Charles raised an eyebrow at Elliot's request, his usual smirk deepening with amusement. "Explain everything? Hah! I suppose even an F-rank like you deserves to know what you're holding."
Elliot's smile twitched. This guy had a talent for making compliments sound like insults. But hey, he was getting free knowledge from someone way above his league, so he swallowed his pride and nodded eagerly.
Charles sighed dramatically, adjusting his robe like a seasoned lecturer about to bestow wisdom upon an unworthy disciple. "Alright, listen up, peasant—I mean, Elliot. First, let's start with the books. You probably didn't even realize what you were looking at back there, did you?"
Elliot rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Uh… they all looked like… books?"
Charles shook his head, looking like a disappointed teacher who just found out his student thought 2+2 equaled fish. "Those aren't just books, you simpleton. They're Grimoire Codices. Advanced texts containing spells, enchantments, and ancient knowledge. Each one is embedded with a magic seal that makes them impossible to read unless you have the required mana resonance."
Elliot blinked. "Mana resonance?"
Charles groaned, running a hand through his perfect, obviously-expensive hair. "You really don't know anything, huh? Fine, let me simplify it for your F-rank brain. These books can only be read by mages who have cultivated enough spiritual energy to match the book's level. The stronger the magic, the more difficult the book is to read. If an F-rank like you tries to open an A-rank grimoire, the words will look like gibberish—or worse, you might explode."
Elliot's eyes widened in horror. "E-Explode?!"
Charles grinned wickedly. "Oh yes. Boom. Just like that." He clapped his hands together for emphasis, making Elliot flinch.
"Wait, wait—are these books safe for me to read?!" Elliot frantically looked at the stack in his hands as if they might detonate at any second.
Charles smirked. "Nah, I made sure they're F-rank compatible. But even then, good luck understanding them."
Elliot exhaled in relief, though he was starting to regret asking for an explanation.
Charles moved on, gesturing to the glowing red crystal he had handed over earlier. "Now, this is a Pyrocore. It's a condensed fire elemental stone. Think of it like a magical battery, but instead of electricity, it holds raw mana energy."
Elliot frowned, staring at the stone. "So… it's just a fancy rock?"
Charles clicked his tongue in annoyance. "A fancy rock?! Do you have any idea how valuable these are? If you pour spiritual energy into it, you can release a controlled burst of mana Mages use these to power mana-based spells without having to waste their own mana. Of course, since you have zero training, you'd probably just burn out your little spiritual core and kill yourself."
Elliot paled. "Okay, so maybe I shouldn't touch it too much…"
"Good idea." Charles nodded approvingly before pointing at the final item—the small box. "Now, this is where things get interesting."
Elliot gulped. "That… doesn't sound reassuring."
Charles casually took the box and flipped the lid of the small palm-sized box open, revealing several neatly arranged pills, each glowing faintly with a soft, otherworldly light. "Lastly," he said, his tone as nonchalant as if he were discussing the weather, "this box contains spiritual cultivation and strengthening pills."
Elliot's brows furrowed in curiosity. Cultivation pills? That actually sounds useful for once.
But before he could get too excited, Charles smirked, his eyes twinkling with clear amusement. "Of course," he continued, his voice laced with deceptive calm, "if you misuse the pills or take them incorrectly… you'll die."
DIE?!
Elliot felt his soul momentarily leave his body. His face turned a shade paler, and he instinctively took a step back as if the pills had suddenly become venomous. Was this dude a lunatic?!
He swallowed hard before forcing his brain to work again. "Okay, hold up," Elliot said, waving a hand frantically. "How exactly do I not die? I mean, there has to be a correct way to take these, right?"
Charles merely shrugged, his smirk widening. "That's left for you to figure out."
FIGURE OUT?!
Elliot gawked at him, completely flabbergasted. How was he supposed to figure out the correct dosage of something that could literally kill him? Was he supposed to just guess and pray to the heavens that he didn't explode into a magical fireball?
