Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 24 (Part 2)

Fortunately, nothing significant happened over the next few months. Their class times were different, making it hard to encounter each other, and whenever they did, there were usually people around.

“Today’s lesson ends here. Tomorrow is the practical?”

“Yes, Instructor.”

Trainees from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd batches took classes together. Rodin was among this group.

“Tomorrow, the 4th batch will join the practical. Treat them well and don’t be territorial.”

“Yes, sir.”

Among the 4th batch trainees, there were as many as 12 who specialized in magic. This was more than double the number of magic specialists combined from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd batches.

One of them had recently become a second-circle mage.

It was about a year since Rodin revealed he was a second-circle mage.

Considering the batches, they had become second-circle mages in a similar period.

However, among the 1st and 2nd batches, half were still first-circle mages. Now, there was no need to separate the 4th batch for education as they were at a similar level.

‘The problem with the 1st and 2nd batches is the atmosphere.’

The third floor, where the 3rd batch resided, was generally quite intense and competitive.

Whenever there was free time, someone was swinging a sword, and someone else was sweating on one side of the field. Discussing swordsmanship was not considered strange.

This atmosphere wasn’t created by one person working hard. Each person didn’t want to lose, grinding their teeth, and naturally, such an atmosphere was formed.

But the dormitory’s second floor, which he passed by every time, was always quiet. No one was working hard, nor were they making noise.

Even with free time, the 1st and 2nd batches did nothing.

‘The 4th batch seems different.’

After class, he had dinner. He went up to the dormitory for a brief rest.

“Rodin!”

“Huh? Lant isn’t here?”

The four always ate together. They had been in the dining hall just five minutes ago, and Rodin had gone to the bathroom before coming up to the dormitory.

But Lant, who had been with them a moment ago, was nowhere to be seen. Hedler and Cory were loosening up on the dormitory floor.

“Lant? He ran to the training room right after dinner. He’s putting his life into his aura.”

“Good decision. He always had a bit of a unique physique.”

Lant’s body was monstrous, but his aura was at the lower end among the 3rd batch. He had been wasting his 40 points of aura talent.

“Lant is no joke these days. Whew.”

“You still beat him, though?”

“Just barely, using all my strength.”

There was no more aura-less Lant, no more purely physical fights with him. He now spent the most time in the aura training room.

Among the 3rd batch, Lant was counted among the top four, along with Hedler, Drok, and Tory.

However, Hedler was the strongest among the top four. He hadn’t lost a duel in the past few months.

“Really? Tough?”

“It’s the strength. I always thought I had decent strength, but Lant is truly a monster.”

The top four had long since become second-dana swordsmen. Excluding them, there were quite a few second-dana swordsmen among the 3rd batch trainees.

“Oh, right. New recruits have arrived.”

“Yeah, the south building is chaotic. Last night, I could hear the new recruits chattering all the way here while I was trying to sleep.”

A new year had begun, and the 6th batch of trainees had entered the Special Forces Training Center. The entrance of new trainees made the overall atmosphere of the training center chaotic.

“The number of trainees has decreased, it seems.”

“The 5th batch was too large. Seeing them in class, it was really crowded.”

“The assistant instructors are the ones suffering.”

The 6th batch had a significantly reduced number. The results of the talent measurements for the over 100 5th batch trainees were not very outstanding.

The best results were from the 52 trainees selected in the 3rd batch and the 55 trainees in the 4th batch.

The committee, determining this as the optimal number, also set the 6th batch at around 50 trainees.

With strict criteria, slave traders were sent throughout the kingdom to purchase slaves. Thus, it was difficult to buy the exact desired number.

For the 6th batch, the committee decided on between 50 and 60 trainees. Slave traders scoured the kingdom and brought back those who met the criteria, resulting in 56 trainees.

“Time flies. It’s already been three years since we entered here.”

“Yeah, it has. Oh my, Trainee Rodin is still so young. Lucky you.”

He chuckled.

Cory’s joke made Rodin laugh.

He was still seven years old. In five days, he would turn eight. The new 6th batch trainees were probably older than him.

“Next year, there will be someone Rodin’s age.”

“Yeah. Typically, new recruits are nine or ten years old.”

Rodin picked up a dictionary and bent his lower body slightly. It was his usual posture for lower body exercises.

“Are you a mage or a swordsman? You seem to work out more than I do.”

“Physical strength is important for mages too.”

“Probably only you think that way.”

Perhaps not wanting to lose, Hedler lay down on the floor and started doing push-ups, counting softly.

This was the atmosphere of the 3rd batch. While Room 301 was particularly intense, other dormitories on the third floor also took their exercises seriously.

“Thirteen, fourteen.”

Of course, there were those who were detached from this.

Cory was lying diagonally on his bed, barely moving. He occasionally changed his position from lying sideways to lying on his stomach, seemingly preparing to sleep.

“Huh? Hedler.”

Rodin placed the dictionary back on the desk. Then, squatting next to Hedler, who was doing push-ups, he stared intently at the back of Hedler’s head.