At this moment, Izel was resolute beyond compare. Even if the system didn’t pop up, he would definitely choose the third path—to muddle through in the most unremarkable way possible.
The gazes coming from all directions seemed to carry tangible heat, burning him until he couldn’t sit still.
His face was fixed in a stiff smile, inwardly wishing for the banquet to end as soon as possible.
He had even pushed aside the “important task” of searching for the male lead, Lien, among the crowd, wanting nothing more than for this ordeal to end quickly.
Just then, a girl from another academy at a neighboring table joined in with a laugh, her tone carrying a hint of subtle probing:
“Miss Shara truly cares for her junior from the same academy. You must be very close in daily life, right?”
Another immediately chimed in, her words even more blunt:
“That’s right, Miss Shara values her junior so much. If your family ever arranges a marriage for you in the future, your fiancé is bound to be jealous.”
According to the rules of imperial nobility, no matter how outstanding a noble-born woman’s own talent, most would ultimately become pieces in their family’s game of marriage alliances.
Shara seemed unconcerned about this. Her smile remained radiant as she replied frankly, “That’s all for the future. Since they’re my direct juniors, isn’t it only right to look after them more?”
Izel’s scalp tingled as he listened to this. He could even sense the probing glances from Luke and Emma beside him, their eyes clearly asking: ‘Since when did you get so close to Senior Shara?’
Izel nearly wailed inside. He wanted to ask too—when did this senior become so friendly?
In all his six years at Starlight Academy, he’d only spoken to this so-called senior sister a handful of times—probably less than five sentences in total!
Could it be that she wasn’t just a social genius, but also the type who radiated warmth to everyone like a “central heating system”?
Fortunately, he was no naïve youth.
If it were another lovestruck boy, being singled out for such attention by a dazzling and kind senior, he might have lost his soul and acted rashly.
Just think of the original novel: later on, the male lead Lien and Shara fall for each other. If some clueless fool, driven by jealousy, went to provoke the male lead at that point, they’d undoubtedly become a stepping stone and catalyst in the main couple’s relationship—a standard throwaway character.
Thinking of it this way, the new junior, Swan, who had the “main character template,” really did have a chance of ending up on the opposite side of the male lead because of Shara…
But with Swan’s setup, maybe he could even go toe-to-toe with Lien?
Izel shook off these distracting thoughts and forced himself to stand.
He nodded slightly to everyone and spoke in a voice as calm and flat as possible: “Starlight Academy, enrolled for six years, Second-Tier Mage Izel. Born a commoner, with no particularly strong magical affinity—just a dabble in a bit of everything.”
Introduction finished, short and to the point—an obvious display of “utterly ordinary.”
Second-Tier Mage? Commoner? Low elemental affinity?
Someone this unremarkable was actually the personal disciple of Eighth-Tier Archmage Kreya?
For a moment, the same doubt appeared in everyone’s minds. Their gazes shifted from curiosity to pure scrutiny, with even a hint of imperceptible contempt.
This was precisely the effect Izel wanted—he had succeeded in making himself seem not worth recruiting or paying attention to.
However, the safety zone he’d just created didn’t last more than a few seconds before Shara gently but firmly broke it.
“Everyone,”
Shara’s voice was clear as it rang in every ear, carrying a note of defense, “Junior Izel went through some difficult things in childhood, so he’s a bit introverted and not good at expressing himself.”
First, she offered a reasonable explanation for Izel’s “mediocrity.” Then, her tone became serious, “But the fact remains: he, like us, is a direct disciple handpicked by Teacher Kreya. That will never change. Most of us will return to our families after graduation, but Junior Izel may well remain by Teacher’s side.”
She paused, then floated an even more tempting idea: “Besides, just think about it—would a student chosen by Teacher Kreya ever really be ordinary? Perhaps it’s just not his time yet. When we enter the ‘Realm of Law’ for our trials, who’s to say Junior Izel won’t have his own great opportunity and amaze everyone?”
Her words were like a stone dropped into a calm lake, instantly stirring up ripples everywhere.
Everyone’s gaze toward Izel changed in subtle ways.
That’s right! An Eighth-Tier Archmage’s eye is sharp beyond compare—how could she pick a true nobody?
