"Thanks to you, this dissection turned out perfectly. Here's your well-earned reward," Mage Lanqi said with a smile, handing Kay a tall goblet filled with a strange blue liquid.
This blue fluid was a special brew made from ground plant roots he'd collected in the Fire Purgatory World. It had a faint effect of enhancing mental power—useless to Lanqi, whose mental strength was far too advanced, but a valuable boon for an Advanced Apprentice like Kay. He couldn't yet quantify the exact boost, but he immediately felt his energy replenished, his mind sharper than before.
After thanking Lanqi, Kay received the promised payment: five magic coins and five academy points. But he pushed the coins back, shaking his head. Lanqi raised an eyebrow in curiosity, and Kay explained, "I'm eager to learn your advanced knowledge of otherworldly creatures, Master. I hope to trade for that instead."
Knowledge came at a price. Lanqi's expertise might be niche, but it was by no means free. Understanding dawned on Lanqi's face, and he chuckled. "You're a clever one. My two advanced courses on otherworldly creatures usually cost ten magic coins total. Tell you what—keep the five points, and we'll call it half price. No need for extra coins."
"Thank you, Master!" Kay replied respectfully.
In his month at the Azure Source Holy Spire Academy, Kay had learned the lay of the land. Beyond free public classes, advanced lessons taught by Formal Mages started at three magic coins; one-on-one tutoring cost five. Rare disciplines like alchemy, potion-making, summoning, and astrology demanded even more. Without enough magic coins or academy points, progress here was impossible—no wonder apprentices were always rushing to complete missions.
Lanqi transferred the five academy points directly into Kay's emerald badge. More than just an identity token, the badge was a high-tier magical item: it stored points, enabled short-range communication, recorded scenes, and even tracked coordinates. Kay, with his alchemical background, had been tempted to disassemble it to study its secrets, but his busy schedule of public courses and magical research had put that idea on hold. He wondered if taking it apart later would alert the Spire—or trigger unforeseen consequences.
Lanqi lived on the 45th floor of the Azure Source Holy Spire. Kay had visited the iconic tower while helping dissect the sub-dragon specimen, and he knew Mage Eileen (Tier 1) lived on the 76th floor, while Director Johnny (Tier 2) resided on the 278th. But he didn't dare disturb them; instead, he focused on learning from Lanqi in his quarters.
Over two weeks, Kay attended twelve lessons with Lanqi. He didn't master all of Lanqi's otherworldly knowledge—far from it—but he gained a mature, apprentice-level understanding of other planes.
Lanqi explained that the biggest difference between other planes and the Wizarding World was the "planar suppression" Wizarding creatures faced when venturing abroad. Some knights and Mages saw this as training, but most hated it—it drastically weakened their power. During plane wars, enemy planar wills lashed out at Wizarding armies, amplifying suppression and making conquest far harder. A single misstep could lead to death in a foreign plane.
Conquered planes, however, were different. With their native 强(powerhouses) slain and planar will weakened, suppression there was minimal—ideal for Wizarding World to explore.
When Kay asked about the nature of planar suppression, Lanqi couldn't give a definitive answer. "Think of it as environmental difference, or a unique force field ripple. Planar will touches on advanced truths—only the Deans, or the great Azure Source Spire Lord, might understand more. All I can tell you is this: only complete planes have planar will. Half-planes and broken planes do not—you'll feel environmental changes, but no suppression."
Kay nodded, recalling his experience in the Yellow Sand World. He pressed further: "Does the Wizarding World have planar will and suppression too?"
Lanqi grinned. "Of course—ours is even stronger! Ever wondered why so many long-lived low-tier otherworldly creatures die quickly here? Because our world is 'hostile' to them." His expression turned meaningful.
With his fill of foundational otherworldly knowledge, Kay returned to his routine of classes and study. He absorbed knowledge like a sponge, and while other apprentices saw only a strange Advanced Apprentice frequenting basic courses, none realized this was the fastest period of growth Kay had experienced since leaving Menzoberranzan's underground.
Two and a half months after enrolling, the magical messenger Kay had sent to Count Grant finally returned—with a reply. True to their father-son bond, both wrote concisely; the expensive letter (costing one High-Grade Energy Crystal) was barely half-filled. Grant confirmed he'd received Kay's message, mentioned the ongoing border war between the Lycia Alliance and the Orc Empire, and noted he'd read the letter on the front lines.
Given the cost of magical mail, Kay didn't send another. He decided once every two or three years would be enough—neither he nor Grant was the sentimental type.
Kay's academy life settled into a calm rhythm: classroom, library, dorm. For most, this would be tedious, but for Kay, it was fulfilling—a routine no other apprentice could easily replicate. At twenty-something, an Advanced Apprentice, he worked as diligently as Formal Mages, who had centuries of life to temper their focus.
Other apprentices his age were still curious about the world. Every week, noble-born apprentices hosted balls and social gatherings—events that boosted connections as much as they entertained. These gatherings were why noble families fought to send their heirs to Holy Spires: even if they never became Formal Mages, the networks they built were invaluable.
