"Well I passed" sighed a friendly looking youth as he looked at a ranking sheet along with other students.
All around this list other students wearing robes could be seen either celebrating or lamenting their results.
However how could this not be the scene when testing for enrollment into one of the Premier schools for magic and knighthood.
The name of this Institute was Adraveon, a school that was famed for its long history and immense wealth of knowledge pertaining to the arcane. The school had produced some of the biggest names in history whether it be mages or knights. It is said that one would become a better mage from simply walking the corridors.
The youth however didn't seem very ecstatic contrare to his peers, then again he looked quite different compared to the rest. Having opted out of wearing robes he instead wore a sturdy looking leather armor hidden beneath a dark travelers cloak upon his back a large gunbei could be seen which was perhaps his most noticeable trait.
Suddenly he felt a heat emanating from his pocket, reaching inside he pulled out a crystal like mirror.
"So did you pass" came a cruel sounding voice though it was colored with a contrasting warmth.
"I did" answered the youth with a sigh.
"Of course you did, what else should I expect from my descendant" came a raucous laughter.
"Death" answered the youth.
"Still going to hold that against me, Feras have I not been punished enough already? I am already banned from using my magic and casting spells... watching as my kin were slayed without a way to defend them? How much longer will you hold this grudge against me?" asked the old voice.
"Have you forgotten I share in your punishment, no spellcraft is permitted for anyone of your lineage.. if it wasn't so we wouldn't be the last of the Tullani" answered Feras.
The other end was silent for only a moment before a malicious cackle was heard.
"Who are you trying to fool, your quite gifted in those runes I taught you but I am very aware of your self practice. You have a nasty habit of not returning things you borrow, though I must say you take after me in that regard... but I am not upset, those tomes are worthless to me but will serve you well." answered the old voice.
"Old man why are you really calling" sighed Feras aware there was an ulterior motive behind the call.
"What I can't check on my great grandson on his first day of school?" feigned the old man.
"I don't think you're the type, so spill it" growled Feras as shadows bent towards him for a moment.
"I just wanted to remind you of our position in the mage world, and you know our standing among the tables better than I" sighed the old man.
"You think I would forget.... thanks for checking in old man. I'm getting another call" answered Feras as he. hung up.
However as soon as he did so a hologram like figure popped out of his crystal mirror.
"
"Welcome to Adraveon Institute of Magic and Steel, for those of you who were able surpass the odds and become one of our students I congratulate you and wish you some of the best years of your lives. All I ask of you is to study diligently and represent Adraveon according to our standards. You are all now dismissed, your dorms have already been assigned simply meet with the boarding administrator and he will hand you your keys." spoke a elegant looking man with heavily embroidered robes, this person was the headmaster of Adraveon Institute and one of the strongest mages in the world, Prune.
.....
Among the crowd of young Knights and mages stood a black haired youth with a gunbei upon his back, while others met with their friends who had managed to make it he went straight to the boarding administration building.
Looking at his supplies one would hardly believe him to be a student of the Institute, merely carrying paper, ink, and a brush. This was an oddity even in this incredible world.
....
It was an uneventful trip to the boarding administration building, while others celebrated being accepted the youth simply went about his business allowing him to be the first to arrive.
...
Upon entering the youths eyes did widen a bit, it was quite a bit larger inside than it appeared on the outside.
'Similar to my own storage methods' noted the youth.
"About time you showed up, your first day and your already late" barked a rugged looking Knight with one leg.
"I didn't realize one could be late to collect their dorm keys" answered the youth in response.
"Pick up your dorm keys?...." repeated the old man realization dawning on him.
"Sorry about that" smiled the old man as his grizzled demeanor became a bit fluffed.
"I confused you for my new assistant" explained the old man hopping about the room as he grabbed a registry.
"Now what was your name" asked the old man.
"My name is Feras Tullani" answered Feras revealing his name though at the last name the old man's pen broke.
"Could you repeat that last name..." Asked the old man staring at Feras intently.
"Tullani" repeated Feras causing the old man to grit his teeth.