A commoner background… did that actually mean, like Lien from Lunar Academy, that he was a “seed” the academy intended to cultivate and perhaps the future successor?
And recalling that brilliant marketing plan on the earlier memory stone—such intelligence couldn’t belong to a regular person!
In an instant, Izel’s image in everyone’s mind changed from “useless commoner” to “background mysterious, potential unknown, worth investing in.”
Many gazes grew friendly, even eager.
Shara was pleased with the shift in atmosphere, even winking playfully at Izel as if to say: ‘See, your senior sister helped fix your image. No need to thank me!’
Izel was nearly at his breaking point!!!
This senior was truly a “warmhearted saint”! Just thinking about how he’d now draw even more attention in the future because of her “good intentions” made his mind spin with anxiety.
On reflex, he picked up the mug in front of him and downed the spicy wheat beer in one go, trying to douse his irritation.
Someone led the cheer: “Senior, that’s impressive!”
Immediately, the room filled with applause and shouts.
Izel glared fiercely at the culprit—the laughing Luke—then gritted his teeth and muttered under his breath, “You really are… a divine assist.”
Luke, completely unaware, just grinned. He was genuinely happy for Izel, who’d finally gotten some attention.
Then it was Luke’s turn for self-introduction. He stood and announced, “Starlight Academy, Luke, Third-Tier Mage, specializing in fire magic.” His style was just as concise as Izel’s.
Shara added with a smile, her tone approving: “Junior Luke is Teacher Isa’s star pupil. Whether it’s outdoor expeditions or in-house assessments, he’s top of the class among mages at his level.”
Rog, standing nearby, suddenly looked enlightened: “So that’s it. I heard during the joint training, a Starlight Academy student used fire magic to single-handedly slay a D-rank elite magic beast. That must have been Junior Luke, right?”
(Magic beast classification: Regular magic beasts [F–E], elite magic beasts [D–C], lord-level magic beasts [B–A]. Beyond that are the legendary and game-setting-only Demon King-class [S], Awakened Demon King [SS–SSS], and even Calamity-level beasts [X].)
Rog pushed his glasses, his voice laced with hard-to-read teasing: “Not only strong, but your mentality’s excellent. You played the role of a Lemon Academy student flawlessly, so natural.”
Luke: “…”
He felt like something was off about that comment—was he being mocked?
Next up was Emma, who also kept it simple: “Starlight Academy, Emma, Third-Tier Mage, specializing in healing and support magic, with some minor research into alchemy.”
Rog spoke again, this time with a meaningful smile: “Shara, your Starlight Academy’s self-introductions are really consistent. Still, Miss Emma, isn’t that a bit too humble?”
He subtly emphasized “some minor research” and “a bit too humble.”
If that was only “minor research,” then what did that say about Lemon Academy, who lost to her in the last contest?
Izel, observing quietly on the side, couldn’t help thinking: Emotional intelligence, it seems, isn’t something you can boost just by drinking walnut milk.
Lemon Academy’s introductions wrapped up quickly, the spotlight naturally falling on Rog and Elusha, the two direct disciples of Dean Yukino.
Worth mentioning—though Rog was a Fourth-Tier Mage, he wielded the rare ice element, rumored to be gained from a lucky encounter in the “Realm of Law.”
Sting Academy’s introductions were the most distinctive.
They were the only one among the four academies not to have a “direct disciple” system. Upholding equality and research above all, their students immersed themselves in artifact forging, magic beast ecology, and magic formation studies. The three students who’d come this time were all highly disciplined and low-key in their self-introductions, with the air of technical experts.
Izel didn’t know much about Sting Academy, only that most of their graduates went straight to the Imperial Royal Family or major noble research institutes, rarely taking part in conflicts—making them seem both mysterious and aloof.
Finally, it was time for Lunar Academy.
Rhea, who had been coldly observing everything, wore an expression that could freeze.
She nudged the man beside her with her elbow, neither light nor hard, her tone openly impatient as she commanded simply:
“Lien, introduce yourself.”
Lien!
He was finally going to see, in person, the child of destiny in this world—the absolute protagonist of the original novel!