Birth Of The Crafts-God

In Eretre, the education system was somewhat different from that of Earth, but roughly the same as the standard in the other planets of the Federation. This has to do with the fact that there was a lot more to study thanks to hyumankin's intergalactic exploration and expansion, and also because of the presence of stellar energy and the art of refinement.

Education in the Federation was divided into three paths: Civil, Technical and Practical. The Civil path was the standard path and one of the most common. It included mostly art majors and social sciences such as history, languages, politics, economics, and mostly theoretical knowledge like pure mathematics.

The Technical path focused on the more hands-on majors like engineering, vestige-smithing, nuclear studies, and so on.

As for the Practical path, it was one of the most aspired, but relied heavily on natural talent. It was aimed at raising stellar practitioners who would either become freelancers, private workers or work for the government. Experience tales with empire

While some comprehensive schools -institutions that taught all paths- did exist, they usually focused more on one path than the others. For instance, Wally's high school, the Greendale Highschool, was a Technical school, but they offered comprehensive courses in the Civil and Practical paths. Such an institution was referred to as a comprehensive school with the opposite being a 'pure' school.

The Baylands City-state had a couple of high schools and colleges, but very few 'pure' ones. The term 'pure' simply referred to institutes that placed their entire focus on only one path, specialising solely in it rather than offering comprehensive courses.

It was every student's dream to attend such a school as the teaching standards and education offered was much higher and better then comprehensive schools. However, such institutions had high standards, were more expensive, and difficult to get into.

But there was a shortcut to getting into one. If the student's high school or previous institution of education was a subsidiary of a pure school, as long as they did well, they could get a letter of recommendation to get into the pure school.

The Greendale Highschool was a comprehensive school subsidiary to the pure college, the Greendale School of Refiners. This made it somewhat easier for students of the high school to get into the college; but to do so, one had to show promising talent in vestige-smithing, craftsmanship and engineering, as the college was one on the Technical path.

This seemed somewhat unfair to students of other paths who studied in the high school, as such, the mid-term and final term practicals were brought about. These were a series of tests used to quantify a student's talent, skill and performance, which would then be recorded in the student's data folder.

When a student applies for college, apart from the entrance examination, the college would take into factor the information from the student data folder from their high school.

For students who dreamed of the Practical path, the term practical tests in their final year of high school was the most important, as that was when their ability as a stellar practitioner would be tested. They only had one mid-term and final term practical tests, so failing even one would be disastrous.

As for those of the Civil Path, their performance would usually be tested in the previous mid-term and final term practical tests. As for the Technical path, it was regularly tested, after all, the Greendale Highschool focused on the Technical path.

Wally was currently in his final year of high school, making him a senior. It was time for the mid-term practical tests -the first deciding test for a student who dreamed of the Practical path.

Truth be told, Wally wasn't a fan of battles and fights, rather much preferring to sit behind a desk while working on a spreadsheet, or spend his time reading webnovels. However, his family's circumstances weren't the best to speak of. Although both his parents were working, and even his older sister had a job too, they could only live an average life in West Wing district.

West Wing district bordered the Wastelands, so it was a place frequented by freelancers a lot. In recent years, the cost of living has begun to steadily increase. As such, the more successful individuals here were people whose job was related to desolate beasts or freelancers. Unfortunately, of the three working adults in the family of five, none of them worked in the appropriate sector.

All three were busy most of the time, and barely had time to spend with Wally and his little brother.

To give his family a more comfortable life, Wally's best option was to become a freelancer. As luck would have it, he had a better mDNA count than the rest of his family members, and his m(o)DNA concentration of 15% meant that he had a good chance of reaching the third level of the Apertures Opening stage, which was the level of a veteran freelancer.

But to be able to reach such a level, Wally had to work on his potential as early as possible. A pure school of the Practical path was the best option for him. The mid-term and final term practical tests were the platforms Wally needed, and he had to make the best of them.

"Yo, Wally. Been a while." A young boy roughly the same age as Wally greeted.

"Oh, Astar. It's you." Wally replied.

Astar was one of Wally's few friends in high school. They both bonded easily and had been friends ever since their sophomore years [1].

"What's gotten into you? You haven't been to classes the past few days and you're already looking lost." Astar asked worriedly.

"Nothing much. Just been training." Wally smiled.

Before any of the practical tests, the academy usually gives the students a two weeks break from mandatory lectures. During this period, students are free to come to classes or not. The whole point of the break is to give them time to prepare themselves for the test.

Wally had been practicing with Astar at school during the first week, but in the second week, he started his training with Lucas at the Seven Sparks Forge store.

"Oh, that's good." Astar felt glad. "How do you feel about this time's tests?"

"I can't really say. I just did my best to prepare."

"Is that a vestige?" Astar pointed at the wrapped item Wally held with his right hand.

"Yeah." Wally smiled.

"Wow. So cool. How did you get that? Can I see it?" Astar became intrigued.

A vestige was costly and not anyone could afford it. Even if one could, buying it had strict requirements. They were highschoolers, making it almost impossible for them to own a vestige unless they had some sort of connections.

Astar knew a bit about Wally's situation which was why he was surprised that the latter had a vestige with him. It should be noted that Astar also had a vestige.

"I had to make a deal with the owner." Wally awkwardly replied.

Astar suddenly grabbed Wally and shook him furiously.

"Are you alright?! It's not those kinds of deals where you sell your organs or become a labrat, is it?"

"N-no. Nothing of the sort." Wally hurriedly calmed his best friend.

While the two continued catching up and discussing the tests, a commotion broke out behind them. They were at the assembly hall of the school, and every final year student was supposed to be gathered here. The other years had their gathering location.

Turning to the scene of the commotion, Wally and Astar discovered that it was due to the appearance of three students similar to them; two boys and a girl.

"The heavenly trio have arrived." Astar muttered mysteriously.

Wally's eyes glistened as he took notice of the trio.

The Heavenly Trio was a special nickname given to the top three students of their year, who also happened to be the top 3 students of the academy. Not only were they well versed with Technical and Civil courses, but their Practical path skills were the best of everyone else.

It was also rumoured that their mDNA count was ahead of the others and their m(o)DNA concentration could even match up with some of the top freelancers today.

All three students were judged to have enough potential to reach the fourth level at least, and even possibly charge for the sixth level. Compared to Wally whose limit would be the third level of the Apertures Opening stage even after using serums, they were on a different plane.

Every student envied them while the teachers looked up to them. In time, these three would be popular names in the freelancer community.

'I shouldn't think too much.' Wally shook his head.

Unlike the trio, he wasn't born 'blessed', so he had to keep his dreams close to the ground. Reaching the second or third level and earning a decent amount of money was all he wished for.

'And to achieve that, I have to do my best.'

After a short while, all the final year students of Greendale Highschool had arrived at the assembly hall. A few minutes later, the dean alongside a few other teachers arrived at the stage.

Once the dean stood on the podium, the students turned quiet, awaiting the opening speech.

"As you all know, this is the mid-term practical tests. I'd like to clarify to you all that this isn't the same as the previous practical tests you've had before. Not only would the mid-term not be held on school grounds, but your opponents would be bloodthirsty desolate beasts. This is a very important test that would define the future for many of you here.

Although it is targeted at those walking the Practical path, I sincerely hope that the rest of you still give it your all. This is a matter of your student data folder, which is of immeasurable value to you all. Do your best, but consider your safety foremost. With that well said, you may proceed to the test venue."