Seeing the absolute horror on Elliot's face, Charles let out an amused chuckle and clapped his hands together. "Alright, lesson over! Any questions?"
Elliot was still clutching the items like they were a bomb ready to detonate at any moment. "Yeah. Can I return all of these?"
Charles threw his head back and burst into laughter. "Absolutely not."
Elliot groaned, knowing he had walked straight into that one.
Charles dusted off his sleeves and stretched lazily. "Well, that's basically everything you need to know," he said as he finished his impromptu crash course.
Elliot exhaled slowly, forcing a stiff smile. "At least it all seems a little less confusing now." That was a lie. He had probably only understood about ten percent of what Charles had said, but nodding and pretending to get it felt like the safer option. "Still, I really appreciate it," he added, this time sincerely.
Charles hummed in response, tilting his head slightly. "Hmm… anyway, which training section are you signing up for?"
That question made Elliot's fake confidence shatter in an instant. His brain stuttered to process the words. "Training section? Signing up? What?"
Charles stared at him blankly for a second before rubbing his temple in exaggerated frustration. "Oh, for fvck's sake, Elliot. Are you always this clueless?"
"Hey! That's rude—"
"Okay, okay, whatever," Charles interrupted, waving him off. "I can't explain it to you now since I have other things to do, but I'll fill you in next time we meet, alright?"
Elliot pouted but ultimately nodded. "Okay. I hope we meet sooner, then."
There was a brief silence before Elliot fidgeted uncomfortably. He had another question—one that had been gnawing at him since the disaster of his failed summoning spell and the chaotic mess that followed. He hesitated before finally forcing out, "Uh… do you, um… have any idea if—"
Charles quirked a brow, waiting for him to spit it out.
Elliot inhaled sharply and just blurted it out. "Do you have any idea what's going to happen with the final exams?!"
The academy final exams had been completely ruined thanks to him—his summoning spell had backfired catastrophically, and everything had gone downhill from there.
Many students hadn't finished their exams but when Azreal appeared they had all followed the holy knights out, meaning about half percent of the class still hadn't taken their final exams. He had been thinking of what action the academy would take.
Charles leaned against a nearby bookshelf and shrugged. "The exams were cancelled and have been postponed until further notice."
For a moment, Elliot just stood there, blinking.
Then, his entire face lit up with pure joy. "YES!"
He still had another chance!
As long as the exams weren't permanently scrapped, he still had a shot at passing and staying in the academy!
Well… that was assuming he managed to survive long enough to take them. He still had to worry about Azrael's wrath and the looming threat of execution.
But that was a future problem.
For now? He was celebrating.
He turned to Charles with a grin. "So, um… I'll be going now."
But before he could take more than two steps, Charles chuckled and called after him, "Wait a damn second. How did I even encounter such a clueless soul like you?"
Elliot groaned. "You don't have to keep pointing it out, you know."
Charles ignored him and sighed dramatically. "Before you go, at least submit the items in your hands for the necessary requirement process."
Elliot's lips formed a silent "Oh" before he nodded in understanding. "Right. Got it."
With that, he made his way toward the archivist.
After waiting in line for what felt like an eternity, it was finally his turn. He stepped forward and placed the items carefully onto the counter.
The archivist, with her sharp gaze, conducted what seemed to be a thorough security check.
After inspecting the items carefully, she finally spoke in a flat, emotionless voice.
"These items cost 200 silver coins. Please make the payment so you can leave with your items," the archivist stated in a cold, matter-of-fact tone.
Elliot's entire world came to a screeching halt.
His vision blurred for a second as the sheer weight of those words crashed down on him.
"Wait. WHAT?"
His head snapped toward her so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash.
200 SILVER COINS?!
His breath hitched. How the hell—
His mind scrambled to process what was happening. He had to pay for these items? Since when?! He thought Charles had just given them to him—like, part of the academy's training resources or something!
But no. Apparently, they came with a ridiculous price tag attached.
And not just any currency. SILVER COINS.
Not copper. Not even gold-plated copper. Straight-up SILVER.
You've got to be kidding me!!.