Chương 37: Chapter Thirty-Five

I was running late, and hurrying to the dining hall to grab something quick. I always wake up early. And Narith is here to make sure I'm up on time so this wouldn't happen. But that didn't include the time it took for Narith to do my hair. Or make up. Or dress me in a set of clothes I was hoping to get lost in the back of the closet. Then she covered them with my school robes, making me wonder what the point of it was. Narith worked fast. But she didn't skip anything. Anything. And now I was late. On my first day.

Stella and Beth weren't even in the hall when I got there. And I didn't have time to sit down. I simply picked up an apple and rushed away. Classes were held in the three buildings behind the dorms. I was headed to the center one. And if I was lucky, it hadn't started yet. As I opened the door to a large classroom with stadium seating, I was just crunching into the apple. Most of the seats had been taken already, though a constant buzz of conversations told me that I did in fact make it on time. Thank the…

Balance, I guess. My shoulders relaxed a little as I pulled the apple away from my mouth and looked for Stella and Beth. I had just taken my third bite when I spotted them near the center of one of the back rows. I took a step forward to join them when my ears swiveled, bringing a conversation into focus. Everyone was talking about Princess Ariana. Apparently, it was just announced that she had been healed, and everyone was overjoyed by it. I couldn't help remembering Anders and Lai's faces when they won my potion.

Honestly, if Mom and Dad wanted, they could have just asked me to make one for them. But I guess that having them buy it maintained the Balance they always talk about. I shrugged internally as I sat beside Stella.

"Good morning, you two." I said as I took my seat and, seeing everyone else already had papers and a book out, I began taking out mine as well. I'm not really sure what the purpose of having them out was. Aren't the teachers supposed to teach? But I'm glad Narith made me bring them.

"Hi Lyra."

"Good morning, Lyra." Their greeting seemed strained. I didn't comment, I was too busy trying to make my desk match everyone else's. I'm glad that Narith insisted she pack my bag for me. I never would have included all of this.

"The academy had a bright cyan light over it last night." Stella finally said.

"Were you practicing a spell last night?"

"Huh?" I thought about it.

"No, I was just practicing my Mana Control last night." They both made exasperated noises.

"What?" I asked looking at both of them having decided my desk looked close enough to everyone else that I wouldn't be singled out.

"Only you glow when you're practicing mana control, Lyra." Beth stated flatly when she saw my questioning expression.

"That's not true."

"Yes, it is." Stella immediately backed up Beth leaving me little room to argue. Which caused me to think. Is it? Am I really that weird? Stella sighed and started to say something but the door opened. A tall demon woman with bat-like wings and ears stepped into the room wearing academy robes that clearly marked her as a professor. She stood in the front of the room and looked over the classroom. As her eyes landed on me, I realized that her eyes had no color.

Just two black orbs that seemed to either see everything, or nothing. I chose to believe the former.

"Good morning initiates. I'm Professor Gaurdrail." She greeted causing a stir. Initiates? I thought we were students.

"In the next few weeks, we will be going over the basics of magic. Teaching you how to gain the skills you need to cast spells. If after a month you are unable to cast a spell, you will no longer be students at this academy." There were some protests to this. More than I expected, as more than half of the class seemed to have something to say about that. But… isn't it obvious that you couldn't stay if you couldn't figure out how to cast spells? That was the whole point of this place after all.

"There are lots of common born here." The words jostled me out of my thoughts and I glanced at the boy sitting to my right. He looked familiar.

"Look at them. They don't even know enough to take notes during the lecture." I glanced around and saw that the people trying to argue with the professor didn't have anything on their desk. Was that what the boy was talking about? I'm glad I copied the people around me, and glancing to Stella and Beth I could tell that they had both heard what the boy said, and were similarly glad they copied what they saw around them. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road.

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"A lot of them haven't had a day of formal education." I said, looking back to the boy. My mind finally connected his face to one of the boys I saw around the Prince yesterday.

"If the Academy was focused on making mages, they would have an introductory course to teach what they needed to be successful." The boy scoffed.

"What would be the point of that?"

"More mages equal more strength. Less people dying to monsters." The boy rolled his eyes and I closed my mouth deciding not to bother talking. The professor was attempting to get the class back under control, and had succeeded enough that I didn't want to talk again. When the class finally settled, she continued.

"This is a magical academy. And there is no point continuing if you are incapable of casting even the most basic spell. How many of you can already cast spells?" About a quarter of the students raised their hands, mine included. Stella and Beth's hands were both raised, letting me relax. Knowing they could cast and seeing them raise their hands under these circumstances were two different things.

"Every mage requires three foundational skills. Mana Sense, Mana Control, and External Mana Expression. They will be the topic of the first month. Those who can already cast will join us for the overview before moving on to the core classes…" More people erupted at this. I could only tilt my head not understanding what they were complaining about.

