Elliott looked exactly the same as last time. After entering the laboratory, he opened his arms and rushed towards Adam, shouting, "My friend! I knew that you won't die so easily!"
Adam returned the hug, giving Elliott a light squeeze. Elliot immediately continued, "Come on! Leave your laboratory behind today -- let's explore the true Academy life! James, you too. Keeping yourself holed up in the laboratory isn't good for making progress."
Adam smiled, not being able to resist Elliott's enthusiasm. He accepted Elliott's kindness, as he was the first to visit him after he returned.
Besides, Adam's life was getting boring.
In the first year, everyone had to deal with the knowledge of the upcoming trials and assessments nervously. Nobody had the time to enjoy their lives. As soon as Adam passed the trial, he fell into a coma; the apprentices who passed the trial enjoyed a mundane academy life, only having to accept a mission once a year. If they want to, they could live in the academy until they die.
They were surprised to see the number of commodities and facilities in the academy.
For example, a Battle Hall, where apprentices can fight and duel without worrying about dying; a Driving Hall; a Knight Experience Hall where they experience the life of a knight. A red-light district exists as well within the academy walls.
There are various other entertainment halls, most of which do not conform to Euclidean geometry. As long as you have the power stones, you can enjoy life to the fullest here.
Elliott was going to take a few people to a private bar dedicated to serving powerful apprentices. The bar is owned by the academy, so it is safe from petty quarrels and fights. All apprentices who are able to enter the bar will be envied by everyone else.
"How do we know if we are eligible to enter?" William asked.
Elliott smiled, but didn't answer. They soon reached a gate over an open space, and Elliot pointed to the gate, "It's simple -- if you can walk in, you are eligible."
James and Frank were eager to try. They knew of this bar, but never had the opportunity to enter before.
"Let me go first!" Frank said, stepping forward and pushing open the black door behind the gate. Adam could see that the door seemed to be guarded with runes. Frank stepped forward nervously, and the runes enveloped around him like a film. After three minutes, the runes dimmed and Frank disappeared into the door.
James was next, and it took five minutes for him to disappear into the bar.
"I didn't expect them to improve so much in a year," Elliot said, grinning. "They weren't eligible to enter last year."
"So, what are the qualifications?" William pestered.
"You see the runes on the door? Those are keys. If you can construct it in your mind within five minutes, you can open the first door. As for the second door, if you know your own path, you can enter."
William was relieved. It was simply a simple construction test.
He stepped forward with confidence, and sure enough, it only took two minutes for him to construct the runes and enter the bar.
The moment William stepped foot into the bar, it was as if he was in another world. There wasn't an up or down, left or right; it was like a world that was suspended independently. There was no ceiling; the stars above illuminated the bar. Countless runes flashed in the bar, and soothing music calmed everyone's hearts.
There weren't many people in the bar. James and Frank seemed to have found their friends and were busy chatting away. When he looked to the left, he saw Crystal sitting alone by the bar, tasting a glass of red wine. She was wearing a simple blue dress, an aura of indifference radiating from her.
After seeing William, Crystal smiled and invited William over. "Congratulations on entering the bar."
William smiled and nodded towards James and Frank. An alchemy puppet scooted over and placed a menu of wine in front of William.
These names were not unfamiliar to William. He ordered some drinks and paid a lot of power stones and spoke, "So, Crystal, turns out that you..."
However, Crystal raised a finger to her mouth and gestured towards the light curtain in front of them.
William looked towards the light curtain, finding that it was displaying the scene of the doors outside. Adam was about to enter the bar.
William was confident that Adam would enter with ease.
...
"I'll enter first. When you want to, find me. I'll treat you today," Elliot said enthusiastically before entering the bar. Like William, he was sure that Adam would enter with ease.
Elliott was probably the most popular person in the Academy. Although the smell of potions was unnatural, it didn't affect his popularity.
After entering the bar, he walked over to James' and Frank's group and ordered a lot of drinks. He raised his glass and looked at the light curtain.
"Is that Adam?" an acquaintance working in the library asked. "I heard he was attacked by a qualified antimage."
"Well, yes. But my friend resisted the antimage's magic and survived! Let us toast!"
Everyone clanged their cups together, looking for any reason to drink.
"Now, I didn't expect both of you to be here," a senior apprentice said, gesturing towards James and Frank. "Last year, I saw both of you struggling to get in. Was Adam's research that effective?"
The two didn't take it as a jest towards them -- it was factual anyways. The senior apprentice who asked didn't have any malicious intent anyways. James and Frank simply smiled as their answer, and they continued to drink.
"Elliott, look. It seems like Adam is having some trouble."
...
Adam did, in fact, get into some trouble. He was unable to enter the bar.
The first test was simple. With a simple glance, he constructed the runes almost instantly and got in the first door. However, the second door restricted Adam from entering the bar.
The second door asked him which path he was taking to become a full-fledged mage. This question was incredibly easy for apprentices with inherent talents, like an apprentice with an affinity for fire magic.
What was Adam's path?
Telekinesis? No. Adam has long abandoned this line of research, and telekinesis was only useful to support Adam in various tasks.
Elemental magic? It couldn't be. Adam hasn't shown any affinity for any elemental magic.
Besides, Adam has never worked hard on finding his own path.
Adam just realised this. He was so busy researching that he forgot to focus on himself.
Adam stood silently in front of the door as Elliott and the others looked at each other. Another group of people entered behind Adam.
"Korver, is this the legendary bar that only genius apprentices can enter?" a female voice sounded.
"Yes, my dear. This is a gathering place for geniuses. I heard that none of us and the previous batch of apprentices were able to enter. If I'm able to enter, I'd be a sensation among the apprentices!" a male voice replied.
"I think you'll be able to!" another female voice encouraged.
The voices got closer and closer, and waited behind Adam. The highly emotional idiots have already been eliminated, so they weren't worried that Adam would make a stupid decision.
The apprentice named Korver was a handsome young man. He had never met Adam, but he was sure that Adam wouldn't be able to enter.
Adam randomly picked an element and attempted to walk forward. Sure enough, the barrier ejected him.
He got back up and picked another element, then attempted to push open the door again.
After repeating this for three times, a female voice couldn't help but say to Adam, "If you're having trouble, could you let us go first? It isn't wise to waste everyone's time."
Adam frowned, letting them go through.
"Sally, watch your tone," Korver reprimanded. "Sorry, my partner was being rude. Please don't mind her."
Adam raised his head, staring into Korver's eyes. "What is my path?"
Korver simply replied, "Everyone's path is different, so I can't give you a direct answer, unfortunately. If you have an affinity for an element, then that is probably your path; if you don't, you need to experiment more."
Adam nodded and walked forward.
Elliott and the others witnessed this scene in the bar with trepidation. They knew Adam's character well, and they all hurried out the bar for fear that Adam may kill someone.
