"Wake up, Julius." Adam gently shook the boy at dawn. He wanted to inform him about their busy schedule in advance and ask his opinion about his idea.
The first thing the boy said after waking up and hearing his plan was, "Did you lose your mind?" with widened eyes.
Even without being a mage, he knew you could only take one ntor. So what was this stupid idea to accept every teacher's offer, including Shepard?
"Do you know why they propose apprenticeships to talented students?" Adam asked in response, making him fall deep in thought.
"To help their pupils reach their level and continue their teachings for the next generations?" He said matter-of-factly, his voice proud.
"Buh, Buh. Wrong answer." Adam said, crossing his fingers. "It is to bind them. Most of them have been stuck on the fourth tier for years. They have no idea how to progress further. So, what do you do when you can't achieve sothing yourself?"
Julius pondered the question, understanding flashing across his hazel eyes. "You hope your apprentices succeed and share the thod with you."
"Pimpom. Correct! That's why most invest resources in their disciples. They think that making them reach higher tiers faster equals higher chances to succeed. Sadly, they failed to realise the truth..." Adam's voice lingered in the empty room as he shook his head.
How deeply ingrained was the tier system for them not to realise that what mattered the most was control rather than quantity and potency?
"That's why I plan to bait them. They think I'm a super genius who can achieve their dreams." He started before grinning and continuing, "In fact, I can. Hahaha."
With his new understanding, Julius couldn't help but ponder. He didn't want to believe it was the only reason behind apprenticeships. Wasn't it just his big brother's assumptions?
He shook his head, unsure about what to think anymore. Then, he walked to Arun, shaking him to prepare for their busy school day.
"Five more minutes, please." The boy said, his voice pleading.
"I'll be gone in five minutes... You should sleep earlier." Julius said, amused by his friend's behavior.
"Haaa... Fine. I was too absorbed in learning my next spell." Arun answered, difficulty opening his green eyes and yawning.
"Advise him to focus on his mana control and forget spells for now. He is wasting his ti." Adam chid it with a frown. Didn't he explain that clearly two days ago?
After Julius relayed his words, Arun facepald. "I was so caught up preparing for our next adventure that I completely forgot!"
"No problem. Hehe. Tell him he owes two gold coins for the lesson." Adam said, laughing like a black-hearted rchant who had just scamd his custor.
Julius laughed after gazing at the pitiful-looking Arun. He lost two gold coins for sothing he already knew. How infuriating.
"Alright, add three, and I'll teach you how to reach tier two with fifteen strands instead of twenty," Adam said, his eyes burning a golden color.
Arun nodded, his eyes sharp. "Deal."
It didn't sound like much, but five strands were actually a lot. Even with his mana-gathering technique, he would probably need one or two months to obtain them.
"Easy, improve your control, then use it to form the circle," Adam said, smiling innocently.
"Control again?!" Arun exclaid, his hands trembling in indignation. His father had tier-four control, but like every magic practitioner, had never trained it before becoming a mage. He also never heard about forming circles this way. Why was Adam so obsessed with it?
"By the way, if you share what I taught you with anyone outside our group, the deal is off. You can seek your father for help and be stuck at the fourth tier until you die, just like him." This ti, Adam used his mana to write, causing Arun to pale at his harsh words.
He opened his mouth to defend his father but quickly closed it. If mories served him right, Vikram beca a mage at seventeen, making him a rare genius during his youth. He was now forty-five...
Upon realising his father had made no progress in twenty-eight years except in mana control and alchemy, his eyes bulged in shock.
"I'll try your thod, but if I don't reach the second tier by our next expedition, I want a refund." He said, his voice firm yet his face lowered.
After all, his father was more than his hero. He was the man he dread of surpassing. Understanding that in the eyes of Adam, Vikram was just another diocre mage made his heart ache. But what explanation could he offer that wouldn't co across as re justification?
"Ok," Adam answered shortly before floating towards the door.
In the anti, Julius patted Arun's shoulder. "You can trust him, Arun. In truth, he likes you a lot, even if he would never admit it."
"Really?" Arun's eyes lit up as Julius' words chased his depressing thoughts about his father away. Being liked by soone so mysterious and creative made him puff his chest with pride.
Julius nodded under his big brother's annoyed gaze.
"Move. Now!" Adam said authoritatively, making him shiver.
He walked to the door with heavy steps, afraid of his big brother's future retaliation. "Seems like I won't sleep well tonight." He muttered while opening the door and walking outside the room.
"How did you know?" Adam replied, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. He couldn't help but tease the boy, knowing full well he'd be on edge all night.
He laughed while floating behind him, making the boy panic the whole morning before they finally entered their classroom after having breakfast.
"Good morning, students! I hope you enjoyed your weekend and are ready for our elental magic mastery lessons!" Beatrix said, her smile dazzling the kids and her enthusiasm contagious.
It was the first ti Adam assisted her class. He skipped it last week for obvious reasons.
He patiently endured the torturous three hours, listening to sothing he had no care for before the bell finally rang.
As the students left the class in a cacophony of discussions and laughter, Julius patiently waited, seated at his desk.
Once the class was empty, he stood and walked to Beatrix, catching her attention.
"Ah! Mr. Riverwood. How can I help you?" She asked, smiling brightly and placing a monocle on her right eye.
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