Chapitre 26: Owen's Limit
The test was not yet over, but the light ball had reached its limit.
Tiny cracks appeared on its surface, spreading rapidly like a spider's web.
The light ball's glow grew increasingly intense, as if to illuminate the entire room.
Finally, after a powerful tremor, the light ball, under the immense pressure of Owen's mind power, shattered completely.
Countless beams of light shot out from the remnants, bursting like magnificent fireworks in the air.
These beams pierced through every corner of the room, lighting it up as if it were broad daylight.
A powerful aura awakened within the Grand Magus Academy, sweeping through like a tempest, imposing an unprecedented sense of oppression on everyone present.
The magi within the Academy were all stirred.
"What's happening? Why are the professors releasing their magical fluctuations?!"
"My god, is someone attacking the Grand Magus Academy?"
"What's going on?"
A commanding voice echoed from the horizon: "Daring to stir trouble in our Grand Magus Academy? Quite the death wish."
Voices swept through the Academy, converging towards the Testing Tower.
Soon, three elderly men with white hair stood before Owen.
Despite their snow-white hair, their faces were ruddy, clearly indicating they were masters of high caliber.
The leader among them, seeing the shattered testing ball, bellowed,
"Who dares to destroy the testing ball, undermining the dignity of my Grand Magus Academy?"
The magus in charge of the test, finally snapping out of his trance, replied,
"Headmaster Leopold, nobody broke the testing ball deliberately. It was him... His mind power burst the testing ball!"
Leopold looked towards Owen, following the direction of the magus's gesture, his expression one of astonishment: "He burst the testing ball?"
Owen, with a graceful bow, replied apologetically, "I'm sorry, I didn't control my power properly."
"I didn't expect the testing ball of your esteemed academy to have such a low capacity... My apologies."
Leopold was taken aback, exchanging glances with the two other powerful magi beside him.
A storm of shock and awe stirred in their hearts.
They knew all too well the working principle of the testing ball - it measured a person's upper limit of mind power.
Whether it was a sage-tier magus or a novice magus, they differed only in the quality and quantity of mind power, but the upper limit of mind power they could cultivate was fixed.
A sage-tier magus tested with the testing ball would result in the light ball flickering seven times.
If it flickered eight or nine times, it indicated that the sage-tier magus theoretically still had room for advancement.
A novice magus, despite having lesser quality and quantity of mind power compared to a sage-tier magus, could also achieve a flicker count of seven after testing.
This indicated that the novice's future achievements could reach or even surpass those of a sage-tier magus.
Simply put, the testing ball measured talent, not the quality or quantity of mind power.
Now, with Owen having burst the light ball, it indicated only one thing —
His magus cultivation talent was beyond the measurement capabilities of the testing ball.
The explosion of the testing ball marked its limit, not Owen's talent limit.
This implied that theoretically, Owen could cultivate through magic to reach divinity!
Realizing the significance of what had just happened, Leopold's expression shifted from stern to amiable:
"Young fellow, what's your name?"
"Owen Douglas, you can call me Owen."
"Hmm?" Leopold's eyes widened, his expression complex as he looked at Owen, "So you're Owen!"
Owen, somewhat surprised, asked, "You know of me?"
Leopold didn't respond to Owen's question. Instead, he addressed the crowd, "Continue with the tests... Owen, come with me."
Leopold then led Owen and Erin into the Grand Magus Academy.
Berkeley, meanwhile, rented a room outside to rest.
Having spent considerable time in Toka and making a good amount of money through his business, he wasn't short on funds.
If needed, he could always sell arcanergy fluid.
...
Upon entering the Grand Magus Academy, Owen was amazed by the sight before him.
An ancient castle stood majestically on a vast expanse of grassland, surrounded by a winding river.
The river was crystal clear, its sparkling waters reflecting the castle's image.
The castle's architecture was quaint and elegant, its stone walls covered in green ivy, as if bearing witness to countless historical changes.
