The next morning.
Sunlight filtered through the academy halls as Austin made his way to the Notice Board.
He recalled how his sleep had been interrupted the previous night—Aidan and his lackeys were mumbling in their sleep groaning from pain.
And then there was Lucian.
He hadn't jog with him this morning, either.
Austin couldn't understand why Lucian was acting distant, he decided not to push it buthe can't hide the fact that it started to bother him.
As he approached the Notice Board, he noticed the lingering stares from the other students.
Not like the evening ball, when they were filled with disdain—this time, they were wide-eyed, surprised.
Some whispered among themselves, but Austin forced himself to ignore it.
His eyes skimmed over the different class sections.
There was only one S-Class per batch, a mix of both Mages and Sages. A perfect test score wasn't enough to secure a spot there—the academy had its own criteria, including the Four Personality questions at the beginning of the questionnaire.
Moving on, he found the Sage: A-Class list. His gaze trailed down the names from the top to bottom.
[Sage Track: Class A Students
1. Eric
2. Lucian von Brandt
3. Rowan Duskbane
4. Aldrin
5. Elias
..]
But his name wasn't there.
His heart pounded as he checked the lower classes—B, C, and D—yet his name was missing from those as well.
Is it because I rejected the Headmistress' proposal?
Anxiety started to catch up when—
"I can't believe it! Why is that Saintling here?!"
Austin turned just as Aidan stormed forward, fists clenched.
He barely registered his own movements as he glanced at the list Aidan was reading, confirming his placement—
[Class S Students
1. Ava
2. Austin Scharf
3. Thea Marcilles
...]
The whispers spread.
"He cheated."
"He must have!"
"Someone overheard Professor Schafer questioning him!"
"I heard it too. While I was taking a stroll outside, the afternoon before the evening ball, I saw Professor Schafer interrogating Austin about his Placement Exam results."
"Should we report the Saintling for cheating?" Aidan smirked, feeding off the crowd's reaction.
Austin remained silent. Not because he was guilty, but because he knew how easily rumors could spiral out of control.
It didn't matter if the truth was on his side—if enough people believed the lie, it became reality.
Then, a firm voice cut through the tension.
"So what you're saying is... the Academy is incompetent?"
Egbert stepped forward, arms crossed, gaze sharp.
The crowd hesitated.
"Because accusing someone of cheating means you're also accusing the Academy of failing to detect it," he continued, voice cool and unwavering. "Are you saying the professors—the same ones who proctored the exam—are blind and would post this result if they have found evidence of my brother cheating?"
Silence.
Even Aidan hesitated, his jaw tightening as he searched for a retort.
The accusation had no weight if it meant disrespecting the academy itself.
Austin exhaled quietly.
Egbert had effectively shut them up.
With a glare, Aidan turned away, marching toward the 'Mage: A-Class' section. He scanned the list for his name—and found it just below Egbert which made him click his tongue.
But something else caught his attention.
Lucian's name wasn't there.
Aidan's brows furrowed as he moved down to the lower-ranked sections, searching.
Then he saw him—Lucian stood at a distance, staring at his own name in the 'Sage: A-Class' section.
Aidan's expression darkened.
"Even in the Class Placement, you still failed?"
The words were harsh.
Before Lucian could react, Aidan struck him across the face, then grabbed him by the collar, dragging him away.
Austin watched them go when a whisper surfaced again.
Are you going to let him—
—Shut up.
Austin turned to Egbert, his gaze steady. "Why did you step in?"
Egbert barely hesitated. "Because I can't stand it," he said firmly. "I have so much respect for you—not just as your brother, but as my Master. You taught me everything I know."
Austin exhaled sharply. "Everything you know was taught to me by our parents and Professor Fuchs," he corrected. "I am not your Master, Egbert. I am your brother."
Egbert held his ground. "That's exactly why I respect you."
Austin had no response to that. He simply looked at his brother, seeing the unwavering determination in his eyes.
Then Egbert smirked. "I'm in the Class A Mage, so I'll make sure to put Aidan in his place."
Austin glanced at Egbert, his voice low but firm. "Remember what I told you before we left home?"
