27 Old Man Moo (1/2)

After laughing about the scared boy, the three magicians that arrived quickly turned serious while they looked at the old man. It was still too early for the incoming students to arrive and he was the fastest examinators to come back. Trying to remember where he was sent and whether it was really possible to check all the children, they saw him grabbing something from the saddle. Soon, the big orb that was the main tool for that annual event was clearly visible and the former small crack grew a lot during the travel. Figuring out what probably happened, they relaxed and the atmosphere became more jovial.

”Who would have thought that it would be old man Moo that would encounter the first problem. The most serious teacher still managed to fissure an orb.” The leading figure, a man still in his prime and a lot younger than the magician that traveled with Leilade, was smiling while saying that. Of course, the moment he said that name of the old man, the latter instantly entered a foul mood. Leilade was suppressing her laugh and showing nothing on the outside, but she clearly didn't expect the ridicule name of the mage. It sounded like the sound of a cow and it was apparent that the owner of that name hated it. It was also easy to guess.

”It's Oscar, teacher Oscar, young man. I still remember when you first came here and was crying while looking at the gryphons. In fact, you were not better than this young boy right here. So spare me your puny jokes and help me get a new orb.” None of the three magicians were either mad or surprised by the harsh words of Oscar. His only default was his disproportionate anger when calling him by his name. Also, none of them were really in bad terms and that small discussion will soon be forgotten.

”Fine, fine. But you are still not showing enough respect to the magicians and the magus of the 4th and 5th Circle. Even if you are old and appreciated, calling me like that is still disrespectful. But let's not hold petty grudges and tell me exactly, what did you bring with you?”

The two following mages were two women both barely older than thirty years and were completely under the charm of the charismatic man. They were also very talented and managed to reach the 4th Circle at such a young age. They were also nobles and part of that faction inside the Academy, unlike the old man that was originally a commoner. Nothing was going overboard and no one would suppress someone talented just because of his birth. But past the initial teachings that all received equally, it was possible to receive the personal teaching of a magician. And in that domain, the nobles were only reinforcing their fellow mages.

Grumbling a little, the white-bearded human looked at the two children near him. The boy still hadn't recovered and was panting a little while the girl was impassible and likely unconcerned by what was happening around her. He still didn't know how talented she was, so he had no choice but to downgrade her potential.

”A future 3rd Circle mage and an unknown talent.” The good-looking man was still smiling when he heard the first part but quickly stopped after the second. He looked intensely at old man Moo but the latter only shook his head. He truly couldn't say anything else.

”So, I guess she was the last that was tested when the orb stopped functioning. But why did you brought her here if she has an unknown talent? You can't save every orphan in this kingdom right?”

The tone was mocking from the beginning to the end but it was still a reminder of the rules. Only the talented will enter the Academy and no waste was authorized to stay there. If it was found out that the girl didn't have any talent, Oscar Moo will be punished and the girl sent home. So it was baffling for the old magician to risk that.

”Anyway, let's bring them inside and I will personally test her myself. Don't look at me like that, if she really has something, of course, she will stay. But don't get too much hope, it is too rare for a commoner to be talented and now the third child of Gwendhir entered the Academy. She has the best potential since centuries, maybe even better than the Archmage before the gift of the Gods.”

Unfortunately, it was the sad truth. Most of the magicians beyond the 4th Circle were nobles while the majority of the magicians were commoners. Less than a 1% of the mages broke through that barrier and that was explained only by the talent. Luck blessed some families with a higher potential and with the years, all were given titles of noblesse.It was a circle, for some it was vicious, for others it was virtuous. But that gave full power to the noble families to run the Academy as they wished. Those disparities were only advantages for the nobility and never suppressed the commoners, that was the only order from the sovereign.