Beep! Beep!
It was already 6:30 am and I still felt like I needed more sleep. The night was getting shorter than the days, at least that's how I saw it.
Sure as hell I got at least seven hours of sleep but I still feel I deserve more.
A wise one once said that one can never get enough sleep.
Oh! I'm that wise one.
It was time to go back to that dreadful place they called a classroom but today I decided to do it a little more differently than I used.
Perhaps, I will try to approach this schoolwork with a more optimistic spirit and see how it goes. Maybe it would work out just fine for me.
I'd love that.
So I took a deep breath, got off my cosy bed and spread out my curtains, taking in more deep breaths and absorbing the beautiful warm rays of the early morning sun.
Hurried brushing and a refreshingly cold shower, you know how that goes. Within a few minutes I was done but here was the biggest obstacle of it all.
I stood at the door of my dorm thinking to myself if I had to really do this. However, that was a meaningless thought since I had no choice but to do so.
The sad fate of the son of a noble family.
My father, Lord Dickens Sr. Nuttinson of the Nuttinson Family, was never the type that cared for others' opinions concerning matters that he had made up his mind on.
The day after I turned eighteen, I was shipped off like a slave to the Zenith Academy For Warlocks & Witches for my compulsory magic training.
Yeah, in case I have not said this before, it applies to everyone — most especially noble blood.
With the consistent rise in the population of magical beasts and occurrences of strange magical phenomena in the realm, the leaders of this world came together at one time and made an iron rule.
"Every child who has awakened their magic must sign up for the entrance exams for their compulsory training in the Zenith Academy For Warlocks & Witches after they turn eighteen."
But that's kind of silly, to be honest, not everyone wants to be a warlock or a witch.
However, I do understand their concerns but there's nothing to worry about since I'm in this world... just that they did not know that yet.
As expected of me, I aced the entrance exam and started my probation year of study or what they like to fancily call the 'first year' here so they don't hurt their feelings.
For what it's worth, 'probation' does make it feel like you don't belong in the academy yet.
As I thought about it, the memory of what happened yesternight flashed in my mind. I paused and thought about it for a minute.
I made a simple conclusion — something was coming... something big.
Unfortunately, I didn't know what yet but I will have to find out.
There's no better place to start than going back to the kidnapping of Jasmine.
There were lots of questions I need answered concerning the event.
Recalling myself to my actual world, I heaved a deep sigh and pulled my doorknob, entering the hallway of the first floor of the Zenith Dorm For Warlocks.
"It's going to be a good day. I can feel it," I said, attempting to boost my morale to its highest.
...
...
...
The hallways of the academy were as lively as ever and buzzing with scholars — warlocks and witch apprentices.
"Hey, Dee."
"Hello, Dee."
"How are you, Dickens?"
I rolled my eyes at the incessant greetings. I think my mouth started to ache at how much of them I had to reply.
Exhausting!
I would have given up already if I didn't remember that I was facing everything today with the utmost optimism.
It was just a few minutes before the start of class, so I was a bit early.
— Emerald Class, Second Year —
I took my usual seat between Elizabeth Osvenor and Jasmine Barley.
"Hello Dee," Liz greeted me.
I turned to her and smiled. "Hey, Liz."
She looked at me as if she was expecting that I wouldn't say anything, probably because of yesterday but I'm over that.
It's none of my business.
"She's still not here," I muttered, looking at Jasmine's empty seat.
Miss Double D waltzed into the classroom with a thick book in one hand and a small black bag in the other.
As usual, Greg almost started to slobber as he gazed upon her curved body.
Her well-fitted red gown was not doing much good to Greg since it accentuated her natural curves, making it even more distinct.
"Alright! Good morning," she said, adjusting her gown and picking up a marker on her table.
"M... A... N... A."
That was the word she wrote on the whiteboard — Mana.
"Today, we will be talking about something very common. Something that's everywhere yet unseen. The very energy of our world and the source of the magic we practice today — Mana."
Like many of the males in the Emerald class even if I struggled to follow what Miss Dorian was teaching.
Not with how she looked. Her appearance was getting all the attention instead of the teaching session.
Everyone nodded at intervals, pretending to understand.
It was until one of us was called did the rest realise that they had not been following.
Unfortunately, it was Greg — Gregory Broomborn, the nerd of the Emerald class and one of its best students.
...
...
...
Gregory was fidgeting, beads of sweat wet his face and dropped down to his table.
He adjusted his glasses with his trembling hand so many times that I lost count.
"Hmm. Perhaps an optimistic spirit does pay off. Seems like today will be fun," I thought.
I never thought I'd see the day that Gregory Broomborn would fail a question.
That was a rarity.
"Mana... Ma-mana is the e-e-energy," he stuttered.
"Calm down, Greg," Miss Double D encouraged him. This was followed by an outburst of laughter from the rest of the class.
Greg was as red as a tomato from embarrassment and lowered his head in shame.
What he didn't know was that no one could answer the question if he couldn't.
Heaving a deep sigh, I decided to apply my optimistic spirit and save the day.
I understood the concept of mana and how it worked perfectly, so that wouldn't be so wonderful to Miss Dorian.
Just as I was about to raise my hand and answer, the door flung open and she worked in.
As usual, she gained everyone's attention instantly, even Miss Double D's.
The brief moment of silence was broken by the teacher.
"Miss Jasmine Barley, I presume."
Jasmine turned her, "Yes, ma'am," she answered.
She turned back to face the entire class and with undue pride and confidence, she declared...
"The Queen is back."