Chapter 43: Third-Level Mage

Second-Year Fire Magic Class.

Tracy greeted his classmates with enthusiasm. Most of these fire magic students had remained in the second year for three or four years, some even seven or eight without making a breakthrough. While he appeared friendly on the surface, Tracy secretly looked down on them, believing that anyone unable to make progress after so many years was nothing but a failure in the art of magic.

After more than half a year of diligent cultivation, he felt the day of his own breakthrough was near—perhaps by the end of the year, he would become a third-level mage. By then, he wouldn’t mind waiting for Rollin. Tracy was determined to participate in the second-year competition, eager to defeat Rollin openly in the arena.

“Who cares about the so-called ‘Three Geniuses of the Academy’? Soon, I’ll let everyone know there is only one true genius, and that’s me—Tracy! Hmph, I’ll show Karina that her beloved Rollin is helpless before me, and only I am worthy of her!”

As Tracy lost himself in dreams of future glory, the fire magic instructor, Miss Monroe, walked gracefully into the classroom. The students’ eyes lit up; today, their elegant teacher seemed especially radiant. Her charming eyes and gentle smile left not only the boys but even the girls gazing at her in admiration.

“Class, I have an exciting announcement for you all!” Miss Monroe’s melodious voice rang out across the room.

“An exciting announcement? I wonder what it could be!”

“Could it be that Miss Monroe has a boyfriend?”

“Nonsense! Who in our academy could possibly be worthy of someone as exceptional as Miss Monroe?”

“Even if she did, she wouldn’t make a grand declaration to us! Are you out of your mind?”

Miss Monroe paid no attention to the mutterings below. Her lips curled into a smile as she delivered a stunning piece of news: “Our classmate, Rollin from the fire department, has recently passed the test and become a third-level mage!”

The classroom erupted instantly. Everyone’s gaze turned toward Rollin’s usual seat, only to find it empty.

“He… he really made it to third-level?”

“There’s still over two months left in the year! He reached third-level mage faster than it took him to go from first to second!”

“This is just too disheartening—I’ve been stuck here for eight years, and in less than one year, he’s already off to the third-year class…”

Miss Monroe wasn’t at all surprised by the shock on her students’ faces. She herself had been just as astonished when she first heard the news. At this rate, Rollin was no less gifted than Victoria—perhaps even capable of breaking the legendary records set by Thomas and Cosen.

“Rollin has set a fine example for us all,” she continued. “His swift advancement is not only due to his talent but also his relentless dedication. There are many promising students in our class. I believe, with enough effort, you’ll catch up to Rollin’s pace—for example, Tracy…”

But Tracy didn’t hear a word of what followed. Only one phrase echoed in his mind: “Rollin has become a third-level mage…” He hadn’t expected that Rollin, who had reached second-level after him, would now be so far ahead. Just moments before, he’d been planning to defeat Rollin in front of everyone, to prove to Karina, to Miss Monroe, and to the entire class that he was superior. Now, Rollin had suddenly outpaced him, leaving Tracy with a bitter sense of defeat.

Second-Year Darkness Magic Class.

Mr. Harvey, too, shared the explosive news with his class.

The class president, Simone, was stunned into silence before letting out a wry smile. “I never imagined he’d improve so quickly. I was hoping to redeem myself in this year’s competition, but Rollin isn’t even giving me the chance.”

He recalled once standing before Rollin, confidently telling him that refusing the class president position was foolish. Now, it seemed he himself had been the frog at the bottom of the well.

Almost simultaneously, the Lightning Magic class heard the news as well.

In less than two years, Rollin’s meteoric rise to third-level mage swept through Potter Academy like a whirlwind, making his name the hottest topic among teachers and students alike. The ranking of the academy’s three geniuses was quickly revised: Rollin, Tracy, Simone.

Yet at the center of this storm, Rollin himself had no time to pay attention to the rumors. He had asked the lightning and fire instructors to teach him every third-level spell they knew, and he was working hard to master them all. As for darkness magic, with Uncle Kus, a Saint-level mage, as his mentor, there was no need for further instruction.

The reason Rollin hurried to be tested and promoted to third-year after his breakthrough wasn’t to break academy records, but because reaching third-level was the requirement for entering the Maya Mountains. Before he could set out, Kus demanded he elevate his abilities to their peak, which meant mastering the powerful third-level spells.

In the hierarchy of mages, levels one and two were considered junior; three and four, intermediate; five and six, advanced; with levels seven, eight, and nine being truly formidable. Beyond ninth lay the Saint-level archmages, the most powerful beings on the Aragon Continent.

Thus, the third-level spells Rollin now studied were regarded as intermediate magic. He was surprised to discover that his previous combination of Fireball and Fire Net was actually the embryonic form of a third-level spell—Flame Burst!

No wonder, he thought, that the power of that combination spell had been so overwhelming.

Nearly two months slipped by in the blink of an eye, and Rollin had mastered all the third-level spells, able to cast them with ease.

In the Headmaster’s Office.

“Headmaster, Rollin has applied to undertake training in the Maya Mountains!” Mr. Harvey said anxiously. To send a third-level mage into those dangerous mountains seemed reckless—he couldn’t approve it. But Rollin was adamant, so Harvey had no choice but to inform the headmaster.

Headmaster Leff stroked his silver beard and chuckled, “Rollin’s an interesting boy. Third-level and already daring to enter the Maya Mountains—that takes courage. But why tell me? Just respond to him directly.” After a moment, the headmaster feigned shock. “Wait, did I ever say he couldn’t go?”

Harvey hesitated. “Headmaster, I told him not to go, but he wouldn’t listen. So I came to ask you to persuade him. If he were a third-level warrior it would be different, but a mage’s body is too fragile—not to mention, much slower than a warrior. His talent is exceptional; it would be a great loss to the academy if he died out there.”

“Fragile? Harvey, you know mages have many ways to strengthen their defenses. As a third-level mage, Rollin now has access to ‘Sanctuary Armor’ from necromancy—a powerful, advanced defensive spell. And as for speed, do you really think his Lightning Dash is inferior to a warrior’s?”

Harvey’s eyes widened. “So you’re saying you approve of him going to the Maya Mountains?”

The headmaster looked at him with mock surprise. “Did I ever say I didn’t?”

…

In the dining hall, Rollin explained himself to Muller and the others. When he first announced his intention to train in the Maya Mountains, Muller, Gebaz, Bill, and Karina all objected, believing he was courting death. Rollin had to spend a long time patiently persuading them, boasting about the prowess of necromancy and the speed of his lightning spells, before they reluctantly relented.

Rollin then asked Karina, when she returned to Potter Town, to tell his parents and brother that he would be staying at the academy to train and wouldn’t be home for the Warrior’s Festival this year. As for his real destination, the Maya Mountains, he insisted they keep it secret so his family wouldn’t worry.

Before long, the end of the year arrived. As the various grades battled fiercely in the annual competitions, Rollin set out alone, riding his donkey toward the mysterious and perilous Maya Mountains!

“Little Hawk, this time your brother will master alchemy and potion-making. When I return, no more wheelchairs, no more short lifespans—your brother will see to it that you live like any healthy child!”

Far away in the depths of the Maya Mountains, a stunning beauty with golden hair and purple robes gazed ahead with grave determination. A black panther crouched before her, eyes gleaming with savage menace.