50 - Academic Points!

Academic Points

Jon stood motionless in front of a display window, his initial excitement having faded. He stared intently at the armor set before him, and a thought crossed his mind: 'Is this really right?' Displayed meticulously in front of him was a rank A armor set.

**[Silver Chestplate: Rank A]**

- **Strength:** +10

- **Agility:** +8

- **Endurance:** +15

**[Silver Leggings: Rank A]**

- **Strength:** +6

- **Agility:** +8

- **Endurance:** +10

**[Silver Boots: Rank A]**

- **Strength:** +2

- **Agility:** +2

- **Endurance:** +5

**[Silver Gloves: Rank A]**

- **Strength:** +2

- **Agility:** +2

- **Endurance:** +5

**Description:** A meticulously forged protective set, with a special self-adjusting enchantment.

**[Value: 150,000 Points]**

- Sold as a set only.

Jon pondered, 'So this is why the arena offers so many points as rewards.' He began to grasp the scale of the rewards. This set was standard for many; nearly all third-year students already had a complete Rank A set by the end of their second year. The wealthier students and those of noble lineage, on the other hand, entered their first year already equipped with items of this caliber. 'And here I was, thinking my sword was an unmatched ace...' With that thought, Jon walked away, leaving the equipment store behind.

Jon wandered absentmindedly, his eyes drifting without truly focusing on any particular item. His thoughts were centered on how to accumulate more points. However, no matter how hard he tried, no concrete strategy came to mind. He was about to leave when, in the magic techniques section, a modest book caught his eye. Below it, a small tag indicated the price: 1,000 points.

'Elemental Harmony: Convergence.' Silently reading the title, Jon wondered about the price discrepancy. After all, other lower-ranked techniques still had astronomical prices, reaching into the hundreds of thousands.

**[Elemental Harmony: Convergence]**

**Description:**

Convergence is an esoteric method aimed at channeling and merging mana saturated with natural elements through the practitioner. By mastering this technique, a mage can enhance their connection and harmony with magical elements.

Intrigued, Jon approached the attendant. "Excuse me, is the price of this book correct?" He wanted to make sure it wasn't a mistake.

The clerk cast a disinterested glance at the book and replied, "Yes, it's a basic technique and, for many, of no real value."

"Why 'of no value'?" To Jon, the technique's potential was evident. Imagine having refined control over the elements, creating a compressed air barrier around oneself as a protective shield, or enhancing one's reflexes through electric impulses in the nervous system. The applications seemed limitless.

"I take it you're new to the world of magic, aren't you?" The clerk gave Jon an assessing look, and sensing his genuine confusion, continued, "Why would anyone spend time on a generic elemental technique when they could master a specific attack or defense technique with the element already incorporated?"

Seeing that Jon still looked puzzled, she sighed and shook her head, thinking he might be a lost cause. "If you intend to buy the book, make up your mind. I have other tasks to attend to." Her voice carried a hint of impatience. In the clerk's mind, it was obvious the technique wasn't worth the investment, and she thought Jon should have realized that just by reading its description.

'I get it. I realize I'm assessing this technique through the lens of my knowledge from Earth. To the inhabitants of Aeloria, mastering the elements might seem pointless unless one is crafting a new spell from scratch.' Jon wasn't taken aback by the woman's explanation, but by the sudden realization that his advanced knowledge allowed him to see hidden potential in the technique. After all, true magic isn't just about a massive fireball consuming everything or a wind blade slashing indiscriminately.

"I've decided to take the book. My apologies for any inconvenience." Jon picked up the volume, added it to his inventory, paid, and quickly left the academy's market wing. Planning to dedicate the afternoon to studying magic, he knew the book would be a valuable addition. Besides, he still had to meet up with Elara.

Entering the dining hall, Jon was immediately enveloped by the warmth of camaraderie. His friends, already gathered and deep in laughter and conversation, were a sight he was still getting used to. Friendship was relatively new territory for him.

"Hey, Jon! You're quite the daredevil, aren't you?" Nortis, with a broad grin, waved for Jon to join them. Once Jon settled in, Nortis continued, boasting proudly, "I won 16 out of my 20 duels! Isn't that amazing?"

Elija, with a more serious and concerned look, chimed in, "I think you're drawing too much attention, Jon. With your boldness, you'll end up on the snobbish nobles' radar." There was sincerity in his words, a genuine friend's warning. Yet, beneath the surface, a hint of jealousy was detectable. Rumors about Jon and Elara were already circulating, and Elija, having been gently turned down by Serena, felt somewhat out of place.

Trying to change the subject, Elija turned to Serena, seeking some kind of connection. "Serena, how was your morning?" he asked, attempting to sound casual.

The young elf, always shy, replied with a slight blush, "It was... good, I guess."

Elara, with a mischievous smile, nudged Jon, "So, how did your shopping adventure go? I bet you came back empty-handed, right?" She teased, imagining Jon had been defeated in the merchant wing.

Jon, in turn, smiled and pulled out the book he had purchased. "Actually, I found something intriguing. A technique called 'Elemental Harmony: Convergence'. It looks promising."

Seeing the book Jon had chosen, Elara and Elija exchanged puzzled glances. Elara, raising an eyebrow, inquired, "You actually spent your points on that? Seems a bit... basic, don't you think?"

Elija, leaning in to examine the book's title more closely, added, "Elemental Harmony: Convergence? Never heard of it. Sounds like a foundational technique. Why would you invest time and points in something like this when there are so many other advanced techniques available?"

Jon, sensing his friends' surprise, replied with a confident smile, "Sometimes, the most basic things can hold the greatest potential. I believe that with the right knowledge, this technique could be the key to unlocking abilities we can't even imagine."

Elara, still skeptical but intrigued, asked, "And what exactly does this technique teach?"

Jon, flipping through the book, explained, "It's about channeling and converging element-rich mana through the body. The idea is to enhance affinity and attunement with magical elements. It might seem basic, but I believe that with the right application, it could be revolutionary."

Elija, still a bit wary but respecting Jon's decision, nodded, "Well, if you believe in it, there must be something special about this technique. I'm curious to see what you'll do with it."

Elara, with a soft smile, added, "I just hope you know what you're doing, Jon. Anyway, in the end, it's just a basic technique."