Professor Novil's class came next with another surprise.
"Today we shall talk about the pleasures of learning alchemy!" The professor was staring at me as he said this. "Let me introduce to you, Grand Master Alchemist, Albert Magnus, the head of the Royal Alchemist Association of the empire."
"It's a pleasure to be here and have the opportunity to impart my knowledge to you all," said Grand Master Albert Magnus in an excited, youthful voice which was a contrast to his unkempt image.
He somewhat gave me the impression of a lush forest with his thick brown beard, unruly hair, and thick, moss green coat.
"Woah, that must be the acquaintance Prof. Novil told us about," Arman whispered by my left.
"I can't believe Prof. Novil actually told the empire's head alchemist about you!" Darius mumbled from my right.
"That professor really is a psycho..." I heard Elliot say by Arman's side.
"Don't worry, we have nothing to hide, anyway," I told them confidently which only made Darius groan with anxiety.
"Does anyone here know the difference between an alchemist and an apothecary?" asked the grand master.
Elmer's arm quickly shot up.
"Yes," Grand Master Albert pointed at him.
"An apothecary prepares potions and medicine from known and tested procedures, while an alchemist is the one who discover these formulas and procedures for the apothecary to prepare."
"Correct!" The grand master's green eyes disappeared under his thick brown brows when he smiled. "Basically, alchemists are pioneer inventors and architects who create innovative crafts, machines, potions and medicine – even poison, that could benefit mankind," he explained. "We are forever searching for ways to improve man's way of living, creating all sorts of cures and potions that could grant eternal youth and longevity, we even find ways to transmute objects into something better, like animating golems or turning copper into gold!"
Another arm shot up in the air.
"But Sir, Isn't that what magicians do?" It was Norman, this time. "Turning something into something else, I mean?"
"Ah, but the thing is, alchemists lack the mana cores that magicians possess to make magic, thus, a magician can be an alchemist, but an alchemist can't be a magician."
White teeth gleamed beneath a mess of thick brown beard.
"What alchemists can do, is come up with ways to use mana even without a core, by storing it in sigils to create magical formulas and equations, and to use these formulas and equations to imbue ordinary objects with magic."
This information seem to catch the interest of a lot of our classmates as more hands raised up in the air. Being able to use magic without a mana core sounds very interesting, after all.
"I know this stuff already..." Arman stifled a yawn.
"I want to make my own golem!" said Cat with his hand waving in the air.
"I have to admit, I am quite interested in the topic as well," I told my friends. "It would be more convenient to use charms with sigils drawn on them. That way, I can use several spells at one go, rather than chanting them one spell at a time."
"Then, would you like to be apprenticed under Grand Master Albert?" asked Darius.
I looked back at the grand master.
He was talking animatedly to the rest of the class, his bright green eyes twinkling with passion as he proudly told us about his accomplishments and inventions.
"He looks like a good person."
"Everyone looks like a good person to you," Arman chuckled by my side. "I think your only requirement is to see them smile!"
"That's not true, I mean, some of our seniors smile snidely at us and..."
I knew he was joking when Arman's chuckle turned into a laugh.
"Go for it, Pat!" Elliot told me "You've got nothing to lose anyway, and Grand Master Albert is well known even in the merchants guild as a good and honest man."
"Now, class," Prof. Novil called our attention after Grand Master Albert answered the last question, "since we are currently studying about revenue and taxation, Grand Master Albert will discuss about one of the empires most lucrative businesses as well."
"That is right," Grand Master Albert nodded, "since fewer and fewer people manifest magic in our era, being an alchemist is now a sought after profession with one of the most highest paying salary throughout the empire! I believe two of our students here come from a family of apothecaries?"
Arman jolted up strait on his seat.
"That is correct, Grand Master Albert," Prof. Novil said with his usual cunning smile, "Arman and Norman's families work closely with apothecaries, both are also currently part of the apothecary class in the infirmary."
"O-our family merely trades medicine, professor," Norman said shyly.
"Ah, then Arman must be the genius apothecary I've been hearing about!"
Grand Master Albert walked over to the back of the class where we were seated. He placed a thick, hairy arm on Arman's shoulder and gave him a friendly pat.
"Gentlemen, your classmate here, was able to transform a magic spell of illusion into physical form, with the use of an ingenious formula that he invented on his own!"
The whole class start to mumble, they still remember about Arman's 'mask', after all.
"A-actually, sir," Arman said with a strained smile, "I wasn't the one who invented the cream... It was something our family's apothecary made..."
"Ho! It's the same thing, then, a team effort!" he went on. "I am still amazed by the revolutionary equation you used!"
Arman looked troubled. I, on the other hand, felt flattered by his words. Truth be told, though, the only reason why the magic mask was so ingenious and revolutionary, was because I had to work on it from scratch.
I had nothing to base it on, since the library wasn't accessible at the time, and simply created everything from my own understanding.
"I hope you would accept my invitation as an apprentice, Arman, I'm sure there are a lot of things we can learn from each other!" Grand Master Albert proclaimed. "You are surely meant to be an esteemed alchemist who would bring this empire to new heights!"
"I-is that so?" Arman answered with a perplexed expression. "T-thank you, Grand Master Albert, I'm looking forward to it..."
