They glanced at the two people stepping out of the carriage one after another and paused momentarily on Gauss before quickly switching to a respectful smile.
In their eyes, this man in pure white robes might appear youthful, but he exudes a dignified and composed aura—an effortless demeanor that shows no hint of fear even when faced with the opulent academy estate.
Such a person must either possess solid strength or have an extraordinary background.
Either possibility is not something they can easily offend, so they speak with extreme politeness.
If someone else were in the same position, the attitude might differ.
"This is the invitation from your esteemed academy for our Red Dragon Adventurer Group’s leader, Lord Gauss."
After checking the document, the guard’s expression immediately became more respectful.
"Captain Gauss, please proceed inside."
They hadn’t expected this mage to be so young yet already hold the position of a group leader.
Theoretically, a professional who breaks through to level 6 is eligible to register an adventure group, but realistically, if that’s truly the case, only a lengthy review period and ultimately a rejected application await him.
Those adventure group leaders often need to possess High Tier Master Level strength or even be extraordinary powerhouses.
Even though they serve as guards for the magic academy and frequently come into contact with significant figures due to work reasons, individuals of this caliber are still rare.
"Thank you."
As the two stepped through the wide open carved iron gates, the scenery inside the academy estate was even more luxurious.
All the plants were pruned by gardeners, and no trace of dirt could be seen on the ground.
Gauss quietly observed the scene and felt a powerful magic fluctuation emanating from the ground.
The entire magic academy seemed to be built on a massive formation.
As such, the obvious security here didn’t require too much strength.
He then turned his gaze toward the students walking the corridors, wearing uniform black robes and mage hats, gathering in small groups to converse or swiftly moving with books in their hands.
These students had varying levels of strength.
Caster Apprentices, level 1 casters, and Gauss could even perceive that a few students possessed magic power equivalent to at least level 2 casters.
Ivan noticed Gauss’s gaze and further explained to his group’s leader.
"The magic academy at Karksa has a six-year academic system. Most students are magic apprentices before enrollment, but as they progress through the courses, some students with remarkable magic talent may break through to level 1, level 2, or even level 3 caster level during their time at school."
Ivan stopped explaining further after mentioning level 3.
In reality, the majority of students can graduate smoothly as long as they meet the level 1 caster requirement.
Even if they don’t advance their profession, graduation is still possible. However, they need to obtain completion certificates in courses like pharmacy, alchemy, and enchantment.
Reaching level 2 before graduation is considered an excellent graduate standard, and he himself was like that back then.
As for level 3, it already falls into the rare category.
Advancing one level in two years is incredibly fast.
Most students enroll at the age of 15 or 16; being able to reach level 3 by graduation means they’re only around 21 or 22 years old when they finish.
A level 3 caster in their early twenties has a very promising chance of reaching level 5 by age 25 and breaking through to become a Master Level caster before turning 30.
Unlike warriors, who experience declining strength as they age, leading to a drop in performance, casters have relatively longer "shelf life," earning the saying "the older, the more uncanny."
Thus, these level 3 graduates have one foot firmly stepping into Master level, with a slight chance of glimpsing the extraordinary realm’s scenery.
Ivan shook his head.
His talent is neither outstanding nor lacking, so graduating at level 2 is quite decent. Yet, compared to those more dazzling prodigies, it seems somewhat dull.
Furthermore, he can clearly feel that his potential isn’t as outstanding as some level 2 graduates. As a Warlock with rare dragon bloodline, his breakthroughs were smooth early on, but at level 2, the progress slowed significantly.
Nearly six years after graduating, he finally broke through to level 3, and although splitting his attention to pharmacy was a partial factor, the root cause lies in "insufficient talent."
It wasn’t until joining the Red Dragon Team that he felt his cultivation speed pick up considerably.
His gaze inadvertently glanced at Gauss beside him, observing silently.
The feeling of disparity instantly vanished.
No matter how much of a genius a caster is, they appear less outstanding compared to their group leader.
Only after joining the Red Dragon Team did he learn that Captain Gauss is only 20 years old.
In the face of such absolute talent, he and those level 3 graduate "prodigies" might not be so different.
The captain truly is a monster!
He couldn’t help but exclaim again.
As Gauss quietly observed the academy, a man dressed like a teacher hurriedly approached them from a distance.
"Lord Gauss, your visit brings glory to Karksa Magic Academy."
"I am the academy’s external affairs director, Allen Victor. Sorry for not meeting you sooner. The vice principal is awaiting in the reception room and has instructed me to guide you."
"Hello, Director Victor."
Gauss shook hands with the middle-aged man who had come in front of him.
In his perception, even as an external affairs director—a role that doesn’t seem to rely heavily on strength—this teacher Victor possesses a level 6 amount of magic power.