The lecture hall was bursting with students…
First years? Second years? Third years? So many wanted to attend! After all, today would be the start of a LEGEND! Oh, and they were all whispering excitedly:
"Hehe, I'm so glad we got here before the sun rose!"
"Of course, else we wouldn't have gotten a seat."
"5000 seats, and they're all full! It's crazy!"
"Pfft— Of course! Look at him!"
Teacher Aldor Heinrich was already on stage. In fact, he had been the very first to arrive, even before the day began! Even now, he was calmly awaiting the start of the event.
Above his head, one could see two Banners:
— Wonders of Magic! —
— Alchemy! —
The second one? No one cared about it at all. But that first one? They couldn't wait to be blessed by their idol's life experiences! After all, he was really special…
"I still can't believe that Teacher's Aldor's only 20!"
"He's younger than some students and already a Teacher!"
"Hehe, I pity the sham that has to go against him. How can he compete?"
"He can't, and yet he must. Did you hear? Teacher Gale screwed up big time!"
The legend of his "feat" at the Mana-Testing Facility had already circulated, albeit the details were utterly lost. Curse? No way! Alchemy supplies reacting badly with the test!
But they weren't the only ones badmouthing him. On the side, four impressive-looking Senior Teachers kept clicking their tongues whenever Gray or Gale was mentioned.
A certain alchemist in the back…
"That brat's still not here?" Old Red couldn't help but massage his brows in annoyance. This freaking guy! Had he forgotten the time?! Now wasn't the time to act spoiled!
Just as he was fuming, he suddenly saw an Alchemy Student rushing toward him. He had sent this one to remind Teacher Gale of his duties.
"So, how is it? He's on his way, right?"
"T-That, I couldn't find him at all! I'm sorry, Teacher!"
"WHAT?! He's not at his place? Ah, did you check the Alchemy Department?"
"I-I did, and he actually went there before sunrise, but… It's really weird he…"
What was up with that hesitation? But as the student finally shared the story, Old Red felt like vomiting blood. Burning Mustang Blood— And enough of it to kill a horse?!
His whole body shook. Performance-Enhancing drug AND aphrodisiac? What for?! Also, that quantity?! Was he planning to feed an army, or was he committing suicide?!
Oh god! What now?! He was the one who had recommended him as a Teacher! Had he not been a Mage, his heart would have long stopped. And, of course, HE came to rub it in…
"Oh? Old Red, what happened to your protégée?"
The old Alchemist-cum-judge asked, his worried frown not hiding in the least the gloating in his voice. This old rival from the Alchemy Division, Old Blue, absolutely HATED him!
"Oh, don't worry about him. I'm sure he's merely getting prepared." — Or doing god knows what with some minx. God Fucking Dammit!
This was BAD! Running late or skipping altogether? An enemy on the judging panel! A genius as his opponent? A crowd clearly in love with said Genius? Could it get any worse?!
Yes, and it's at that precise moment that it did!
There were suddenly baffled murmurs from the helping staff. At first they were shocked, then confused, and they finally resolved themselves as they went toward the stage.
The Alchemy Banner? They mercilessly took it down. Seeing this, many couldn't help but exclaim in shock.
"T-They're taking down the Banner? Is it canceled?"
"Don't tell me that he actually ran away?!"
"Pfft— Talk about embarrassing!"
"Wait, they're not done…"
That's when the entire Class suddenly realized that they weren't just taking down the Banner but also replacing it. But as they saw the new wording, they went crazy!
— Wonders of Magic! —
— Worthlessness of Magic! —
"What is this?! Magic being worthless? At a Magic Academy?!"
"Oh god, look at the two banners together… It's WAR!"
"Wonders VS Worthlessness. Is he freaking mad?!"
"Does that mean he's actually coming?"
They looked at the time. The Class was supposed to start at any moment, so where was he?! As minutes and seconds elapsed, the atmosphere turned incredibly tense.
Finally, at the last minute…. Gray still didn't appear. Nope, but a judge did go on stage, a confused look on his face. "Well, since Teacher Gale isn't here, he'll be disqualif—"
— SLAM! SLAM!
The lecture hall's door was slammed open!
It seemed Teacher Gale had made it at the very last second— WTF?! What the hell was that?! Teacher? Nope! All they could see was a monster covered in blood and entrails.
As Gray went toward the stage, he left puddles of blood in his wake. The entire place turned deadly silent, everyone's brains still processing the stupefying scene.
As he took his spot on the stage, he even acted as if nothing was wrong…
"Teacher Aldor, nice day, isn't it?"
"T-Teacher Gale?! N-Nice day… but are you alright?"
Even the ever-composed Aldor Heinrich questioned the world. What was wrong with this guy?! The whole Exam thing, swaggering into his courtyard, and now this?!
But while he still remained cordial, it wasn't the same for a certain judge….
