Chapter 14: Enrollment

Thunder's life had always been disciplined, a habit ingrained from his years at the Dragon-Tiger Sect. He rose before dawn, practiced his footwork, ran through a few martial routines, and took in the crisp morning air, feeling refreshed and invigorated.

The servants gradually stirred, and the courtyard buzzed with activity.

Seated in a chair, Thunder pondered his next steps.

One thing was certain: he could use talisman-inscribing techniques to replicate magic scrolls. With the aid of the **Heavenly Master's Eyes**, crafting scrolls seemed tailor-made for him.

But most scrolls circulating in the market were only first or second-tier—useless to Thunder now. Worse, despite his vast mana reserves, he couldn't cast a single spell. If he encountered a powerful enemy, he'd have no means of self-defense.

After some deliberation, Thunder decided to enroll in **Fayel Magic and Martial Academy**.

Fayel City was a second-tier city, and the Kingdom of Silan naturally had a branch of the academy here. Thunder could learn spells up to the intermediate mage level and possibly acquire more advanced scroll-inscribing methods.

When he shared his plan with Uncle Oak, the old man fully supported it. The academy wasn't far from home, so Thunder could return whenever he wished.

Tuition was affordable—just **100 gold coins a year**, a trivial sum for Thunder now.

**Why wait?**

After breakfast, Thunder hurried to Fayel City. Surprisingly, Tifa—who usually clung to him like a shadow—didn't follow this time.

After asking for directions, he finally arrived at the academy's grand entrance.

Though Colin's memories contained impressions of the place, this was Thunder's first time seeing it in person.

The gates were **massive**, imposing and majestic, built from blue bricks and glazed tiles, exuding an ancient elegance. Rows of meticulously trimmed trees lined the path, framing a picturesque scene. Above the arched entrance, bold characters proclaimed:

**FAYEL MAGIC AND MARTIAL ACADEMY**

Thunder had barely stepped inside when a voice barked:

**"Halt! Outsiders aren't permitted!"**

Turning, he saw a middle-aged man in a black robe adorned with **three stars** on the chest.

**"I'm here to enroll,"** Thunder said politely. **"Where do I sign up?"**

**"Enroll?"** The man scrutinized him before nodding. **"Hmm. Want to learn magic? Your elemental fluctuations aren't bad."**

**"Yes."** Thunder could sense the man's mana—a fellow practitioner.

**"Follow me."** The man led him inside.

The enrollment office was a small room to the left of the gate. **"Here you go,"** the man said before leaving.

Inside, an old man snoozed at a desk. Thunder called out several times before the man finally cracked open his bleary eyes.

**"Enrolling?"**

**"Yes."**

**"Release your mana. Touch this."** The old man slid a crystal ball across the table.

Thunder recognized it—a mana-testing artifact he'd seen in magic shops.

Placing his hand on it, he deliberately strained his expression, veins bulging on his forehead as he **controlledly** released a fraction of his mana.

The crystal **blazed** with light.

The old man's drowsy eyes finally sharpened. Thunder withdrew his hand, expecting praise for his "exceptional talent"—

Instead, the old man **slammed** the table and roared:

**"You're already an intermediate mage! Why the hell are you enrolling? Go home and find a proper teacher!"**

**"I don't have one!"** Thunder protested.

**"What?"** The old man gaped. How could an intermediate mage lack a mentor?

The academy only taught up to the intermediate level. Beyond that, mages had to seek personal instructors—magic was too diverse for standardized advanced training.

**"How do you have intermediate-level mana without a teacher?"** The old man squinted suspiciously.

Thunder shrugged.

**"Weird."** Stroking his beard, the old man rummaged under the desk and tossed a black robe at Thunder. **"No teacher means no robe, right? Ten gold coins—officially certified by the Kingdom's Mage Guild!"**

Thunder examined it. Similar to the three-star robe the earlier man wore, but with only **two stars** on the chest.

**"What do these mean?"** Thunder pointed.

**"Intermediate mage insignia. One for novice, three for advanced."**

**"Four for archmage?"** Thunder guessed.

**"Archmages get a **moon**, idiot."** The old man sneered. **"Now pay up."**

**"But… I came to learn magic!"** If not for his respect for elders, Thunder might've punched him.

**"The academy only teaches up to intermediate! Go find a private tutor—ever heard of apprenticeship?"**

**"But… I can't cast spells!"** Thunder said desperately.

**"You can't cast spells?"** The old man **climbed onto the desk**, staring down at Thunder. **"Not even the most basic?"**

**"Not one."** Thunder shook his head firmly.

The old man studied him for a long moment before climbing down, muttering:

**"The world's full of freaks. A man with intermediate mage's mana who can't cast a damn spell!"**

He snatched back the two-star robe and shoved a plain black one at Thunder instead.

**"Why no stars this time?"** Thunder inspected the chest—completely blank.

**"This is for apprentices. Come back when you can actually cast something!"**

**Will Thunder unlock the secrets of magic—or remain a mana-rich spellcasting failure?**