Kapitel 600: Chapter 600: My Daughter is a Genius...
The capital city was expensive, a fact that Lin Fan, accustomed to a life of farming, found shocking. He could hardly believe the exorbitant prices.
He settled Ke Lan into an inn, securing a rather luxurious room for her. Thinking that she would soon be living at the academy, and considering this was her first time in the capital, he wanted her to have a comfortable stay. He booked a simple room for himself, content with basic accommodations, and reminded Ke Lan to rest well.
Leaving the inn, he headed towards the Royal Academy.
The Royal Academy was the finest institution in the Lan Yuan Empire. Its teachers were all royal instructors, held to extremely rigorous standards. Strength was a factor, of course, but they were also required to possess a certain level of pedagogical expertise. It wouldn't do to have powerful instructors who lacked teaching experience; the students they produced would inevitably be subpar.
The academy was equally stringent in its student selection process. The high tuition fees were one hurdle. More importantly, however, was the student's inherent talent.
Mages were always in high demand, but their profession also placed the greatest emphasis on magical aptitude. Upon enrollment, all students underwent a magical aptitude test to determine their primary school of magic.
"Halt! Who goes there? No one but students and teachers of the Royal Academy are permitted entry," a gatekeeper, an old man, blocked Lin Fan's path.
"I've brought my daughter to enroll," Lin Fan explained.
'Truly worthy of being the Royal Academy,' he thought. 'Even the gatekeeper is formidable.' While not as powerful as the dragons he had consumed, the old man's strength was considerable, ranking him among the few truly strong individuals Lin Fan had encountered in this world.
The gatekeeper said, "The enrollment period for the academy has already passed. To come now… have you not been paying attention to the Royal Academy's announcements?"
He found it odd. Everyone knew the Royal Academy's enrollment dates were fixed. He couldn't believe someone was unaware.
"I didn't know," Lin Fan shook his head. "Does that mean she can't enroll?"
He had brought his daughter across mountains and rivers, enduring a long and arduous journey, only to be told that the enrollment period had closed. Ke Lan would be heartbroken. And he, as a father, would feel the weight of his failure. If he had only inquired properly, this wouldn't have happened.
"That's generally the case, yes. However, the academy has a policy for exceptional talents. If your daughter possesses such a talent, she might be admitted on special consideration. Does she have any such abilities?"
The old gatekeeper had seen countless parents harboring hopes for their children, convinced of their genius. But reality often proved harsh. True geniuses were rare.
"She's very intelligent."
"Every child is intelligent."
"She's very sensible."
"Don't jest with me."
"Well… she possesses immense strength. She can lift very, very heavy objects."
"Haha… and that constitutes a talent?"
"Objects weighing eighteen hundred jin are easy for her to lift."
"And that's what you… what? What did you just say?" The gatekeeper stared at Lin Fan in disbelief. His first reaction was to dismiss it as impossible.
Eighteen hundred jin? Was this a joke?
Setting aside other considerations, mages were known for their physical frailty. Warriors, on the other hand, possessed great strength, but even a three-star warrior couldn't lift eighteen hundred jin by sheer force. Beastkin were renowned for their strength, but even they, without training, couldn't achieve such a feat.
Lin Fan repeated, "I said my daughter can lift very heavy objects. Eighteen hundred jin is quite simple for her."
The gatekeeper pondered this. Could it be innate divine strength? And in a young girl, no less? That was truly remarkable. If she also possessed magical aptitude, she might become a rare and powerful magic swordsman, a type unseen for ages.
"Are you certain of this?" the gatekeeper asked.
Lin Fan calmly replied, "Of course, I'm certain. I never lie."
The old man scrutinized Lin Fan, trying to discern the truth behind his words. He couldn't detect any deception. The man's expression was serious, unlike those who fabricated tales.
"If this is true, she can be admitted by special exception. Bring your daughter back tomorrow. I'll prepare the necessary testing equipment. If your claim holds true, your daughter is destined to become a renowned figure on the continent," the old man declared.
Lin Fan smiled. "Thank you. I'll take my leave then."
The old man watched Lin Fan depart, a nagging feeling that something was amiss. Dismissing the thought, he noted Lin Fan's attire, typical of a farmer. If his daughter truly possessed such exceptional abilities, it would be a remarkable story.