"GRAY GALE, what is the meaning of this?! What do you think you're doing?!" Old Blue wasn't just angry—he was fuming! Yet, instead of cowering, Gray smiled at him.
"Ah? Today, Aldor and I are lecturing. See those banners above? Hmm, maybe the writing's too small for a senior citizen. Tch—who's responsible for this?"
Gray glared at the staff reproachfully.
As for the crowd, they suddenly couldn't keep their mouths closed. T-This guy! Had he just compared the almighty judge to a senile old mortal?! HOLY SHIT!
"YOU! You think I don't know that?! Can't you see this armband? I'm one of the bloody judges! I'm—"
"You know? Then why are you wasting our time? Is this a game to you?!"
"You're the one who's defiling the sanctity of—"
But before he could complete his rant, he froze, even more incensed. Gray could be seen shaking his head, murmuring something about a greenhouse judge afraid of a little blood.
Even the students felt like contesting! A little blood? He looked like had taken a blood shower, then a blood bath, ending it all in a blood sauna! Luckily, Aldor intervened.
"Esteemed judges, can we proceed? While my colleague's state is… inhabitual, it shouldn't stop any of us from teaching. That's what we're all here for today, isn't it?"
"As expected of Teacher Heinrich!"
"His heart is bigger than the world!"
"Meanwhile, Teacher Gale's covered in hearts..."
Comparison really was the mother of disappointment. Still, that's when one of the judges went forward, addressing the crowd.
"Now, as you know, today we are hosting not one but two lectures: Wonders of Magic and … cough cough... Worthlessness of Magic. Here's the twist: The two will speak at once!"
What?! Wouldn't it get very cacophonic? But that's when the judge presented a Student Badge to the crowd.
"We'll be testing a new lecture hall spell. It goes like this…"
Ah?! So that's what it was! According to the judge, they could use their Student Badge to select which Teacher they wanted to listen to, which would mute the other for them!
But that wasn't all. The listening ratings would be directly visible! As they switched through the options, they realized a small cloud would float above their heads.
Red → Teacher Aldor!
Blue → Teacher Gale!
With this they'd be able to see the trend in lecture interest as soon as it happened! How wonderful was that?! Yet, that's when Gray raised his hand, seemingly to complain.
"Teacher Gale, is there an issue." The judge asked.
The students couldn't help but chuckle. Of course, he'd protest! Otherwise, wouldn't he soon be humiliated as the entire lecture hall turned Aldor red? He freaking would!
"Indeed, there's a big issue. This system won't work at all! Nonono, just look at me, I should definately be red!" He pointed at his bloodied body, still dripping red blood on the ground.
"I-Is that all? You're fine with everything else?" The judge asked skeptic.
"Yep! I'm all set! Ah, actually, there is one thing. Say, Aldor, since we're old colleagues and all, is it alright if…" He whispered the rest in his ear, bloodying his shoulder.
Gray's request? It was simple. When he was ready to deliver his lecture's punchline, he'd give a signal to Aldor, who'd pause his lecture for a few seconds, less distractions and all.
"S-Sure? I don't mind, but it won't really change much…" After all, Mages wouldn't get distracted by a lecture they couldn't hear in the first place.
Still, it really was a small ask, especially considering that the lecture would last 3 hours total. A few seconds wouldn't matter. But to the students, this seemed so mysterious!
"Do you think he's begging him to go easy on him?"
"I don't know, but old colleagues? It hasn't even been 3 days!"
"What is this? There's never a dull moment with this guy, eh?"
It didn't take long to settle all the issues, including the color swap. Then, it was finally time to start it all. The same judge finally gave the go for the fun to begin.
It was instant. The entire crowd turned Aldor Blue!
Wait, no, there was actually a bunch of red! They had forgotten the color swap…
In a matter of seconds, there were now Aldor Blue clouds all over the damn place.
No, in fact, there was only a single red cloud. It came from a certain girl who could be seen cheering her favorite teacher on. Sera? Even now, she believed in him!
Many couldn't help but turn disdainful gazes toward Teacher Gale. Except those disdainful gazes instantly turned into bewilderment. T-This, wasn't there something wrong?!
Above Teacher Gale's head was the same Aldor Blue cloud….
Not only wasn't Gray not saying anything, but he was even listening to his rival's lecture?! What the hell was going on?! Had he given up? And yet, why was he peacefully smiling?!
At this moment, Sera asked what was on everyone's mind!
"T-Teacher, what about your lecture? Shouldn't you start?"
"Oh, that? Just giving him a lead, he'll need it."
"Ah! As expected of Teacher!"
The crowd shuddered even while listening to Aldor. They had read Gray's lips, and their world-view had changed. What was the definition of insanity? GRAY GALE!
He even got into a meditative position and closed his eyes as he kept listening with a smile?! He almost seemed to be sleeping, but little did they know he was furiously fishing souls.
He was so damn close, just a little bit more…