"You dirty little heathen, you think the world has forgotten that you are forbidden from using magic" growled the old man.
Feras immediately narrowed his eyes.
"Be careful how you speak to me old man" stated Feras as the candles in the room flickered.
"The clan Tullani is forbidden but I do not practice spells, you think I would be welcomed here otherwise" stated Feras with a deadly tone.
The old man felt a chill enter his bones as shadows seemed to become tendrils begging to grab him.
"I am a seal master" continued Feras as he looked at the old man and the pressure disappeared revealing a goofy smile.
"O-of course, a seal master.... but I thought they were wiped out..." questioned the old man as he recalled their being a clan that created the branch art but the secrets to working it should have been lost with them.
"We did wipe them out" chuckled Feras as if he was telling a joke.
The old man felt his anger die in his throat up on hearing this.
Wishing to be done with this person the old man quickly grabbed Feras's dorm key and threw at the youth.
"Your business here is done, so get out of here before I skin you alive" barked the old man causing Feras to laugh a bit more.
"I'm going I'm going, don't give yourself a heart attack you washed up steel slinger" responded Feras causing the old man to growl.
...
Feras left the boarding administration building, key in hand and once again became aloof. He disliked the stigma placed upon him because of the wrongs his great grandfather committed.
His family was now nearly extinct with him being the last of the Tullani, Knights had made it a sort of game to hunt his bloodline for sport. With them being forbidden from using classic spellcraft it was like shooting fish in the barrel for these 'heroes' of the common people.
The very thought of this caused Feras's blood to boil, they were once regarded as the strongest because of their ability to dissect spells and recreate them mid battle. However because his ancestor had developed a lust and greed for power he alone became what is now known as a Dark Magician. One of the most feared at that, entire legacies of Magic were snuffed and robbed by him and in the end it was only the Tullani that were able to stop him.
However this fact was overlooked by the people and the Tullani as a whole were punished, and their punishment was a death sentence to them and their descendants.
....
Feras shook his head clear of his musings as he found his dwelling to be less than stellar.
Well it would be more accurate to call it sloppy, he could see several upperclassmen lazing about or goofing off.
As he got closer a few of those upperclassmen took notice and came out, he thought perhaps it would be to greet him but this was quickly found to be wishful thinking.
"Guys we got our new gopher" called a larger knight if the maul by his side was anything to go off of.
His call seemed to awaken those lethargic people laying around the dorm. As they gathered at the entrance Feras continued though a sigh escaped his lips.
Suddenly paper slips appeared in his hands causing the upperclassmen to become confused. However when the first paper was allowed to drop and went off in a fiery explosion it seemed to set some alarms off as they began lose their grins.
"Paper Bombs? What kind of Magic is that" muttered a mage with red hair her eyes shimmering with delight.
"Hey Shugo, I don't think this kid is in the mood.... maybe we should leave him alone" called a white haired mage.
The Knight holding the large maul tightened his hands around his weapon and lifted it to his shoulder.
"Why are you guys acting scared of a acolyte, he isn't about to use those things against us. It's against the rules to kill a fellow student" encouraged Shugo as he stepped to the front only to have a slip of paper land on his chest.
Everyone stared at the slip of paper for a moment before it suddenly erupted and Shugo was blown up. The smoke cleared to reveal his armor was destroyed and he was knocked out.
"To think I wouldn't resort to extreme methods when encountering unexpected odds was a foolish gamble." came Feras's words reminding those present that he was still approaching.
"Uh those in favor of skipping this one raise your hand" suggested a green haired Knight.
In a unanimous vote it seemed everyone was for the notion. After all how could they expect a acolyte to be so willing to blow people up on his first day.
Feras passed through the crowd unhindered and only stopped after making it through the group.
"Actually could I ask one of you to show me to my dorm" asked Feras blankly causing the rest of the dorm to face fault.
'This is the guy who just went mad bomber on us....' was the group thought.
"Don't worry guys I got this" laughed the red haired mage from before.
"Show me your key" sighed the girl as she lead Feras.