The carriage unknowingly entered the bustling commercial district, passing by various restaurants, cafés, bars, and specialty shops. The wide streets were filled with the vibrant energy of daily life.
From classic historical landmarks like Ikrit Central Station and Saint Brian’s Grand Cathedral to modern architectural marvels like the Hetton Pedestrian Plaza and Erika’s Magic Tower, the diverse styles coexisted harmoniously, adding color to Ikrit’s skyline.
It was now early afternoon.
The sightseeing carriage arrived near the academy.
The legendary Ikrit Academy of Magic was situated at the very heart of the royal capital.
Unlike traditional institutions, the academy had no walls—instead, the entire area and its buildings were simply referred to as the Ikrit Academy of Magic.
Lance carried his suitcase and walked into the campus alongside Talia.
Not long after they entered, a melodious chime rang through the air.
It came from the academy’s iconic red-brick clock tower, which stood tall at the center of a vast lawn, surrounded by lush green trees. Sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, casting a patchwork of light and shadow on the grass.
The clock struck three times before falling silent, signaling that it was now 3 PM.Following the campus map on the signposts, Lance and Talia made their way through the various buildings.
There was the Gothic-style Sage Institute’s Ancient Tower Library, its exterior walls adorned with intricate carvings, hiding countless mysterious tomes within.
Then came the Victorian-style Knight Institute’s Arena, its pointed arch windows exuding a classical charm.
And of course, the more innovative structures—such as the Alchemical Biology Laboratory and the Magic Engineering Institute, where magical screen walls reflected the sky’s blue hues and the lush greenery of the trees.
After about ten minutes of walking, Lance reached his destination.
A massive, uniquely designed building with sleek architectural lines—the "Learning & Education Building," shared by both the Knight Institute and the Sage Institute.
Lance and Talia headed to the Student Services Center on the second floor.
With the friendly assistance of the staff, Lance quickly completed the modification of his exam application, officially switching his registration from the Alchemical Institute to the Sage Institute.
Next, to finalize his registration, he needed to go to the third floor of the building for the attribute assessment.
With a small suitcase in his left hand and his application form and personal information documents in his right, Lance navigated his way to the Basic Attribute Measurement Room.
Inside, the spacious office housed a variety of magical testing devices, meticulously arranged in an orderly fashion.
Rather than resembling a magic academy, the room felt more like a diagnostic radiology lab.
Most students applying to the Knight Institute or Sage Institute had already completed their attribute tests during their initial application process.
However, since Lance was transferring midway, he had missed the usual testing period. Now, just two days before the formal exam, there were no other students in line.
From behind the office desk, a teacher turned her gaze toward the two visitors.
“Well, well… I didn’t expect to see such an outstanding freshman this year. Looks like the Sage Institute has found itself a hidden gem.”
The attribute assessment instructor, a gentle and kind-looking woman, smiled warmly the moment she laid eyes on Talia.
The depth, control, and sheer magnitude of magical power emanating from Talia left her astonished.
“It’s not me taking the exam—it’s him.”
Talia replied flatly.
“…Huh?”
So, the one carrying the suitcase is actually the young master?
The teacher, whose desk plaque bore the name "Theresa", quickly shifted her gaze to Lance.
“That’s right.”
Lance chuckled awkwardly as he finally became the center of attention.
Talia, being used to a nomadic lifestyle, carried almost no luggage.
With Lance holding a suitcase, application forms, and standing next to the icy, elegant Talia, it was no surprise that they looked like characters straight out of "The Young Lady and Her Butler."
“Ahem.”
Theresa coughed lightly, also feeling a bit embarrassed by the misunderstanding.
However, this wasn’t just a visual misinterpretation. As a mage, she trusted her perception of magical energy far more than her eyes.
Yet, the feeble magical fluctuations from Lance gave her little reason to believe he had any real potential as a powerful magic user.
Even without specialized equipment, her years of experience told her that Lance's magical aptitude was weak, but his mental strength was exceptionally high.
Maybe he would be better suited… as a cleric?
After all, many support spells in the Cleric profession weren’t directly tied to magical power but rather mental fortitude.
However, if Lance wanted to become a cleric, he’d be better off enrolling in the Holy Theological Academy or the Sacred Arts Institute in the Southern Continent, rather than Ikrit Academy of Magic.
Of course, since he was already here, she couldn’t say anything discouraging.
Her job at this moment was simply to assist Lance in completing his attribute assessment.
If his final results met the required standard, she would then process his exam registration.
The assessment was conducted swiftly.
Lance’s results showed that he had:
Extremely high mental growth potential
Above-average physical endurance
Abysmal magical power
Nonexistent physical strength
Although mental aptitude wasn’t as highly valued as magical power in the Sage Institute, Lance’s extraordinarily high mental stat still pushed his overall evaluation well above the passing line.
Thus, Theresa began processing his official exam registration.
While waiting, Lance glanced at his assessment report, passing the time as Theresa completed the paperwork.
In this world, the simplest Four-Attribute System classified stats as follows:
Magic Power → Affects most spells, including damage, healing, and enhancement effects.
Strength → Directly linked to physical attack power.
Mental Strength → Determines mana capacity and magical resistance.
Endurance → Represents health, stamina, and physical defense.
“Student, what is your combat profession?”
Theresa input Lance’s test results into a tablet-like magical device, but upon reaching the "Class" field, she paused and looked up.
Lance had excellent survival potential but no offensive abilities.
From her perspective, he was likely a support or logistics-oriented profession.
Even Talia, though silent, paid close attention to his answer—because she had no idea what he’d say.
In fact, she didn't even know what category he belonged to.
Mad Warlock?
Cult Priest?
Neither seemed to fit.
She honestly couldn’t find a proper term to describe Lance’s unique Magic Card system.
“Obviously, I’m a White Mage.”
Lance answered with a bright and sunny smile.
Talia’s eye twitched involuntarily.
This guy really dares to say anything.
Had she not traveled in human territories for years, she would have doubted her own language comprehension before questioning Lance’s sanity.
What was even more ridiculous—
She couldn’t detect any trace of deception in his words.
He genuinely believed himself to be a White Mage.
Theresa nodded with understanding.
“Oh, I see… I’m actually a Healing Mage myself. If you’re admitted to the Sage Institute, we might meet again in class.”
Such a kind and optimistic boy—he certainly looks like a compassionate healer.
Theresa smiled, handing Lance his engraved admission wristband.
“Your practical exam is in two days. Just bring this wristband to the seventh floor for the simulation battle. The test will be difficult, but may the Goddess of Fate bless you. I wish you the best of luck.”
“Understood, thank you.”
Lance nodded.
With Talia—whose expression still held a hint of disbelief—by his side, they left the building together.