As Ivan quietly organized his thoughts about wizard families and their place within the current era, a faint vibration suddenly spread from his chest. A soft ding followed—subtle but clear. His focus broke for a moment, and he glanced down instinctively.
The badge pinned to his robe shimmered faintly, releasing a gentle pulse of magic. Then, without any warning, a translucent three-dimensional projection unfolded in front of him—and at the same time, an identical projection appeared before Olivia. The light steadied quickly, forming a structured message right in front of them.
"Attention all newly initiated wizard seeds. From today onward, the academy will conduct foundational courses in the Ancient Byron Language for a period of one month. Attendance is mandatory for all those lacking proficiency. The Ancient Byron Language serves as the primary medium for spell construction, experimental documentation, and advanced magical theory. Mastery of this language is essential for further progress on the path of wizardry."
The message remained for a few seconds before slowly fading away.
Phil looked at Ivan and Olivia with a bit of surprise.
"Wait… aren't you both from the Wizarding Plane?" he asked. "Shouldn't you have already learned the Ancient Byron Language in a basic academy?"
Ivan remained calm. He put down his utensils and answered without much expression.
"We are from the Wizarding Plane," he said, "but our batch comes from the outer regions—specifically the barren continents near the edge of the Core Continent. Most of us didn't even know about wizards before the aptitude test. Naturally, we never learned the Ancient Byron Language."
Phil paused for a second, then nodded.
"Ah… that explains it."
Taking the chance, Ivan asked, "Then what exactly is this 'basic academy' you mentioned?"
Phil didn't hesitate. It was clear he liked explaining things.
"Every major wizard academy controls several satellite cities around it," he said. "Those places are inhabited by mortals, low-level wizard apprentices, and some magical beings."
"When wizard seeds are discovered, they're not sent here directly," he continued. "They're first placed in those cities and enrolled into basic academies."
"They don't teach meditation methods or spells there," he added. "It's mostly foundational knowledge—Ancient Byron, the structure of the wizarding world, basic knowledge about planes, and general survival rules."
Ivan nodded slightly and summarized, "So they act as a preliminary institution, giving basic knowledge and stabilizing wizard seeds before they enter the main academy."
Phil smiled.
"Exactly."
Olivia, who had been listening quietly, tilted her head slightly and asked in a soft voice,
"If that's the case… why not teach all of that to mortals from the beginning? Wouldn't that make things easier when selecting wizard seeds?"
Her question made the others pause for a moment.
This time, Emily was the one who answered.
"No," she said gently, adjusting her glasses. "That was actually attempted before… and it ended very badly."
Her tone remained calm, but there was a quiet seriousness beneath it, something that made her words carry more weight than usual.
"In the early days of the Wizard Council, when the academy system was first being established, the wizards tried spreading basic knowledge among the general population," she continued. "Things like fundamental magical principles and simple techniques were made accessible."
"The idea was simple," she added after a brief pause. "If people already had a foundation, then those who awakened wizard potential would have a much smoother path forward."
She lowered her gaze slightly.
"But instead… it created chaos."
Phil let out a small sigh and picked up where she left off, his expression no longer as relaxed as before.
"Some people learned just enough to imitate wizards," he said. "They used crude tricks, pretended to be real practitioners, and started manipulating others."
"Most of them were people whose talent was just short of becoming true wizard seeds," he continued. "They weren't willing to accept an ordinary life, so they used whatever little they knew to gain control over mortals."
"Entire settlements were deceived because of that," he added. "Conflicts started breaking out, and before long, those conflicts turned into frequent wars between regions. A lot of people died."
Emily nodded slightly from the side, her voice softer as she spoke again.
"And the worst part was… it didn't stop," she said. "Even after one group was suppressed, another would appear somewhere else after some time."
"The wizards simply couldn't monitor every region and every settlement constantly," she added quietly. "There were too many variables, too many people."
Her expression grew a little more serious.
"Eventually, the situation escalated to the point where population decline became noticeable," she said. "That's when the higher-level wizards stepped in."
"The mortal population is the foundation of wizard civilization," she continued. "More than seventy to eighty percent of wizards come from ordinary people. If that foundation collapses, everything collapses with it."
Ivan's eyes narrowed slightly as he listened.
"A large-scale solution?" he asked.
Phil nodded, instinctively lowering his voice a little.
"A memory adjustment array," he said. "Not a complete erasure, but enough to remove widespread knowledge of wizardry from ordinary people."
"After that, the satellite city system was established," he continued. "Knowledge became controlled, and the situation gradually stabilized."
Emily added in a calm tone,
"Now, only selected individuals who awaken wizard aptitude are given access to that knowledge. It keeps things… under control."
Ivan didn't respond immediately.
He simply absorbed everything in silence, his mind moving quietly behind his calm expression.
Control of knowledge.
Restriction of exposure.
A structured system designed not just for education—but for maintaining order.
Before he could think further, a sudden disturbance rose near the cafeteria entrance.
Voices grew louder, overlapping with each other, and the previously relaxed atmosphere shifted slightly. A ripple of movement spread across the hall as more people began turning their attention toward the entrance.
All four of them instinctively looked in that direction.
A crowd had begun to gather there, and within a few seconds, the noise started to settle down. The surrounding wizard apprentices and wizard seeds gradually stepped aside, as if giving way without needing to be told.
Then, slowly, a path formed.
From the center of that path, a figure walked in.
A young man, no older than seventeen.
His hair was a striking fiery red, catching the ambient light like faint flickers of flame. His amber eyes were sharp and steady, and his posture remained straight and composed, carrying a natural sense of confidence.
Every step he took was measured and calm, yet filled with a quiet authority that made people unconsciously move aside.
Ivan observed him carefully.
He didn't know who this person was, but even without that knowledge, one thing was clear.
