Quality mages meant quality funding. The more capable mages in the hands of a kingdom, the more power it has in the palace court of Gyro city, capital of the Gyro empire.
You would think King Emberfall would feel intimidated by the sudden appearance of four anomalies in his territory, instead he was excited and elated.
What was even more exciting was two out of four anomalies were peasants with no allegiance to a noble family and then the Emberfall family had Leo. If he could get Klein or Lucy to join his family, it didn't matter that the Blackwood family had me.
The royal stipend was decided after every entrance exam, that way the imperial budget would be allocated based on the quality of their mages and students.
The grand magus of the entire empire was an anomaly with two four star magic elements with a talent rating of SSS+. These four were far from his level, but they were not too far off and they were extremely rare.
Anomalies appear once in a century, now the kingdom of Loth is blessed with four in one year!
Anyways, apart from the four of us, the others were decent at best. Even the ones that were above average didn't even attract Freya 's gaze, talk more of King Emberfall's attention. After seeing four consecutive anomalies, anything less than an anomaly was considered a failure.
Once the test ended, we were led to our dormitories but along the way, we were separated from the rest and taken to a grand estate within the academy.
The four of us were seated in a carriage which navigated through the academy while King Emberfall and Freya led the way on the hellcat.
'King Emberfall is a King and a Duke. Isn't it a little bit too much for someone of his status to handle things like this?'
I couldn't help but wonder why a King couldn't have his subordinates handle these minor issues.
{What do you think is the total number of mages in the Gyro empire?} Lin asked and I froze.
There were barely up to 30 students in this set. If I assume that's the norm for the four kingdoms of the empire and including the capital, that would be about 150 mages created in 3 years.
{Don't forget. The mortality rate is over 50%... Less than the number you have seen today will graduate. And even after graduation, the war against the Knoll and their beasts never ends. On an average the empire loses 30 mages a year. And this doesn't include students. These are qualified, elite mages fighting at the other side of the wall.}
I frowned at the figures Lin was throwing around. This sounded a bit too extreme.
'I heard most mages seek out civil positions after graduation so how is the number so high?' I asked while observing Kilen Lucy who were seated next to each other on the other side of the carriage.
They glanced out the windows, enjoying the scenery while Leo pinched his nose, while glaring at Klein as if to say he stinks.
{Civil positions for mages are few and they are always filled up by noble family members using their connections. As for those that choose to become freelance adventures. In a state of emergency, which is often, they can be drafted for war.}
'So tell me, how many mages does this empire have?' I let out a defeated sigh and asked.
{I can't give you the definite figures so I would say a thousand at most. In an empire with hundreds of millions of humans, there are barely a thousand mages. That is the reality of life and that is why you start training and risking your lives in the academy as early as 15 years.}
I frowned!
Never did it cross my mind that the human race's situation was this dire.
'Does this apply to dwarves and elves?' I had to ask.
And there was silence, as if Lin was reluctant to speak but after a while he let it out.
{No. In fact, nearly all elves have an affinity to magic. Only on rare cases do they birth children without talent for magic. However, most of them are limited to earth and nature type elements. They lack the diversity humans have.}
I nodded in agreement and admitted it was fair. Nature always found ways to balance things.
'Dwarves?'
{Arguably the strongest empire in existence now since nearly half of them have magical aptitude and those who lack that depend on their machines of mass destruction. The dwarves are the only race that has nearly reconquered all their lost lands.} I noticed the recognition in Lin's voice.
This angel of death didn't just praise anyone. For him to talk this well of dwarves, they must be as powerful as he was making them out to be.
Machines of mass destruction? What the hell is that?
Unfortunately, leisure hours had come to an end as the carriage rolled to a stop in front of a grand estate located in a vast and ungraded piece of land. I waited for everyone to get off before I followed them.
Walking into the grand entrance hall, I watched Lucy and Klein gasp in shock and this reminded me of my first time in the Blackwood grand estate. If I didn't have the death magic suppressing my emotions I would have reacted this way.
"Aren't we supposed to be in a dormitory like the others?" I asked, breaking the silence and everyone stopped walking as King Emberfall turned to meet my gaze.
"You four are different. You four are the pillars of the Loth Kingdom so you can't stay with the others." King Emberfall said passionately.
This was the first time I was seeing him expressing the passion that fit his visage.
"Every academy in the four kingdoms is allowed to pick five students who will spend their final academy year studying in Gyro city. Of course this decision is meant to be made at the second academic year but four of you clearly outclass the rest so there is no need to waste time. The fifth member of the team will be picked overtime." Freya stepped in and explained perfectly before I could ask what King Emberfall meant to the pillars.
I nodded my head in understanding, realizing what was happening. Before coming here I was well aware students were randomly divided into teams of fives. I didn't think they would shamelessly group the best students together.
