As soon as Zane filled out the form, he sensed something and immediately activated his soul crest.
[Title: Sponsored (Light Blue)]
[A powerful Lightning Mage has taken notice of your potential, dedication, and character, betting heavily on your future. Do not let him down. Take full advantage of this opportunity and do not ruin it. Fight. Survive. Prosper. And one day, extend a hand just as he did for you.]
[Effect: A 15% increase in lightning spells.]
"A new title?" Professor Burbank asked.
"Yes; it's called sponsored," Zane nodded before explaining the effect.
"How envious," the professor sighed.
"How so?" Zane was confused. Wasn't it just a title?
"These titles are essentially a gift from the Plane Will, and as you can imagine, now that Earth is in danger, she is quite generous."
"Are you saying I wouldn't receive such a title if I were in another dimension?"
"That's right. If you were somewhere else, you would need at least to join the tutelage of a Grand Mage to receive a title," Professor Burbank nodded.
"Can I even acquire a title in another dimension, away from Earth's Plane Will?"
"As long as you have the soul crest, a part of you will always be connected to Earth's Plane Will, so distance doesn't really matter. Well, that's not entirely true. There are some odd places in the Astral Plane — even some unique dimensions — where the connection is limited or severed, but they are the anomaly."
"If something were to happen to Earth's Plane Will, will the titles also disappear?"
"Depends. Some unique titles will indeed disappear, but the others will only weaken. But in some cases, the Plane Will — as a last act of struggle — can sacrifice itself to strengthen these titles instead."
"Let's hope things don't reach this far," Zane thought.
After their brief conversation about titles, Professor Burbank immediately entered teacher mode. He laid out a detailed plan for how Zane should spend his academy points: from books to published articles to paid recordings of lectures, and even assignments the professor handed him. Zane was elated at first. After all, his study process had been a mess before. He usually waited for Professor Malida to mention a concept in class and then he'd search for books about it. Unfortunately, nine times out of ten, he couldn't understand these concepts alone without prior fundamental knowledge, which he would then have to pay extra for.
Professor Burbank's plan was highly efficient, forcing him to master the basics first before tackling the more advanced things from Professor Malida's lecture. It also saved him a lot of money and time. However, Zane soon realized that the sponsorship was not as high as he thought. With the professor's plan, he'd barely have enough left to do anything else.
After ensuring Zane had a detailed plan to follow, Professor Burbank tutored him for half an hour before ending the meeting. The young Arcane Mage walked out of that meeting with a bright smile on his face. He not only succeeded in the task he came here for, but he exceeded it. On top of that, he even learned the 0-ring Lightning spell: Detect Bio-Electricity.
Maybe because of his excited mood, Zane's productivity and training were highly efficient for the rest of the day. He made rapid progress in his [Projection Casting] training. And as for the [Flow State]? Well, he retained a positive attitude — that's what matters. During the Elite Class, he now had the advantage over the orc, winning 7 out of every ten battles.
"You seem like you're in a good mood," Keesha said as the group walked out of class.
"I am," Zane nodded.
"Have you met the love of your life?"
"That can't be. I'm right here," Evelyn added.
"Not that." Zane shook his head before explaining about the sponsor.
"So, it's true?"
"You've heard about sponsorships?"
"I saw a post about someone bragging about that," Evelyn nodded. "But many people thought they were lying for attention."
"Isn't it a bit too risky for these professors to be sponsoring students so early on?" Tom Nguyen asked.
"Who cares if it's risky? We're the ones who will benefit," Keesha added.
"Why are you speaking like you're the one with a sponsorship?"
"Because I soon will," Keesha boldly declared. Now that she knows it exists, it's time to talk with her professor about their requirements. Tom Nguyen wanted to denounce her words, but he also felt this way. However, the issue is that Professor Burbank already sponsored Zane: did he have room for someone else?
"Well, congratulations, Zane, you deserve it," Evelyn said.
"Thanks."
The other followed up, offering their well-wishes. They were all aware of Zane's talent, his inhumane schedule, and all the resources he had spent on the analytical club, so if there was someone who deserved a sponsorship, it was indeed him.
"Do you guys want to celebrate the occasion? There is a nightclub called [Voyager] that is becoming extremely popular. I can get us entrance," Evelyn offered.
"I've heard about that place," Evans chimed in. "The owners paid for a ward that inhibits perception to allow mages to relax and have fun."
"I'm not fond of crowded places, so I'll pass." Tom Nguyen shook his head. Even before his enhanced perception, he was considered an introvert.
"Zane?" Evelyn asked.
"Before the analytic club's acceptance exam, I can't afford to relax," Zane replied. While he would love to have a night of fun, his studies were his priority. After the three-month deadline for the analytic club, he'll slow down and enjoy life more.
Evelyn sighed, "You guys are no fun."
Friday arrived, and Zane received the inheritance book and the potion from the professor before rushing back to his dorm. However, as he entered the dorm, he saw his most reclusive roommate — Sanjay — sitting on the couch. Zane didn't say anything and headed to his room; they hadn't said more than a dozen words to each other since the school started, so he didn't even bother saluting him.
"Hey."
Zane stopped and turned around. "Are you talking to me?"
"There is no one else here, is there?"
"What can I do for you?"
"Do you want to have a meal with James and me?"
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm good," Zane replied before turning, preparing to leave.
Sanjay sighed deeply. "This is what's wrong with you people."
"You people? What do you mean by that?" Zane asked with squinted eyes.
"Don't make this about race," Sanjay calmly stated before standing up from the couch and walking in front of Zane. "Here is an opportunity for low- or middle-income people like you to make connections that can set you up for life, but you reject it. For what? Meaningless pride. How can you make something of yourself with such a mindset? Opportunities are rare and don't come easily, but here you are wasting one."
Zane was immediately speechless.
"Did you know that, unlike Evans, James is the sole heir to his family's wealth?" Sanjay continued. "On top of that, he's so easy to please. Just say a few polite things, and he'll become the most generous person in the world. That's all it takes, but you prideful fools are not even willing to do that."
Zane looked him in the eyes for a moment before smiling, "You want to talk about mindset? Let's talk about it. Do you know the difference between you and me? When you see rich people, you're willing to grovel for their scraps, for their leftovers, for their slightest attention; such a mindset is so ingrained in you that you instinctively default to doing it even though you have just entered a world that provides enough opportunities to bring you endless wealth and power. Opportunities to stand at the same level as them.
"But look at me? Without losing my pride, I forced these rich people to acknowledge my worth and capability. I forced them to respect me. I forced them to treat me as an equal."
"Equal?" Sanjay said with clenched fists. "You are more delusional than I thought."
"Isn't it? After James failed to convince Evans, didn't he ask you to come specifically for me? Isn't it because he knew how much power I have among the others? Isn't it because he understood that as long as I suggested it, there is a high chance for the other mages to include him in our group?"
Sanjay's nail dug deeper into his skin, almost drawing blood.
"And that is power — my power. And I acquired it while keeping my head held high — my dignity intact. Now, do you understand the difference between us?"
Zane looked directly in his eyes for a few seconds before turning away. He had met a few people, such as Sanjay, and knew how to deal with them. In the past, he used to refer to them as "adjacent to money." These people often made their money working for the elite, and like Sanjay, many of them had an inferiority complex toward the wealthy and a superiority complex toward people with lower incomes than they did.