This was no ordinary wizard apprentice.
Beside him, Phil suddenly stiffened.
"…It's him," he muttered under his breath.
Ivan glanced at him.
"Who?"
Phil leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice instinctively.
"Louis Blaze."
The name lingered in Ivan's mind for a brief moment.
Blaze.
A faint sense of familiarity surfaced almost instantly. His thoughts shifted, and he recalled the instructor from their first day—Eleanor Blaze. The shared surname was unlikely to be a coincidence. There was probably some connection between them.
Ivan's gaze returned to the young man.
"Do you know him?" he asked calmly.
Phil exhaled slowly, his eyes still fixed on the figure as he replied, "You could say that. Emily and I arrived here about three months ago… and anyone who's been here long enough has at least heard of him."
He shifted slightly, his tone becoming more careful as he continued.
"He belongs to the Blaze family. They're one of the more influential wizard families associated with the White Ring Saint Academy. The family has multiple third-level wizards, and there are even rumors of a fourth-level wizard serving as a mentor in the Department of Elements."
He paused briefly before adding in a lower voice,
"Louis Blaze… is considered the top genius of their generation."
Emily nodded lightly from the side, confirming his words without adding much more.
Ivan remained silent after hearing that.
His eyes stayed on Louis Blaze for a moment longer before slowly shifting away, his expression returning to its usual calm.
Status. Influence. Fame.
None of those things interested him. The more visible someone was, the more attention they attracted—and attention often brought unnecessary trouble. In Ivan's mind, the tallest tree was always the first to face the storm.
Seeing his indifferent reaction, Phil seemed to relax slightly.
Then, as if deciding to continue while the topic was still fresh, he leaned in a little and lowered his voice.
"Since we're already talking about this… you should know a bit about the academy's internal situation."
Ivan's attention sharpened immediately. This kind of information could not be found in general texts or library records. To gain access to such nuanced knowledge, one would need sufficient standing within the academy, deep connections, or powerful backing. Recognizing the rarity of the opportunity, Ivan silenced his thoughts and listened with absolute focus.
Phil spoke steadily, keeping his tone low but clear as he began to outline the hidden landscape of the academy.
"The academy is led by a sixth-level wizard—the Dean. Under him, there are five Vice Deans, all at the same level. Each of them represents a major faction within the academy."
Ivan's gaze flickered slightly.
"Factions?"
Phil nodded and began explaining one by one.
"The Elemental faction mainly consists of wizards who specialize in elemental magic—fire, water, wind, earth, and other elemental branches. They're generally considered more neutral compared to the others."
"The Alchemy faction is focused on constructing magical tools, golems, floating Towers ,floating cities and various kinds of alchemical creations. They rely heavily on materials and craftsmanship."
"The Necromancy faction—also called the Dark faction—focuses on souls, undead creatures, curse, flash modification and death-related magic. They often maintain large undead forces and play a significant role in large-scale conflicts."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Then there's the War faction. These wizards are directly involved in plane wars. They specialize in combat formations, and large-scale operations."
"And finally, the Potionology faction. They're somewhat similar to alchemists but focus more on potions—using magical materials and beast resources to create various effects, including breakthrough aids."
Emily added quietly,
"They don't openly clash… but the competition is always there."
Phil gave a faint nod.
"Resources, influence, talent—everything is contested. It's not outright conflict most of the time, but the pressure is always present beneath the surface."
He continued explaining in a steady tone, outlining how certain factions cooperated while others often found themselves at odds.
"The Elemental faction tends to stay relatively neutral," he said. "Meanwhile, the Alchemy and Potionology factions often work together since their resource needs overlap and their work is closely related."
"On the other hand, the War and Necromancy factions have a more complicated relationship. They cooperate during large-scale conflicts, but disagreements often arise when it comes to resource distribution and war gains."
"The real friction usually happens between those two groups and the Alchemy-Potion side," he added. "Everyone needs the same high-quality materials—whether it's for crafting, potions, or war preparations."
"Still, these conflicts don't escalate too far," Phil continued. "There are rules in place. The Wizard Council oversees everything, and their disciplinary forces ensure no one crosses the line."
Ivan listened quietly the entire time.
Every detail was noted. Every implication carefully stored.
This was not just an academy—it was a structured system of power, balance, and controlled competition.
After a while, the tension in their conversation gradually eased.
The heavy topic faded, replaced by lighter discussions. Small jokes, casual remarks, and occasional laughter slowly brought back a more relaxed atmosphere at the table.
Time passed without anyone noticing.
By the time they finished their meals, the sky outside had already darkened.
"I guess this is where we part for today," Phil said with a grin.
They exchanged their badge contact marks—a simple but efficient method of communication within the academy.
After a few brief farewells, they went their separate ways.
Ivan and Olivia left the cafeteria together, stepping into the cool night air. The noise behind them faded as they moved farther away, replaced by a calmer, quieter atmosphere.
Without much conversation, they boarded a floating disc transport and headed toward the residential district.
The Seventh Building stood quietly under the dim glow of magical lights, its structure calm and unmoving against the night.
After entering, they parted in the corridor and returned to their respective rooms.
Ivan stepped inside his room and closed the door softly behind him.
For a moment, silence settled in.
He moved calmly, taking a brief bath before changing into clean robes. His movements were unhurried, steady, as if he were already preparing his mind for what came next.
Soon, he sat cross-legged on his bed.
Two books lay beside him.
One was the Basic Meditation Method.
The other was Paths and Legacies of the White Ring Saint Academy.
Ivan's gaze rested on them for a few seconds.
He had already instructed Nova not to disturb him unless absolutely necessary.
After calming his thoughts, he reached out and picked up Paths and Legacies of the White Ring Saint Academy.
Then, without hesitation—
He opened the book.