Kay avoided these events. He barely knew any apprentices at the Spire; he hadn't even seen Tom, the Intermediate Apprentice from Gemstone Bay, in six months. The academy was too large for chance encounters, and Kay's schedule was so tightly managed he planned every minute.
In the Dark Magic Academy, he'd studied frantically to survive. Now, with no external threats, he'd kept that relentless pace—finding the "relaxed" approach of other apprentices alien. For two years, he remained a lone figure in basic classrooms, until he finally filled gaps in his foundational knowledge and mastered over a dozen low-tier spells. With this broader base and spell repertoire, Kay at last felt like a true "Mage" of the Wizarding World. Few guessed how far he'd advanced in understanding arcane truths.
TheFire Element Transmutationcourse was an advanced fire magic class costing two magic coins. Multiple Formal Mages taught it—unsurprising, as fire magic was one of the most popular elemental disciplines. While choosing an instructor, Kay spotted a familiar name.
Classrooms on the fifth floor and above of the Central Teaching Building were reserved for mid-tier and Advanced Apprentices—only they could afford advanced lessons, and low-tier apprentices lacked the foundational knowledge to benefit from them.
Kay arrived early at the small-medium classroom, where only three mid-tier apprentices sat—all in the back, avoiding the front rows. He paid them no mind and walked straight to the center seat of the first row.
His choice drew glances, but no one spoke. As class neared, more mid-tier and Advanced Apprentices arrived. Despite the two-coin fee, over twenty attended—including seven or eight Advanced Apprentices. Fire Element Transmutation was critical for mastering fire magic, and most apprentices (many from wealthy families) could afford it, even if they couldn't splurge on every advanced fire course.
The newcomers stared in surprise at Kay—an unfamiliar face in the front row. Trouble arrived when three Advanced Apprentices walked in.
"This is my seat. Move," said a young man in a red robe, standing over Kay. His tone was sharp, despite the polite word "move." Two other Advanced Apprentices flanked him—followers or allies, Kay couldn't tell. Their arrival silenced the classroom, and all eyes turned to the confrontation.
In his two years at the Spire, Kay knew the rules: there were no assigned seats. He didn't even look up, continuing to flip through his notebook—a gift from his old mentor, Moses, filled with fire magic notes. Most entries now were Kay's own, documenting his insights from two years of study. The Spire's fire magic heritage was far more comprehensive than Moses' notes—proof Moses had never attended a Holy Spire academy.
Kay's indifference angered the red-robed apprentice. Faint fire elemental energy gathered in his hands, but Kay remained motionless. The Spire strictly forbade apprentice duels in classrooms—he doubted the man would dare fight here. Even if he did, Kay wasn't afraid of a three-on-one. For disputes, the Spire had a Challenge Arena on the east side, where apprentices could settle conflicts. For a fee, Formal Mages supervised to prevent fatalities.
The arena also hosted a bi-monthly "Top 20 Apprentice Rankings," designed to motivate students. Ranking in the top 20 brought fame; the top three received rare potions that aided advancement to Formal Mage. Kay had heard of the arena but never visited—it was far from his dorm and daily routes. He knew the top ten were all Aspirant Mages, and ranks 11–20 included a few Advanced Apprentices who'd outperformed weaker Aspirants.
Unbeknownst to Kay, the red-robed apprentice was Mark the Fire Hand, ranked 17th. The Spire had more than twenty Aspirant Mages, but Mark—an Advanced Apprentice—had earned his spot by outclassing some Aspirants in combat.
Kay didn't recognize Mark, nor care about his reputation. Faced with the man's arrogance, he felt a flash of the Dark Magic Academy's harshness. His dark blue eyes flared suddenly, and when he looked up, searing orange light shot from his gaze—forcing Mark to step back.
This wasSolar Eye, a high-tier spell Kay had fully integrated into his consciousness, even refining it slightly over two years. The elemental clash was subtle—only raising the classroom's temperature a little—but the aura they exuded shocked everyone. This was the presence of top-tier apprentices; most Spire students, coddled in comfort, had never experienced real combat.
The Azure Source Holy Spire had ranked last in all four Regional Holy Spire Academy Wars it had participated in—partly due to its youth and lack of teaching experience. Formal Mages were skilled instructors, but some lessons couldn't be taught from books. Plane wars were far bloodier than any textbook described; the Wizarding World ruled tens of thousands of planes not just with knowledge, but with strength.
"Your seat?" Kay's golden-flecked eyes glinted. "I wasn't aware. I sit here every class."
It was true—Kay always chose the center front row in public courses. In those classes, filled with 100–200 low- and mid-tier apprentices, no one dared challenge an unfamiliar, cold Advanced Apprentice. It was a quiet unspoken rule in the Spire's seemingly fair, academic atmosphere.
Mark snarled. "You dare?" He was furious not just at Kay's defiance, but at the humiliation of stepping back from that golden light. Backing down now would ruin his reputation. "Meet me at the Challenge Arena! I'll teach you a lesson!"
Kay stared at him, expressionless. Before Mark could rant further, the click of crystal heels echoed. Mage Eileen walked in, a crystal ball and teaching tools floating beside her—she was the instructor forFire Element Transmutation.