“Ernst Institute is the continent’s foremost academy of magic,” Hogg said. “Every graduate is at least a Sixth-rank magus, and many are Seventh-rank. If our Baruch Clan produced a Seventh-rank magus, we might have a chance to recover our inherited treasure.”

Linley felt the weight of his father’s hopes. The Dragonblood Warrior clan’s inherited warblade Slaughter had been lost outside the family; the shame had haunted generations. But the family that possessed it was no ordinary family, while the Baruch Clan had become weak.

“Ernst? The legendary Pope of the Radiant Church?” Doehring sounded surprised.

Linley explained that everyone in the six kingdoms and fifteen duchies of the Holy Union knew Ernst, the man who had elevated the Radiant Church and founded the Holy Union.

“I never expected that boy to achieve so much,” Doehring said. “Ernst was a genius. He entered the Saint-level at nearly fifty, though in my day he was merely a promising junior.”

When Doehring had stood at the summit of the Yulan Continent, Ernst had still been growing. Even after becoming Saint-level, Ernst would have respectfully saluted Doehring. Linley felt even more fortunate to have such a teacher.

At dinner, Hogg said that Hillman would take Linley to Finlay City in a week. Hiri smiled and said he was sure Linley would enter the finest academy. Wootton, his hands greasy from eating, happily echoed, “The finest!”

Hogg only smiled. “One person in ten thousand may have the aptitude to become a magus. Ernst Institute demands far more. I will be satisfied if Linley becomes a magus, whatever academy he attends.”

“I will not disappoint you, Father,” Linley said confidently. After all, he was already a First-rank magus.

A week passed. Linley lay on the rear lawn while the little black Shadow Rat bounced around him, squeaking for attention.

“Do not make trouble,” Linley said, stroking its head. “Tomorrow I leave for the royal capital. Once I enter an academy, I may have few chances to be with you.”

He could not take the rat into an academy. Its students and powerful magi might discover it and try to tame it; without a contract, anyone could do so. The rat gave a low, mournful sound.

“You cannot understand me anyway.” Linley sighed and stroked its smooth fur. “Who knows whether we will meet again after several years?”

The next afternoon, Hogg stood in the front courtyard as straight as a spear. “Wushan Town is only forty-five kilometers from the capital, so you should arrive before dark. Do not cause trouble there; Finlay City has too many powerful nobles.”

“Yes, Father.”

Hogg entrusted Linley to Hillman. Linley said goodbye to his father and to Wootton, then glanced toward the rear courtyard, worrying that no one would feed the little rat for the next few days.

He left with Hillman. From the roof of the family hall, the Shadow Rat watched in confusion. Linley should have gone hunting rabbits in Wushan, but instead he was walking away with another man and a pack.

The rat loved Linley. With no family of its own, it had come to regard him as one during that month. It flashed from roof to roof, followed them beyond Wushan Town, and kept them in sight.