The headmaster clapped happily. “The split minds technique! Never would I think that a child as young as you could master it to such a level! The old fogies at the formations guild would bend over backwards to have you as a disciple!”

Dyon smiled lightly. He already had a master, he wasn’t in the market for another. But, he didn’t ruin the mood by saying something like that.

“Headmaster, do you not have an array alchemy guild?”

A complicated look flashed across the features of Ri’s father. “This… It’s been a long time since anyone has accepted array alchemy as the true form of those two practices…”

Dyon frowned. He had heard Uncle Ail complain about this on multiple occasions, but, he didn’t think it would be such a big problem.

Ri’s father, having seemingly read Dyon’s mind, continued, “truth is, many are going with the flow of things. Someone from a long time ago decided that the two crafts were better kept separate, and they taught their disciples who then taught their disciples.

“From your question, I assume you already have a master and that this master appreciates array alchemy in its truest form. Maybe only someone with an innate aurora like you could turn that around.”

Dyon nodded, appreciating his encouragement.

“Ah, I’m sorry senior, I haven’t learned your name.”

Ri’s father laughed, “No, no, that’s due to my own rudeness. You can call me Uncle Acacia; a friend of my daughter shouldn’t be so formal with me.”

Dyon smiled, he appreciated seniors who didn’t put on airs. And for Uncle Acacia to be so powerful, it spoke to his character.

Ri smiled off to the side, “ALRIGHT! Come on, let’s choose a place for you to stay. You can’t be following me all the time. Although you’d make an adorable puppy, I’ll get tired of you.”

Uncle Acacia and Dyon smiled bitterly, fully understanding Ri’s personality. Uncle Acacia gave Dyon an apologetic look before tossing him a school badge. It was made of a simple oak and had an acacia carved into it with sprinkled colors of red and yellow, but despite its simplicity, it exuded a strange profoundness.

Dyon waved the headmaster goodbye as he was dragged away by Ri.

Uncle Acacia chuckled, walking away.

**

Dyon soon found himself alone in a room, it seemed like Ri was intent on leaving him so he could only let it be. What he found interesting though was the fact that his room was much more aligned towards cultivating than it had been at Focus Academy. Dyon was able to sense defensive formations in the wall, and also a few instant repair formations in case you were strong enough to damage the walls.

‘It’ll be good to practice here. Maybe I should also actually go to class… the standards of a school in a society that has Celestial experts should be top notch… maybe one of my teachers might even be at the saint level!’

Dyon’s main goal, though, was to improve his body cultivation. Before he began tempering his own blood line, he wanted to first boost it with the essence blood he had now, that was the only way to gain the best effects.

‘I guess I’ll have to go to the formation guild eventually to deal with this money issue… although intent fruits are helpful, according to the memories of master, they also hinder later progression. I should avoid using them to learn.’

Although Dyon knew money was important, his curiosity was getting the better of him. He wanted to know what his soul would manifest as.

As per usual, Dyon ignored the set of school robes, opting for his usual sweat pants and walked out of the door.

Almost immediately, he heard the lively chatter of students.

“Did you hear? Elder Flyleaf is holding a lecture soon. If we don’t hurry, we won’t make it in time!”

Dyon raised an eyebrow, intrigued. ‘Do people usually get so excited about learning?’

The enthusiasm swayed Dyon, so he changed his thoughts on finding the cultivation library, and instead followed the flow of students towards a lecture hall on the third floor. Much to his disappointment, the area was already filled with a ridiculous number of students.

‘I might as well sit in the air then…’

Thinking this much, a formation flashed below Dyon’s feet and he slowly raised himself above the crowd.

Dyon noticed a few raised eyebrows and snickers, but he ignored them. Was he supposed to just wade in with the masses when he could avoid it?

“Who is this kid?”

“Doesn’t he understand that only seniors of high stature have the right to be in the air?”

“Using a formation plate to try and circumvent the rules…”

Dyon held his chin in his hand, sitting cross legged. He was much too bored to entertain idiots who wanted to jump on whatever trend they could.

‘People need to really stop assuming that I use array plates all the time. Are they color blind or something?’

“Hey, kid. Get the fuck down from here, or I’ll get you down.”

Dyon didn’t even bother looking over. He hadn’t slept last night, so his eyelids were heavy. Wasted movements annoyed him. With a thought, his eyes flashed with gold, a silencing formation appeared around him.

Being ignored, the senior student who had spoken clenched his jaw in anger.

“It seems he doesn’t respect you too much, senior brother Benes,” a cute girl stood beside the fuming Benes, giggling.

“Would you like me to teach you a lesson senior brother? Wait… he’s human!”

Just as Benes was about to respond to a subordinate of his, the atmosphere quietened significantly as the majestic aura of a senior stifled the students.

Dyon looked up in excitement. ‘This is a Saint?’

Although Dyon noticed Elder Flyleaf frown in his direction, he didn’t mind too much. In an island filled with elves, it wasn’t everyday you saw a human. In fact, it was practically never. The part of the forest Focus Academy used for its trials was just a very small portion of the island and wasn’t a place visited often by elves.

Those that ever stepped out, were killed by higher level beasts they couldn’t handle. Making it to the Elvin city, much less one of its academies, happened rarely. In fact, if it wasn’t for Ri’s knowledge, it would have been very likely that Dyon would have fallen victim as well.