Grand Master Albert didn't seem to notice that Arman looked anything but happy about his invitation.
"Ugh... my fashion design apprenticeship..." Arman whined with his headon the dining table. "My plans are all ruined...!"
"You should have told him you weren't interested!" Cat told him as we finished our lunch.
"That's right, Arman," I agreed with a nod. "Grand Master Albert seems to be quite understanding, besides, it is actually I whom he wanted to meet and take in as an apprentice."
"You know you can't get too much attention," mumbled Arman, "I couldn't just put you under the spotligh tlike that."
"At least, that sly Prof. Novil waited for the rest of the class to leave before approaching you," Darius said with a sigh.
I was about to raise my hand and inquire about the apprenticeship, when the devious professor called my name.
"Ah, Patrick, this is the grand master I told you about," he had said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Grand Master Albert, this is Patrick, the one I mentioned to you before."
"Ah, the true genius behind the mask!"
My heart jumped at his statement, while Darius dropped his books by the doorway.
"There's so much I want to ask you," he started before I could react further, "particularly how you used runes to write down commands to formulate an equation to directly translate magic into physical form!"
"M-master... you must be mistaken, I don't actually..."
"Oh, pssh!" he interrupted me. "Prof. Novil already told me all about it, you don't have to hide anything, we're all in the same side, after all!"
"Master Albert, please be discreet," Prof. Novil said in a low voice. "This isn't the right time and place."
"Oh, sorry, I tend to get excited when I talk about work!" the grand master said with a big toothy grin. "Rest assured, your secret is safe with me," he added with a wink.
I never knew what that 'secret' was supposed to be, though, since Prof Novil dismissed me, with instructions to meet in his room later that afternoon. He was probably worried that Master Albert might reveal something more troublesome if we kept talking in the lecture hall.
"At least we can still stay together as Master Albert's apprentices," I told Arman to cheer him up. "Perhaps he might even let you go if you tell him that you were aiming for a different trade?"
"Just tell him the truth!" insisted Cat who had began to braid half of Arman's long black hair.
"That's right, he seems to be a nice person..." Lycan agreed, while braiding the other half.
"I'll try to tell him next week," Arman replied with a sigh. "I want to check first if there are any other masters I can apprentice to. After all, I'm pretty interested in alchemy, too."
"Then Ihope you would be lucky enough to find a master designer next week," Darius remarked.
"Looks like we're not so lucky today, though," said Eliot as he sat back on our table with a sigh. "Aunt May just said that one of their ovens broke. They won't be able to cook as much as they usually do, so they can't give us something extra to put aside in my pouch," he said mournfully.
"Good thing we just ate our fill, then," I said. "Perhaps I could help fix it with a rewinding–"
"A-hem..." Darwin cleared his throat.
"Pat, you should really learn to stay low," Arman pouted at me.
"That's right," Elliot frowned. "It's obvious that the professor and Grand Master Albert already know everything. We should be careful not to let anyone else find out about you."
"Particularly anyone under the first crown prince," Darius whispered by my side.
"O-of course," I tried to laugh it off.
"Anyway, I'm coming with you to Prof. Novil's room later," Arman finally raised his head, his hair, now two neat braids on either side of his pouting face. "Who knows who might try to jump you if you went there alone?"
"That's right, we shouldn't be too careless," Elliot faced Darius. "You're going to meet Grand Knight Lucifer, right?"
"Yes, they are staying in the main building as well," replied Darius.
"Then I'll come with you and say that I'm interested about the apprenticeship too."
"We can all go together, then!" Cat cried out happily. "I can play with Prof. Novil's toys with Lycan!"
"Can we, really?" Lycan looked excited as well.
And so, as soon as classes were over, all six of us headed for the Academy's main building.
I stare at the tall, wide open gilded doors, and am reminded of the first time we entered the academy.
"The main building in Royal Mauve Academy has five floors with four halls on the ground floor, as well as three salons and two dining areas," Elliot told us as we entered the building. "There are 50 rooms each on the 2nd to 5th floor for a total of 200 rooms in all."
"Prof. Novil's room is on the 4th floor, right?" Cat chimed in.
"Yup," Elliot added, "the professors have their own rooms on the 4th and 5th floors, while the 2nd and 3rd floors are reserved for grand masters who are invited to stay as mentors."
"What room is Grand Knight Lucifer staying at?" I asked Darius.
"He's in room 213," Darius replied as we climbed the grand staircase from the main hall.
"What do you think they would talk about?" asked Cat.
"They usually ask you to show your skill," Lycan answered him.
"Since Grand Knight Lucifer will also be entertaining other prospective apprentices, he would probably set us in a mock battle to gauge our skills." Darius touched the wolf head on the hilt of his sword.
"But aren't you still a bit warm due to your fever?" I asked him with concern.
"Don't worry, I've been feeling better ever since I took the fever medicine you gave me," he assured me with a smile. "Besides, battles are usually fought one-on-one, I would just need to win once."
"But, are you sure you're feeling better?" I couldn't help but feel anxious.
"I'll be with him, so there's no need to worry," Elliot reminded me. "We'll see you later for dinner."
"Well, good luck to you, then." I held both of Darius's hands. "Don't push yourself too much."
"Don't worry, Pat, Darius is sure to win this!" Cat assured me.
I couldn't help but agreed.