At that moment, a late student came running from the entrance and, hoping for the best, stood behind Zhu Qiu.
However, when that Dragon clan member walked over, he unhesitatingly sent the tardy student away.
“Sorry, you’ve missed the registration deadline. Come back next year.”
Before the student could plead, he was pulled away by the guards.
Zhu Qiu quietly complained to Yiluo Enya in front of her: “This academy’s teachers are way too strict. Just being a little late and they make someone wait a whole year. Feels like life inside won’t be easy.”
“It’s indeed strict, but we’ll take it one step at a time,” Yiluo Enya replied.
The red-haired Dragon clan member walked to the side of the middle of the line and shouted to the front: “All first-year freshmen, welcome to the First Academy of the Dragon Clan! Once you enter this academy, you are the strongest. Here, you will achieve a brilliant life.”
Zhu Qiu couldn’t help but smile.
‘Enter the academy and you’re the strongest? Isn’t that just empty promises? And can an academy really guarantee a brilliant life? It’s mainly about actual combat.’
“Hmm—”
The red-haired Dragon heard a commotion from the back rows and quickly walked over to Zhu Qiu, a fireball swirling in his hand.
“Freshman, do you have any complaints about the school?”
“No, no.”
Zhu Qiu shook her head.
She didn’t want to offend a teacher on her first day; that would make the days ahead difficult.
“Does anyone else have a problem?” the red-haired Dragon called to the front.
The entire crowd was silent.
“Since there are no problems, let’s officially begin the entrance test.”
He walked to the front, had a table brought over, and ordered a transparent crystal as thick as an adult’s arm to be set on the table.
With the preparations nearly done, the red-haired Dragon began his announcement.
“Hello everyone, I am the principal of the First Academy of the Dragon Clan. You may call me Weida. I am 8,000 years old, a Fire Dragon, Tier 7.”
Upon hearing the principal’s words, the crowd started stirring and murmuring.
“Wow, Tier 7! That’s Tier 7, so impressive.”
“I want to become as strong as the principal one day.”
“Don’t you think the principal is handsome?”
Yiluo Enya couldn’t help turning to Zhu Qiu to discuss: “The principal is 8,000 years old? He’s so old, why isn’t he dead yet?”
“Huh?”
Zhu Qiu’s mind didn’t process for a moment.
How could such low emotional intelligence come out of an elf’s mouth?
‘So that’s the point? 8,000 years old… seems… indeed a bit old? I’m not sure.’
She had a vague concept of Dragon clan ages, only knowing that Zhu Xiaxia was over 4,000 years old but still looked young.
‘Maybe 8,000 is only middle-aged for Dragons? I don’t know about others, but humans definitely can’t live to 8,000—that’s 80 reincarnations.’
Yiluo Enya blinked: “You know, in our Elf race, 8,000 years is no longer within the age range for elves. It should be considered an ancient tree. I didn’t expect your Dragon clan to be so long-lived. I’m so envious.”
“I envy it too,” Zhu Qiu casually replied.
“You envy it too? What do you mean, aren’t you also a Dragon?”
Yiluo Enya stared at Zhu Qiu like she was looking at an idiot.
Zhu Qiu quickly realized and answered, “Oh, right, right.”
“Then how old are you?”
Yiluo Enya continued.
“Me? I…”
Zhu Qiu thought about it.
‘Should I include my age as a human, or only the time since I became a Dragon?
But within the scope of Dragon clan ages, it seemed about the same anyway.
One was 18 years, the other less than half a year?’
“I’m 18.”
“18, huh. I didn’t expect you to be an adult already. I’m also 18.”
Yiluo Enya was a bit speechless, though she had previously thought Zhu Qiu was a minor.
“You’re 18? I thought you were underage.”
“Silence!”
At that moment, Principal Weida slammed the table and shouted loudly.
Beside Weida, an assisting Dragon quickly straightened the crystal on the table.
If this thing fell and shattered, that would be half a year’s salary gone.
“Now, we’ll begin the entrance test. Let me explain why our academy is called the First Academy of the Dragon Clan, not the First Magic Academy of the Dragon Clan or something else. Because the academy teaches not only magic, but also alchemy, swordsmanship, and other types of skills for you to freely choose. However, the academy specializes in magic, so I recommend you choose magic.”
Zhu Qiu found Weida’s explanation very hypocritical.
‘He says free choice, then says magic is best and recommends magic. Might as well just rename it Magic Academy. It feels like the others are just padding!’
But since she was already here, it would be a shame to leave without trying.
She might as well give it a shot.
Weida walked up to the Dragon standing at the very front, pointed at the crystal on the table, and said: “This crystal can test your magic talent and element affinity. Those who pass will be assigned suitable teachers and classes. Those who fail can go study something else or choose to drop out.”
Zhu Qiu couldn’t hold back anymore.
‘My guess was right. Only magic is valued here.’
Weida then walked from front to back through the entire line, then returned to the crystal.
He gestured for the first student to place his right hand on the crystal and then instructed him to release his magic power.
“Then let’s begin.”
Magic power was innate to the Dragon clan.
Releasing it was as easy as drinking water or eating, so basically any Dragon could pass the test.
However, since there was only one crystal and everyone was taking their time, the line was long.
Zhu Qiu and Yiluo Enya were at the very end, so they just had to wait.
Out of boredom, Zhu Qiu asked Yiluo Enya why she had come here.
“Yiluo Enya, why did you come to the Dragon clan as an exchange student? Don’t you elves have similar schools? Wouldn’t the environment there be better for you?”
“Actually, I was planning to study at home. But my mother said the Dragon clan academy had an exchange spot, and she claimed the teaching here was better than in the Elf race, so I came.”
“Huh? That’s it?”
Zhu Qiu couldn’t understand.
‘Leaving home, traveling thousands of miles to study in another country, and she had just become an adult. Was it worth it?’
Maybe it was a difference in perspective.
If it were Zhu Qiu, she would definitely stay and study locally.
“By the way, looking at your room yesterday, it seemed like it was just set up that day, right? You’re not a local, are you?”
Yiluo Enya asked.
“Yes, I’m from another district of the Dragon clan. It’s a bit far from here.”
“I see. Still, thanks for letting me stay yesterday.”
Yiluo Enya took Zhu Qiu’s hand and gave a cute smile.
“N-no problem.”
Zhu Qiu’s face flushed, and she quickly turned away.