A Prodigy’s Arrival: Ai Ou’s Special Reception

“It’s my turn now.” Seeing Schwarzenegger finish his assessment, Ai Ou also stepped forward for his turn.

Schwarzenegger’s small nose wrinkled in disdain.

“That Ai Ou fellow, he’s just a bumpkin, not even a noble. He’s probably just a student who happened to stumble upon some talent. His aptitude certainly can’t compare to mine.”

He exuded an air of profound confidence.

“Name.”

“Ai Ou.”

“Wh-what! You are Lord Ai Ou!”

“Indeed! Here’s my emblem. Should we proceed with a test, just in case someone tries to impersonate me?”

“No need, no need at all! Lord Ai Ou, with your esteemed reputation, who would dare to impersonate you? Such innate talent will become evident once you enroll in the academy. Please, come in. The person assigned to attend to you will be here shortly.”

“Hey! Why doesn’t he need to be tested? And why does he get special reception?”

Schwarzenegger’s heart swelled with indignation upon witnessing the staff member’s obsequious treatment of Ai Ou and the waiver of his test. How could a mere country bumpkin receive such high regard?

Hearing Schwarzenegger’s outburst, the staff member’s fawning smile towards Ai Ou vanished, replaced by a cold stare as he addressed Schwarzenegger.

“If your elemental affinity for both water and fire can reach the Super grade, and your mental power level is also Super grade, then you too would be worthy of my respectful treatment and receive a dedicated escort.”

“Super grade mental power, Super grade elemental affinity? And for both fire and water, two opposing elements? Him?”

Schwarzenegger stared at Ai Ou, utterly dumbfounded, his face a mask of disbelief. This commoner from the countryside possessed such terrifying magical talent. Achieving Super grade elemental affinity in even a single element was incredibly rare, already placing one in the realm of genius. Yet, Ai Ou possessed it for two elements, and both were of the Super grade. This was a genius among geniuses, a monstrous prodigy. Even if the conflicting elements meant he could only choose one as his primary and the other as his secondary, his secondary magic would still be far stronger than Schwarzenegger’s.

Different affinity grades offered varying boosts to magic. The sheer power of a Super grade secondary elemental magic would likely surpass his own primary magic. Seeing Schwarzenegger gape at him, Ai Ou merely smirked, not bothering to acknowledge him further, and followed the staff member away.

****

“You must be Ai Ou White!”

A strikingly young man took over the staff member’s duty, stepping forward to receive Ai Ou. He wore a magic robe similar to Ai Ou’s, though the color differed: Ai Ou’s was orange, while his was cyan.

“Hello, Junior Brother Ai Ou. I am Thomson Johnson, a fifth-year student at Saint Roland Academy. I’m your Senior Brother. You can call me Thomson, or ‘Senior Brother,’ though I admittedly prefer the latter. But it’s entirely up to you; there aren’t many rigid rules here. Call me whatever you like.

“By the way, have you noticed the different colors of our robes? Saint Roland Academy assigns different colored magic robes to different year levels. I’m sure you’ve figured it out. First-years wear red, second-years orange, third-years yellow, and so on. By your sixth year, you’ll wear a blue robe. When you can wear a purple robe, that signifies your graduation.”

Thomson was exceptionally enthusiastic, likely already aware of Ai Ou’s terrifying talent, which explained his cordial demeanor.

Ai Ou nodded, returning Thomson’s greeting. After exchanging pleasantries, the two began walking towards the academy. As they walked, Thomson continuously scrutinized Ai Ou, his gaze filled with faint awe and disbelief.

“Dual Super grade elemental affinity, Super grade mental power—I’ve finally met the person himself! Figures like you are practically the stuff of epic legends, and I get to witness it firsthand. Right now, your name has already spread throughout the entire Saint Roland Academy, Junior Brother. You haven’t even enrolled yet, and you’re already a prominent figure.”

Thomson jested.

Ai Ou seemed a little surprised. “Are people really that fond of gossip nowadays? How did the news spread so quickly?”

“Of course, that’s a minor feat easily accomplished with magic. Magic is a truly wondrous power, a miracle in itself. It’s the marvel born from the fusion of our inner strength, our physical power, and external energy, possessing a myriad of capabilities.”

At this point, Thomson suddenly chuckled self-deprecatingly.

“I used to think my dual Middle-High magical talent and High-grade mental power were quite impressive. But compared to you, Junior Brother, there’s absolutely no comparison. I’ve been utterly humbled…”

Hearing this, Ai Ou could only offer an awkward smile, remaining silent.

Elena trailed closely behind the two, her eyes wide with curiosity, constantly observing Ai Ou with her limpid gaze. Though she didn’t understand everything they were discussing, she could infer from Thomson’s words that Ai Ou was exceptionally formidable. This filled the little maid, Elena, with immense pride and honor for Ai Ou.

‘My young master is truly extraordinary!’

“For the foreseeable future, unless there’s a special circumstance, you’ll be residing at the academy. I’ll take you to your quarters first, and then I’ll give you a tour of the academy, Junior Brother.”

Ai Ou made no objection.

“Junior Brother, this is your room. While it might seem modest compared to an external manor, it’s among the best accommodations within the academy. Our academy offers three tiers of rooms, allocated to different students. Your assigned room is in the top tier. However, compared to the homes of many, it still falls short. So, it’s up to you to decide if this room is suitable, Junior Brother. What do you think? I, for one, think it’s not quite enough.”

The small courtyard featured a modest garden, and the interior was luxuriously furnished with all essential living amenities. It even included a dedicated underground laboratory for magical experiments, complete with dry crucibles, test tubes, and various instruments.

Ai Ou was thoroughly satisfied with what he saw. Many who attended the magic academy were from prominent noble families. Thomson’s assessment that the room was inadequate likely stemmed from comparing it to his own home. However, this ‘humble abode’ was vastly superior to Ai Ou’s old home!

“Well, as mages, we shouldn’t indulge in pleasure and relax our rigorous self-discipline. We don’t need overly lavish exteriors; meeting basic needs is sufficient. In fact, excessive luxury might hinder our pursuit of the magical path. You might think the room isn’t enough, but I find it quite suitable.”

“Haha, Junior Brother, your philosophy is quite similar to the Academy Head’s; he often says the same thing. However, many of us mages born into nobility find it rather difficult to get used to.”

Ai Ou instructed Elena to settle in, then departed with Thomson.