by Aaron Oster
“What’s the point of trying to get a higher rank if staying in the top fifty is enough to keep the scholarship?” Morgan asked.
“A good question,” Gold said, with a smile. “Those ranked at the top of their class at the end of the semester will automatically gain a spot in the tournament, without needing to fight in the end of term ranking matches. They will also keep their scholarship for the next term.”
“So if I manage to keep the top spot, I get automatic entry into this tournament?” Sarah asked.
He nodded, taking a sip from his mug.
“Why exactly would I want to fight in the tournament?”
“Let’s just say that the prize is well worth it,” he said, with a mysterious smile.
“The day after tomorrow will be the official start of term. The two of you are to be in front of the testing building at eight o’clock sharp. All of the new students will be there, as well as the instructors who will officially choose their students then.”
“So, we’re not your students yet?” Sarah asked. “What if another teacher wants us? Won’t that be an issue?”
“Not at all,” Gold said waving his hand dismissively. “When I make my choice, no one will argue with me. Once all the students are chosen, Headmistress Loquin will announce those who have earned a scholarship. This is done to light a fire under the other students and give them a goal to work towards.”
“It sounds like this will draw a lot of attention to us,” Morgan said, frowning a bit. “That’s something I’d like to avoid.”
“Well, unless you’d like to pay the three hundred gold tuition fee, you’ll just have to bear it,” Gold answered.
Three hundred gold a semester?
“If the school is so expensive, how can so many people afford to be here? The nobles I understand, but common people can’t have that kind of money.”
“Oh, they can’t. They are sponsored by their individual kingdoms. They come here to learn, then have to serve a year in their countries’ military for each term spent here.”
Morgan nodded.
That was a sensible way to become stronger. After all, what were ten or twenty years of military service if you could live for hundreds of years? There were still the obvious risks, but apparently plenty of people were willing to take it.
“Now as I was saying,” Gold continued. “Once the Headmistress is done with her speech, we will head off to our first lesson of the day. You’ll have a total of three lessons with me, Morgan, and Sarah will have two.”
Sarah opened her mouth to ask why, but Gold held up his hand to forestall her.
“The first lesson of the day will be physical training. That class will last for two hours, after which you will go eat breakfast.”
“Wait, we won’t be eating breakfast until ten?”
Sarah looked shocked.
“You can eat breakfast before that, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Not unless you’d like to lose it once we start our training.”
Sarah visibly paled, but nodded all the same.
“After breakfast, which should last no more than thirty minutes, Morgan will meet me for a lesson. Sarah will have free time to do whatever she wishes. There are a few lecture classes for mages that you would benefit from taking; I would recommend you check them out.”
“Why am I getting a separate lesson with you?” Morgan asked, though he thought he already knew.
“I will be teaching you all there is to know about the supermage ability. This class will also be about two hours, after which we will break for lunch. You will have two hours for that and I would recommend you use that time to unwind and relax. Your next class is with me at half past two. This class will be four hours long and will be dedicated to increasing your respective ranks.”
“That is a very long class,” Sarah said, with an uncertain look on her face.
“How will we be increasing in rank?” Morgan asked excitedly.
“Yes, it is a long class; but there is a reason for that. Have either of you two heard of a special kind of animal called a beast?”
Both of them nodded emphatically.
“We killed a dire-flame bear on the way here. It was not an easy fight,” Morgan supplied.
Gold’s eyes widened a touch. “A dire-flame bear, you say? That’s quite impressive, considering that it only takes a quarter of all damage from mage abilities.”
Morgan inwardly cringed when he heard that.
They were more lucky to have survived that encounter than he had previously thought.
“Anyway, we will be going to special areas that the academy keeps for training students. There are special portals set up to take us to places called Beast Zones. In those areas, beasts are quite common, though we won’t be going to areas where their ranks are too high. The cores we collect will go towards raising your respective ranks. When we get back, you’re free for the night. Supper is served until eleven, so you can go whenever you like.”
“When are we supposed to fight in ranked matches?” Sarah asked. “The day is kind of full.”
“Ranked matches are held from seven in the evening until nine for first years, so you should have plenty of time. Remember, you only need to fight in a ranked match once a week, so making time for it shouldn’t be too hard. Now do you have any other questions?”
They thought for a minute, then both shook their heads.
“Then I’ll wish you both a good night,” Gold said, rising from his seat. “Oh, and one more thing. Sarah, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you this; but Morgan, I expect you take at least one bath a day. We’ll be working hard and you’ll really start to stink if you don’t bathe. Someone will collect and clean your dirty clothes each day if you leave them in that bin.”
He pointed to a white bin, with a covered top near the front door.
The two of them wished him a good night and he walked into his side of the house. They heard the distinct click of a lock as the door closed behind him.