There was a lot I didn't know about the empire and how it worked. Maybe they had a reason for this so I just accepted with a nod. Asking too many questions to a monarch would only anger the king.
I decided to keep my questions to myself and learn the answers as time passed by.
____
My first day in the academy was like I never left Blackwood. I had come to a fair understanding that my life of comfort was about to be destroyed. However, I was wrong.
I was shocked that I was considered an anomaly and Lord William never noticed. I concluded he must have never seen what an anomaly is like so he never noticed I was different.
Anyways, according to King Emberfall, everything that goes on within the academy is made public so I suspected the news must have reached Blackwood Thicket by now.
I'll be a local celebrity when I get back.
The first day went by without a hitch since I picked my room and never left it. I wasn't here to play with my family, nor did I plan to sit at a table with them and have a feast. The less they knew about me, the better.
Our things were brought into the academy alongside our knights but they weren't allowed to live with us. From what I heard they put in a at the outskirts of the academy
I had breakfast, lunch, and dinner in my room. Before bed, a maid informed me of tomorrow's 9 am class.
____
The academy was filled with carriages just present for our mobility. I left early because I wanted to see the entire academy, so I had my coachman drive around, and I was shocked by what I saw.
The headmistress is a small town with barely a hundred people living inside.
Around the administrative block was another grand estate, which I suspected was the residence of the Headmistress. The living quarters for every non-magical staff were also left at the edges of the academy.
Far south of the academy was a towering that kissed the heavens and loomed over the clouds. The tower was made of pearl-smooth material, which was used to create walls.
"What material is this?"
After seeing this a third time, I couldn't help but ask. While they looked fragile, I could tell they were sturdy; if not, the kingdom wouldn't use them for walls.
{Moonstone marble, a sturdy yet smooth stone capable of absorbing and storing mana. You have a month before you start taking on tasks. So I suggest you read everything you can at the library.} Lin suggested and I nodded.
Even if he didn't ask, I would have done that. I needed to know more about the church of the four pillars and understand how they fell.
Not too far from the tower was the academy cathedral, with its towering spires. For some reason, I frowned just looking at it, but I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on more structures littered around the massive piece of land.
We came across some training which were open areas with reinforced barriers and dueling rings. There were a few walled structures I saw beside these training grounds but I don't know what they were.
We drew closer to the center of the academy where three massive structures were located. The first was the main academy hall, where all the classes and teaching would take place. A few kilometers to the left was a massive colosseum twice the size of the academy hall, and to the right was the legendary Kingdom of Loth arcane library.
The tour took nearly an hour, and by the time I arrived, other carriages were packed; it seemed the others had gone in.
Approaching the towering doors of the academy hall, it eerily swung open. Inside were bright red fireflies, which led me through the entrance hall to the first corridor by the right.
The corridors were spacious, with vaulted ceilings and pillars. The fireflies finally halted in front of two massive doors with the image of the sun carved into them. As I approached the doors swung open, revealing a massive auditorium big enough for hundreds of people, yet only 30 people were present.
Each row of seats was arranged in a sweeping semicircle around the podium at the lowest point of the chamber. The seats cascaded downward in careful, concentric layers, ensuring an unobstructed view for all and there were polished stone steps between the rows guiding people toward the heart of the room, where the podium stood.
Standing on the podium was an elderly man in his early sixties. His silly sorcerer hat made students giggle, and his protruding belly under his oversized cloak made him look unauthentic.
This man didn't look like a mage. In fact, he was tiring to look at.
I found a seat in a lonely corner of the room, under the gaze of numerous faces I couldn't recognize.
"Ehem… Now everyone is here, let's begin." The man had a flat tone that made him irritating to listen to. He sounded like he didn't want to be here but was dragged along against his will.
"I am Professor Brighton. The homeroom teacher of every generation that has passed through this academy for the past four decades. I have seen the talented, I have seen the strong… I have seen confidence… One thing they all have in common is death." Prof Brighton's eyes glanced through the small number of students present.
His seasoned face was framed with sadness and his eyes were that of a man who had experienced loss far too many times. What was more disturbing was the figure nine steps away.
The angel of death.
"Wait…" I mumbled as a thought crossed my mind.
My eyes scanned through the classroom and a chill ran down my spine. For the first time in a long while I instinctively clutched my chest.
While I can boldly say I'm not a good person, however, I'm not a monster. I hate nobles and people in general, but that doesn't mean I would randomly wish death on people.
Out of all thirty students, twenty had the angel of death standing beside a step, some two steps and a few three steps away.
"Doesn't that mean…" I mumbled with genuine shock in my eyes.
{It is as you have seen it. Only ten of you will graduate.} Lin chuckled devilishly.