Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam

The blue-haired girl returned to the desk, holding one of the manuscripts in her hands, her golden eyes gleaming. She carefully read the contents on it, then after a few minutes, she said, "She was inspired by you, she is researching the connection between magicians and the God of Trickery, magicians came later..."

The drawbacks of introversion became apparent.

Wind elements rarely speak, only telling you the parts that they find important, omitting many details. As a result, it's difficult to grasp their true meaning.

"Don't rush, you can translate slowly."

Upon hearing this, the blue-haired girl hesitated for a moment, appearing somewhat uncertain, while Ethan chimed in, "Once we're back in the imperial capital, let's go racing together."

"...Alright."

As the blue-haired girl translated word by word, Ethan finally understood the content of the first manuscript, one part of which involved the history of magicians, corresponding precisely to what Palansi had mentioned about the decay period of the First Epoch's magic network destruction and the academy's disintegration.

In the First Epoch, the relationship between magicians and Elemental Shapers was very close. Indeed, at that time, there was no distinction in name between the two; to outsiders, both could be referred to as "mages". Only after the academy was destroyed did the two distinct titles emerge. However, it was the irreconcilable conflict about the magic network that truly drove their relationship to a freezing point after the decay period.

The magicians who returned to the academy believed that efforts should be made to restore the magic network, whereas Elemental Shapers feared the dangers of "magical addiction" and rejected the magicians' proposal. After a fierce conflict, the Elemental Shapers expelled the magicians, forbidding them from stepping into the academy ever again.

The first scholar unexpectedly heard the echoes left by the God of Trickery in prayer, leading the tribes of expelled magicians to the Mage Towers.

The old lady detailed this history in the manuscript, presumably to thoroughly explain it when Ethan visited.

But she was enlightened by Ethan and, upon revisiting this history, realized a critical issue—despite the earliest magicians being expelled by the academy, the system had subtly influenced them during their academy days, and now magicians still adopt almost identical advancement systems as the academy.

The learning and examination system.

They turned the advancement of Transcendent paths into a controlled, standardized system, and now every child is "academized" from the day they start learning magic.

The advantage of this system is that it maximizes the help magicians receive in advancing from Tier One to Tier Four, greatly saving them from aimless exploration, so long as their talent is sufficiently excellent, they are bound to advance to Tier Four Magic Masters.

Of course, the scholar also acknowledged in the manuscript the myriad problems posed by the examination system due to the existence of Pure-blood Clans and academic cliques. Many outstanding Tier Three magicians are forever denied the opportunity to participate in Tier Four assessments due to their mentors.

She, too, is a part of being "academized".

Born into a Pure-blood Mage family, she lived a smooth life, never scrutinizing the downsides of academization before being inspired by Ethan, assuming it as an expected process.

The old lady made a brief self-reflection in the manuscript.

Those benefiting from the system often turn a blind eye to its unreasonable parts.

Until, her understanding was violently shaken.

"She said you and Lindong are the most un-academized mavericks, yet you have achieved heights unattainable by any Elemental Shaper."

A shallow dimple appeared on the blue-haired girl's cheek, and she spoke in a lighter voice, "I think so too."

She believed Ethan was never one to follow rules, and only such a person could create interesting things like "motorcycles".

She's recently been by Ethan's side, quietly observing him.

This was the first human friend she'd made, so when a friend encountered difficulties, she wanted to lend a hand to him. Today, she had spoken more than the past few years combined.

"The 'Fireball and Ice Arrow Magic Power Science' proposed by the teacher resembles the advancement method before 'academization' appeared."

If the old lady were still alive, Ethan would certainly say this.

The drawback of this advancement method is also obvious, only those with extraordinary talent can carve out a path of their own through it.

Lindong's failed teaching career at the academy is the best testament that students practicing under this method progress slowly, enduring a great sense of frustration. Ethan inwardly questioned if he were initially placed in the academy instead of Ximu Town, with a shortcut right in front of him, it might have been equally hard for him to use this seemingly roundabout method.

But now, the old lady can no longer respond to this.

Only in the manuscript does she record her thoughts on "academization".

The old lady believed the problem lay with the magic network.

When she revisited some books in the Mage Tower, she realized the researchers at the First Epoch academy aimed to advance to Tier Four as quickly as possible because only Tier Four Transcendent individuals were eligible to enter the magic network.

Everyone's journey and experiences in the magic network are distinctly different; they might become lost in it, possibly even succumbing to "magical addiction", but the lure of ascending to Saint has always exerted a fatal attraction to Transcendent individuals in every epoch.