“That is a lot to take in,” Sarah said as the two of them headed into their section of the house.
“Tell me about it!” Morgan said excitedly.
He could hardly wait the extra day for the term to begin. Just the thought of going into those Beast Zones Gold had mentioned made his fingers twitch in anticipation.
Sarah wished him a good night, reminding him to take a bath and closed her door behind her.
Morgan was less thrilled about this, but agreed that it was necessary.
He didn’t want to stink up his new clothes right when he put them on.
After a surprisingly refreshing few minutes in the bath, Morgan was curled up under the fluffiest blanket he had ever felt.
The bed was soft and warm and despite his excitement for the coming days, he was sound asleep within minutes.
18
Arnold ground his teeth in frustration, debating breaking out of the small cell where he was confined.
Three weeks. He’d been stuck in this damn cell for three weeks.
As soon as they’d caught up with him, the guards of City Six had arrested him and Weasel. When they returned to the city, they’d been thrown into cells and had had no contact with anyone for two whole days.
After that, it had taken him an entire week just to convince them to send a message to Lord Simon. He was still waiting for an answer.
He had decided to be patient, but he had his limits. If they didn’t let him out in the next two days, he’d be releasing himself and anyone who tried to stop him would meet an early grave.
There was the sound of a door slamming up above and soon the face of the guard captain came into view, lit by flickering torchlight.
“Here to mock me some more, Captain?” Arnold asked in a flat tone.
The Captain was understandably unhappy with him for killing two of his guards. But it wasn’t his fault those men were so weak. All he’d done was throw them, even someone at rank 8 should have survived that.
“I’m here to let you out,” th
e man said, through gritted teeth. “For some reason, I’ve been ordered to release you; though I argued with the city lord for a week about it.”
So he’d been stuck here an extra week because of this asshole. Arnold felt his fists tighten at his sides.
He would return once this job was over, and kill him for it.
There was a rattling of keys as the captain opened the cell for him and Arnold made sure to thank the man as he passed, giving him his widest smile.
He blinked a few times, shading his eyes as he emerged into bight sunlight. Weasel was waiting there for him with their horses already saddled and ready to go.
He nodded at the man and swung up into the saddle. The two of them rode in silence until they were well outside the city gates.
“So which way are we headed?” Arnold asked.
“South, toward the Central Kingdom. That is their most likely destination.”
Arnold grunted in reply and turned his gaze back to the road ahead.
He couldn’t wait to get this job over with.
∞
Morgan rushed around his room, desperately trying to tug on his second boot while still pulling up his pants.
Of course he’d overslept. The one morning where he had to be on time and they were going to be late because of him.
“Are you ready yet?”
The shout came from Sarah, who was pacing impatiently outside his door.
“Just give me another minute!” he yelled back, finally getting his pants up and cinching them with the straps at his waist.
“We have to be in the main square in ten minutes and it’s at least a twenty minute walk!”
Morgan slammed the door open to see a very angry looking Sarah waiting there for him. She was dressed in her own canvas uniform and had her long red hair tied back in a braid.
“We can make it in ten if we run,” Morgan said.
“Oh, hell no! I am not running! If we have to run, then you’re going to carry me,” she said, placing her hands on her hips and daring him to fight back.
“Alright, fine. My agility is probably higher than yours, so you’d just slow me down anyway,” Morgan said, as he opened the front door.
Sarah was about to reply indignantly, when Morgan bent down and scooped her over his shoulder eliciting a loud shriek of protest.
“Put me down!” she yelled, attracting the attention of several of their neighbors.
“Didn’t you want me carry you?” Morgan asked, setting her down on the ground.
“I meant on your back, not like a sack of flour, dumbass!”
“Oh yeah, that would make more sense,” he said sheepishly, turning his back and crouching to allow her to climb on.
She really did need to watch her language. He wasn’t really sure where a noblewoman would pick up such a bad habit.
He heard her huff in annoyance as she climbed onto his back and felt her arms wrap around his shoulders. He made sure he had a good grip under her thighs before straightening and took a few seconds to become accustomed to her weight; then took off running towards the main building.
They pair made quite the odd sight and they got more than a few strange looks as Morgan sprinted by, but no one said anything. As he ran, he became very aware of her pressed up against him. Her soft body rubbing up against his and the feeling of his hands cupped under her thighs.
She’d definitely put on some weight in the last few weeks, he thought as he readjusted his grip.
Just under five pounds if his guess was correct, though it was likely more from muscle gain instead of fat.
He didn’t think mentioning this to her would be a good idea, so he wisely kept it to himself.
They made it into the square just as the bell began tolling and Morgan breathed a sigh of relief as he saw they’d made it in time.
Luckily for Sarah, all of the other students were facing the stage and she was able to slide off Morgan’s back before anyone noticed.
