After reaching the fifth floor, Robert paused to absorb the unique sights he had encountered on the way. He had strolled past a classroom where students were using peculiar pens to scribble on objects making them do strange things, and another where a teacher appeared to be demonstrating an ice spell. He also observed students working on what seemed to be magical machines, and others cooking in cauldrons. Additionally, he thought he glimpsed a walking skeleton in yet another class. All of this seemed very strange to him.
With a deep breath, he stood and took in the environment around him - Girls walking around in their short skirts and giggling, their colourful robes hanging on their shoulders... Boys talking and laughing... flowers moving strangely...
"Who do you talk to now?" asked Poison curiously.
"I have no idea," Robert replied, scratching his head. Just then, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw a boy around his age, same height, with blonde hair and a cheerful demeanor, who seemed eager to chat. This could be his opportunity to find out where Dean Siege's office was located!
Before Robert could ask, the boy spoke. "You're looking for the Dean, right?" He asked in a soft, girlish voice.
"Oh, uh, yes, I am. Do you think you could show me to his office?" Robert asked, feeling a little embarrassed.
"This way," the boy said, and started walking up the stairs. Robert followed, relieved to have found someone willing to help him.
As they walked, the boy began to talk. "I heard Alex's henchboys talking to you. They're always fawning over him. I don't know why - Jean doesn't seem to even like him, you know, the girl with the blue hair." the boy said, and Robert nodded.
In Robert's mind, Poison's voice held a hint of delight. "I was beginning to think every student here had a toxic streak," he admitted. "But this one... he's an outlier, and a pleasant surprise."
Robert's reaction was a casual shrug.
"By the way, I'm Zack. I'm in the Magic Technology class. I'm from Bening, you know, the city right next to Heiss. What about you? Are you a wizard?" Zack queried.
"I'm still in the process of applying," Robert replied calmly.
"Hm, that must mean you come from a pretty well-off family," Zack mused. "But why aren't you dressed in the fancy clothes that all the rich kids here wear?"
"Is this school only for the children of wealthy people?" Robert asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, but it would take a non-wealthy family a long time to save up the fees," Zack explained.
A wry smile appeared on Robert's face. "Right, sixty thousand gold coins is a daunting sum," he said, shaking his head. "Well, I'm Robert, from Axille."
"The deserted town?" Zack asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise.
"It's not as deserted as you might think," Robert replied.
"Why would a wealthy family live there?" Zack mused, exasperated.
"I'm actually not from a wealthy family," Robert said, "I'm being sponsored by Manh... otter," he promply realised he shouldn't disclose anything about Manhawk.
"Manhotter?" Zack asked, a look of confusion on his face. "Is that, like, a person?"
"Yeah, it's what I call my sponsor," Robert replied quickly, cringing a little. Manhotter? That had sounded even weirder out loud than it had in his head.
"Ooookay," said Zack with an awkward expression.
Robert immediately changed the topic. "So, why aren't you studying magic?" He asked.
"My uncle refused to pay for magic classes because they're too expensive," Zack explained, shrugging slightly. "I'm learning magic technology instead. It's cheaper, and my uncle thinks I'll have a better job when I graduate."
Robert nodded unenthusiastically. "Hmm, cool."
They strolled silently down the corridor, Robert's unconventional appearance drawing no attention from passing students. Eventually, Zack's pace faltered, and he spoke up. "Oh, look, we've arrived - Dean Siege's office," he said, abruptly pausing in front of a brown door with strange purple runes scribbled on its edges. He held out his hand, "time to settle up."
Robert glanced at Zack's open palm. "Settle up? Why do I have to pay you?" He asked, his brows furrowed in bewilderment.
"It's the cost for bringing you here, two gold coins," Zack explained.
Feeling like he was running short on time and not wanting to argue, Robert reluctantly pulled out two gold coins from his pocket and handed them over.
"You're welcome," Zack said as he started walking away. "If you need to find a different place, give me a call. I might be able to offer you a discount."
Robert bit his tongue to stop himself from saying something rude. Instead, he watched as Zack rounded the corner and disappeared from sight.
He turned back to the door, observing it quietly for a moment. Then, retrieving the form from his pocket, he knocked on the door gently. A deep authoritative voice called out, "Come in!"
Opening the door, Robert found himself in an oddly decorated office. Flowers in their pots moved as if they were alive. Image frames, hanging on the walls, displayed a constant flux of scenes and figures. A strange spherical machine sat in one corner humming and whirring, flanked by an assortment of intricate glassware. Hanging from the ceiling was a peculiar red eyeball, it's gaze flitting around the room.
Robert's gaze finally fell on the man behind the desk, Dean Siege. He was bald and imposing but had a warm and friendly expression. He wore a neat black robe, with the school's logo stitched onto the left breast. The logo was a smooth circular white crystal, encircled by 13 colored stones that appeared to represent the 13 known elements of magic. It reminded Robert of a flower in full bloom, its petals radiating out from the central crystal.
"Ah, you must be Robert Shade Manuel, am I right?" Dean Siege asked with a warm smile that brightened his whole face.
