Beneath the names of the academies were listed their specialties, famous wizards, and other details, to help the apprentices make their choice.
"So, we're supposed to pick an academy based on our elemental affinities!"
Leilin Farell nodded. "My elemental affinities are strongest in Shadow and Darkness, then Fire. Plants and the like are out of the question—unless I want to be an apprentice for life!"
"And also..." Leilin took the Wizard Ring from around his neck, where he'd kept it close at all times.
"Chip! Scan the patterns on the ring and compare them with the academy symbols I saw earlier!"
"Ding! Task established. Scanning initiated. Scan complete. Comparing with database..."
"Comparison finished. Similarity levels: Black Bone Forest Academy — 67.3%, Mesopotamia University — 54.4%, Gothic Sage's Cottage — 23.1%..."
"So these three academies are the most likely?"
Leilin stroked his chin. "Judging by the academy descriptions, I recall Mesopotamia University is known for Fire, Plants, and crafting Magical Items. Gothic Sage's Cottage has a low similarity score and isn't renowned for Shadow or Dark System magic either."
"That leaves only Black Bone Forest Academy? Their Dark System spells are the most famous, and their research into the soul is at the forefront among all the academies."
"But Black Bone Forest! That name sounds like something from a mafia or demonic cult in my past life!" Leilin hesitated.
"Someone with Shadow and Darkness affinity like me is probably never going to be close to the light anyway!" After deliberating for a good while, Leilin decided to at least go check it out. He couldn't let a name stand in the way of his own advancement.
"The Black Bone Forest Academy admissions point... I think it's on the east side of the camp!"
Leilin walked for about ten minutes and arrived before a tent constructed from countless white bones. Upon it, large letters were arranged, forming the words "Black Bone Forest Welcomes You!" in a deep, blood-red color that dripped like gore, scaring away many of the surrounding apprentices. Leilin couldn't help but feel speechless.
"Creating such a terrifying scene? Trying to scare people? At least wait until after the contract is signed, otherwise you'll scare all the apprentices away!"
Leilin shook his head and walked into the bone tent.
The moment he stepped inside, a cold, bloody aura surrounded him, making the hairs on his body stand on end.
"Hehehe... waited so long, finally one came!"
"Where? Who's speaking?" Leilin startled.
"My apologies! You stepped on my hand!" The voice came from beneath Leilin's foot, making him jump.
He then realized his shoe was planted firmly on a withered, skeletal hand. Leilin quickly hopped back. "Sorry, sir!"
"It's fine, but could you move your foot? It's on my right foot now!"
Leilin then saw that the floor of the tent was uneven and littered with scattered bones, which he'd stepped on without noticing.
As Leilin retreated, several withered hands and feet quickly gathered together, assembling themselves into a humanoid skeleton.
Upon closer inspection, the skeleton's surface was covered in a thin layer of skin stretched over the bones, and within its skull, two green flames flickered in its eye sockets—a truly horrifying sight.
"My apologies, sir!" Leilin swallowed hard and quickly bowed in apology.
"No matter!" The white jawbones clattered, producing a human voice. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Professor Duolote of the Black Bone Forest Shadow System. You may call me 'Duolote'!"
"Honored Lord Duolote, greetings!" Leilin bowed again.
"You've come here hoping to join our Black Bone Forest Academy?" The skeletal Duolote produced a black robe from seemingly nowhere, draped it over its body, which put Leilin at ease.
"Before that, I would like to see Black Bone Forest's rules for apprentices."
"Very well!" Duolote pulled a dusty parchment from behind its back and handed it to Leilin.
"According to the ancient covenant, after you choose our Black Bone Forest Academy, you will receive basic course instruction, a set of elementary Meditation Methods, five years of residency rights, with free accommodation and meals. Furthermore, we permit you to exchange knowledge with various instructors by paying in Magic Stones or other compensation..."
Duolote kept talking, and Leilin scanned the text rapidly, using the Chip to cross-reference everything.
He found that everything Duolote said matched the parchment. In terms of these basic provisions, the academies were pretty much the same.
What truly shocked Leilin was the Chip's feedback. Although it still couldn't scan the being before him, the incidental Field fluctuations emanating from Duolote indicated a strength far beyond the three white-robed wizards from the carriage.
"I understand the basics. What is the fee required to enter Black Bone Forest Academy?"
"Thirteen Magic Stones, or items of equivalent value!" Duolote stated.
"I'll pay with this!" Leilin made up his mind and took the Wizard Ring from around his neck.
"It seems you have an interesting little trinket!" The green flames in Duolote's eye sockets flared brighter.
The skeletal hand took the ring, rubbed it in its palm, and produced what looked like a magnifying lens for a closer inspection.
"Hmm... a very interesting object. It's been quite some time since I've seen a pattern like this!"