Though just a gatekeeper, the old man was powerful enough to be a Royal Academy instructor. He chose to remain a gatekeeper for a simple reason: he didn't want the Royal Academy to miss out on any potential geniuses.
In a situation like this, a younger gatekeeper, seeing that the enrollment period was over and the applicant was a commoner, would likely dismiss them. A mere commoner claiming their child was a genius? Preposterous!
He had become the gatekeeper to prevent such occurrences. He, too, had faced a similar situation in his youth. If not for the then-dean happening to pass by and recognizing his talent, he might have remained obscure forever.
Now, he was deeply intrigued by this farmer's daughter. He wondered if the claims were true.
At the inn, Lin Fan said, "I inquired about the Royal Academy. Tomorrow, she'll undergo an entrance assessment." He was packing his belongings. He had little interest in gold; it was for Ke Lan's education in the capital.
The prices here were astronomical, far exceeding those of the village. He didn't want Ke Lan to struggle financially during her studies, to see others with what she lacked and be ridiculed. As her father, he couldn't allow that.
Ke Lan was now grown, a sensible and frugal young woman. He could trust her with the money.
He approached Ke Lan and softly asked, "Are you nervous?"
"Yes," she replied.
"Don't worry. Just be yourself. I believe in you," Lin Fan encouraged her. He had faith in Ke Lan's success. After all, he had nurtured her. His method? Simply accompanying her with her studies every day.
Comforted by his words, Ke Lan took a deep breath and relaxed. She reminded herself to strive, to give her all. She wanted to achieve something, to provide a better life for her father, a life beyond the fields.
The next morning, at the Royal Academy, the old gatekeeper saw Lin Fan approaching and his gaze settled on Ke Lan. His first thought was, 'Is this girl really his daughter? They don't look alike.' It was just a fleeting observation, nothing more.
"You've arrived," the gatekeeper greeted them. He, too, hoped the girl lived up to her father's claims. Otherwise, he would have to regretfully inform them that she couldn't join the academy.
Lin Fan approached him, smiling. "This is my daughter, Ke Lan. We've come for the test."
The old man nodded. "Follow me."
As they walked onto the campus, Ke Lan looked around in awe. The academy was elegant and grand. She had thought the city's buildings were impressive, but the Royal Academy was on a different level.
Occasionally, students passed by, clad in uniform, some carrying magic staves, others wielding swords. Their attire spoke of nobility. Compared to them, Ke Lan felt like an ugly duckling.
Soon, the gatekeeper led them to the testing area. Everyone there recognized the old man and greeted him respectfully before returning to their tasks.
Inside the room, a crystal floated in mid-air. Its purpose was clearly related to the testing process.
"Place your hand on the magic crystal. We'll first assess your magical affinity. The higher the affinity, the more suited you are to a particular school of magic. Sixty is the passing mark. Below sixty indicates low affinity, unsuitable for a mage," the old man explained.
The Royal Academy was renowned throughout the Lan Yuan Empire and held a prestigious position among academies across the continent. Many students from other empires sought to study magic here. The academy's enrollment standard was seventy. This score correlated with a student's potential for growth.
A score of seventy or higher indicated the possibility of reaching the seven-star mage level with sufficient effort. Below sixty, the limit was typically three-star mage. Limited potential wasn't worth cultivating.
"Good luck!" Lin Fan smiled, encouraging Ke Lan. He believed she would succeed.
"Mm," Ke Lan nodded firmly. Despite her nervousness, she didn't want to disappoint her father. For herself, and for him, she had to succeed.
Summoning her courage, she extended her hand and touched the crystal. Her heart pounded in her chest. She yearned for success.
The magic crystal glowed.
The old man observed the figures appearing on the crystal with surprise.
"Earth affinity: 60."
"Fire affinity: 65."
"Huh!" He was astonished. "Water affinity: 99. Just one point shy of perfect."
But that wasn't the most shocking part. He had never encountered someone with passing scores in all seven elements. At least, not to his knowledge.
If she qualified in all seven… was she a genius or simply average? He couldn't quite grasp it.
"Excellent. Truly a genius. A water affinity of 99. With dedication, surpassing the Grand Mage level and achieving Saint Mage status is within reach."
"You were right. Your daughter is indeed a genius. Her affinity meets the Royal Academy's criteria for special admission." The old man nodded at Lin Fan, still pondering the seven passing scores.
Incredible. He would have to consult ancient texts. Would she major in water magic and minor in the other six?
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
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Stein