“Could both of you instructors wait a moment? I wish to inquire about someone, a girl named Lilinai, around ten years old, with silver hair and bi-colored purple-red eyes.”
A hopeful eagerness filled You’er’s cheeks beneath his mask as he gazed at Dannich and his companion.
“Silver hair, bi-colored eyes?”
Hearing this, the master and apprentice exchanged glances, pondering for a long moment before shaking their heads.
“We have never encountered a little girl matching that description anywhere in the academy.”
“N-no… she’s not here…?”
You’er’s voice trembled with disappointment.
“Don’t fret just yet,” Sifney interjected, seeing You’er’s head drop and sensing the profound disappointment in his voice.
“Perhaps she’s simply not in the First Branch. There are still four other branches to search—the Elementary and Advanced Branches, among others.
Leave the search to me. The girl you described has quite distinctive features, so if she is indeed within the academy, it shouldn’t take long to find her.”
Sifney patted his shoulder, offering comfort.
“Instructor Sifney, You’er is eternally grateful!”
You’er bowed deeply, expressing his sincere thanks.
****
Under Sifney’s guidance, both You’er and Timobi completed their enrollment procedures, each receiving an identification card symbolizing their status as Gatarnia Academy students.
You’er’s card was black, while Timobi’s was gray, signifying the distinction between the Advanced and Elementary Branches.
The reverse side of both cards bore an identical design: a vivid and magnificent aerial view of Gatarnia Academy City.
The front displayed a series of enigmatic magical characters, but notably, a significant portion of the upper half was dedicated solely to a single number.
“These are ‘Exchange Points’,” Sifney explained, noticing their attention fixed on the numbers on their cards.
“You can consider them the academy’s universal currency. As long as you have enough Exchange Points, you can access any of the academy’s treasured locations.”
She continued, “Students in the Elementary Branch receive 1000 free Exchange Points from the academy each month, while Advanced Branch students receive 2000 points.”
Finally, she added a specific note: “Students whose names appear on the Sky Ladder Ranking Board will receive substantial Exchange Point rewards.”
You’er understood.
He glanced at his own identification card, which indeed displayed a clear, bold ‘2000’.
It seemed this was the academy’s baseline benefit, though he wondered about the purchasing power of these Exchange Points.
As for the distinctions between the Elementary and Advanced Branches and other fundamental information, You’er subsequently learned them all from Sifney.
Firstly, the Advanced Branch operated on a five-year system, whereas the Elementary Branch had no fixed duration.
This did not imply that one could simply graduate after five years in the Advanced Branch, or that students in the Elementary Branch could idle away their days indefinitely.
The fundamental criteria for distinguishing between the Elementary and Advanced Branches remained one’s rank and strength.
Most new students would first undergo foundational training in the Elementary Branch.
Their progression was then marked by the Great Swordsman rank; upon achieving it, they could enter the Advanced Branch.
If one had already reached the Great Swordsman rank on the day of their application, they would only need to complete a period of internship in the Elementary Branch before immediately applying for a promotion assessment.
One should never assume that the indefinite duration of the Elementary Branch meant an easy and pleasant time.
If a student exceeded the age limit without achieving the Great Swordsman rank, the academy would unceremoniously bid them farewell.
In contrast, Advanced Branch students enjoyed significantly more stability; while some might still be expelled for various reasons, such instances were comparatively rare.
However, once the five years concluded, students were faced with a choice: either remain at the academy as faculty or staff, or venture out into the world.
Alternatively, they could join the Adventurer’s Guild as internal members, or even enter the royal court to secure an official position in the military, slowly climbing the ranks to a noble station.
Oh, and another thing: if, after five years, your strength had not met the academy’s minimum standard – that of a Great Sword Master – you would be unable to graduate.
What awaited you then was not a repeat year, but direct expulsion.
This was starkly different from formally leaving with a degree, as it meant no graduation certificate.
Without it, no one would believe you had ever been a student of Gatarnia Academy; even if they did, they would only regard you as a failure.
Overall, competition at Gatarnia Academy was exceptionally fierce.
Yet, despite this, the academy’s higher-ups apparently deemed it insufficient, stubbornly dividing the grand academy into five smaller branches, designated as the First through Fifth Branches.
You’er was now situated in the First Branch.
