude."
"So put yourselves in the best mental state possible. Being chosen early means you stood out—and your mentor will likely give you more attention because of that."
After finishing his advice, the instructor—Derek—looked at the now visibly nervous students and sighed quietly.
He didn't know why he even bothered to warn them. Maybe he still felt bitter about the hardships he'd endured as a student. If only a better mentor had picked him back then, he might've saved himself twenty years of struggle…
---
"That kid looks pretty promising."
"Yeah, I think so too."
"Whatever. I don't care. As long as I follow Academy guidelines when I teach, it's all the same to me. Doesn't matter what they end up becoming."
"I want that blue-haired kid."
"The hell you do. That kind of high-quality student would be wasted on your crazy experiments."
"Waste? There's no such thing in wizardry. How do you know it won't work if you don't test it?"
"Let me take a look… Hmm, which little darling meets my standards…"
"You guys are—"
Above them, bizarre creatures and strange objects floated in the air, their voices echoing—some hoarse, others disturbingly playful.
Saya's face remained confident, but deep down he couldn't help swallowing nervously.
This wasn't what he'd imagined at all.
'Are they really here to pick students?. Because to me, this feels more like they're picking free lab rats. Or meat cuts.'
Watching the nervous expressions of the other students, Derek turned and walked away. His monthly task was done.
Next month, he'd head off to another country to receive a new batch of first-years.
The Silent Heart Academy oversaw over a hundred different nations. Derek's job was to visit a different one each month—just enough to complete a yearly circuit. Which meant his entire schedule was a cycle of endless travel.
Time to rest was rare and precious.
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