"Yes, sir," Robert replied, momentarily glancing up at the curious, large red eyeball suspended from the ceiling.
"That's a Wizard eye," Dean Siege explained, understanding Robert's fascination. "It functions just like security cameras, but with a little bit of magic added in - It can see invisible things!"
"Oh, that's amazing," Robert replied, his eyes filled with wonder.
"I'm Dean Siege - I mean, I'm the Dean and my name is Dean," he said with a wry smile. "It can be a bit confusing, since people could be referring to either my name or my position when they call me 'Dean.'"
"I see," Robert said awkwardly, trying to hide his bemusement.
"Now, the form?" Dean Siege inquired eagerly.
Robert passed the form to Dean Siege, who accepted it and entered some data into a computer before casually discarding the paper into a nearby trash can.
"Is that all for the registration?" Robert inquired, a puzzled expression appearing on his face. "No books or equipments to buy and stuff like that?"
"No, Robert," Dean Siege responded with a knowing smile. "The school provides everything you need. That's partly why the form is so expensive. Didn't Mr. Stevenson inform you about this?"
"No, he didn't sir," Robert replied, grinning at his ignorance.
"But if you're eager to spend some gold coins, this old man could definitely go for a sandwich," Dean Siege joked with a grin. He then rose from his seat and approached Robert, peering down at him with a hint of mystery in his eyes.
"I'm still puzzled by Manhawk's decision to enroll you before completing high school," Dean Siege's authoritative but kind voice filled the room. "But there must be a good reason behind it."
Robert, taken aback, murmured a hasty "Of course," intimidated by the Dean's towering presence, now fully visible as he stood. He looked more imposing than Mr. Bouse!
"You're aware that Heiss Magic School students live on campus, I assume?" Dean Siege asked.
Robert eyebrows shot up as he responded, "Guess that's another thing Mr. Stevenson forgot to tell me. But we had an arrangement, he said I could..."
Dean Siege's knowing gaze silenced him. "Attend night classes?" He asked, "yeah, that's already been discussed."
"Oh..."
"I must admit, I'm eager to see how you'll juggle that," Dean Siege remarked with a shrug. "Very well, let's get moving. You need to get attuned to an element. Your classmates have already achieved the rank of 2nd level Common wizards, but you haven't even awakened, let alone learned how to brand and release magical energy. Follow me." He ordered, dashing out of the office. He moved with surprising swiftness for his size, and Robert quickly followed. After navigating several turns, they arrived at a door, which the Dean opened before leading them both inside.
Once inside, Robert looked around the spacious white room filled with students in loose white clothing sitting in the lotus position, deeply engrossed in meditation. The room was extremely quiet and a sense of calm and peace filled the air, as if the room itself was radiating pure magic.
"Do you feel that, Robert?" Poison's voice whispered softly in Robert's mind, "That's pure magic energy."
"Well, I don't feel anything, except for the chilly temperature," Robert thought back, looking around with fascination. Then, he heard Dean Siege whisper his name.
"Come over here," the Dean called softly, and Robert hurried over.
"Typically, we'd perform an awakening ceremony for new students," Dean Siege explained. "But since you've started late, we'll have to do it now. Place your hand here," he said, gesturing to a large translucent orb set on a pedestal. It was giving off a faint white light, as if it were emitting some kind of energy.
"This is an awakening orb, invented by Ophias Benframe during the Age of war," The Dean said. "Instead of needing to undergo lengthy meditation sessions to acquire an elemental affinity, all one had to do was to simply touch the orb. The element you'll get is a matter of chance," Dean Siege went on. "So don't get your hopes up about a particular one. Now, close your eyes and let the orb do its work."
Robert gently placed his hand on the orb, closing his eyes as he welcomed the crackling sensation of energy coursing through him. The hairs on his arms stood on end, responding to the magic energy surging into his body from the orb. His mind hummed with a newfound energy, as if infused with a sudden influx of electricity. As he focused, the regular darkness within his mind was abruptly illuminated by a swirling, rapidly changing kaleidoscope of colors. He immediately felt a strong urge to make it stop, but how?
"Psst, Robert," whispered a familiar voice.
"Not now, Poison. I'm busy trying to avoid landing a stupid element," he mentally dismissed Poison.
Poison persisted. "This orb thing never existed in my time, but I have an extensive knowledge of magic that I believe can be of use to you. I might know a method that can ensure you obtain the elemental affinity you desire."
"But Dean Siege said it's entirely random," Robert retorted, skepticism coloring his tone.
"Hey! Don't compare my knowledge to that of a mortal," Poison snapped, "I was a God wizard before I passed away, do you have any idea how hard it is to achieve that level?! Now, listen. It's similar to the games people play on that shiny flat box. Focus your thoughts on the elemental affinity you desire. Observe the changing colors, noting which hue appears more frequently as you concentrate on your chosen element. Then, carefully synchronize your timing to select the exact moment your desired elemental color appears. Once it's time, strongly will the color to stop switching... Yes! You did it! Way to go!" Poison cheered in his head.
