I enjoy my time with Quentin and co, they are the only ones I developed a rapport with. Sometimes we would study at the library, other times we could attempt some practical works, more like they would though, I was just an observer.
Hanging out with them in contrast to the troll-trio is better and I don't feel my brain cells diminishing everytime I listen to them. I call my three classmates the troll-trio because they have no idea what they are doing most of the time, and are just bent on annoying me in any way they can.
***
While taking physics classes today, the instructor told me I could get promoted early to the lab of the second years if I performed the next set of practicals successfully without and obtained the desired results with minimal errors.
He said this to me after concluding the class for the day. The weird-trio obviously heard it and couldn't disguise their reactions.
Bianca had a sour look and her friend's eyes held traces of helplessness, she was the one who worked the hardest amongst them.
Reinard looked calm but his arms were trembling. I don't know why though. It's my progress, how does this affect him?
After the class ended I stood up, making my usual stride to the library.
"Hey!" Reinard called out.
Of course I didn't answer, my name's not 'hey'.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!!" He shouted louder this time.
'Ignore this fool it'll pass.' I thought.
The idiot decided to grab my backpack and unleash a fire spell on it.
"..."
"You fool! You think just because the instructor praised..."
He was talking but I heard nothing at that moment. My books, my research notes, records of my practical work were in that bag.
I looked at him speechless.
"You can't talk? Hey!" He pushed my shoulder with his hand.
I stared at him.
'You've gotten my attention.'
I no longer saw him as some idiot. He was now an obstacle, a hindrance to my progress.
He tried to push my shoulder again, this time I held onto it.
Due to our height difference I could not reach his face, so I drew him downwards with my left hand and used my right hand to grab his face. I made a turn towards the wall with my hand still on his face using the momentum I moved my whole body and slammed the back of his head to the wall.
With his body frame that attack wouldn't do much, apart from stunning him. The next attack I released was meant to do him more harm and cause as much trauma as possible.
With my palm still on his face, I released a sufficient amount of flames. He tried to move but it was too late, I stared at him as I burnt his face.
"Ahh!!"
My hand wasn't big enough to grasp his whole face. His nose, eyes and forehead were held down by me but his mouth roamed free. That was only for a moment because he lost consciousness immediately after.
With his condition he could still be healed but his hair would take a while to grow. I stopped after dealing enough damage.
After the deed was done, I looked down at my backpack, everything was burnt beyond recognition. I looked at his face, it was burnt beyond recognition too. Well, they had to match.
Not caring about anything else, I opened the door and went to the instructor's office to report what just happened.
I went to meet the head instructor and also the one in charge of chemistry, Sir Jonathan.
***
Jonathan Winston, a middle aged man with major accolades in the field of Chemistry. Currently he was in his office, pondering on what to do with the entrants.
'Normally, the promotion of the new students shouldn't be a problem but with the inclusion of the oddball known as Oscar promotion would be uneven.
He learns faster than his peers. The last practical was a cakewalk for him, if I wasn't his instructor from the beginning I would have thought he had done this before.
There's no negative effect to this with the exception of the morale of his classmates getting dampened. In spite of that, their envy wouldn't lead to anything drastic.'
Jonathan's line of thought was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in."
"Good day Sir."
Oscar greeted Jonathan who then urged him to take a seat.
"What brings you to my office?"
"I need to report an incident that just happened a few minutes ago."
"Hmm, what was it."
Oscar proceeded to recount and explain what happened.
"What?!" Jonathan exclaimed in shock.
The thing was, he and every other person in the establishment thought of Oscar as a non-mage. Even when some of them like Jonathan knew he was the supposed prodigy at some point they thought the most he could do compared to an actual mage was party tricks.
He lowered his head, placing his fingers between his brows, this info was already a headache.
'What exactly is this boy?'
If it was just a mere scuffle, both parties would be punished appropriately and placed on probation, but according to what he described...
"Where is Reinard?"
"He should still be in the classroom."
"Should??"
"..."
"Let's go."
They left for the classroom. Upon arrival, Mr Jonathan came across a figure with half of his face charred.
The face of the once handsome boy, now bore a semblance to burnt fries.
Bianca and Jane were still present in the classroom. They were shivering, never seeing such degree of violence play out in front of them, it had a strong effect.
They had ignored him before but he also returned the favour. This unnerved them, causing them to provoke him at any chance they had. He did not react to anything they threw his way.
Intentionally bumping into him, insulting him and trying so many things. The only reaction they evoked was one of indifference.
Reinard even showed up and immediately humiliated him for his lack of talent. He turned a deaf ear, leaving the space immediately.
This was how it went on till today. The news of him getting promoted to a higher level before them was the straw that broke the camel's back. They felt the need to do him dere, merely thinking of it but not acting on it yet.
Reinard was the only one to take such action. He burnt Oscar's bag, finally gaining his attention. What happened after the ordeal, is what has caused them to tremble and remain unmoving for the past few minutes.
Inspecting Reinard's body, Jonathan displayed a neutral expression. Reinard's face was burnt but his condition was still okay. In fact with a few healing spells he should be back to normal, save for the hair everything would be back to normal.
His mental health in this case, had taken a drastic hit. He'll need to undergo therapy.
'The punishment for this action is expulsion but...'
Jonathan glanced at Oscar again an idea coming to mind.
He bent down, placing his hand on Reinard's head, casting a healing spell.
He was a syne-three water mage, capable of healing critical cuts, wounds and burns. Only a light mage was capable of making Reinard's hair grow back.
What made water healing magic and light healing magic different was that of mana generation. A water mage could only heal an individual by using the mana present in themselves or the person, using it to nurture and repair the body of the individual. A light mage could use their own, the person's own, or mana from the surroundings, using it to boost the healing process of the body. It is almost three times faster than that of a water mage. But good light mages were rare, most of them belonging to the royal family.
After Jonathan was done, Reinard's entire face was healed. The only noticable thing was that he was bald all over, no hair on his head, no eyelashes, no eyebrows, nothing at all.
Oscar's POV
After taking Reinhard to the clinic, we all followed Mr. Jonathan to his office, while he took his seat. Bianca and Jane were still a bit tense, trying to stay as far as they could from me.
"Yes Sir!" We all answered.
"Bianca, Jane, see the lady at room fifteen before you leave."
They both nodded.
"You may leave."
After they left, Mr Jonathan pondered a bit with his hand on his chin, shifting his focus to my direction, he gestured with his hands.
"Take a seat."
Preparing myself for the lecture and scolding, I sat down.
"You do know that your actions were deserving of an expulsion from the institute."
"I do."
"Well, to be honest I'm not planning to do that."
'Yes, from the way you have handled the case so far, I understood.'
"However..." Jonathan expression changed as his narrowed.
"We'll have to talk about the conditions for you to continue your study here."