"Fair" was thrown around a lot. But when has life ever been fair? People were either taught by their parents how to cast spells or they weren't. If you're born to a baker, you're not going to learn smithing from him. That's just basic. Complaining about it…

"Idiots." The boy sneered. I found myself agreeing with him, as much as I didn't like his attitude. The academy had limited professors, classrooms, and time. Spending months teaching reading, arithmetic, or trying to feel mana for the first time was months meant not really teaching magic. That wasn't cruelty. It was stating the requirements. I wonder if there's an opportunity there. If someone taught those missing basics before the academy started… My mind drifted on that tangent.

I might have to write to Mom and Dad about it. It seems rather merchanty. I smiled at the thought. Merchanty and helpful. They would love the balance.

"They aren't idiots." Stella said, and my gaze turned to her.

"They are just tired of nobles being given special treatment." I furrowed my brow at her serious face. Beth's face was suspiciously neutral when I glanced over.

"That's not what's happening here." I stated turning back to the professor that was looking at the clock as though allowing the student's outburst for a specific time before putting an end to it.

"People don't know the same things. That's just reality. Besides… a month? It took you and Beth less time to learn to cast. And that was from books. Add the professors as a resource, and you should be able to learn in a couple of weeks." I thought back to my own instruction.

"That's about how long it took me to learn with Mom teaching me." Stella only shook her head.

"That's not what it seems like to them. It seems like just another thing they have to do that nobility doesn't." I could only shrug. Perception was tricky. And my own… well… My thoughts drifted to the hole in the ground I called home and the food I ate that no one else would touch. I have to admit my own was peculiar.

"Enough." The professor spoke and her voice smothered the classrooms protests.

"Everyone starts at a different spot. The Academy will not hold back overachievers while everyone else catches up to them." A quiet descended in the room as everyone listened.

"At the Academy, skill is the ultimate separator. No one starts in the same place. Everyone advances according to their skill. Without exception. If you are not happy developing the basics because others have already mastered them…"

"You are wasting my time."

"The Academy's time."

"And whoever's money has brought you here." The sentences were punctuated. And concise. I was impressed at how she managed to shut everyone up and get everyone on point. But then, she had probably been doing this a long time.

"Now, everyone open your books to chapter one and we will discuss Mana Sense." A lot of people suddenly scrambled to get their books, while even more looked around in confusion, apparently having forgotten to bring them. The boy behind me scoffed again as he opened his book. I could only shake my head. He wasn't entirely wrong. But treating people like they were beneath him because they started somewhere else… That felt wasteful. Another question cropped up. If he's the Prince's friend, what is the Prince like?

I know Aunt Lia wants me to spend time with him. But if he's like his friend… I'm going to have to think up some excuses. The class moved along quickly after that. The professor covered the basics, and though she had a handful of new insights that I jotted down, it was mostly review from what Mom taught me and I had been practicing. Glancing around as the two-hour mark approached the class was fairly divided between those raptly listening and those falling asleep.

"And that concludes the overview. We will be going into detail regarding Mana Sense tomorrow with the intention of you learning the skill. When you do you will move to Mana Control. Then finally External Mana Expression as you learn to cast your first spell. Anyone who can already cast, stay behind. You will cast a spell, a non-destructive spell, and a new schedule will be provided to you." She looked around the classroom.

"Everyone else is dismissed." The students… no initiates, all scrambled towards the door. I waited, and got into the queue that was forming in front of Stella and Beth. The rude boy was in front of me. The line moved slower then I expected as people started casting spells for the professor. Many failed, more then once. But the professor showed endless patience encouraging them and, in some cases, even showing the runes for the spell that the student was attempting.

I fell back into conversation with Stella and Beth.

"What were you saying before class? You were practicing Mana Control? What level have you gotten it so far? I've managed to reach three and Beth your at…"

"Two. I've been focused on External Mana Expression since that's more important." Beth stated causing me to frown.

"How are you going to form runes without control?" I asked and Stella smiled proudly nudging Beth with her elbow.

"See?!" Beth huffed.

"So? I know it's private, but it's literally what we're here for. So some sharing should be allowed. Especially between friends." Stella prodded.

"I evolved it to Mana Integration last night." I admitted and the boy in front of me looked back at me in surprise. I frowned at him for his eavesdropping and he turned back around. He continues to give off a greasy feeling. I really hope Prince Trevor isn't like that.

"You did? That's great!" Our conversation circled several other topics as we waited and eventually it was my turn after the boy in front of me managed to cast his spell on his first try, though it took him ten seconds to get there.

"Name please." The professor asked me.

"Lyra Toordor." I stated simply. She flipped through her pages before pointing to a line.

"Okay. Cast a spell and I will mark your introductions as finished." I nodded and cast Faery Fire. The spell was almost instant, and a cyan fairy appeared. It was still rough, more suggested features then actual features, but you could tell what it was. And it moved like a little person with wings that happened to glow as bright as a torch. The teacher blinked at it and I heard a gasp near the door where the boy from before was lingering as he watched me.

Professor Gaurdrail reached out to poke it, but it flew around her finger in an anatomically possible way.

"Pass. Welcome student Toordor." She said simply picking up a quill and marking my sheet. She then handed me a paper she pulled from her robe.

"Your new schedule."

"Thank you, Professor." I said as I took it and walked to the door so I could watch Stella and Beth's evaluation.