The room filled with commotion as the students, who had been meditating, turned their attention towards Robert. Robert opened his eyes and glanced at the orb, and his mouth widened with excitement as he noticed the orb's milky whiteness had transformed into a brilliant purple - just the element he wanted. Poison's strategy had worked!
"Congratulations, kid!" Dean Siege exclaimed, "Lightning element, not bad. But let me warn you, lightning spells can be very penetrative and destructive, so just keep that in mind whenever you need to use your magic, alright?"
Robert nodded, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. He imagined zapping Mr. Williams and Jackson with small bolts of lightning and how exhilarating their reactions would be. A strange feeling of pride welled up in him, looking around at the students gazing at him.
Dean Siege's deep voice immediately drew his attention. "Alright, I think you're finished for today, because you'll need to return home and let your body become familiar with the Lightning magic energy. Then, it'll need to stabilize, and after that, we can continue with further training. You've got two years of magic lessons ahead of you son, prepare yourself." Dean Siege patted his shoulder good-naturedly and walked out of the room.
Robert had hoped for the other students to acknowledge his achievement and offer their congratulations too, but they simply resumed their meditation, making it as though he was invisible and nothing of significance had taken place. He couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.
"Kid, if you're seeking acceptance and acknowledgement, consider blending in next time," Poison advised. "A purple robe would be a good start."
An amused smile crossed Robert's face. "Are you willing to cough up the gold for it?" He asked telepathically.
"Umm, well..." Poison stammered, clearly caught off guard by the question.
Robert let out a small chuckle, "I thought so," He muttered, shaking his head. With a sigh, he exited the room. He stepped into the empty corridor, and it became apparent that all the students were in their classes. He made his way down the stairs, and as he passed the classrooms, his heightened senses, courtesy of Poison, allowed him to overhear some students murmuring.
"You know who that is, right?" he heard one student whisper. "That's the new guy who tried to talk to Jean, Alexander's girl. He must be lucky he's still breathing."
"Yeah, he's definitely not from a reputable or wealthy family," he could hear another student mutter. "Did you see his high school uniform? They're so plain and regular - he must be really poor."
"I heard his parents had to become servants for a sponsor, just so he could attend this school," a third student added.
"He seems to be coming from the meditation room. I bet he awakened a stupid element like water or wind," another student added.
"Hah!" Robert couldn't help but guffaw.
The other students, dressed in their fancy clothes and robes, clearly had no idea who he was or what he was capable of. Their pride had blinded them so much that they thought a good-looking boy like him, dressed in normal high school clothes, must be a loser from a poor family. Little did they know that his family wasn't poor, just not as wealthy as theirs. They often judged elemental types based on their initial appearance, without realizing that a Water wizard was just as strong as a Fire wizard of the same level. All they cared about were superficially splendid things... Robert thought, feeling a bit annoyed.
As he reached the landing of the final staircase, he paused abruptly. "Damnit, I don't even know where the main gate is," he grumbled, "and I certainly don't have two gold coins to pay that jerk."
"Oh, just transform into sand and fly back to school, easy." Poison suggested with a chuckle.
Robert smiled with realization. "By the way, Poison, I have a question for you," he said. "Can all wizards elemental morph? You know, change into their element, like I can?"
"Nah, a wizard only acquires that ability after the Supreme level," Poison explained. "That's when they achieve complete harmony with their element's fundamental forces. Only then can a wizard be called a god. The only reason you can use it now is because I'm a God wizard, and you've fused with my soul. Your physical body isn't strong enough to grasp all my power, so you can only wield the strength of a Mystic Earth wizard when you use my magic. As you rank up, you'll be able to access more of my power."
Robert's brow furrowed. "I'm a bit confused," he said, rubbing his chin.
Poison paused for a moment. "To put it simply," he began, "you're a first-rank Common Lightning wizard who can't even cast a first-rank Common Lightning spell. And because my power is limited by your physical body, you can only use the strength of a first-rank Mystic Earth wizard if you utilize my magic. But as you advance, for instance, if you become a second-rank Common wizard, you would then be able to utilize my second rank Mystic Earth powers. However, you can use the Elemental morphing ability, have improved perception, speed, strength, and regeneration because those are all natural perks of my Earth God wizard power. Since my soul is within your body, you have all those benefits, even though your body can't handle using my full power yet."
Robert nodded, silently taking in Poison's explanation. "I think I get it now," he said, though his expression betrayed a slight hint of confusion.
"Good," said Poison with a satisfied tone, "Now, elemental morph so we can leave. When we return to school, your element's magic energy will stabilize by tonight, and your body will be able to gather magic energy. I'll teach you magic energy releasing and casting, okay?"
"But Dean Siege said he would teach me those things after my element stabilized... tomorrow." Robert pointed out.
"I told you to stop comparing me to a mortal!" Poison snapped. "Just trust me on this, will you?"
"Fine, fine," Robert said, and with a whoosh, he transformed into a cloud of fine sand and flew in the direction of Axille.