The face of Mr. Leywin, Beta Class' Head Instructor, turned pale from shock.
Right in front of him was one of his most valued students, albeit one who showed very little promise, saying the most unexpected thing.
"A-are you sure about this?" He asked, his eyes focused on Ashfelt Zephyr.
"After giving it much consideration… I have decided this is the right course of action to take."
"Once you take this step, there's no going back."
It might have been slightly superficial, but the Instructor still cared about Ashfelt's career as a mage. Taking such a drastic step could ruin all of his potential going forward.
Still, the boy didn't seem to care.
He had already made up his mind, and no one could stop him.
"Yes. I still want to drop out."
************
News of Ashfelt Zephyr dropping out of the Academy spread like wildfire. It started with someone noticing him going to the Head Instructor's office, and then speculations regarding why he was called.
Then, he stopped attending classes, and then the announcement was made to confirm what everyone was already suspecting.
Before long, even the Alpha Class Students got to know of his decisions.
Even though he wasn't a very important student in the Academy, he was still the son of one of the four Great Noble Households that served as the pillars of the Empire. His absence wouldn't go unnoticed.
Still, there were mixed reactions about this.
"He probably doesn't mean it." Some speculated. "There's a three-day window before you are fully processed out of the Academy. I'm sure he'll rescind this decision, just watch!"
Others were not so forgiving.
"It's about time he dropped out, honestly… and I'm saying this for his own good."
"Yeah. He really doesn't have what it takes to be a Mage—both in talent and intellect…"
"He's good at fighting a little, but that's about it… so yeah, this is the best decision he could have made."
In the end, his dropping out was either met with indifference or relief.
Most didn't even want him to stay.
It just went to show the kind of existence that Ashfelt Zephyr was in this Academy—a spoilt brat whose days were always numbered.
"Just as I wanted…" Ash smiled as he got to hear all the rumors from his pal, Dustan, who visited him in his room after hearing the news and listening to the many horrible things people were saying about him.
It was good to have insider information, however it seemed Dustan had another goal for visiting him.
"You're not seriously dropping out, are you?" The boy asked.
"I am."
"R-really? Why? If it's about your grades, I can help tutor you… and if it's about your Familiar, there are ways to improve its Grade… especially when we get to the Intermediate Stage—or so I've heard."
"...."
"And if it's your overall talent, you can supplement it with effort!" Dustan clenched his fist in encouragement as he stared Ash dead in the eyes with some unknown kind of determination, almost like he was possessed.
"You can't just give up because your brother is a hotshot! You have to—"
"This has nothing to do with my brother." Ash sighed, rising to his feet. "I simply don't know if being a Mage is what I want for myself…"
"B-but the Empire—"
"I don't care."
He went straight for the door, opening it wide as a way to signal Dustan that it was time for him to leave.
"Look, Ash… I just think it's best to give this another shot rather than returning to your family and trying your hand in its Succession Wars and—"
"That's enough."
"O-okay…" Dustan sighed, mumbling to himself as he walked towards the door. "You can always reapply anyway… though I doubt you'd get in anymore."
Ash caught his murmurs, his eyes narrowed slightly on the Beta Class Commoner before him.
He wanted to react on the spot, but chose not to.
"I appreciate your concern, but I'll be fine. Even without being a Mage, I can live a pretty comfortable life that could last generations… something a commoner like you couldn't even dream of."
"I guess…"
Dustan left the room after saying these vague words, his tone and actions clearly lacking any deference or respect towards Ash.
'What a guy.' Ash smiled to himself. 'I guess he's given me some things to mull over.'
For now, he had to think of something else.
If everyone in Beta and Alpha Class were now aware of his dropping out, that meant his plans were going about smoothly. However, it also meant a certain twin brother of his would have heard the news and would become a bother.
'Thankfully, I'll be leaving the Campus tomorrow, so I won't have to suffer his suffocating concerns for too long.'
*************
The next day arrived, and Ash was already carrying his luggage—or more like dragging it on the ground—as he walked towards the East Gate with one guard in front of him and another right behind him.
'Nice escort…' He smiled.
However, he heard a voice that soon caused his smile to dissipate into nothingness.
"BROTHER!"
In what seemed like a flash, Seth Zephyr appeared right in front of his path, stopping any further movement outside the Academy's grand walls.
"You… what do you want?" Ash responded in typical fashion.
"You can't drop out!" Seth began, his tone defiantly stubborn. "There's still hope for you to improve the Grade of your Familiar if you work hard, and there will be many chances for you to improve your individual ability if you don't take the easy way out and call it quits now."
"Oh? You're mimicking the words of a certain student…"
Ash smirked. "Sure you didn't put him up to this?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure you don't." He shrugged. "And what brings you here at such a late hour? You surely took your time before you came forward to stop me."
"I was trying to get them to rescind your request to drop out since I knew you wouldn't want to listen to me, brother. But, they said it is your choice to make, which is why I have come to appeal to you right now. It's not too late!"
"It is for me…"
"No, it's not!" Seth stepped forward, which caused the guards to get defensive. Once he noticed this, he took a step back and raised his hands.
'Always the rule follower…'
Ash smiled as he noticed his brother's actions.
"I'm done with being a Beta Student in this place, Seth." Ash smiled, shrugging his brother's worry aside as he walked forward.
He glanced back for a moment and noticed quite a crowd of students had formed behind him—Elma being one of them. They shared eye contact for a moment, before she finally shook her head and walked off.
One by one, the students followed her lead and left.
"Goodbye…" Ash said as he walked past the seemingly paralyzed Seth. "Next time we meet, we will surely be in competition."
Seth's eyes widened as soon as he heard this.
The thought of the Succession Wars came to his mind, and a lot of thought ran through his head at that precise moment—thoughts Ash could predict.
"I won't lose to you then."
After making his statement, he walked away from the Apprentice Wing—from the Academy—and had a taste of fresh air beyond the Campus Grounds.
However, he knew none of this was going to last.
'Now, they're going to take me to the person in charge of student transfer and my options will be presented to me…' Ash could already see the carriage that would take him to the Staff Quarters waiting for him just a few steps away.
Once he got there, he would be made to choose a way to be of service to the Empire.
'My goal from the very start.'
After all, the best way to achieve his objective of catching the White Death was being as close to the target as possible.
In essence… he was also going to work in the Staff Quarters.