He looked over at her as they joined the crowd of new students and made their way to the front.
Her face was all red and flushed, though he wasn’t sure why. After all, he’d been the one running; not her.
They stopped near the front of the crowd and he was about to ask her is she was feeling ill, when someone on the stage began speaking.
All the students quieted immediately and Morgan turned his attention upward, where a woman in an official looking uniform was looking down at them.
He could see several dozen men and women standing behind her, all looking out at the crowd. After a moment of searching, he spotted Gold among them and felt his nerves settle somewhat.
“Welcome, one and all, to the Central Academy for Mages and Supers. My name is Loquin and I am your Headmistress.”
Her voice boomed out over the open courtyard and Morgan wondered what kind of skill she was using to get this effect.
“As you know, this school is dedicated to helping those with abilities hone their skills and work for the betterment of their countries.”
Here she nodded at a group of well dressed individuals standing off to one side and surrounded by guards.
Most likely the nobles, Morgan thought as he looked over.
“You were all given tests when you applied and seeing as you’re still here; you all obviously passed.”
She stopped here and everyone gave her a polite laugh. To Morgan, it sounded more like sounds of discomfort than actual humor.
He had no idea why they were faking laughter at a time like this.
“However, only fifty students from each class earned a scholarship this semester. I will be reading out the names. When your name is called, please step forward.”
A low murmuring went through the crowd as Headmistress Loquin pulled a folded sheet of paper out of her pocket and began reading off names.
One by one, students began moving through the crowd until they stood out in front. Finally, Sarah’s name was called and she gave him a nervous glance before stepping forward.
“These are the top fifty students in the mage class for your year,” Loquin continued. “Remember their names and faces. They are the one’s to beat if you want a scholarship during your next semester.”
She then took out another piece of paper and Morgan felt his heart rate increase. When he finally heard his name called, he moved forward in a daze; feeling the eyes of hundreds on him as he did.
When the last name was called out, Loquin said the same thing about them being the best in their class.
She then turned to the men and women standing behind her.
“Which students would you like to choose?”
Several of them stepped forward and Morgan felt his heart skip a beat as he heard Sarah’s name mentioned by several of them. He looked over to where she stood at the front of the crowd of mages; she looked nervous as well.
“I will be taking Sarah on as a student.”
The entire crowd on the stage quieted instantly as Gold stepped forward with a half smile.
“I’ll also be taking Morgan from the super class.”
Morgan didn’t move as all the people around him turned to stare.
Why was Gold’s declaration getting so much attention?
After a moment of shocked silence Loquin finally spoke up.
“Are you sure?”
She sounded surprised, though Morgan didn’t know why a teacher offering to do his job would garner that sort of reaction.
“Quite sure,” he answered, in a calm tone.
“Very well,” Loquin said, turning back to the crowd.
“Sarah from the mage class and Morgan from the super class; please walk around the side of the stage and wait for your new instructor.”
Morgan walked forward quickly, seeing Sarah do the same.
He felt very uncomfortable with every eye in attendance staring at him and he wanted to get out of sight as soon as he could.
They quickly made their way around the stage and soon lost sight of the crowd.
“I did not like that,” Morgan said, as the two of them came to a stop. “I’ve never felt so uncomfortable in my life!”
Sarah nodded in agreement.
“If I don’t have to do that for another hundred years, it’ll be too soon!”
“Glad you survived that,” Gold said, walking around the corner with a smile. “Ready to begin your training?”
Morgan folded his arms and glared at him.
“After you tell us why everyone reacted the way they did when you said you’d teach us.”
“You noticed that, huh?” Gold said, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.
Sarah and Morgan both nodded, the former even glaring at him.
“Well, I may have understated my importance at the school a bit,” he began evasively.
“What do you mean, ‘a bit’?” Sarah asked.
Gold sighed and let his shoulders slump a bit.
“Fine. If you must know, I am the highest ranked mage at the academy. I am also the deputy Headmaster and I haven’t taken on a student in the last eighty or so years.”
19
“And you didn’t think it was important to mention any of this beforehand?” Sarah practically yelled.
“No, not really,” Gold said with a shrug, not in the least bit apologetic.
“I thought we were trying to keep a low profile,” Morgan said. His tone was calm, unlike Sarah’s. “Isn’t being taught by someone in your position going to do the exact opposite of that?”
“Well… It’s not really important right now,” he answered. “I doubt we’ll have any issues, and besides; the lessons you’ll get with me will be far more beneficial to your growth.”
“How?” they both asked, at the same time.
“As I’ve already pointed out, I’m quite knowledgeable when it comes to Morgan. As for you, Sarah; do you really think just anyone will have access to a Beast Zone, every day for four hours?”
“Doesn’t everyone train in these Beast Zones?” Sarah asked, now a little less sure of herself.