Geometric Mage: First Spell, Circle

He did not have any money, actually. All he possessed were the unused Mana Cores he had collected in the tower and from killing the golems.

A moment later, dozens and dozens of Mana Cores appeared on the desk, their levels ranging from Bronze 1 to Bronze 5. Lian had not absorbed them all; he had not had the time.

Now his intention was to bet them all on himself, a bold gamble on his own strength.

The man's eyes grew dubious at the sight. He had expected to see thousands of gold, not Mana Cores so… insignificant, his expectations challenged by the unconventional offering.

The man composed himself a moment later, his gaze professional as always while he gathered the Mana Cores, making quick calculations. He was estimating a price.

But before he could finish, another Mana Core appeared out of nowhere. It was larger than the others, and the mana it radiated made it glow brightly, a shimmering beacon of power.

The Mage behind the desk narrowed his eyes for a moment, reassessing the boy in front of him. Perhaps he was not dealing with a novice. Not everyone could display the Mana Core of a Silver-rank monster, a rare and impressive feat.

"Alright, in total, that is 150 gold coins for the Bronze-rank Mana Cores and 50 gold coins for the Silver-rank Mana Core," the man at the desk concluded, quickly scribbling the calculations in his register, his movements precise and practiced.

Lian froze for a moment. He had expected something different… no one had ever told him anything about the prices of Mana Cores, but he thought they were rare… his assumptions crumbling under reality.

Come to think of it, every monster gave me a Mana Core… maybe they are not that rare- his thoughts shifting as he pieced together the truth.

The man noticed the boy's thoughtful expression. "Unfortunately, with the recent waves of monsters, the prices of Mana Cores have dropped. On the other hand, everything related to artifacts, potions, pills or other refined goods has seen a price increase. Everyone wants to be strong, after all." His voice carrying the weight of market truths.

Lian nodded slightly. "That makes sense…" he murmured, then continued, "If I win, how much can I earn?" His curiosity now focused on the potential rewards.

The man scratched his beard as he stared at the rings below. "It depends on your opponent and the odds. If you face a Bronze 5, the odds will be against you, so the payout would be several times your bet. However, it also depends on other factors. For example, if you face one of the favorites, the odds will be even more against you, so you could earn a lot. But that is only if you win." his explanation clear and methodical.

Lian listened in silence, nodding. It all made sense; he could not complain. Everything depended on his performance. The more he won, the more he could earn, but if he won a lot, he would earn the title of favorite, increasing his odds in his favor and thus earning less money from victories, a delicate balance of risk and reward.

"Now go, wait your turn over there." The man added, pointing to an area next to the ring where other students were warming up or chatting, his gesture directing Lian to his next step.

"Thank you very much, senior!" Lian thanked him and headed toward the indicated area. He was curious to discover the power of the other Mages, his anticipation growing with each step.

Lian sat in the waiting area, the combat token pulsing faintly in his hand. The crowd continued to roar as the fights went on. However, the number of participants seemed to dwindle more and more, a shift that caught his attention.

"What is happening? Have people suddenly stopped wanting to fight?" he wondered aloud, his brow furrowing.

Lian looked around, trying to understand more, only to notice a group of boys heading toward his position, their approach purposeful and intimidating.

"Hey, kid. I suggest you come back another day." One of them said, his tone dripping with arrogance.

Lian stared at the arrogant guy with a defeated look on his face. He was fed up. Why was all this happening? No one had ever told him about this, his patience stretched thin by the constant interruptions.

"No, I am here to participate and win. I do not care what you say. If you do not want to see me, then get out of the way." his voice firm, laced with defiance.

Seeing Lian's disrespectful attitude, the boy visibly grew angry. "Do you have any idea who we are? We belong to the Red Dragons! You cannot afford to talk to us like that." his words sharp and threatening.

"Relax, Brutus, let him participate. It does not change much for us." another voice interjected, calm but dismissive.

The man named Brutus turned his gaze with anger as he walked away from Lian, his frustration palpable.

"Oh, now I remember… those guys from earlier talked about a faction clash…" Lian murmured with interest, observing the badge on the boys' uniforms, his curiosity reignited.

The Red Dragons had a red dragon-shaped badge. Then there were the Silver Phoenix, with a silver phoenix-shaped badge, the Black Tortoise, with a black tortoise-shaped badge, and finally… his eyes catching a new detail.

"Eh? Who are those guys?" he thought, observing another group. Their presence was less noticeable than that of the other three factions. Lian had almost not noticed them, their subtlety intriguing him.

Before Lian could think further, the arena's lights suddenly went out as the four rings merged into a single, massive combat arena, the transformation dramatic and sudden.

The lights illuminated the center of the stage as a new person made their appearance on the ring, commanding attention with their presence.

<Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Are you ready for tonight's show??> the announcer's voice boomed, electrifying the crowd.

The arena lit up as countless excited shouts and screams echoed from the stands, a wave of anticipation sweeping through the audience.

<Alright!! Then let me introduce today's participants, though I think no introductions are needed! It is them, the four main factions of the academy! Give a warm welcome to the Red Dragons, the Black Tortoise, the Silver Phoenix, and… the Yellow Tiger!> the announcer's words igniting a roar of cheers.