"What's the exchange rate for Wind Elemental Coins?"
Elemental Coins and Gold Coins can be swapped, but the rate floats like the stock market.
Hearing Karion's question, the shopkeeper pulled a newspaper from under the counter, checked a table, and replied:
"According to last month's national report, the exchange rate for Wind is 95."
Meaning 1 Wind Elemental Coin = 95 Gold Coins.
"Dropped a lot compared to two years ago..." Karion muttered.
"Indeed," the shopkeeper chuckled. "Fewer mages are majoring in Wind these days. Demand is down, so the rate dips. Basic economics."
Karion nodded.
"Alright. Give me 6 Wind Elemental Coins, 20 Dark Elemental Coins, and the rest in Gold."
Standard Elemental Coins fluctuate, but Light and Dark are the US Dollars of this world—backed by the Church of Light and the Dark Vatican. Stable AF.
Most countries peg their currency to them. The Durant Gold Coin has been pegged at 100:1 to Light/Dark coins for over a decade.
"Please wait a moment."
The shopkeeper cast a small spell to unlock the register, pulled out the coins, bagged them in a fancy pouch, and handed them over respectfully.
Karion did a quick count.
20 Dark, 6 Wind, 38 Gold. Correct.
He took out one Dark Coin for immediate use, tossed the pouch into his backpack, and said coolly:
"See you next time."
He turned and left.
"Safe travels, Mr. Sixteen!"
As soon as he left the shop, Karion used the Dark Coin to charge his teleport bead.
Always be ready to bail.
If anything sus happens, he's teleporting instantly.
He was carrying a fortune and had zero combat ability. He was a squishy loot goblin. One mistake and it's GG.
Over 2,000 Gold Coins is life-changing money for a normal family.
But for high-level mages in the capital? It's pocket change.
Only a broke boy like Karion would be this paranoid about it.
After that, Karion hit up a few more shops in the market.
He bought a Wind Magic Crystal for 120 Gold Coins (to replace Mia's).
Since this was a spur-of-the-moment trip, he didn't linger.
He found a secluded spot and Teleported back to Palos Magic School.
Back in his room, Karion stashed his loot.
He picked up a few Wind and Dark coins and walked out.
Compared to a few days ago, he was feeling confident.
With resources, he could actually help his students ace the graduation exam.
It was still early, so he decided to start the Special Training.
But as he opened the courtyard gate, he saw Elder Allison, the Head of Teaching, storming toward him with his staff.
"Oh snap."
Karion's first instinct was to slam the door. But... he couldn't lock the Dean out.
"KARION!!"
Allison didn't waste words. He raised his staff and whacked Karion.
"I told you not to use dirty tricks!" Whack!
"Disrupting other people's classes!" Whack!
"You little..." Whack!
Every sentence came with a physical crit.
The old man looked frail, but he hit like a truck.
Even without magic, Karion was jumping around the yard like a monkey, screaming in pain.
Obviously, Allison heard about Karion's "leeching tour" yesterday. In academia, that's considered a dick move.
"You dare run?!"
Seeing Karion sprint away, Allison's face darkened. He raised his staff, and a massive magic circle appeared in mid-air, elements churning ominously.
HOLY SH*T!
Karion nearly wet himself. He sprinted back, bowing apologetically.
"Elder Allison! I'm sorry! I was wrong! Please don't ult! You'll destroy the dorms!"
Allison wasn't actually going to nuke him. He just wanted to scare the kid.
He cancelled the spell and poked the ground with his staff, fuming.
"How could you be so shameless? Even if you're weak, you're still a teacher! Going to other academies to disrupt classes? Have you no dignity?"
Karion smiled bitterly.
"Elder... I wasn't trying to disrupt... I just wanted to promote academic exchange... maybe my methods were a bit... unconventional..."
"Still making excuses!" Allison glared and scolded him some more.
After a while, the old man sighed deeply.
"It's my fault... I pushed you too hard..."
Karion waved his hands frantically. "No, no... Elder, I..."
"Enough!" Allison unslung a short sword from his back and handed it to Karion.
"This is a magic tool—the Azure Wind Sword. Give it to Mia.
"Even if her magic level is low, a magic weapon might give her a fighting chance in the exam."
Karion froze. He took the sword with both hands.
"Thank you so much!"
Magic weapons are expensive. Normal students never touch them. This was a huge favor.
"I'm just lending it to you!" Allison emphasized. Then he asked, "Do you still have the crystal I gave you yesterday?"
"Yes... of course!"
Karion quickly pulled out the new crystal he just bought.
Thank god I bought a replacement today, or I'd be dead.
Allison nodded. "Give both to Mia. At the very least, let her graduate smoothly!"
Karion placed his hand on his chest. "I promise, Mia will get good grades!"
"Fine. Work hard."
Allison turned to leave.
But after a few steps, he stopped, turned around, and pointed his staff at Karion.
"Regarding yesterday's incident... Write a 10,000-word apology letter. Submit it to the main office in two days!"
Karion stood there, petrified.
10,000 words?!
Are you asking for a novel?!
Allison didn't negotiate. He snorted and walked away.
Red Leaf Academy, Training Grounds.
Karion called Mia over and gave her the items.
The blonde ponytailed girl stared at the Crystal and the Azure Wind Sword with her lake-blue eyes wide open.
"Teacher, this is..."
"Take them. Don't let Elder Allison down."
Mia gripped the items tightly and nodded vigorously. "I will do my best!"
"Good!" Karion put one hand in his pocket, looking cool.
"I called you here not just to give you loot, but to start a Special Training."
"Special Training?" Mia blinked.
"Yes. Targeted training. Let's analyze your build—strengths and weaknesses."
Karion pulled out a notebook. He had detailed stats on all his students.
"First, your strengths. Since your teacher (me) is a theory god, your theoretical knowledge is S-tier!"
Mia nodded. She was confident in this.
Karion held up three fingers.
"Besides theory, you have three other buffs: High Stamina, Massive Spirit Pool, and High Wind Affinity."
"These stats aren't just 'good'. They are broken. Even some Intermediate Magisters don't have your raw stats."
(Mage Ranks: Tier 1-2 Beginner; 3-4 Intermediate; 5-6 Advanced; 7-8 Archmage; 9 Saint. Above that is God-tier.)
"The reason you have these stats is because Red Leaf is poor, so you had to grind physical and mental stats manually.
"But this led to a severe imbalance. Now, let's talk about your nerfs."
Mia listened intently.
"First, besides Wind, your affinity for other elements is trash. This means you only have a Wind Channel open. Your spell pool is too small."
"Second, even though you opened a Wind Channel, you can't use it effectively. And you definitely haven't formed an Elemental Vortex."
Normally, a mage's progression goes like this:
Meditation: Boost Spirit, sense mana.
Open Channel: Draw mana into the body through a channel (usually on hands). Once you do this, you're an Apprentice.
Form Vortex: Create a storage space at the end of the channel to store mana permanently. This is the hardest part. If you do this, you're a real Magister.
Mia was stuck at Step 2.