The Golem Mage

724: 1st Test.

724: 1st Test.

All the second-year students were also present, drawn by the rumours and speculations surrounding the new first-year class, ever since the new batch arrived, whispers had circulated that some of the first-years were stronger than their seniors.

Instructors even frequently used the first-years as examples during lectures for them, which had bruised the egos of a few second-years who couldn’t accept the idea of being surpassed by their juniors.

This growing rivalry meant most of the second-years came to observe the tests, eager to see if the rumours were true.

The exams functioned as a grading system, any first-year mage who surpassed the hallmark set by the first two tests would be allowed to advance to second-year classes ahead of schedule.

While those who failed would have to wait until the next academic year to move up, it was also an opportunity to identify the strongest mages within the first-year class.

–

After about thirty minutes, the venue was fully occupied, the first-years rushed in, hoping to finish their tests quickly and leave the arena, the air was buzzing with chatter and anticipation until a loud voice from the crowd pulled everyone’s attention toward the entrance.

“Look, it’s the Gordons!” a young woman shouted.

All heads turned as Alec, Agnes, Brandon, Arthur, Knight, four other Gordons clansmen, and their instructor, Terran, entered the venue together, their arrival caused an immediate stir.

Though it wasn’t unusual for Terran to accompany his disciples, but many recalled the criticisms levelled against this batch of students when they first arrived.

As most had dismissed them as a group unlikely to survive long due to being disciples of Terran, yet now, not only had they endured, but five of them had been part of the championship winning team.

Adding to the shock, the remaining Gordons clansmen, including Kelvin and the twins, had recently advanced to Tier 4 Mage status, to the other first-years, it felt like they were staring at an unreachable summit.

From his seat, the Dean watched the scene unfold with a faint smile, as he felt his suspicions were now confirmed, and that was the fact that the Gordons clan clearly had an alchemist among them.

The Dean couldn’t shake the question lingering in his mind, ‘was the alchemist behind the top grade cultivation pills someone studying in the academy, or was it a member of their clan way back at home that had provided them with pills?’ because he refused to believe that four average mages could break into the Tier 4 Mage realm in a week without the aid of a Top grade cultivation pill, something similar to the ones Alec had been sharing with his team during the competition.

But he knew Alec too well to know that he wasn’t likely to reveal anything to him, so the Dean could only think of another measure as he shifted his gaze to Alec, who was casually observing the crowd until his eyes landed on two other first-year mages approaching his group – Endrick and Sophie.

Those two were recruits Alec had brought under his wing, while the academy prohibited outside interference in student affairs, recruitment between students was allowed.

This action of Alec had piqued the Dean’s interest since their return from the capital as he had Alec investigated.

Despite knowing Alec carried guilt for what had happened during the competition despite the fact that the king had it in for them, the Dean just couldn’t understand his motivations.

Why was Alec going out of his way to help his teammates?

And more intriguingly, why was he recruiting others when he was still in the same cultivation realm as them?

Typically, recruitment required a significant gap in realms, with the mentor capable of guiding the recruits’ cultivation.

Alec’s actions defied this convention, raising suspicion that he had something extraordinary to offer, though the Dean couldn’t yet determine what that was.

The pills Alec had shared were just part of a small clue, the Dean had inspected their quality and was stunned.

They were top grade, far superior to the academy’s standard supplies.

And he felt if the academy could secure just ten of those Tier 5 cultivation pills occasionally, it would significantly bolster their ranks, potentially increasing the number of Captain ranked mages and strengthening their mid-level power base.

At this critical moment, the War God Mage Academy was at a crossroads, while they still boasted a handful of strong high-rank mages, each seasoned through countless battles and regarded as legends in their own right, their future was far from secure.

Without a solid next generation to carry the torch, the academy’s future appeared uncertain and bleak.

The situation was made worse by the impending graduation of their senior students, for the first time in the academy’s history, they wouldn’t be able to retain a single graduate, as the news of the kingdom cutting off its support had spread like wildfire, prompting many graduating students to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Even worse, High Tier clans with children in the academy had begun pulling their children out of the academy.

Only two types of students remained: those fiercely loyal to the academy and those whose clans had already given up on them.

The War God Mage Academy was now desperate, clinging to any potential breakthrough that could validate the bold decisions of their Dean.

“Settle down!

Everyone is here now.

I hope you’re all ready for the first test!” Instructor Duran’s voice boomed across the venue as he seemingly materialized out of thin air.

One moment, the stage was empty, and the next, he stood there, requesting the students’ attention.

As Alec and his group listened, they were joined by Beatrice, Lucas, Katie, and Pale, who came over to greet them before deciding to stick together.

Alec was taken aback by their presence, especially given the academy’s current predicament, with the institution on the verge of financial collapse, way worse than ever.

Alec had assumed that most of the students from wealthy clans would have abandoned the academy for greener pastures by now.

However, seeing his teammates still sticking it out surprised him in the best way.

He couldn’t deny the satisfaction he felt knowing they were still around.

“Now, I’ll explain the details of the first test,” Instructor Duran announced as he began pacing forward.

“This is the First test is a strength test.”

With a dramatic flourish, he reached for the cloth covering a tall object at the center of the stage, slowly, he pulled it away, revealing a massive, obsidian black monolith that stretched high into the sky.

The crowd erupted into murmurs of curiosity and awe as they took in the imposing structure.

The rock, with its smooth, reflective surface and faintly glowing runes, seemed almost otherworldly.