Aric’s eyes snapped open.
Sunlight streamed through the balcony doors, illuminating the luxurious dormitory room. He blinked sleepily before turning toward the clock on his bedside table.
He stared at the dial.
Then his eyes widened.
"Shit!"
He sprang out of bed, grabbed his pillow, and hurled it across the room. It struck Eryx squarely in the face.
"Get up!"
Eryx groaned, batting the pillow away. "What the hell Aric!"
"We’re late! Classes started ten minutes ago!"
Eryx shot upright. "Why didn’t you wake me up?"
"Because I was asleep too!"
Neither wasted another second arguing. They scrambled into their disciplinary uniforms, fumbling with collars and silver armbands before rushing out of the dormitory.
They had no idea where their lecture hall was.
"Do you know where we’re going?" Eryx shouted as they sprinted across the courtyard.
"No!" Aric admitted. "Follow me!"
They raced towards the reception building, nearly colliding with several students along the way. Aric was about to charge down another corridor when he spotted Trudy behind her desk.
"Miss Trudy!" he called, skidding to a halt. "Where’s the first year lecture hall?"
Trudy looked up, her expression as composed as ever.
"Good morning to you too. You’re late."
"We know!"
"Third left, then follow the hallway to the large double doors at the end."
"Thank you!"
Aric channelled Menos into his legs, strengthening his muscles as a silver glow flickered beneath his uniform. Eryx kept pace beside him, his own Menos allowing him to move just as quickly.
Moments later, they burst through the lecture hall doors.
Hundreds of students turned towards them.
The enormous hall featured rows of desks surrounding a central platform, where Professor Cael stood in the middle of a lecture. His blonde hair caught the sunlight streaming through the high windows, while his red eyes settled on the two late arrivals.
"You’re late," he observed.
"Sorry, Professor," Aric said, still catching his breath.
Professor Cael glanced at their disciplinary armbands before gesturing towards two empty seats in the front row.
"Sit down. We will discuss your tardiness after class."
Aric and Eryx hurried to the front and dropped into their chairs, trying to catch their breath.
Professor Cael resumed his lecture without further comment. He was explaining derived elements and the theoretical principles behind combining elemental affinities to produce more complex magical effects.
"Aric."
Aric straightened immediately. "Yes, Professor?"
"Since you’ve decided to join us, perhaps you can answer a question. If a mage possesses a large mana pool but struggles with precise mana manipulation, what would be the most effective way to improve their spellcasting without increasing their mana capacity?"
Aric considered the question.
"If a mage possesses an enormous mana pool but struggles to control their spells, increasing their reserves would accomplish little. They would be better served by refining their mana control through repeated practice, beginning with simple spells before progressing to more complex techniques."
Professor Cael nodded approvingly.
"Correct. Mana control is fundamental to spellcasting, and even the largest reserves are useless without the ability to manipulate them properly. A sound answer."
His gaze shifted to Eryx.
"And you, Eryx. If a swordsman continuously reinforces his body with Menos while fighting an opponent whose physical abilities are inferior, why might maintaining maximum reinforcement throughout the battle put him at a disadvantage, even if his mana reserves are sufficient?"
Eryx stiffened.
He understood the basics of combat and knew how to reinforce his body with Menos, but this was different. He had never received a proper education in mana theory, and the question might as well have been delivered in another language.
"I... don’t know, Professor."
A snicker came from behind him.
"What do you expect from a commoner?" Dain, a boy with neatly styled brown hair and a sneer, laughed loudly. A few other nobles chuckled alongside him.
Aric’s expression darkened.
He turned in his seat, and a red magic circle flared to life in his palm. Heat rippled through the air as flames began gathering at its centre.
Before he could release the spell, Eryx seized his wrist.
"Are you insane?" Eryx whispered. "You want to get expelled on our first day?"
Before Aric could pull away, a colder, sharper voice cut through the room.
"Listen to the commoner, failure of the Noctra house. To be even angered by that... you are not worthy of being Class S."
The room fell silent.
Aric turned towards the speaker.
A boy with brilliant golden hair and sharp golden eyes sat in the second row, directly above Aster. His uniform was immaculate, and a royal crest adorned his chest.
The Crown Prince, Caelum.
His gaze rested on Aric with unmistakable disdain.
Aric’s magic circle flickered, but he made no immediate reply.
Before the tension could deepen, Aster rose from her seat.
She ignored the Crown Prince’s remark and turned towards Dain, her icy gaze leaving little doubt about her displeasure.
"From what I can see, They are both in Class S while you’re in Class A," she said. "Perhaps you should concern yourself with your own standing before questioning their worth."
Dain’s smug expression vanished.
His face flushed red, and he opened his mouth as though preparing a response. One look at Aster, however, seemed to convince him otherwise. He lowered his eyes and sank into his seat.
Aric barely noticed.
His attention had shifted to Aster, and the moment their eyes met, his expression changed completely.
The tension left his face, replaced by a bright, warm smile. He lifted his hand and waved at her as casually as though they had met in a familiar courtyard rather than a lecture hall filled with hundreds of students.
Aster’s eyes widened.
Her icy composure crumbled almost instantly. Colour rushed into her cheeks, and she hurriedly sat down, lifting her textbook to hide her face.
Caelum noticed.
His golden eyes moved from Aster to Aric, then back to Aster. A faint crease appeared between his brows as he watched her struggle to compose herself.
What was that about?
He had never seen her react that way to anyone.
"Do you know her?" Eryx whispered, glancing between Aric and the girl hiding behind her textbook.
"Of course," Aric replied, still smiling. "That’s Aster."
"That’s all you’re going to say?"
Before Aric could respond, Professor Cael clapped his hands.
"Enough. This is a lecture hall, not a marketplace. If you have finished greeting your friends and threatening your classmates, perhaps we can return to the lesson."
Aric lowered his hand. The magic circle in his palm disappeared as he turned back towards the professor.
Behind him, Aster peeked over the edge of her textbook and shot him an embarrassed glare.
Caelum continued watching Aric for another moment, his earlier confusion giving way to quiet curiosity.
Professor Cael resumed the lecture, and the students gradually returned their attention to the front.
Aric opened his notebook, unaware that his casual greeting had attracted the attention of someone who rarely found other people interesting.
Their first day at Starglade had barely begun, and they were already making an impression.