Egbert scoffed, crossing his arms. "You mean that dump? Yeah, I do."
"Then you already know what our main goal is."
"You don't need to remind me," Egbert replied, his tone carrying an edge of impatience. "Just trust me."
With that, neither said another word. They simply turned and walked their separate ways, each heading toward their respective lecture halls.
***
Upon arrival, Austin scanned the room.
A group near the front laughed, their voices high with excitement as they chatted about being in the same class.
In contrast, others sat quietly, shoulders slumped, eyes downcast, their faces marked with disappointment that theur friends are not with them.
Some appeared lost in thought, while a few glanced around, searching for familiar faces.
Professor Schafer strode into the lecture hall.
The murmurs among the students died down as he stood at the front, adjusting the cuffs of his coat before addressing them.
"As some of you already know, I am Professor Rudger Schafer, your Class Coordinator and instructor for Fundamentals of the Mystical Arts," he began, his sharp gaze scanning the room. "I've already familiarized myself with each of you, so there's no need for introductions. We're already behind our schedule due to the... tragedy."
Everyone's expression downcasts.
"You will have plenty of time to get to know one another in due course. For now, let's begin." His tone was firm but not unkind.
Everyone was surprised that they must begin class right away so a few sighs were heard from other students.
Professor Schafer stood at the front of the lecture hall, his gaze sweeping over the students. "Let's start with the foundation of everything you will learn here—the Mystical Arts."
He clasped his hands behind his back. "The Mystical Arts is the study and application of mana to manipulate reality. Every Mystian follows one of two paths: the Mage Track, which focuses on practical application, and the Sage Track, which emphasizes theoretical research. Once you graduates, and if you do, you'll receive the titles Mystical Mages and Mystical Sages... obviously."
He gestured toward the students. "Mages learn through experience—battle, spellcasting, and direct interaction with mana. Sages, on the other hand, dive into the principles behind those spells, ensuring that the Mystical Arts continue to evolve."
Pausing, he glanced at the students in the S-Class. "Now, you might be wondering—why does S-Class include both Mages and Scholars?" He gave a small, knowing smile. "Because mastery requires both understanding and application. A powerful Mage who lacks knowledge can be reckless. A brilliant Scholar who cannot apply their theories is useless. The Academy recognizes that true excellence requires the teamwork of both perspectives."
He then tapped the desk lightly. "This is why the S-Class exists—not just to recognize talent, but to refine it."
With that, he continued into the first lesson, ensuring that the students understood the fundamentals before moving forward.
The morning passed in a blur.
Professor Schafer tapped the stack of papers on his desk, straightening them before distributing them to the students.
"Before we end today's lecture, here's your schedule for the semester," he announced. "You only have five core subjects and five minor subjects per week. Each day, you'll attend one core and one minor subject. No classes on weekends."
The students glanced at their papers, some flipping through them while others whispered among themselves.
"Since this is a joint class of both the Sage and Mage tracks," Professor Schafer continued, "you will be required to sit in on each other's subjects. You won't need to pass those classes, but you are expected to learn from them. Understanding both theory and practice is essential if you wish to advance in the Mystical Arts."
Murmurs spread through the lecture hall, some students nodding in understanding while others sighed at the added workload.
Austin skimmed his schedule, noting which subjects he'd need to attend.
[Core Subjects:
1. Fundamentals of the Mystical Arts.
2. Core Principles of Mana and Energy Manipulation.
3. Theoretical Arcana Studies (For Scholars)
4. Mystical Linguistics and Sigilcraft: The study of incantations, kinesthetic language, magic circles, and runes.
5. Applied Mysticism and Combat Techniques (For Mages)
Minor Subjects:
1. The Evolution of Mysticism: History of Mystical Arts.
2. Understanding the Four Elements: A foundational study of elemental manipulation.
3. Understanding Mystical Artificiums: The nature, function, and history of enchanted artifacts.
4. Astronomy and Celestial Alignments: The influence of celestial bodies on Mystical Arts.
5. Abjuration and Mystical Warding: Defensive magic and protective enchantments.]