With the new roster announced, the team’s formal training began.
At two in the afternoon the Junior Division members gathered in the conference room, where Professor Moses would share competition experience.
Luo Wei, Gladys, Hol, Axina, Jack—five people, neatly split into three camps.
Wedged between “Axina’s side” and “Luo Wei’s side,” Jack trembled like a frightened rabbit, looking as if he might shatter at any second.
Professor Moses motioned them closer. “Sitting that far apart—how are you supposed to build any teamwork?”
They were forced to draw inward. Jack hunched his neck, small and helpless.
Four teammates had been replaced; the one holdover—Axina—was a noble who never spared him a proper glance. One could imagine their “rapport.”
The newly added Luo Wei was kind and had a good reputation among commoners—but to Jack’s right sat the savage witch rumored to eat human flesh raw.
He didn’t dare turn his head, for fear the savage witch would notice him.
There was another commoner on the squad, but Jack had heard his fearsome name long ago—
—The Master Poisoner, Hol Felix: allegedly brewed potions so foul they stank two classmates unconscious, refined alchemical toxins that felled seven more, and possessed a body odor that had knocked out thirty‑eight.
A savage witch. A Master Poisoner. A Blessed One of the Goddess of Love. A princess from the Misty Plains. Each teammate more formidable than the last.
And him—Jack—a plain, honest farmer’s son. How could he sit among such storm‑stirring figures? He wasn’t worthy!
Boo‑hoo… Bitter tears streamed in Jack’s heart.
Because every Junior Division member was a first‑year with no tournament experience, Professor Moses began by explaining the format.
Luo Wei had read it yesterday, yet, hearing it again, she still spotted a few blind spots.
When Professor Moses finished and asked for questions, Luo Wei raised her hand.
“Professor Moses, are all three rounds held inside the Academy?”
“Only the third,” Professor Moses answered. “The first and second venues are provided by the ten major academies. We draw lots from their ten proposed sites and then arrange the arena.”
“So we go to another academy?” Luo Wei asked.
She shook her head. “No. The Magic Tournament is only held here in Siria. Their offered sites are all near Siria.”
Luo Wei frowned. “Why don’t the academies take turns hosting?”
Normally large competitions rotate among participants. If the Magic Tournament never leaves Siria, wouldn’t the others think it unfair?
Professor Moses looked at them—especially the two commoners—and laid out a cold fact.
“Because the other magic academies don’t allow commoners inside. So only Siria Magic Academy can host.”
Siria’s team included commoners every year; they couldn’t even enter the other academies.
Jack’s shoulders shrank; his head lowered.
Professor Moses fixed him with a look. “What I want you to know: whether commoner or noble—those labels mean nothing.”
“Siria’s team gathers the Academy’s best. Year after year you stand out among more than twenty academies. In the arena there is no ‘commoner’ or ‘noble.’”
“Believe in your own strength—that alone represents you.”
She shifted her gaze. “Alright. Who else has a question?”
“Professor,” Axina raised her hand, “if we run into the Divine College and they use light magic on us, how do we avoid it?”
“That was slated for combat prep, but since you asked, I’ll cover it now.”
Professor Moses opened a papyrus booklet and outlined light magic’s traits and the countermeasures she had for now.
Like other magic, light magic drives ambient elements—in this case light elements, a gentle, not strongly aggressive force.
Light magic falls into two branches: healing (repairing physical injury) and purification (cleansing the soul).
Light mages rarely front‑line. They heal and defend; offensive spellchants are few—Light Purification among them.
The Church tightly controls light magic texts, so Professor Moses didn’t know much, but she suspected harmful light spells still operate via soul purification—just reversed.
They amplify emotional sensitivity, press the softest spot in the heart, leaving the target weak, melancholy, self‑doubting, dispirited—drained of the will to fight.
The solution was crude: don’t let a light mage’s magic shine on you.
Light still has a range—even if that range might be rather large.
Professor Moses reassured them. “Don’t over‑worry. Divine College students know light magic, but their combat style won’t differ much from yours.”
“Light magic’s combat power isn’t high. In fights they mostly rely on swordsmanship and other elemental magic—you all know those.”
Luo Wei mused silently: low combat power, sure—yet enough to strip a Blessed One of a Dark God bare.
Judging by Axina’s face, the reassurance hadn’t landed. Her bright features cycled between pale and green, like a knocked‑over palette.
Luo Wei felt the same dread.
Finished with light magic, Professor Moses suddenly recalled something.
“Luo Wei, about the sunglasses you mentioned—we believe they could help against light magic. Can you make them?”
Casting light magic released intense white glare. Excess brightness could cost you target lock; close enough it could cause temporary blindness. A lens that filtered glare might indeed help.
Luo Wei had wanted to gather materials yesterday but Troy wasn’t around. Now prompted, she realized: Right—since they’re for the tournament, the Academy should supply them.
“I can,” she answered at once, “but I’ll need some materials and a few assistants.”
“List what you need; I’ll have it purchased,” Professor Moses said readily. “You can also use anything in the alchemy storage room. Pick assistants from Intermediate and Senior Division alchemy apprentices.”
“If they don’t satisfy you, Professor Temple can help.”
Luo Wei nodded. “Thank you, Professor.”
Anything in the alchemy storage room?
Then she certainly wouldn’t be polite!
Even if she skimmed a little… surely no one would notice?
…
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