"It's your turn to answer my question now. How did your fireball change direction?"
Jody considered it for a moment. He obviously could not launch into a lecture on atmospheric pressure, so he replied lightly,"After throwing it out, just use wind to guide it. Since you're an all-element adept, Senior, haven't you tried that before?"
Elinor was rendered momentarily speechless. That's right, she thought. Wind can alter the course of fire. How did I never consider that? I've always used wind magic to enhance movement, to cast wind blades for offense, or wind walls for defense. Why did it never occur to me to combine it with other elemental spells…
The realization startled her."Wait. You can use wind magic too?"
Jody thought to himself that wind was simply the movement of air, so the claim was not entirely wrong."You could say that."
"Again with the 'you could say that.' You're hiding quite a few secrets, aren't you?" Elinor said, clicking her tongue. "No wonder Elder Feng and Elder Yin both want my teacher to meet you. You really are something special."
Before Jody could ask anything, Elinor explained further,"You know Elder Feng. Elder Yin is the academy's vice principal, a ninth-rank water mage. As for my teacher, naturally, that would be the academy's headmaster. She rarely stays in one place and seldom appears, so Elder Feng and Elder Yin have been asking me about her whereabouts. And when I heard about you, I wanted to come see you for myself."
A headmaster personally teaching an all-element mage isn't surprising, Jody thought. Then he finally voiced the question that had been lingering in his mind."Senior, you said the vice principal is ninth rank. Then your teacher, the headmaster… is she beyond the ninth?"
"Of course," Elinor lifted her chin slightly. "But that realm is not something you or I can hope to窥探."
That line again… Jody grumbled inwardly.
"Come on," Elinor said, turning away with her hands clasped behind her back. "I acted rashly earlier. Consider this an apology. Lunch is on me."
Jody understood that this was her way of acknowledging him. He did not stand on ceremony and quickly followed.
They sat across from each other with their trays. Jody, of course, was not about to waste the opportunity and immediately launched into a barrage of questions.
"Senior, what rank are you now?""Senior, how do mages level up?""Senior—"
At this point, Elinor's cheeks were puffed out like a hamster's, utterly devoid of the dignified air of a prodigy, as though she feared Jody might steal her food.
Before long, her plate was completely empty. She wiped her mouth and said,"Sorry. I've spent too much time around my teacher. Old habits."
Jody did not rush her, eating slowly bite by bite.
"I'm still a seventh-rank mage," Elinor continued. "As for you, freshmen are usually first rank, though your actual strength is clearly higher. As for advancing, your courses will cover it eventually, but there's no harm in telling you now."
She took a sip of her mana potion and went on,"Mage ranks require formal assessments. Any freshman with magical talent is already considered first rank. The first three ranks are elemental application tests. For example, a fire mage must condense a fireball of a specified minimum size within a time limit and hit a target beyond a designated distance. With your ability, you could probably pass the third-rank assessment after just a few days of study."
In truth, Elinor was still underestimating Jody. Had she seen the fireball he produced before Elder Feng, she would never have said that.
"The first three ranks are collectively known as low-level mages. From the intermediate ranks, fourth through sixth, practical combat assessments are required. The rules are simple. To advance, you must defeat two mages of the rank below you. For instance, if you are a fifth-rank mage seeking promotion to sixth, you must simultaneously face and defeat two fifth-rank mages."
Jody was surprised. He had not expected this lively, playful senior to be of the same rank as his class instructor. And judging by her words, advancing beyond seventh rank was even more demanding than defeating two sixth-rank mages.
"As for mages above the seventh rank," Elinor continued patiently, "the assessment requires defeating two low-level mages plus one martial artist of a rank below you. While martial artists of the same rank may lack a mage's raw destructive power, once a mage is forced into close combat, a martial artist can pose a serious threat."
"Martial artists?" Jody asked again. "What are martial artists?"
Elinor looked at him in surprise."Elder Feng said you came from a remote village, but surely you don't know nothing at all?"
Jody scratched his head awkwardly. Growing up in that village, he truly had little interest in the outside world. After discovering his magical talent, he had only become more reclusive, spending all his time experimenting indoors.
Seeing that Jody remained silent, Elinor showed no impatience and continued explaining.
"In this world, those with magical talent are a minority. The vast majority pursue the martial path. Cultivating as a martial artist has a relatively low entry threshold, though advancing becomes increasingly difficult. Most people struggle just to reach the intermediate stage. High-level martial artists are more numerous than high-level mages, but that's simply due to their larger population. Talent and effort are still indispensable."
As if worried Jody might continue pressing her, she added,"If you want to learn more about this world, including the history and current state of the royal capital, there are records in my teacher's study. You can go there to read them. I'll take you in when the time comes."
Jody's eyes lit up."The headmaster's study? Does that mean the headmaster wants to take me as a disciple?"
Elinor rolled her eyes without mercy."In your dreams. My teacher isn't on campus right now. I only came because Elder Feng mentioned you and piqued my curiosity. That has nothing to do with her."
What's so great about a headmaster anyway, Jody thought. When the time comes, she might be the one begging me.
"Oh, right. At the end of the first term, there will be a magic classification assessment. You must reach at least third rank to continue your studies, or you'll have to repeat the year. Your talent seems decent, but don't get complacent."
"Thank you for the warning, Senior," Jody said. "But what if I want to apply directly for the fourth-rank assessment?"
Jody did not believe he would lose in actual combat to mages of the same rank.
"A freshman applying straight for intermediate rank?" Elinor raised an eyebrow. "That's allowed, though it's rare. First-year students don't receive combat training, and the third-rank mages you'd face in the assessment would all be second-year seniors with combat experience. Still, you can certainly apply."
"Huh?" Jody asked in surprise. "Has any freshman actually attempted the intermediate assessment before? Did they pass?"
Elinor blinked, then casually flicked the blue-streaked lock of hair by her temple. The meaning could not have been clearer.
…Alright. All-element prodigy. You win.Jody fumed silently.