Friction between the five branches was constant.
They competed in strength, vied for resources, and even clashed over territory.
Thus, it was entirely understandable to describe these five branches as being at loggerheads.
According to Sifney, the First Branch had seemingly been in decline in recent years.
Historically, it had always firmly suppressed the other four branches, leading to the current situation where the other four had united to suppress the First Branch.
‘It seems I’ve chosen the wrong direction,’ You’er mused.
You’er knew that the branch assignment was random.
Depending on the direction one entered, they would be met by one of five different doors; however, before stepping through, no one could possibly know which branch lay beyond.
Gatarnia seemed to enjoy this particular game, calling it ‘Providence’.
However, You’er didn’t find anything particularly bad about it; at the very least, his future days certainly wouldn’t be dull.
“Further ahead lies the dormitory area. Within the academy, male and female dorms are separate…”
Sifney, who had been walking ahead, suddenly turned back.
Her gaze settled on the siblings, who remained glued together, and her meaning was clear: they would need to live apart.
You’er was speechless.
He desperately wanted to blurt out, ‘Do you believe me if I say I’m male?’ but remembering Timobi was still beside him, he swallowed the words.
Instead, he asked, “Instructor Sifney, is there no mixed-gender accommodation? Little Ti is too young to live independently.”
“There are, but they require Exchange Points…” Sifney began, then hesitated.
“How many?” You’er pressed.
“At least a hundred thousand… per month.”
You’er’s mouth twitched at the figure Sifney uttered.
‘What kind of dormitory is this? Is this price breaking the heavens?’
“How many Exchange Points do ordinary dorms require?” You’er then asked.
“None,” Sifney replied.
“The academy provides them for free.”
After a long moment of silence, You’er looked up and spoke.
“Instructor Sifney, are the academy’s higher-ups… mentally deficient?”
“Shhh! Don’t speak such nonsense!”
Sifney was startled by his words, quickly making a shushing gesture, and shaking her head with a wry smile as she explained.
“Though the academy grounds are vast, the value of every inch of land is immeasurable.
There are simply no useless buildings.
Take the Free Apartments, for example; though expensive, many capable students are practically breaking their heads trying to get in.”
“Why?” You’er asked, confused.
“Across all five branches, the number of Free Apartments is very limited, only a few hundred buildings.
However, each one boasts luxurious configurations: auxiliary cultivation rooms, body-tempering Elemental Energy springs, and even cultivation insights left behind by some of the academy’s venerable elders…”
Sifney paused, having made her point.
“Now you understand why the fees are so exorbitant, don’t you?”
“Yes… I understand!”
You’er’s eyes gleamed behind his mask.
However, after a brief burst of excitement, You’er calmed himself.
The reason was simple: he had no money (Exchange Points).
No matter how much he coveted them, he could only stare longingly.
The immediate problem at hand was how to deal with the dormitory issue.
He was male—at least, his body was male—and even with such a face, he remained male.
Blatantly living in a girls’ dormitory was out of the question.
Moreover, Timobi was also an issue.
After losing his father, Tilu, Timobi had been constantly with him and likely hadn’t lived a single day independently.
“If you’re worried about your brother’s living situation, there’s no need.
The apartment I live in is very close to one of the male dormitories.
We can assign him there.
I can look after him during the day, and it would also be more convenient for addressing his physical condition.”
“But…” You’er still hesitated.
Sifney seemed to read You’er’s thoughts.
Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, and her tone grew a little firmer.
“Do you intend to keep him by your side forever, constantly shielding him? If so, he will never truly grow!”
“Sister You’er, please don’t worry! Little Ti can definitely take care of himself! Little Ti wants to grow into a man soon, and then protect Sister You’er!”
Feeling a tug on his sleeve, You’er looked down to see Timobi patting his own chest, speaking with a cheerful smile.
“Then… alright.”
With things having reached this point, You’er let out a wry chuckle and could only nod in agreement.
However, one crucial problem remained unresolved!
But by then, Sifney, walking ahead, had already stopped before a beautifully adorned, ten-story dormitory building.
“Alright, this is the First Branch’s girls’ dormitory.
Have the dorm manager find you an empty room, and you can move in.”
“Wait, I won’t have a room to myself?!”
Behind his mask, You’er’s bright eyes widened in shock.