Alice Springs – Skywave Academy Training Grounds
"Among the hundred of you, as long as any team or individual completes this assignment, every one of you will pass the field-training evaluation—with an A."
A burly officer with rugged features stood before a crowd of nervous students. Their heads were lowered like frightened birds, none daring to meet his eyes, as if he might swallow them whole.
"Adjutant Pan, didn't you say you were heading out? Why're you back so quickly—and who are these two handsome guys? Don't tell me you've found yourself a couple of pretty boys."
A teasing voice rang out as a military mage noticed her return. As for Kain Clinton and Jayce, he barely spared them a glance.
"If you don't know how to speak, keep your mouth shut."
Adjutant Pan Lijun shot him a glare. Two young high-level mages—people like that—wouldn't even look twice at someone like her.
"Commander Kane, they're looking for you."
"Looking for me?"
Commander Kane, stern and imposing, turned with mild surprise. It had been years since anyone sought him out at this remote posting.
His gaze briefly swept over Kain—an odd flicker of recognition tugging at him.
The students, realizing their instructor wouldn't shout at them, cautiously lifted their heads. Gossip outweighed fear.
"Fan-ge, who do you think those two are? They look… important."
A scrawny student—Zachary Hale, Kain's old friend and future general—whispered to the boy beside him.
That boy was John Moore, still young, inexperienced, and possessing only the most basic understanding of magic.
"Who cares who they are? As long as they don't interfere with our evaluation, it's none of our business," John replied.
A blue-haired student across the group squinted at Kain.
"He looks familiar…"
The thought rose, then vanished immediately. Impossible.
He wasn't alone. Several students felt they had seen Kain somewhere—online, on magical broadcasts—but none dared believe the real person would appear in front of them.
Kain's gaze slowly swept across the sea of Skywave Academy uniforms. His emotions were… complicated.
John Moore—the future Archmage of Magic—was, for now, just a beginner mage. To him, a high-level mage was a distant, unreachable peak.
It was as if someone used to living in a super-tier resource zone had suddenly appeared in a beginner's village.
"You must be Kain Clinton—the captain of the current National Team."
Commander Kane ignored the students entirely and stepped toward Kain, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
As a former national team member himself, he had seldom followed the new generation's competition results. In his mind, their rankings were usually middling.
But when he learned that Australia had taken first place, he specifically looked up the team's information.
And his conclusion was simple: Kain Clinton was a monster.
"Senior Kane."
Kain greeted him naturally. As a former teammate, addressing him as "senior" was normal.
"I watched your matches," Kane boomed, laughing heartily. "Blue surpasses indigo. Judging by your performance at the World Academy Tournament—you wouldn't last a single round against me, even with two extra elements."
The area erupted into stunned murmurs.
Especially among the military mages—Commander Kane was practically an idol. For him to openly admit inferiority to someone barely in their twenties was unheard of.
"So he really is the national team captain… No wonder he looks familiar," Pan Lijun murmured.
"Kain Clinton? You guys don't know who he is?"
John blinked, confused. Why was even Commander Kane acting deferential?
"Ever heard of the World Academy Tournament?"
Matthew, elegant and sharp-featured, stared at Kain with bright eyes.
"In past years, we always ended up in the top eight—sometimes top sixteen. Our best was fourth. Until he appeared. With him, Australia won the championship—our first in history!"
That victory mattered.
Australia possessed one of the world's highest magical-beast populations—top five globally—but their magical resources ranked only around twentieth. Peace was bought with the lives of mages, and Australia had one of the highest mage fatality rates in the world.
"You think he knows anything about that?"
Blue-haired Murray snorted. "He must've cheated his way into Skywave Academy."
Murray's lips curled slightly as he watched John stiffen. Watching him squirm had always been one of his guilty pleasures.
He looked back at Kain with admiration poorly hidden in his eyes. A mage should be like that.
"It's just a competition," John muttered quietly.
Jayce's head snapped toward him.
"Kid, do you even know what that tournament represents?"
John froze at Jayce's expression. How… how did he hear him? He hadn't spoken.
At Skywave Academy, students only learned elemental magic. Anything beyond that required extra study—something John had never excelled in.
"Don't stare. Yes, I was talking to you. So—you look down on the tournament?"
"How… how did you do that?" John asked.
"Fan-ge, who're you talking to?" Zachary blinked, confused. He thought John had been talking to him.
"It's simple. Do this, then that—and it works," Jayce said vaguely, offering no real explanation.
Kain chuckled. Watching the future Archmage flustered like a child was unexpectedly amusing.
"Senior Kane, the students' evaluation comes first. You should return to your duties."
Kain wasn't here for admiration. Save that for later.
"You're right."
Kane nodded. Though curious why Kain had appeared, the students' training came first.
Some girls still sneaked glances at Kain, but one sharp bark from Kane snapped them all into perfect posture.
After assigning the assessment, Kane deliberately stepped aside—pushing Kain forward like an offering.
Kain shot him a helpless look. The man was far more cunning than he appeared.
"If any of you perform well," Kain said, "I'll spare some time to offer guidance."
The crowd erupted. Guidance from Kain Clinton was far more valuable than any field assignment. A few words could save years of detours in magical training.
"I have to get the top evaluation this time!" Murray Bai clenched his fists. If he could become Kain's disciple, the Mu family would be unrivaled.
"Kain's personal instruction…" Matthew's eyes shone, and the girls nearly screamed.
For many of them, Kain's older-brother charm was lethal.
"Don't tell me you came here for high-school girls," Jayce muttered disdainfully.
"If I were going to corrupt someone, I'd start with your sister."
"Get lost!"
Once the students dispersed, Kane stepped in again.
"All right—now you can tell me why you're here."
"It's about the Spirits," Kain said. "We're new to Alice Springs and know nothing about the area. We wanted to ask if you've heard anything—any clue at all."
Of course, Kain already knew the location of the Azure Dragon. This was just to quiet Jayce.
"Yes, yes! Spirits!" Jayce jumped in, animated. "You know—ancient guardian beasts from prehistoric times! Vast, noble, powerful—yet gentle toward humans—"
Once he started talking, nobody could get a word in.
"Spirits?" Kane rubbed his chin. "I know a little. But Bo City having a Spirit? I really don't know. I'm not a local either."
Kane preferred slaying monsters to studying ancient myths.
"Spirits? Are you speaking of Spirits?"
A soft, alluring voice drifted from a distance like cool spring water.