22 Hey!

Linfel and Alvin came out of the Diagram, giving the next students their chance to check their compatibilities as well. They didn't care about it anymore, though. They had to think about the consequences of that result. 

Linfelia quickly approached them and also whispered. '71%! Linfel, how did you do that? No, first of all, what about that 99%? Was that real?!'

Linfel nodded. 'It was real. I was so concerned that my compatibility with Alvin wouldn't be even a single percent that I did my all to match his soul waves' frequency and merge our magic energies. I truly didn't expect I would be able to achieve a 99% compatibility.'

Alvin added. 'I had to ask him to tone it down; that's why you saw 71%. I wanted it to be much, much lower. Unfortunately, that was Linfel's Limit if he wanted to have a fixed compatibility number. He couldn't go lower than that without exposing himself.'

Alvin didn't want to stay there anymore, so he quickly dragged the two. 'Anyway, let's get out of here. Linfel also has his own test to become an independent Familiar, so it is better to get over with it.'

However, before they even had the chance to give a few more steps, Linfel's group was quickly surrounded. 

"Bro, that was incredible!" It was one of the students who had tested his MFC before Alvin and Linfel, a guy called Ravio, who was about Alvin's age. "How did you do that? Please, tell me what kind of training you did!"

"This..." Alvin thought about what to answer, but he didn't have the chance before another question came.

"Forget about the training! I want you to tell me what kind of configuration you used when your Familiar's Soul was created! I'm sure it has a lot to do with this result! Can you tell me? I can even pay you some Academy Credits. Hell, I can give you everything I have in my Academy Account!" Her name was Grafria, seeming to be three or four years older than Alvin.

"The... the options?" Alvin still hasn't figured out an excuse for the previous guy...

"What?! Is payment enough?! Then I definitely have much more than this woman," Jumanhi spoke. "I'm not exactly talented or anything, but I'm quite old already. I definitely had time to accumulate quite a few credits."

"Forget them, Alvin," Vohei, the third student to take the test, spoke. "You don't need to tell me anything. Let's be friends instead!"

Alvin looked around as everyone looked back at him. Why are they looking at him? It was Linfel! He was the reason for all of this! Ask him! Alvin then glared at Linfel.

Yet, Linfel was looking away, pretending he wasn't seeing anything. 'You are the master, aren't you? I know nothing...' Linfel whispered in his ear, using his Magic Energy to redirect his voice even though he was looking away.

Alvin felt like giving the wisp a beating, but that wasn't the place or the time. Besides, it was indeed Alvin who suggested they should attempt the Master Familiar Connection, not Linfel. He was indeed more at fault here. 

Linfelia worked with Alvin, both trying to calm down the crowd while they tried to move forward.

Linfel, as Alvin's Familiar, also received many questions, but he only made things worse. That wisp was terrible at finding excuses.

Saimon looked at Alvin and Linfel from the distance. He selected this specific time because he knew none of the other top students had anything planned for the Master Familiar Connection test. It was his chance to take the limelight and receive a commendation, but it was all for nothing. Even his own 'friends' seemed to have forgotten he existed.

Finally, he lost his patience and came forward. "All of you, out of my way."

The other students surroundings Alvin's group heard that and quickly spread open. That left Linfel and Alvin facing Saimon and his emotionless Familiar. "So you two managed to reach 71%, right? That's good. How about a little spar?"

Linfel an Alvin were taken aback. Linfel heard that the academy was all-encompassing. It had everything from normal studying classes up to combat classes. Maguses not only made the most important working force on the Planet, but they were also the strongest defense against other Maguses from other countries. Although there were no wars going on against their country, no one could guarantee it would never happen. That said, the Magus Academies of all nations put absolute top priority on training their maguses for combat as well.

"No, thank you. Goodbye!" Linfel was the very first one to answer and turn around to leave, surprising Alvin and Linfelia. Let alone Saimon.

"Hahaha!" Saimon laughed out loud. "And here I was wondering how good a young Magus with a 71% compatibility was. In the end, it is useless. The master had to have his Familiar speak for him."

The Wisp indeed had no common sense, but he wasn't an idiot. He heard that and simply whispered in Alvin's ears. 'It is a trap. Don't fall for it.'

Alvin understood that as well. Yet, he was young, and being provoked like that wasn't exactly easy to ignore. 

"We accept!" Yet, it wasn't Alvin who answered. Instead, it was Linfelia. She just couldn't take Saimon humiliating her Master.

Alvin looked at her angry expression and sighed. Indeed, his Familiar wasn't Linfel, it was Linfelia. If he truly had to fight, it was only right to use Linfelia instead. First of all, they had been together for much longer, so Alvin was indeed stronger with her than Linfel. Alvin didn't even know how to go around if he tried to fight while connected to Linfel to start with.

Saimon narrowed his eyes. Linfelia obviously wasn't the Familiar Alvin acquired 71% compatibility. "Are you telling me you got two familiars with over 70% compatibility?"

One of his 'friends' quickly shook his head. "No, young master Saimon. This other Familiar is already registered under Alvin's name on the academy's website. Their compatibility was only 43% at the start of this year. I highly doubt they got one or two extra percent since then, and two percent is already a stretch."

"Hmph!" Saimon snorted. "What is this, a joke? I don't have time to fight trash."

Linfelia dropped her head while Alvin gritted his teeth. Linfelia was very important to him, so he couldn't hold back anymore. 

However, just as he was about to accept the challenge with Linfelia, another voice echoed behind Saimon. "Indeed, they should not waste their time with trash like you, Saimon."

Saimon's expression turned darker. He turned around, about to retaliate, but he soon saw who it was. A young woman, followed by several bodyguards, entered the room. There wasn't anyone there who didn't know who that girl was. Yet, no one expect the wisp's next words either.

"Hey, it's Alvin's wife." Linfel couldn't help but comment.