At nine o'clock, all the students were slowly getting into class and conversing with their friends. The atmosphere was light and warm.
I went back to my reserved seat, settling myself next to a group of three friends—probably nobles. I took out my notebook and my mascot plushie pen, "Nana," one of the few things I had left from my long gone mother, Georgia's mother.
"Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed your vacation because now it's study time!" Begin, Miss Claudette, firmly.
"All of you here, as you know, will have to participate in this year's tournament like every senior before you. The tournament is a hard competition that requires a lot of work, so don't slack off!"
"Not only will it impact greatly on your future admissions in your career as a mage, but it also, above all, counts in your final terms! Now that you understand the importance of your presence here, we can truly begin!" She proceeded to further ado her words.
She then wrote on the blackboard, "History of Gefya."
"Before all else, tell me what you know about the history of Gefya." She asked the students.
One student, a man, raised his hands to have permission to speak, to which the teacher agreed.
"Gefya is today one of the strongest countries on the Beroma continent and one of the ones with the highest percentage of mages. But it has not always been this way: we truly began to develop around the thirteenth century—one thousand and three hundred years after the founding queen." He proclaimed himself fully on point.
" Correct! Absolutely correct! Who else?" She continued, asking for the participation of her students.
Another one, this time a girl, decided to display her knowledge.
"We all know that during that century, it's the increase of magical beasts that led to the increase of mages, however, no study has been able to explain why. Recently, during Epola's era, the late grand mage of Mirabel, a neighboring country, we found out due to his contribution that it might have a correlation with the magical beast's functioning."
"It is true indeed; well done, young lady. Now what about the magical beast's functioning? Someone else has any idea?"
"I think I know how, professor!"
"Go ahead, Gino." She said to a short boy full of frizzy red frizzy hair, allowing him to share his thoughts.
"I read from one of Epola's articles that the magical beast's functioning, contrary to what one might think, is actually quite simple. It is eerily similar to the way plants function, as they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, allowing humans to breathe. In the same sense, magical beasts absorb "flu" energy-most of the time harmful for the development of magical powers—and convert it into magic particles, which are fundamental for mages."
" Good! Good! You all didn't disappoint me!" She exclaimed proudly, like a mother seeing her child utter his/her first word, fully satisfied.
"Now that I know that you probably know enough about Gefya and the Magic's history, we are going to deepen our knowledge about the royalty of Gefya and their roles in the country's evolution!"
"So first..."
....
The teacher, Miss Claudette, spent around two hours explaining the "history" of the common history bound to the country's progress—using all the time available for her class.
From what she said, I learned that, similarly to the founding queen, her descendants were particularly attached to the country's magical culture, setting up various events and institutes to promote and celebrate it.
That's how the five-day festival of Gefya came to be once a year, at the beginning of June.
I also retained that the royal family were, for obscure reasons, the few people to never have any magical possessors in the family lineage. Maybe it was because they themselves were never married to any mage. Which I do find odd knowing their history of adulation of those ones.
And from the whispers I heard from time to time, I figured out that one of the said royalty may or may not be attending the academy at this precise moment. But for now, I categorized it as baseless rumors.
And just like that, as I learned more and more about this world and their way of life, the time quickly passed.
Since I never had any proper education or knowledge about the exact stuff going on, that history class actually helped me to clear out most of my unsaid questions.
As to why I didn't have the education, it's because my poor status in the family line didn't allow me to.
Even when I finally gained some recognition, I still didn't have the right to a teacher, as they established that, as a "genius child." I ought to manage myself.
Unfortunately, smartness doesn't equal knowledge, and in addition, I had no books whatsoever to help me.
I only finally had access to information when I began to earn money doing "family" tasks. But I decided to use this money on magical necessities to master my powers.
And so here I am, at fourteen, still assimilating basic knowledge.
Going through the corridors, I thought about eating since I was starving. I only wanted to quickly finish my last class of the day before going to reinvigorate myself in my haven, the cafeteria!
Fortunately for me, there was only one hour left.
Us mage had very little faction's time, as we mostly only needed to train regularly. And moreover, as a senior, the training time was for me to adjust to my needs and priorities. We basically had it really easy.
The only problem was to balance all that; we were the ones required to take on the most missions: whether it was from the bureau (missions ensued by civilians) or from the student council, who were working for the academy's prospects. Which explains my busy afternoon tomorrow...
