Chapter 154 - Era, Sebastian, and Saint Tiffania

  Era Asalon:

  "This year, we have many talented individuals, as well as several superior nobles," I ented, looking over the files.

  Rose looked at me, and I nodded back, both of us uanding the importance of those young talents for the future of the ti.

  "I’ll start with the demi-human kingdom," Rose said, opening up specific files. "The standout here is Thyra, the nied apprentice of Director Victoria."

  All eyes turo Rose as she spoke about this promising young demi-human.

  That unique demi-human... I’d already set her file aside as well.

  Sebastian picked up Thyra’s file, scrutinizing the details. "She embodies all the powerful traits of the Bck Wolf tribe. Besides her rare bestial form, she’s a Transmitter mage of earth and water elements, which allowed her to awaken the exclusive mud element of her race. And from what I’ve heard, she loves being ihick of battle," he remarked, impressed.

  Marodded. "The bestial form is extremely rare among demi-humans. I heard that when she was born, she stayed in that form for a while, which might expin why she’s a bit more feral than other demi-humans typically are," he added.

  I suppose that might expin the rumors of her being a bit... unusual.

  Rose picked up another file. " From the Elven kingdom, I set aside those elves with on dual elements and focused on someoh a rare talent who truly caught my attention. This is Princess Syvis Rhiannon, with a rare talent for the pnt element—unon even among elves. What’s remarkable is that she both heal and attack, striking a perfect baween offense and support otlefield. Her abilities make her an exceptionally versatile asset."

  I examihe photo of Princess Syvis, the heir to the elf kingdom.

  Queen Agnes has shown a lot of i in her.

  "She’s very beautiful," Marented, looking at Syvis's file.

  "Hey, show some respey future queen," Tiffania muttered from the armchair, making everyone chuckle, myself included, as I saw Marco blush a little.

  "Who’s ?" Sebastian asked, eager to move on.

  Rose tinued, "From the human realm, we obviously have Princess Melina. She wields the same rare fire magic as Era, but in addition, she trols the Wind element. In time, if she bihe two, she has the potential to surpass Era in power. Fire bined with wind create somethiating."

  "I agree," I said, nodding slightly, aowledging Melina's great potential.

  We tio review the files as Marco looked curiously at the dots.

  "Why do these superior noble files have so much redacted or bcked-out information?" he asked, still puzzled.

  "Personal details like arranged betrothals, plebeian parent names, criminal records, military ranks, wealth, and properties are restricted. Only high-ranking political authorities have access to such data. Even at an academy like this, they wouldn’t make those details avaible to just anyone," I expined.

  He seemed surprised.

  "But why redact a plebeian parent's name?" Marco pressed.

  "Because a plebeian isn’t signifit enough to be highlighted in a dot. Nobles who marry oners oftehem as 'surrogate vessels' meant to produ heir," Sebastian added. "If a noble has an heir with another noble, wealth would o be divided betweewo families. Many opt to marry oners solely to produce a child, ensuring the iaays intact. For oners, simply marrying into nobility is sidered reward enough."

  We tinued examining the students' profiles as Rose picked up another file.

  “I found another iing student. She’s also a high noble, named Chloe Evenhart. She’s aer and Summoner with Water and Wind elements. This means she create is,” Rose noted.

  “I heard she demonstrated that during the admission exam,” I added as we all studied her file.

  “She’s from an agricultural duchy, and it’s the farthest one from the Royal Capital,” Sebastian remarked. “Luckily, she create golems to aid in bat. Normally, someone from an agricultural duchy would focus on farming or just enjoying the family fortune.”

  Marco picked up another file.

  “It looks like the Evenhart family has two members studyihis year. Besides Chloe, there’s another heir,” he said.

  “Oh, yes. His name is Nathan Evenhart,” Sebastian noted, grabbing Nathan’s file.

  “Nathan Evenhart…” murmured Tiffania as she sprang up from her chair.

  “He’s a Thunder element user, as well as a Transmitter aer. With a rare element and those two mana categories, he could bee a good mage with proper training. Maybe he could even be a didate for a Knight, along with the others we’ve sidered,” Rose said.

  I g his file. “A Thunder element user—it’s rare. I’ve only met a few in the Capital,” I remarked while tinuing to review his profile.

  “They’re from an agricultural duchy, so I doubt they’ve had mual bat training. Without solid training, magical talent is wasted. The previous students have had good educational backgrounds and opportuo hoheir skills, but these two will o work hard. Fortunately, they’re at this academy,” Sebastian analyzed.

  I tinued reviewing Nathan’s profile as Sebastian spoke. “The boy isn’t the main heir, but if I suggest that he could have a shot at being a Winged Knight, it might motivate him to train with the other knights during his free time here at the academy. What do you think, Era?” he asked.

  The prospect of being a Knight who could ride an Asalon could make anyone eager to prove themselves.

  “You’re the recruiter here, so I’ll leave that to you,” I replied.

  “Are you sure? There are better options…” Tiffania cut in, moving to sit oable. “Think carefully before you suggest it.”

  Why is she suddenly so ied? She’s never intervened like this before.

  “Rex, we’re just reviewing the students. There are stronger options like Viktor Saul. He’s a skilled Water and Fire mage,” Sebastian noted. “He’s one of my top picks. I’m just giving a little push to some of these newers, getting them excited about the possibility of one day riding an Asalon,” he said with a ugh.

  Marco held Viktor’s file, “Viktor Saul is talented. As the heir of a military duchy, he’s had access to powerful spells since he was young. Just having a rare element or being able to summon an i isn’t enough. In battle, without solid training, those things won’t save you,” Marco pointed out.

  "Exactly. Wasted talent is useless," Sebastian remarked with a sneer. "They're nobles from an agricultural duchy, so they don’t have the same access to magical and military knowledge. Their family are Builder Mages—what could they possibly do in a life-or-death fight? Water a pnt?" he scoffed.

  He wasirely wrong. Agricultural families naturally leaowards peaceful pursuits like cultivation and stru, which put them at a disadvantage when it came to intense military training and battle. Their field experience was more about nd maintenance, resource ma, and magical stru. They likely had some basic military and magical training due to their high atus, but it couldn’t pare to the rigorous preparation aructive power of mages trained for war.

  "That ge," I replied pragmatically. "Over these five years at the academy, they’ll learn to trol their powers and undergo training. Plus, they passed the bat test, which shows potential. Of course, they ’t pare to us, who’ve had military training since childhood. But that’s no dealbreaker. If the boy doesn't get too fortable in his family’s wealth, he could be molded into a soldier. The queen wants to focus on recruiting as much talent as possible, and I have the freedom to pick as many as I wish."

  Sebastian separated a few files, tinuing, “Aside from Viktor, we’ve got Edmund, heir to a military duchy, and my dear highness, Alice. The Grand Duke’s daughter is an Summoner aer with the water element. She has immense mana capacity and access to advanced le spells. She create multiple water golems, and they’re incredibly powerful. Alice is a true prodigy in her element, and her golems are lethal. Unfortunately, Princess Melina is still a ways behind, even with her offensive element. She’s got work to do.”

  It ity that my sister, Melina, wasn’t as stro. Having a rare element didn’t automatically make someone powerful. Alice, with her water element, demonstrated remarkable offensive power. Though she didn’t dedicate herself to swordpy, no one could approach her for a direct attack. Even I would find her golems a challenge.