584 Benefit Society (1/2)

”He has accomplished two revolutionary achievements and won the title of grand arcanist at only 26. I'm afraid that nobody will ever break Mr. Evans' record. Mr. Brook was in his forties when he became a grand arcanist…” Patricia, another lady, had blond hair and looked like Katrina's sister. She spoke as if she were in a dream, her voice full of admiration and compliments.

Katrina was back to herself hearing what her friends said. With a brilliant and excited smile, she said, ”In fact, since new alchemy was proposed, we had been speculating when our teacher would become a grand arcanist. Our general opinion was that it would be thirty years old. Hehe. Even so, our teacher's record would be amazingly tantalizing. Nobody expected that he would win it at only 26…”

Because they met their teacher when they were teenagers, an age gap of five years felt like the gap of a whole generation. So, they always regarded him as a senior. After they became his students, they were naturally even more respectful and scared. Also, because their teacher was too mature, it was hard for them to remember his real age - Lucien had already changed his age back after his identity as a musician was exposed.

Today, after hearing that he won the title of grand arcanist, she suddenly recalled that he was only 26! She was almost 22 herself, and she only had the hope to become a middle-rank sorcerer. They were of the same generation with a gap in age, but their actual gap was so huge that she could only look at his back in admiration!

”Haha, I'm a grand arcanist's student!” Heidi was more simple and straightforward, not covering her pride at all.

Lenka looked at them with complicated feelings. ”Mr. Evans must have his own legendary class now. Perhaps, you will be a legendary sorcerer's student in ten years.”

”With Mr. Evans' talents, he will be a top legend in forty years at most.” Patricia congratulated them. ”You will certainly be in the senior rank under his guidance by then. Please don't forget us.”

In the Congress of Magic, grand arcanists were more important than legendary sorcerers because they could almost always become legendary and it was easier for them to reach the peak.

”In fact, there will be no major difference now. Our teacher's guidance won't change…” Layria said in delight while secretly she complained that the only difference would probably be more insane exams.

Patricia held a cup of red tea but forgot to drink it. ”How can there be no difference? Things will be much more conveinent for you now. For example, there will be no dangerous, mandatory missions. Other sorcerers will prefer to exchange their trophies with you. Your life will be full of such invisible benefits.”

”That does not change our teacher's strictness. The monthly report on research progress, the mountain of exams, the piles of papers to be reviewed, the prosaic magic exercises… I'm swooning when I just think about it.” Chelly rubbed her forehead. She was admitted by the magic school not because of talents but because of her connections. So, she had to work harder to make up for her shortcoming.

”I would rather suffer that.” Lenka blurted out and then covered her complicated feelings with a smile. ”I mean, many sorcerers and apprentices would love to bear the pain in your place. You must cherish the opportunity.”

Heidi nodded solemnly, ”Although we complain, we never work less. It's the luckiest thing in our life to meet our teach and become his student. We cannot squander our bliss.”

”Well said.” Katrina and Layria looked at Heidi rather in surprise, not expecting her to be so serious.

Then, Heidi put on a 'creepy' smile and declared, ”Therefore, after I become a senior-rank sorcerer and have my own students, I'll let them know what 'lucky' is. I'll show them the Evans quiz, tests and exams. No, not just my students, I'll introduce them to the magic school and make everybody enjoy them!”

Katrina's smile was frozen. Was it 'benefit the society' that their teacher said?

Patricia's eyes shined. ”Heidi, can you let me try the exercises that Mr. Evans gave to you? I'm very curious about those fearful tests.”

Patricia had been craving for the guidance they accepted, but the private lecture was every teacher's secret. If she asked recklessly, they probably wouldn't be friends anymore. Now that Heidi mentioned it on her own, she naturally did not let go of the chance.

Heidi remembered that her teacher said that the tests would be compiled into a book for popularization later. So, she chuckled, ”You want to give it a shot? I'm very strict. You have to finish it on time!”

”Really? I'm willing to try them however strict you are!” Patricia said in delight.

Lenka followed, ”Can I try them, too?” Her voice was shivering.

The other few ladies expressed the same wish, and intense sympathy beamed out of Katrina and her fellows' face.

When Heidi sorted the exercises, Lenka said gloomily, ”Why did we enter the Alborg magic school at the beginning? If we hadn't know you earlier, our life could've been totally different…”

”Our teacher said that this is a time of changes. Whoever is less restrained by the past and the intuitions will improve rapidly. So, you have plenty of opportunities. The future has only just begun.” Layria encouraged them.

Patricia nodded solemnly, ”Mr. Evans is right. That's probably why the groundbreaking contributions in the past ten years were all accomplished by young arcanists, like Felipe, Larry, Ulysses, Jurisian, Jerome and you.”

”We were just lucky. While young people are less restrained by experience, it's difficult for them to make great achievements because of their unsolid knowledge foundation.” Katrina reminded them. ”Those older arcanists may transform their thinking and understanding about the world after digesting the recent achievements. We must not overlook them.”

”The Congress has decided to set up a prize that represents the highest honor of arcana and magic. Thanks to Mr. Evans' sponsorship, the prize has been named as Evans Prize. It's subdivided into Evans Prize in Arcana that represented the law of the world and the mysteries about material and energy, as well as…”

”Evans Prize in Arcana, Magic, Mathematics and Medication… I wonder who will win it first…” Heidi, Chelly and the rest of them looked at the radio, yearning for it.

...

”…Mr. President has granted Mr. Lucien Evans the title of grand arcanist today on behalf of the Highest Council in honor of his paradigm-shifting contributions with the new alchemy. His tribute is…”