While lost in my mind, I arrived at my destination: my guidance class with the infamous teacher Bernard. Everyone was already there, waiting in front.
Here, the atmosphere was the polar opposite of the earlier class. The tension was so thick between the students that it seemed it would break.
I internally gulped, unsure of myself. Was I in the right place? Because I hoped no. I really hoped no!
Mister Bernard appeared exactly ten minutes later, a few seconds before the beginning of class. He was a long-legged man who seemed to be in his early thirties… He had long waisted blond hair and a stone like face. While not a heartthrob, he was still considered handsome with his harsh features and slender body.
"You can enter." He said as soon as he showed up, efficiently starting the course.
"Welcome again to my class this year too. You are now pre-adults and ready seniors. And I expect you to uphold your reputation as such."
"Yes, sir!" Everyone replied simultaneously.
-It feels like I'm in the army...
" Great." He said before introducing us to the new program.
"Here's what you are going to do all year around." He said as he channeled his magic, making it form various shapes and moving it around.
" You will learn first of all to control AND guide your magic. Albeit it may look easy for you young people, you will soon understand that we attribute a whole year to it for a reason."
" Ok!" He finished, clapping his hands together. He then scanned the class before pointing at a random person, asking them to come to the front desk. " You! The brown one over there! Yes you! Come here."
The "brown one" was a skinny white girl of medium height. She was wearing a big pair of glasses and dressed somewhat formally: a long ponytail, a long pencil skirt going down to her knees with a blue shirt, a black tie, and gloves.
The fashion trends of this world were sometimes really similar to my original one, people dressing in medieval (mostly nobles for obvious reasons) and modern styles. Although the last one was still quite fresh in the history of fashion.
The girl stood up, self-assured and fearless. She gave the feeling of utter confidence and dignity.
"Yes, teacher?"
"I want you to channel your magic first."
"Yes!" She said while doing so.
She took a few seconds chanting her spells before it visually appeared in the air.
"All right. You can move it in a few circles now?"
"Yes…" she said, a little bit lost. She did not seem to know how to do so. Still, she tried a few times but ultimately failed.
Magic was often used directly in battles without any control. Novice magicians just blindly chanted their magic and moved their hands towards the objectives to touch them.
They did not know how to move them mentally.
"This is what I was talking about! Mind control is your biggest task from now on. You will learn to tame , control, and guide it. Only then will you get the chance to move forward." He said, disciplining the students." But I have no doubts that each of you will be able to do so soon enough!" He added, finally breaking in a slight genuine smile.
- Looks like this class will be quite easy for me then…
As I already knew everything the professor, or Bernard, as he liked to be called, taught us, the time passed alluringly fast. Before I knew it, it was already the end—half falling asleep.
I finally finished my daily schedule, leaving the class. I was now a free man. No, a freed woman!
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"Gorgia Premeson?" Asked Sylvester, standing in front of me.
- Damn, I had forgotten about him...
"What are you doing here?" I asked back without replying.
We were now in the dormitory, in front of my room.
Having forgotten about his request for me to wait for him, I went directly to the cafeteria to take a bite before coming back for a nap. I had only slept for a few minutes when I heard multiple repetitive knocks. Unable to sleep any longer, I had to go see who it was. And that's how we ended here…
"I asked you to wait for me, but you didn't. I searched for you everywhere before having no choice but to come here directly."
"Well, that's unfortunate, but I have no reason to do that."
" You are right... Sorry, I was rude. I should have introduced myself first. I am Sylvester Ocnor Duvalion, a student of the knighthood faction and the president of the student council. Pleased to meet you."
" ….Pleased to meet you as well. I am Gorgia Premeson, student of the magical faction. Is there something you need to tell me?"
"Yes, there is. As requested by the leading committee, you will have to rejoin the student council as a new member. I had to inform you officially of it."
" Huh-what…!? Wait a minute, would you? Who is going to join the student council??"
"You."
"And by who's authority!?"
"The leading committee."
" YES, I KNOW THAT... But my question is, who are they?" I said, losing my demeanor in front of the uncaring man.
" They are the people that oversee the academy's administration," he explained.
"And they have absolute authority, so there is no point fighting against them. At best, if you see yourself unfit, you will be able to leave after the second semester if you request it."
" You mean I will have to stay the WHOLE YEAR!??"