Chapter 38: Manaphone

Sophia explained a few more features of the Manaphone, including enrollment for elective subjects and long-distance communication through both text and audio. The book that the freshers had received was a guidebook for using the Manaphone.

She announced the official end of the orientation and instructed the freshers to make their way to the cafeteria for dinner in a proper, disciplined line.

The large hall of the cafeteria buzzed with the energetic chatter of freshers discussing their professors, lectures, and the Manaphone’s newest features.

Naturally, the table where Vlad, Chloe, and Max sat was being avoided by everyone. Who would ever want to befriend loan sharks like them?

"Bro, tell me your identity card number. We should split the credits as we agreed," Max said, putting a spoonful of rice into his mouth.

They had decided to divide the revenue from books in a ratio of 60, 30, and 10 for Vlad, Chloe, and Max respectively. As for the uniform revenue, it was split as 80, 10, and 10 for Max, Vlad, and Chloe.

The total credits all three of them had earned together came to 10,705. Vlad shared his and Chloe’s identity numbers with Max, as the numbers were required to initiate transactions. Max sent them their respective shares as originally agreed.

Vlad’s total credits reached to 5,998.8, Chloe’s to 3,320.8, and Max’s to 1,392.4.

Max’s modest share stemmed from one simple fact: the uniform racket barely paid out. The 50-60% cut they demanded from the owners applied only to whatever those students had earned beyond the books, since the book credits were already settled at 5 a piece. That meant the entire scheme hinged on hidden treasures and whatever else the uniform owners had quietly stumbled upon. If they had found nothing worth mentioning, Max walked away with next to nothing despite holding all the leverage.

Still, the amount was far more than what he could have earned working alone. He would not have even earned 30% of the credits he currently possessed.

After receiving his share, Vlad began exploring the features of the Manaphone. Most of them were locked behind a paywall. He had to pay 1 credit just to activate the transaction feature.

[ MANAPHONE ]

[ Academic ]

• Timetable

Check daily and weekly classes

• Enrolled Subjects

View registered courses

• Attendance

Track attendance records

• Grades

View examination results

• Assignments

Check pending tasks and deadlines

• Library

Browse academy books and resources

• Announcements

View academy notices and updates

[ Student Services ]

• Academy Map

Navigate classrooms and facilities

• Dormitory

Room information and notices

• Lost & Found

Report or search for lost items

• Transaction

Send and receive credits.

[ Social ]

• Communication [Locked]

Unlock Requirement: 10 Credits

• Forum [Locked]

Unlock Requirement: 2 Credits

• Student Clubs [Locked]

Unlock Requirement: 5 Credits

[ Advanced ]

• Marketplace [Locked]

Unlock Requirement: 25 Credits

• Quest Board [Locked]

Unlock Requirements:

1) 20 Credits

2) Passed first semester with zero backlogs

• Party System [Locked]

Unlock Requirements:

1) 15 Credits

2) Passed first semester with zero backlogs

• Mentor Network [Locked]

Unlock Requirement: 30 Credits

• Arena Rankings [Locked]

Unlock Requirement: 50 Credits

────────────────────────

Current Credits: 5,997.8

────────────────────────

There were many interesting features that Vlad could see. He decided to focus on the timetable first.

He rose from his seat, walked around to the other side of the table where Chloe was enjoying her all-meat meal, and sat beside her.

"Chloe, give me your hand. The Manaphone can be locked using either a fingerprint or a mana signature. I will lock it with your fingerprint until you form your core."

She extended her left hand without a word. Her mouth and right hand demanded her undivided attention on several plates before her.

Vlad wiped her thumb with a tissue before registering her fingerprint on both his and her phone. He set his own fingerprint on her phone as well.

Who knew when they might need to use each other’s phone?

He tapped on the enrolled courses on his phone.

A list of subjects appeared:

[ Enrolled Subjects ]

[ Order of the Blade Exclusive ]

• Fundamentals of Combat

[ ENROLLED ]

• Aura Awakening

[ ENROLLED ]

• Fundamentals of Tactics

[ ENROLLED ]

[ Common Subjects ]

• Fundamentals of Spirit Summoning

[ Tap to Enroll ]

Cost: 5 Credits

• Fundamentals of Beast Taming

[ Tap to Enroll ]

Cost: 5 Credits

• Fundamentals of Magical Engineering

[ Tap to Enroll ]

Cost: 5 Credits

• Fundamentals of Alchemy

[ Tap to Enroll ]

Cost: 5 Credits

• Elemental Studies

[ ENROLLED ]

• History of the Arcane Age

[ Tap to Enroll ]

Cost: 5 Credits

• Introduction to Runes

[ Tap to Enroll ]

Cost: 5 Credits

• Magical Law & Ethics

[ ENROLLED ]

────────────────────────

Current Credits: 5,997.8

Currently Enrolled Subjects: five

Minimum Requirement: Six

────────────────────────

"So I need at least seven subjects in the first semester," Vlad murmured, reading the screen. He had already been enrolled automatically in the mandatory subjects. "Well, there is a lower limit for enrollment, but not an upper one."

His tongue poked out from the corner of his lips as he quickly tapped the enroll buttons for Spirit Summoning, Beast Taming, and History of the Arcane Age.

"Chloe, do you want to join these classes as well?" Vlad asked, opening the enrollment section of her phone.

She gave a quick glance at the subject names and asked, "What does taming mean?"

"It means you will learn how to control beasts and make them follow your orders."

For just a moment, her hand carrying a spoonful of food paused. She fixed Vlad with her lavender eyes and asked, "Any beast?"

"It depends on your talent and how well you follow the professor’s instructions."

"Enroll me. I want to tame a beast."

"You do?" Vlad asked, his eyebrow rising in curiosity. "Which one?"

"Not telling you."

"Being secretive, are you?" Vlad chuckled. He didn’t press for an answer. He would find out when the class began.

He parted his lips slightly as he busied himself with the phone screen. Meanwhile, Chloe slipped a spoonful of food into his open mouth, no words exchanged between them.

He enrolled her in Beast Taming and Spirit Summoning. He knew better than to enroll her in a history subject. She would fall asleep the moment the professor walked in.

While he was busy arranging classes for both of them, Chloe continued to feed him in between bites.

She made sure that Vlad received food only from his own plate.

She definitely did not sneak five bites from his plate for herself.