Chapter 90: So many options
"The agreement is that we are not allowed to fight in the tent of others, not the one you are proclaiming. And he hasn’t signed any papers from what I can see, so he’s free to choose," Joel replied, unflinching.
"Get the fuck out of here, or you’ll feel my wrath!" Max shouted, pointing his palm at Joel. Without warning, a concentrated gust of wind shot toward Joel. However, Joel seemed to have anticipated the attack. He summoned a transparent barrier in front of him, which absorbed the gust, dispersing it into harmless wisps of air that swirled around the tent before disappearing.
"Is that it?" Joel asked, his voice calm. "Resorting to brute force already? Young child, from the looks of it, you are quite intelligent. I advise you not to join these brutes and sully your name. Come to us, and we’ll provide far better facilities and knowledge." Joel’s gaze shifted to Aric, who stood dumbfounded.
Aric had seen Gopher perform magic before, but never in combat. This was the first time he’d witnessed an actual confrontation. When Max summoned the wind, Aric quickly realized that this seemingly simple trick could easily be fatal if it hit him. But Professor Joel had countered it effortlessly. The more Aric saw of magic, the more determined he became to make the best out of his own potential.
"Now, now... quite the spectacle, isn’t it?" another voice chimed in as Joel and Max appeared ready for another round. Gopher had already positioned himself protectively in front of Aric. He felt lucky to have met Aric, who had brought not only a large sum of money but now, with his apparent high-level talent, would be able to secure entry into any prestigious school.
Yes, the crystal ball had just declared that Aric possessed extraordinary talent in wind magic. A talent of this caliber in such a remote area was unheard of. Most schools here were used to dealing with students of low to mid-level talent, with mid-level being rare. High-level talent, however, was like encountering a dragon—something almost mythical that a school could only hope to encounter with great fortune.
Joel and Max turned to see who had spoken. Multiple individuals entered the tent, each dressed in mage attire, clearly representatives from various schools. Aric never expected such a scene on his examination day.
Joel’s gaze sharpened, visibly annoyed by the interruption, but he said nothing. Max, still seething, clenched his fists. The fragile control of the situation was slipping away.
"Quite the gathering," one of the newcomers remarked. He was tall, with long silver hair cascading down his back, and his mage robes bore the crest of the prestigious Aetherion Academy. "And all for one boy?"