Chapter 21 Exceptional Students
I got out of the shabby store and turned towards Orion.
"How strong is the old man and how did you meet him?" I asked Orion.
The old man easily sensed my aura analysis, which was hard to sense even for 6th circle mages.
Orion pondered for a moment and said:
"I don't know if it is true but the old man said to me that he was 8th circle when he was young."
"So he isn't 8th circle right now?" I asked for confirmation.
"According to the old man's story, his 7th and 8th circles were broken apart by an unidentified mana fiend." Orion said disinterestedly. It seemed to me that he didn't believe the story of the old man.
"Unidentified you say? Do you know what this mana fiend looks like?" I asked because it is hard to cripple an 8th circle mage, so i thought that i would need this information.
"Old man said that it's shapeless like air and uncorporal. It didn't receive any damage by physical attacks and has huge resistance to magical attacks too."
The old man must be attacked by one of the abyss creatures. I wasn't fully sure about this to be honest, but it was highly possible to be attacked by abyss creatures. Because they will descend upon this world fully in a few years.
Well, i didn't have any knowledge regarding there being a stray abyss creature that can cripple an 8th circle mage.
There are many different types of abyss creatures, but every one of them has one common trait, which is their resistance to magic. Some of them have only 1% resistance, and some of them 90% but fortunately there aren't any abyss creatures that are immune to magic according to my knowledge about the novel.
Anyway, i didn't have to think any more of this information. Hence i turned my attention to Orion.
"Orion do you know any good cafe or restaurant, so that we can speak more comfortably." i asked because i needed some information about new students and seniors.
"i know a place, follow me." Orion said and started to walk slowly.
Yawn!
******
Orion led us to a luxurious looking cafe and we entered it.
Orion called a waitress and said something and the waitress led us to a black door.
I looked at Orion questioningly, which he said something about 'don't worry' and opened the door.
In the room, there were a bed and a table with candles. Around the table, there were expensive looking 2 chairs that were placed opposite of each other.
"I said that i wanted some privacy, not a romantic dinner." I said and coldly looked at him.
"This isn't my intention, trust me. We can talk comfortably in this room without worrying about someone listening because in this room there is voice negation magic." Orion waved his hand in front of his face and said.
What Orion said was reasonable, thus i went with that.
"Fair enough, but i am warning you, if you try something stupid you will die painfully."
"I wouldn't dare to. I came here a few times because their beds are comfortable and their rooms are quiet." Orion said and made a sleeping pose.
"Is that so? Anyway, Aria order something for me." I said and handed the menu to Aria.
"Yes master." Aria said, took the menu and went to order something.
"Why don't you choose something yourself and just leave it to your servant?" Orion asked curiously.
"My ice affinity made me cold towards to many things. Thus i usually leave things that i don't like to Aria." I explained calmly.
"Average ice mage usually be more cold, strict or disciplined. Then you are a special case because of your monstrously high affinity to ice." Orion said with a thoughtful expression.
"But is it okay for you to tell me?" Orion asked.
"Everyone can easily find out this if they watch me for 2 days but if someone tries to hurt me through Aria because of your slip of tongue, i will kill you ." i said coldly and poked him with my aura.
"Yes!" Orion said loudly and nodded his head several times because of unknown fear.
We didn't speak anymore and waited for the food.
After a while, Aria came and brought the foods.
"Aria come here." i said and patted my left thigh.
"Master, can you just make chair with ice?"
"It isn't proper to cast magic in a restaurant. So no, come here." I said and patted my left thigh again.
Aria came and sat on my thigh like a child that sits on his father's thigh.
Orion looked at us weirdly and made Aria more embarrassed than usual.
"Orion." i called Orion but Orion didn't say anything and was just looking at us.
"Orion!" I called louder but didn't get his attention.
"ORION!" I practically shouted with a harsh tone.
"What?" Orion woke up from his dazed state.
"Can you tell me about new exceptional students?"
"I can tell but can i ask something first?" Orion asked hesitantly.
"Go on." I said calmly because i knew what would his question be.
"What is your relationship with Aria." Orion said quickly.
"Why are you asking something idiotic? She is my maid and i am her master." i said calmly as if what i said was the most obvious thing.
"Then why is she sitting on you?" Orion asked again.
"Aria feed me when i am not speaking." I turned my face to Aria's and said
"That is the reason." I turned my face back to Orion and said.
Orion sighed with annoyance.
Sigh!
"Anyway there are 4 exceptional students in first years and one of them is you." Orion said and pointed at me dramatically. Maybe he wanted to make a dramatic scene.
Orion coughed fakely.
Ahem!
"First one is Duke Ashtorn's only daughter Alicia Ashtorn. She is a low 5th circle mage with Superior grade Fire, Grand grade Magma and Grand grade Light affinity. These are the only known affinities of Alicia." Orion explained slowly.
I gulped the food in my mouth and talked.
"Tell me their looks and personalities, so that i won't accidentally disrespect them."
"Okay. Alicia has red hair, red eyes and fiery personality. She loves to burn someone or something." Orion said.
'According to the novel Alicia will become a powerhouse that will help Hywel in the future when abyss creatures attacked. Should i seduce her? Nah i just have to threaten her to sign a contract.'
"Second one is Marques Valorin's 3rd child Galan Valorin. He has blue hair and red eyes. He is bipolar with a calm and destructive personality. He is a high 4th circle mage with Superior grade Fire and Water, Medium grade Poison, and Low grade Wind affinities." Orion explained.
'I don't remember anything of Galan. He must be either worthless or he died before the apocalypse but he seems quite valuable as he has 2 superior grade affinity.'
"Third one is Duke Sunwillow's first daughter Flora Sunwillow. She has black hair and black eyes. She is a quiet one with a creepy smile, so usually, no one goes to her side. She is high 4th circle mage with Superior grade Darkness, Grand grade Shadow and Space, and Medium grade Curse affinities." Orion explained slowly.
'In the novel, Flora Sunwillow was villain that dies before the apocalypse. So if i take her to my side, she can be useful. Letting her die would be a waste. She is just an edgy child, so with some education, she will be an excellent mage.'
"Thanks for the information but can you tell me about exceptional senior students?" I asked calmly.
"Sure." Orion agreed pretty quickly and started to tell me some students.
"In the third years we have Duke Ashtorn's adopted son, Hywel Ashtorn." Orion said.
Last few minutes Orion told me some students that worthless but it was finally Hywel's time. I didn't even remember all of the affinities of Hywel.
"Hywel Ashtorn has gray hair, gray eyes. His personality is surprisingly normal, as if his affinity didn't affect his personality at all.
Anyway he is high 5th circle mage with Superior grade Soul, Light and Spirit, Grand Grade Water and Earth, High grade Time and Medium grade Luck affinities." Orion said.
'It is as i remembered. He is overpowered as hell.'
"Is he strong?" i asked.
"Yes. He even bested a 5th year in duel. Though 5th year's mana was restricted to Hywel's level." Orion said.
'It is good. I wanted to confirm Hywel's strength, even if it's in talk. Because i thought that if i am transmigrated in this body, why couldn't someone weak or coward transmigrate in Hywel's body.'
"Alright, this much information is enough. Thank you for your help." I said to Orion.
"Thanks, Aria for your help too but it's time to get up." I said to Aria and gestured for her to get up from my thigh.
Aria got up with a little bit of disappointment.
"Shall we go back? I got everything i needed." I said to Orion and got up.
"Sure." Orion agreed and we went back to the academy.