Reborn With a Magic System

"I think it would be best if Damion holds off testing until he has made a decision," Manager Halsey said, cutting off Mage Bianco's suggestion.

"If you think that is best," Mage Bianco responded as she pursed her lips. "Arica, why don't you tell Damion what school life at Erythraean Academy is like."

Manager Halsey's intervention helped Damion relax. He knew he needed to get his magic power tested now that he was a mage, but he was not sure how much he wanted the schools he was not planning on attending to know about him.

"It has been a couple of years since I graduated," Arica began. "But I suspect most of the everyday things at Erythraean have remained the same. There are four different dorms. Two for the girls and boys of the standard class and two for the girls and boys of the elite class. Campus life is quite welcoming and most people are able to make quick friends with their classmates."

"What determines if someone is an 'elite class'?" Damion said interrupting Arica. He was sure the bulk of the campus life at each of the magic academies were similar and probably quite a lot like daily life at a private high school or college campus on Earth. What Damion wanted to know was what was different, but he could only throw-out questions to things she brought up and not ask, 'hey what makes your school different than ones on Earth.'

"Initially, everyone with a B Rank or higher affinity or magic talent are sorted into the elite class. However, each semester students are reevaluated, and you could lose your spot to someone doing very well in the standard class. Or if a standard class student challenges an elite class student of their year to a duel the standard class can move up if they win."

This dynamic certainly set things apart from private schools on Earth. Unless you counted the cool kids as being the elites, but then there was not really a way for the normal kids to join the 'in crowd.' Here it seemed Damion's status as an elite student would be put to the test.

"Sounds like a lot of trouble just for a status. What do the elite class get that standard students don't?"

"Better training facilities, better dorm rooms. More attention from teachers. Oh, and access to better parts of the library."

Without knowing the actual conditions of the training facilities and dorms, Damion could not really say the extra effort to be an elite class student would be worth it. Although, access to better parts of the library did sound promising, especially if that meant access to better magic seals.

Arica continued on for a while about life at Erythraean Academy. She talked about the various clubs that students could join and different activities those clubs did or were generally available to students. Damion found most of the information useless, but Arica did paint a good portrait of what life was supposed to be like at the magic academies.

Even with the rosy picture Arica painted, Damion felt there were elements she was leaving out. And Damion guessed it either had to do with classwork or the different treatment of elite class and standard class by teachers and the student body.

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"Do you have any questions about our school you would like to ask?" Mage Bianco asked Damion when Arica finished.

Damion did not like how the woman emphasized 'our.' Either she was trying to imply he was already going to attend, or she was grouping herself and Arica together. Which meant the school had a possessive nature over students even after they graduated.

"Have you given thought to what my school life would actually be like? After all, I'm already a D Rank adventurer and I've cleared a number of Breaches. I've even discovered a Breach that went undiscovered for years. I'll be attending your school and be older than most students and with more real-world experience, but I am lacking knowledge in certain magic theories which is taught to first years, how will you accommodate the special position I am in?"

"Instead of the standard classes for any year, we would put you through a series of tests to determine your qualifications. As long as you pass the tests, you would get instant credit for the associated classes and any tests you fail would be classes we would require you to attend. No doubt you will easily pass the physical training and combat tests, but until we have a concrete understanding of your knowledge base and capabilities we would not be able to assign you to specific classes."

Damion had to admit that Mage Bianco's approach made sense, but Damion was not sure if he liked it. This approach would mean he would have to take beginner level courses for magic theory and then advance courses later on. He was already 18 and most of the students of the magic academies graduated when they were 18 or 19. If he followed Mage Bianco's plan he would most likely need to spend several years at the school in order to pass all the theory classes needed.

A better approach, or so Damion believed, was a special tutor to teach him the knowledge he needed to be able to advance in his magical training and pass the competency tests. But that would mean he would not spend as much time at the school and perhaps not be roped into having a loyalty to it.

"Thank you for your time Mage Bianco, Mage Miller," Damion said as the meeting came to an end.

Mage Bianco gave him a polite nod and then turned to leave while Arica gave Damion a weak smile before Mage Bianco gave her a tug and the two left Manager Halsey's office. As Damion watched Arica leave he was not sure if he felt sad to see her go, or if he was feeling pity for the position she was forced into because of him.

"Next we have Headmaster Ermir Colon of the Beryl School of the Mystic Arts. He is an S Rank Wind mage."

A few moments after Manager Halsey advised Damion that Headmaster Colon would be next, a tall, lanky man with wispy blonde hair entered the office cheerfully introducing himself.

"I, as you no doubt have heard, am Lord Ermir Colon. Headmaster of Beryl School of the Mystic Arts. Chairman of the Viridis Council and Marquess of Valeana. Now tell me, Mage Wells, what can I do to entice you to come to my fair school."

Damion was taken completely by surprise by the man's demeanor. He seemed quite flamboyant. And instead of presenting what his school had to offer, demanded Damion tell him what he wanted from the school. This put Damion in a predicament, since he was not sure what he wanted or what he truly needed for his education.

"Can you tell me a bit about your school? I'm afraid I don't really know the differences between each of the magic academies."

"Splendid. Aside from talking about myself, talking about my school is my favorite past time," Headmaster Colon said cheerfully. "You see Beryl School of the Mystic Arts is the oldest and most prestigious of the magic academies. Its home is in the heart of Viridis, humanities oldest White Zone.

"Beryl School of the Mystic Arts has wonderful architecture from the Third Age that has been perfectly preserved through the years. Our school also features a large number of scenic parks, perfect for relaxing or romantic strolls. Though I dare say the greatest of our assets is our library of magic seals. Which is second to none."