"Headmaster Leopold, it seems you recognize me?" Owen initiated the conversation.
"The saint of dragons, who wouldn't know? I believe some races even have your portraits," Leopold said with a slight shake of his head, clearly acknowledging Owen's identity.
Owen was momentarily taken aback but quickly understood the situation.
During the selection of saints among the various races, everyone was present, and Barlo had publicly supported Owen.
The emergence of a saint among dragons was a significant event.
It was no surprise that he was known to many races.
The Heart of Magus in his possession was even a gift from Eldrich.
Eldrich wouldn't have kept such a matter hidden from the people of the Grand Magus Academy.
Leopold gazed at the serene scenery of the Grand Magus Academy, his mind somewhat in turmoil.
How should he accommodate Owen?
It was a challenging question.
"Saint Owen..."
"Just call me Owen."
"Owen... With your talent, you can choose to study in any department. However, we won't grant you any special privileges, even though you're the saint of dragons."
After a long contemplation, Leopold spoke frankly.
Owen, not surprised, quietly waited for him to continue.
Leopold, as if afraid of being misunderstood, explained,
"I hope you can appreciate our perspective. The Grand Magus Academy is an institute for all races. Admission is based solely on talent."
"If I were to grant you unnecessary privileges just because you're the saint of dragons, I fear it might cause discontent among other students."
"After all, our academy hosts saints from other races too..."
Owen understood and replied with a smile, "I get your point, Headmaster."
Leopold's message was clear: if Owen caused any trouble, the Academy would not show favoritism towards him.
In case of disputes with other races, the Grand Magus Academy would judge the matter fairly and justly.
It was a preemptive move to prevent Owen from misusing his status as the saint of dragons within the Academy.
Barlo had mentioned that he couldn't breach the Grand Magus Academy, but it was not said that the Grand Magus Academy could withstand the combined might of the twelve elder dragons of the dragon race.
Leopold visibly relaxed, a smile forming on his face: "It's good to have a wise saint among us. Didn't Eldrich give you a Heart of Magus? Why did you still participate in the testing?"
Owen gestured for Erin to show the Heart of Magus to Leopold.
Leopold's lips twitched slightly, possibly cursing inwardly.
Handing over the Heart of Magus to a female dragon?
Owen's methods of wooing were indeed extravagant!
However, since the Heart of Magus was originally gifted to Owen, he had full authority over its use, and who he chose to give it to was none of the Grand Magus Academy's concern.
"Since the saint understands the rules of the Grand Magus Academy, you can head to the dormitory building. The Academy doesn't start for another month, so you can go and secure a place now," Leopold reminded him again.
Owen, somewhat surprised, asked, "Secure a room? Doesn't the Academy assign them?"
"Heh, our Academy does allocate dormitories. But that's a 'privilege' for research magi, who choose the path of study over combat. Remember, you must not trouble the research magi."
"Battle magi have their own 'privileges', which involve using their strength to vie for dormitories. The Grand Magus Academy cultivates warriors, not flowers grown in a greenhouse."
A glint of gold flashed in Owen's eyes, edged with a chill.
Leopold, for some reason, felt a slight twitch in his heart:
"Saint, I know dragons possess great physical strength. But here in the Grand Magus Academy, you can only use magic."
Owen's face wore a smile, intrigued by the Academy's survival-of-the-fittest policy.
He liked it.
Seeing the smile on Owen's face, Leopold felt an even more ominous sensation:
"Saint, duels are allowed within the Grand Magus Academy, but killing is not."
A duel meant that one could break arms or legs, but not take another's life in a single strike.
Owen nodded slightly, his anticipation for the life ahead growing:
"Don't worry, Headmaster Leopold. I'll be mindful of my actions."
Following Leopold, the two dragons arrived at the residential area.
The towering cylindrical building, however, didn't seem capable of housing all the students of the Grand Magus Academy.
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