In addition to maintaining a routine of study between Master Mosido's residence and his own dormitory, Sain found time to visit the public library of the Black Magic Academy. His academy points were minimal, barely a few. This scarcity stemmed from his decision to focus on learning after becoming a disciple of Master Mosido, ceasing to take on academy tasks. He had spent the points he accumulated in previous years on the Fireball spell and other knowledge exchanges.
Thinking back to why he chose Fireball as his introductory magic, it was simply because it was the most powerful of all basic spells, and his own physique was well-suited for the fire element.
Returning to the public library, Sain aimed to test his mental and magical power levels. Although Master Mosido had a crystal ball for such tests, the master had recently been busy with Senior Brother Zoro on an experimental project, and Sain hadn't seen him for several days. Hence, he opted not to disturb him.
The public library was vast—a colossal five-story structure. Countless magical books of various kinds were housed within, and when Sain first visited the library, he had marveled, pondering whether he would ever finish reading all the books it contained.
As the academy's public classes were not in session, a fair number of apprentices were present in the library. If the Abyssal Street was a forbidden battleground, then the library was a space where even magic was strictly prohibited. Anyone who dared to fight within the library would surely meet with fatal consequences, regardless of their connections.
While dark wizards were notoriously unruly and devoid of moral restraint, they at least maintained a universal respect for knowledge as practitioners of magic. Countless magical runes were inscribed in the library, serving not only to protect the space but also to neutralize threats at crucial moments.
The library was eerily quiet, with hardly a whisper as Sain made his way toward the eastern corridor. At the end of the corridor, he found a line of around twenty apprentices waiting. At the front of the line was a transparent crystal ball, about the size of a human head, mounted on a special wooden stand.
As Sain arrived, a stir spread among the apprentices in line. Although there were no loud exclamations, a dozen apprentices who had been towards the back of the queue instinctively stepped back to make way for him.
There was no concept of fairness at the Black Magic Academy. The apprentices stepping aside were all newcomers, having spent less than three years at the academy. Having learned the ropes of survival over the years, these youngsters, who were evidently younger than Sain, were acutely aware of the academy's survival rules. Those lacking savvy typically fell by the wayside within their first couple of years, either crushed by irritable dark wizards or betrayed by more powerful apprentices.
It was not uncommon to see corpses or dismembered limbs scattered about the academy. There was also a tacit rule: as long as you acted without attracting the attention of the overseers scattered throughout the academy, you were not violating the regulations. This cold and brutal reality highlighted the survival-of-the-fittest jungle law that governed the dark arts.
Facing the retreating dozen apprentices, Sain maintained an impassive expression as he stepped into the line ahead of them. There was no need for him to show humility; any display of courtesy might have frightened the young apprentices, making them suspect that he harbored ill intentions toward them.
In the Black Magic Academy, it was commonplace for higher-level apprentices to bully their lower-ranking counterparts. This was especially true for female apprentices whose gender placed them at a disadvantage. Many newcomers, much like Sain had a decade ago, were no more than six or seven years old, virtually defenseless.
Unfortunately, many unscrupulous individuals thrived on this dynamic. It wasn't just females who were targeted; male apprentices could also fall prey to the predatory tendencies of stronger ones. Given Sain's handsome features and luxurious golden hair, if not for Lina's timely intervention ten years ago, swearing "sovereignty" over him, he might have faced similar predicaments.
Sain stepped over the trembling figures of the younger apprentices, now standing before the middle front of the line. There were eight individuals ahead of him, including two intermediate apprentices and six low-level ones.
The presence of Sain caught the eye of one of the low-level apprentices directly in front of him, who turned to glance back nervously. This brief interaction caused the young apprentice to shudder, prompting him to quickly lower his head and shuffle back behind Sain.
In reality, the distinction of strength and status among apprentices of the same level wasn't rigid. Sain hadn't intended to cut in line, but he was taken aback by how readily this apprentice yielded.
The low-level apprentice who had stepped aside was named Kosla. He knew Sain, having been present the day Sain eliminated Ilk. However, the real reason Kosla acted so proactively was due to Sain's further reputation of causing a ruckus in Abyssal Street shortly after Ilk's demise, dispatching Scarface Chock among others. Given the substantial deeds Sain had accomplished without facing any repercussions, and now appearing so openly in the public library, Kosla recognized that Sain was not someone he wanted to provoke.
Apprentices who survived for years at the Black Magic Academy were not fools; Kosla was wise enough to avoid unnecessary conflict over something as trivial as queueing.
Sain himself did not mind, but such timidness among apprentices was not unique to Kosla. He could only accept the situation quietly.
To Sain's surprise, once Kosla initiated the remnant path, Sain swiftly moved up in line. In less than half a minute, he had reached the second position. The efficiency was impressive—this was the advantage of power and influence.
A dark-skinned intermediate apprentice, having finished his crystal ball test, departed from the line and cast a few lingering glances at Sain. The low-level apprentice before Sain appeared worried, squirming in discomfort under the scrutiny.
His hand was already resting on the crystal ball, making it inconvenient for him to withdraw now. Moreover, as an intermediate apprentice, letting Sain, a low-level apprentice, take his place in line would not bode well for his reputation.
In the Black Magic Academy, reputation sometimes equated to life. Only by presenting oneself as more assertive and formidable could one avoid being bullied.
Fortunately, Sain remained silent throughout. After the anxious low-level apprentice hastily completed the test, he hurried off, leaving Sain unaware of whether or not the apprentice had grasped his results.
Ignoring the already departed intermediate apprentice, Sain approached the transparent crystal ball, took a deep breath, and extended his right hand toward it.